Chapter 27: welcome to Astralis Vanguard Academy

They called it The Split Peak's of Eryndor.

The city fell away, replaced by a sea of green stretching for miles. Then the horizon shifted and they saw it.

A mountain, split clean in two. As though a god had struck it with a single colossal blade. Its twin spires clawed into the sky, jagged edges like titans frozen mid-battle. Between them yawned a vast shadowed divide, a natural passage carved by impossible force.

Gasps filled the ship.

"Holy shit," Ceyric mouthed, awestruck. It was the first time he'd ever seen mountains. Or grass stretching beyond sight.

Kevan leaned forward, wide-eyed. "Saints above…"

Lynn stayed composed, but even she couldn't fully mask her wonder. She'd flown before and seen sights similar to this, her brother's rank had afforded her glimpses of the world. But this… this was different.

Riven sat quiet. He'd traveled when he was younger, before… before the tragedy that befell his family. Yet even those memories paled beside this place. The Split Peak wasn't just land. It was legend carved into stone.

Leo, as always, didn't look. His head rested against his hand in disinterested.

But for those who gazed, the sight carried weight. The peaks looked magnificent.

"Pipe down will you," the pilot's voice cut, sharp and flat. "We're here."

As the ship glided into the divide, the shadows gave way to another sight. There were three colossal statues carved into the rock itself. Stone titans, warriors standing guard with their gazes forever cast downward, as though watching all who passed.

"Whoa," Kevan breathed.

Riven's eyes lingered on the statues and beyond them—

Every jaw dropped. Even Lynn's composure cracked.

Astralis Vanguard Academy.

It rose like a jewel born of the earth. It was glass and stone, spires soaring high, catching the sun and scattering it into shards of light that curved in impossible symmetry across the valley. Riven narrowed his eyes. 'What is that…?' The arcs of light didn't look…random? They formed a perfect curve infact.

Elegant bridges and terraces wound around its base, draped with autumn reds and living greenery. The great central tower gleamed, its two vast curving structures split at the top, like a titanic tuning fork catching the sky's resonance. Carved gates and towering steps welcomed the incoming, more temple than academy, a monument to both beauty and power.

Students dotted the grounds below, some crossing bridges, others standing in clusters, all turning their gazes upward at the incoming ship. From above, Astralis looked alive, vibrant, it looked more like a city within walls of light.

The ship circled around the main tower, descending toward a massive platform lined with other crafts. A hangar, which looked vast and busy, bristling with movement and gleaming with runic markings that pulsed faintly underfoot.

The ship landed with a smooth hiss. The door opened causing light to spill into the ship.

"Okay then," the pilot said dryly. "Kindly get out of my ship."

A voice laughed. "Still as rude as ever, I see, Beth."

The pilot Beth, turned with a dull, unimpressed look. Standing in the open doorway was a lanky man in his mid twenties, hair tousled like he hadn't decided what to do with it, sleeves rolled carelessly to the elbow. His grin carried both ease and mischief.

"Allen," Beth muttered. "To what do I owe this expected visit?"

"Expected?" He laughed again. "I'm here for the new intakes, of course."

He turned to them with a mock bow. "Name's Allen Black. I'll be your guide today, I will be showing you around, get you settled in. Try not to get lost. Or die. Both are frowned upon."

"Cheerful," Lynn muttered under her breath.

"Follow me," Allen said brightly.

---

Allen's stride was easy, long legs carrying him through the broad walkways with practiced familiarity. He didn't bother looking back often; the five of them trailed after him like shadows, their eyes too busy drinking in the sight of Astralis to wander.

Riven scanned the vast courtyard they crossed first. Wide, paved stone tiles stretched beneath their feet. Students moved in groups and some of them were entirely lost in their own practice. There was a girl sketching what looked to be sigils mid-air with her finger, glowing runes hanging in place before vanishing one by one making her sigh in… disappointment?

"This place is… huge," he murmured.

"No kidding," Kevan said, jaw slack. "There's gotta be hundreds of students here."

Allen chuckled. "Not usually this crowded. But with recent events, the Federation fast-tracked transfers from Caelora, Gravenholt, and Veylin institutes. Natural, really."

Riven nodded at that, thoughts turning over.

They turned a corner and entered an open plaza lined with towering trees whose leaves shimmered with golden veins. Benches were scattered about, though half were occupied by students in deep meditation. One boy's hands hovered in front of him, arcs of lightning dancing between his palms before lashing out of control. The other students gave him a wide berth.

"Open practice grounds," Allen explained. "Here, Arcanum users hone precision, Sigil bearers carve and work on control, and Archetypes test their limits. Supervised most days, but right now it's a free range."

Ceyric, for once, was silent with his jaw hanging open. His eyes darted from one display of power to another, like a child set loose in a festival square.

Further along, they passed a wide terrace overlooking a valley. Below, students raced across obstacle fields: scaling walls that shifted under their feet, leaping over trenches that filled and drained with water, weaving through mechanical constructs that spat bursts of energy.

Lynn leaned slightly toward Riven. "So that's the famed endurance yard... My brother told me about it. Said only those who've been here a year dare try it without collapsing."

"Sounds fun," Kevan grinned. "I could clear it."

"Mm. Sure you could," Lynn smirked.

—————

"So, that's how most sigils work huh" Lynn whispered, watching a girl sculpt earth into different shapes, runes shimmering on the ground where she was manipulating.

Kevan and Ceyric gawked, whispering "Incredible" under their breath.

Riven's gaze shifted to another corner. There was a boy practicing with fire, the flames roaring higher with every movement of his hand carefully not to lose control until a sudden stream of water hissed through the air, dousing it.

"Hey! What gives, Kyra?" the boy snapped.

A black haired girl nearby crossed her arms, eyes sharp. "Watch how you use that near me, Nelson. Heat spoils the skin." Her tone dripped arrogance.

Riven frowned. 'So those are controlled elemental powers… well controlled for the most part.'

Nelson caught him staring. "What are you looking at?"

Riven said nothing, gaze sliding away. 'A hothead, that one.'

They moved on.

Allen finally led them across a bridge that spanned to another structure of arched glass ceilings, winding stairs, and courtyards layered like a hive.

"Residential wing," Allen said. "Each intake is given quarters grouped by trial ranking. Consider it both a privilege and a challenge you'll live near those you'll likely be measured against."

That earned a look from Kevan, who smirked sideways at Riven. "Guess that means we'll get a front row seat to your brooding silence."

"Better than your snoring," Riven shot back evenly.

Allen stopped before a tall archway. Beyond lay a hall lined with doors, the air cool and quiet after the bustle outside.

"These will be yours for the year. Settle in, acclimate, and don't be late when the summons comes tomorrow morning. Orientation begins at dawn."

He handed each of them a small sigil-etched token. "These mark your quarters and identify you as Astralis initiates. Lose it, and you'll find life here... difficult."

Kevan twirled his between his fingers. "Got it. No losing the shiny."

Allen ignored him, gaze flicking briefly to Riven and then Leo who has been quiet ever since they got here. For a moment, the lanky man's grin faltered into something more measured, as though he sensed more than he let on from the two. Then it was gone, replaced by easy humor.

"Once again, welcome to Astralis Vanguard Academy of Eryndor. Get some rest. You'll need it."

With that, he turned on his heel and left them standing in the hall, the quiet pressing in as each chose their door.

Riven lingered last, fingers brushing the token. His eyes drifted down the hall.

'So this is it... Astralis.'

A slow smile tugged at his mouth. 'Well then.'