"64,383 Empires destroyed, 185,684,094,301,666 left to go."
. . .
The echoes bounced off the walls as the noise of unstable sound equipment danced through the room. The room was dark and quiet, the atmosphere calm and reassuring, but the hearts of the student was filled with nothing of the sort.
"Testing, Testing, Melons, Plums, heyter... man, I am hungry."
"We are going death's door in 2."
Speakers around the silent Academy halls went online, the feys, spirits, phantoms and the undead that work on the school's grounds were all too aware of what was to come next.
Suddenly, a loud, retroactive song echoed louder across the school, pulling all students from their slumber.
"And Good morning there, my fellow students of Black Meadows. What a beautiful morning to strive towards our goal of being the best knights that Zion has ever seen, don't you think, my lovelies? But you may be wondering, 'Who is this woman disturbing my perfect beauty sleep this fine morning?' You know me, you love me, I am your interstellar princess, Nicole Verucious Nas Doom, the fabulous, ferocious and fantastic heir to the Vex Interstellar race and proud member of Class 1-B."
Fenrir hung from the hinges of his levitating bed, his grin evident, showing his desire to prank Caesar in this early morning. Caesar was still sleeping, his entire body covered under the weight of his sheets.
It was a perfect time to strike.
"CEASAAAAAAARRRRR!!!!!"
Fenrir lunged at the mass of sheets, expecting to find Caesar leaping out from his bed. But the sheets were empty, perplexing Fenrir.
"Gotcha." A charming voice murmured.
Fenrir's wolf ears twitched as he caught a glimpse of Caesar, who landed on him.
"You think you can prank me?" Caesar asked, shirtless and breathless.
"You can't lie," Fenrir panted. "It was a good prank."
The two paragons laughed as other students began to rise from their slumber.
"But fear not. If you can't handle 100% of my amazing self, but clearly, who can? I am pleased to introduce you to my partner, who...WAKE UP!!!"
A thud echoed through the speakers.
"Yes, yes, yes. It is I, your favourite sorceror knight who will surpass the bountiful heavens; Lucious Lazarus Lawson, the 3rd Son in line of the Serpahim's throne and a proud member of Class 2-A. If you lovely students are preplexed from the sweet voices this early morning, allow me to let Nicole fill you in on the basics."
Chalybe stared intently, his brows sweating and his bones jittering. His life was slipping away, colours leaving his body at an alarming rate, his brain seemingly turning to mush. The Prince of Zion found himself in a dire situation, unsure of what his next course of action should be. Until...
"I am going all in!" Chalybe shouted as he threw his card on the bed, revealing a Jester [10], a 9 spades, and 4 diamonds.
"Oh my god," Zeus grumbled as he threw down his deck angrily.
"Wow, what a comeback," a fellow student playing the game calmly said, his voice as sweet as honey. "The closest to 25."
Light Lazare Lawson wore a simple, stark white nightgown, his ears adorned with fine piercings, and his knee-length opal and jade hair left in a spiral of colourful mess. His unique features were his 2 large sets of wings, the same colour as his hair "I wanna go back to sleep."
"C'mon, Light," Chalybe pleaded. "What's one more game?"
Light yawned and stretched his wings. "It's annoying hearing my brother first thing in the morning. But also losing? I'm good."
"Thank you, Lucious. Well, beautiful students of Black Meadows, we are pleased to introduce ourselves as 'Eden's Grove', your very own, verified, certified, and quantified radio station, right here in this school. Ladies and gentlemen, we have seen some perilous times and hardships, but should we let it eliminate all sources of colour? And that is why we are here, not turn that frown upside down, but to make you smile so much you will forget how to frown."
Izobel and Teodora looked at themselves furiously, their grace and divinity reaching their melting point. Emotions matched with intense hatred, feelings diluted with extreme malice.
"It's over, Izzy," Teodora said.
Izobel made a light chuckle. "Says who?"
The two princesses smirked and raised their hands steadily.
"Firefly bonanza!!" Izobel screamed.
"Lys av begjærlig blikk!!" Teodora echoed.
Rays of light, all bursting with various enigmatic lights, lanced throughout the Madagar faction; the beauty of the rays was marvelled at by all. All, except Aurelia, who was busy fixing her golden-colored hair.
Izobel and Teodora instinctively turned to the student, who sat quietly beside them.
"Whose is better?" The two heirs chorused.
The student touched her long, flapping rabbit ears. "Well, Izobel's was brighter but lasted shorter, while Teodora's reached the furthest but with low colour variety."
Teodora and Izobel stared at the student, then back at themselves. They swiftly cuddled their peer, who was shocked.
"Thank you for your honesty, Happiness," Teodora whispered.
"Did your fur get softer?" Izobel questioned as she found comfort.
Happiness Beauty Hollandborn was an Easterian, with hip-length ears that flapped to her side and her rich-black fur. She wore simple shorts and a large T-shirt.
"I mean, are you gonna burn Black Meadows with your silly competition?"
Joyful laughter echoed throughout the halls as students flocked out of their rooms. "Well, that's it for today, folks. Us we Eden Grove hope you have a wonderful day. For the first years participating in the excursions, some to the bountiful and electrifying city of Rebellios, the city of the 20 peaks. Or maybe you were given the calm, beautiful city of Ebony, the woman city on water. If you wish to join us, Eden Grove, in the mission of infinite happiness and non-stop laughter, please meet Lucious, our student head, or our lovely supervisors, Ms Fiadh Fionnuala Berrycloth, our amazing Demicat history teacher. Mr Forseti Bjorn Awdeil, our lovely mass communication teacher. I know, I know, everything is Lovely. Please stay Ferocious, fantastic and fabulous. It's your girl, Nicole, signing off death's door."
Caesar, Chalybe, Fenrir, Zeus, and Izobel met up in a hall junction, their eyes invigorated for what the day had to bring.
"Caesar, Fenrir, why are you sweating?" Chalybe asked slyly.
Caesar and Fenrir stared at themselves. "Who wants food?"
...
Elegance. Poise. The forefront expression.
Those were the three most important philosophies of Zion's greatest armourer, Zida Lujaine Barghouti.
"Hmm, Black Meadows," Zido glanced around the academy." What is that old-fashioned Gothic style? No sense of chronological fashion dynamics, and clearly no sense of colour coordination. Disappointing to say the least. D minus."
The queen of metal and fashion was the centre of attention.
Even though her Dwarven blood granted her a short body, she never failed to make it look extravagant.
She wore a sleek, black dress that comfortably hugged her shape, decorated with jewels and accessories, with her hips clad with a leather stomach belt. A large white and black striped coat rested on her shoulders, plated with gloydon, her eyes were covered in long, stylish sunglasses, and her silky, black and blue, shoulder-length hair was embellished with a fascinator.
Orbiting her was a two-headed serpent spirit, dazzled in jewels and ornaments, enhancing her beauty further.
She sat on a sofa, her stubby legs crossed as she calmly inhaled from her smoke pipe and slowly heaved out a purple mist.
"I don't have all day with this," Zida complained as she brought a parchment. Her eyes scanned the list until a smile tugged on the side of her lips. "Oh, this will surely impress me. Next team, the Ebony division!"
She stared at the door to the fitting room, her eyes filled with expectations. The door made a chime sound and slowly opened, a thick white mist emerging from the room.
Caesar Nova Percival, the Vanguard, emerged with a sleek red armour, its crimson plate clad with courage and leadership.
Chalybe Iron Winter Arthur V, the bersaigle, emerged with a light blue armour, its cyan plate clad with silence and efficiency.
Fenrir Glen Endymion, the sentinel, emerged with a hulky golden armour, its sun-colored plate clad with strength and bravery.
Izobel Kyra Edger, the apothecary, emerged with a dazzling pink armour, its indigo plate claded with empathy and comfort.
And Aurelia Rain Deadelus, the Assassin, emerged in quiet but elegant black armour, its shadowy plates clad in stealth and secrecy.
They were all equipped with capes with their respective colours and decorated with the emblem of their factions.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes!!!" Zida stood up excitedly from her high sofa and marched towards the division. Caesar stood at attention, but Zida unfortunately ignored him and went towards Izobel.
"Oh my darling, I knew you won't disappoint me when I saw your name," Zida laughed as she grabbed Izobel's cape.
Izobel bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile.
"Good morning, Aunt Z." Izobel smiled and curtly bent, giving Zida a warm embrace.
Zida took a step back to further inspect Izobel. "The colour, the proportions, the shape, your beautiful body. One of my best works."
Izobel blushed and stuck her tongue out at Caesar.
Zida glanced at Caesar and walked briskly towards him. Her atmosphere was calmer now, as if she wouldn't critique everything about his attire.
"I heard about Albert," Zida started slowly. "He was a good friend of mine, and I deeply express my condolences."
Zida's spirit stared at Caesar with sympathetic eyes, and Caesar felt warm.
"Thank you very much." Caesar bowed.
"Honestly, I would never think to supply my armour to this school," Zida exhaled the purple mist. "But I guess recent events have changed my bad habits."
"Uhm, Miss," Chalybe raised his hand. "What is wrong with our chestplate?"
The division's chestplate was rather peculiar: a hexagonal-shaped chestpiece with a blue, ethereal matter swirling inside the piece.
"I was hoping you would ask that question," Zida smiled. "That, my prince, is the next stage of knight warfare. I call it Sol."
"That sounded creative," Aurelia said sarcastically.
Zida slowly turned and stared at Aurelia, her gaze sharp and heavy.
"What, should I call it wonderful?" Aurelia snapped back, more sarcastically than before.
Zida smirked. "I like this one. But anyways, by combining pieces of lost souls and fragmented spirits, we can create a sort of 'artificial spirit', a man-made soul."
Zida walked towards Aurelia and hit her chestplate. Suddenly, Aurelia's armour felt tighter, more deadly. It swiftly lunged at Chalybe, cratering the floor, and threw a kick at him, which he dodged.
"It is integrated in the latest robotic armour, you are blessed with," Zida exhaled the purple mist. "The soul in your suit responds to threats and attacks, with or without your instinct, making it the very first automatic armour. In dire situations, you can even 'puppeteer' your own suit if you can't move. Now, that is elegance meet efficiency."
"So why did it attack me when you were the one who hit it?" Chalybe asked.
"Because Sol can't hurt me, of course," Zida laughed. "Why would I make something that can harm me? It just sees the nearest threat, which was you."
As the group marvelled at their armour, Caesar was looking for the button to take it off.
Zida gave Caesar the same heavy gaze.
"I can't wear this," Caesar said.
Zida's harsh atmosphere returned. "Is it not good enough for you?"
Caesar's brain began to turn furiously. "You are using the souls of the dead."
"Forgotten souls." Zida corrected as she marched closer to Caesar. Even though she was half his height, Caesar knew that Zida was dangerous, tall or short.
"And is that meant to justify using them?" Caesar asked.
"These are souls who hung on to a memory until they lost all of them," Zida's spirit hissed wrathfully, the sharp noise shrivelling the air. "They have no conscience, no will, no life, no memories, no dreams. They don't go to heaven or hell, the 7th paradise or Hellheim, they just wander our plane taking up space, and you expect me to just let them overpopulate? No, Caesar Nova Percival."
Zida's harsh atmosphere calmed down a little."I deeply understand your sympathy, but aren't you curious to see how the lost souls can help with the advancement of Zion?"
Zida and Caesar exchanged piercing glances as the group held their breath. The spirit's hisses died down. The Sol in the division's armour made a soothing bubbling and warbling sound.
"You got me at curious," Caesar broke the silence. "But I don't accept weaponising souls."
Zida scoffed. "I never cared for your opinion."
"And I never asked you to," Caesar replied.
Zida stared at him and smiled. "You really take after your father."
. . . .
The division marched confidently to their carriage as other divisions began to embark for their designated city.
Caesar, Izobel and Chalybe sat on the side of the carriage, while Fenrir and Aurelia sat on the other side.
Fenrir caught a glimpse of Megara walking towards her carriage. She looked beautiful in her sleek twilight fog armour. As Megara suddenly caught Fenrir's stare, she slowly turned away.
Fenrir could still feel the sting of her slap.
"Aren't we missing some people?" Fenrir asked.
"Yes, you are." Mr Shawn appeared at the foot of the carriage, startling the future knights.
"Mr Shawn, you're okay," Caesar said ecstatically.
Mr Shawn's right arm was suspended in a sling, with his left arm holding a walking cane.
"Did you really think I would die?" Mr Shawn jokingly asked. "I am way tougher than you think."
"Are you going to be our supervisor?" Aurelia questioned suspiciously.
"No, he isn't," Mr Pierr appeared inside the carriage, startling the children even more. "I am."
Caesar and Chalybe smiled, but Aurelia looked disappointed.
"Mr Shawn is supposed to rest, aren't you?" Mr Pierr asked.
"Fine, fine," Mr Shawn said. "Make sure to check out the Tower of Dreams, or as they call it,' Torre di Signo.'"
"It's actually T-torre di Sogni." A voice said.
Jacques appeared in front of the carriage, dressed in a more complex torquios armour, clad in brilliance and heavy weaponry.
"Jacques!" Fenrir exclaimed.
"Hi," Jacques waved. "F-fortunately, this academy invented another class m-more suitable for me."
"Interesting." Izobel gave Jacques a warm smile, and he surprisingly smiled back. Even though his eyes were covered, his emotions were starting to get clearer.
"Yes, I-interesting." Jacques stretched out his arm as the plates on his gaunlets began to move and hiss. The metals shifted and morphed until they transformed into a torquios box that screamed with gears and machines. The box made a hissing sound as it released a gust of steam, slowly opening to reveal a treasure.
"Phenomen'l!!!" Fenrir exclaimed.
"Thank The Almighty," Caesar murmured.
The box was stacked and filled with a knight's greatest companion: Weapons. Battle axe, long swords, rapiers, rifles...
"That rifle looks wicked," Chalybe commented. Jacques gave the prince a sly smile and tossed the rifle to Chalybe.
Chalybe leaned towards Caesar. "I like this version of him."
Jacques tapped the metal box, looking rather satisfied but still uneasy, as if the box needed more innovations. "I am y-your sword a-and your shield. Your Weapon Master."
Caesar's eyes lit up. "Did you bring what I asked?"
"G-good morning to you too, b-b-brother Caesar," Jacques brought out a small carton box and handed it over to Caesar. "12 cas-ings, 4-inch gauges, g-gunpowder enough to blow up a l-large room."
"Caesar!" Chalybe said as he brandished his new rifle."Shooting is meant to be my thing."
Caesar laughed. "I know, I know, but I just invented some-"
"You?" Jacques coughed.
"We invented something that really suits me." Caesar brought out a large, gleaming crimson cleaver, with two gun pipes welded to it on each side, connected to a trigger on the hilt."I will show you later how it works. I was just curious."
Chalybe smiled. "Is that... Is that the gunblade?"
The glint in Caesar's eyes disappeared. "Uhm, no?"
"You cheeky devil." Izobel chimed in. "It is the Gunblade. You actually made it into reality."
"We all remembered when you first drew it," Fenrir grinned. "When you freaking stole Adalwin's gloydon blade."
Caesar raised his index finger. "Guys, it was a really cool sword."
The carriage broke out in laughter, as even Aurelia made a slight chuckle.
"Wish Zeus was here," Chalybe made a large sigh.
"He is a vanguard for another Division," Izobel answered. "I heard he is leading a team to Rebellios."
"Oooooooooooooooh!" The division exclaimed.
The carriage door swung shut, the neigh of the horses echoed, and cadets embarked on their journey with Mr Shawn waving the prodigies away.
"Young blood." Shawn winced as his arm ached. "They don't really last long, do they?"
The journey was calm and comforting.
Caesar questioned Mr Pierr till fatigue.
Chalybe and Jacques played a card game, and it looked like Jacques was losing.
Aurelia and Izobel exchanged awkward glances.
Fenrir helped load the bullets into Caesar's cleaver while humming and admiring the sea afar.
"A cultured vehicle for a cultured civilisation." Mr Pierr commented. "This is going to take you to that large flying machine that appeared on the day of the funeral. When we reached there, make sure to show them your student ID."
As the carriage took another turn, Mr Pierr looked confused as he checked the windows. "Uh, Driver, aren't we going the wrong way?"
The driver made a slight chuckle. "You arrogant, foolish nobles!"
"What did you just say?" Aurelia asked angrily.
Suddenly, Aurelia and Izobel jerked up, their senses picking up an incoming projectile. Two bullets pierced through the metal carriage walls, but the two girls caught it as it was aimed at their chests.
"What the-" Izobel's words were cut short as a powerful force blew the carriage away, the future knights trapped in a tumbling fall.
Mr Pierr's green skin glowed as he struck the carriage, halting it to a stop.
"Is anybody hurt?" Mr Pierr asked, and the pupils grumbled a response.
The doors swung open, and 6 sillhoutes stood atop a boulder.
"Ya arrogant nobles who marched upon da poor." One silhouette said.
"Ya wr'tched villains who think they are sup'rior." Another said.
"Your time has come to an end, as we will use you to tear down this corrupt system governing our land."
Six people, all dressed in white suits, emerged. With each member, different sections of their faces were covered, and each held a weapon.
From the sea, 6 giant serpentine heads emerged from the water, their scales gleaming with bloodlust, their roar petrifying the soul, and their presence agonising the flesh.
"Leviathans," Aurelia murmured.
The 6 white attackers posed, their weapons glinting under the light of the 3 suns.
"WE ARE THE SILVER THIEVES."