"Its so big."
Rhian spoke without thinking, eyes wide as he looked out the window.
The city had changed gradually as they got closer, less rust, more shine. Cleaner streets, smooth roads, and buildings that touched the sky.
He had never been beyond the outskirts, never seen anything like this. Out there, everything was built from scraps. Here, it all looked perfect.
He had seen the lights from far away, glowing in the distance at night like stars. But up close, the city felt alive.
Eventually, the bus pulled into a wide, private lane surrounded by walls and polished stone walkways. And there it was.
Eclipses Academy.
Even from a distance, the college looked massive. It was more than a school, it was an estate. The largest structure in the city, sitting on its own elevated grounds like a fortress.
It was said that thousands of students lived and studied here, each in different divisions, programs, or training paths. You could attend classes with someone for a year and never see them again, unless they became famous or you shared a course.
The bus slowed, then came to a stop.
Rhian and Kye stepped out together, both staring up at the enormous gates ahead.
Etched across the arch in bold, dark letters:
ECLIPSES ACADEMY.
Both of them stood there for a moment, stunned by the sheer size of it all.
The walls stretched high, the gate itself looking more like the entrance to a city than a school. Rhian and Kye slowly stepped toward it, feeling smaller with each step.
By the gate stood a guard, dressed in clean black uniform armor, sharp and professional. His eyes calmly watched them approach.
Eclipses Academy received students from all backgrounds. Some from the inner cities, raised with wealth and connections. Others, like Rhian and Kye, from the outskirts or even rougher places.
When the two boys reached the entrance, they both gave a small respectful nod, pulling out their papers, the acceptance letters bearing the Academy's official seal.
The guard took the papers, his eyes scanning over them carefully. There was a brief pause.
Then he looked at them, the sharp professionalism on his face softening just a little as he gave them the papers back.
"Welcome to Eclipses Academy," he said with a small nod.
The large metal doors rumbled quietly as they opened, revealing the path ahead.
Without another word, Rhian and Kye stepped inside.
The moment they stepped inside, Rhian's eyes widened even more.
If the outside of Eclipses Academy looked impressive, the inside was on a whole different level.
It wasn't just a school. It was a world of its own.
Wide concrete paths stretched across green fields. Clean-cut grass rolled neatly over the ground, fountains flowed in smooth patterns, and towering buildings surrounded the area like a city within a city.
Students walked in groups, laughing, talking, or moving with purpose. Some wore uniforms. Others looked casual. All of them carried themselves with confidence.
It felt alive.
Kye, walking beside him, let out a low whistle. Even he looked impressed.
After a moment, he nudged Rhian's arm. "What kind of awakened are you?" he asked, almost like it was normal small talk. "I'm a physical type. Strength and body reinforcement."
He sounded proud when he said it.
Rhian scratched the back of his head, awkward. Truth was… he didn't know. He didn't even have access to his core yet.
"I… don't know," Rhian replied with a wry smile, shrugging slightly.
There was a pause. Not long, but enough to notice.
Kye's expression didn't change much, but there was a slight shift in his posture.
He kept walking, but the friendly ease he had before dulled just a little. Maybe even a subtle half-step of distance between them.
Like Rhian had suddenly become someone… less.
They kept walking, following the signs and the occasional flow of students until they reached what looked like a reception hall.
At the front desk sat a woman with brunette hair tied messily behind her head.
She chewed gum slowly, like it was the last piece in the world and she intended to make it last forever. Her eyes lazily drifted over to the two boys as they approached.
Her gaze landed on their clothes, plain, nothing special. Probably from the outskirts. She didn't say anything about it, just leaned back in her chair, unimpressed.
"Proofs," she said flatly, tapping her long nails against the desk without much care.
Rhian and Kye blinked, snapping out of their daze. They had been staring just a little too long. The woman was stunning, even with the complete lack of enthusiasm in her tone.
They quickly pulled out their acceptance letters and handed them over.
She checked them over casually, like it was routine.
After a few seconds, she reached under the desk and placed a sealed box in front of Kye.
"Everything's in there. Uniform, student card, school phone, laptop, all that stuff. Anything else you need, you'll buy around here when you've got enough credit."
Kye's face brightened, grinning wide like he had just won something. "Thank you, ma'am," he said politely, trying to sound as respectful as possible.
But he didn't leave right away. He paused, lingering near Rhian.
The woman, however, handed Rhian something different, a single sheet of paper.
"The Headmaster wants to see you. Show this to anyone who stops you while moving around."
Rhian's eyes widened a little. "H-Headmaster…?"
Even Kye stiffened beside him, his grin faltering just slightly.
The Headmaster?
That wasn't normal.
Rhian's thoughts raced. Did I do something wrong? He wasn't even properly a student yet. Maybe this was about his core, or rather, his complete lack of access to it.
As Rhian stood there staring at the paper in his hands, he noticed it again.
Kye.
Subtle, but it was there. The boy shifted his weight just a little to the side. Like standing too close to Rhian suddenly didn't feel as comfortable anymore.
He still smiled, but his eyes flickered briefly with something else.
Curiosity? Uncertainty? Or maybe... distance.