Of course, most people grow up with the assumption that the world is a simple place. Land, sky, stars, that sort of thing. But beneath all of that, there's a structure that's far, far older, far, far stranger, and completely beyond human understanding, at least not in any sane state of mind.
At the center of all of that is "The Pulse," the quiet, steady beat that keeps everything in the universe from falling apart. It doesn't sound, and it doesn't light up. It's more like the heartbeat of the universe, a steady, calm beat that Astral energy naturally responds to. When you train, when you meditate, or when you strengthen your will, you're not "getting stronger." You're tuning in to that beat.
If you flow with that beat, your power becomes smooth, stable, and completely in control. If you try to fight that beat, you're ripping yourself apart from the inside out.
Keeping all of that heartbeat together is the Arcane Lattice, the unseen framework that underlies all of reality. Imagine an infinite web that keeps all of the realms, all of the dimensions, all of the stars in their place. Astral energy is like electricity running through that web. So long as that web remains intact, the universe remains at peace.
But what happens when that web begins to crack?
Rifts show up.
Chaos seeps in.
And nightmares start to get ideas.
ASTRAL ENERGY - THE CALM THAT SHINES
Astral energy is the universe at its best, steady, warm, and infinitely patient. People say that it's like a soft light that burns deep in their bones, a light that hums whenever they're at their clearest, their most determined. Astral energy is the one energy that responds to will, to intent, to desire. If you calm down, Astral energy calms with you. If you strengthen your will, Astral energy sharpens with you.
Astral users can fortify their bodies, create armor or wings out of light, or design techniques based on pure willpower. The catch? Its limit isn't physical. You can't use too much of it because your bones will snap, but your spirit will snap faster, stretching your soul as glass does when subjected to too much pressure.
CHAOTIC ENERGY – THE STORM THAT WHISPERS YOUR NAME
Chaotic Energy is nothing like Astral.
Chaotic Energy does not follow the Pulse.
Chaotic Energy breaks the Arcane Lattice simply by existing.
Chaotic Energy seeps out of the Rift – a wound in reality that should have stayed shut. It has a living, breathing texture, a mix of static and a bad idea. While Astral users are patient, Chaotic Energy finds joy in your company. It feeds on the closest emotion:
Anger – wildfire
Fear – a blade
Ambition – explosion
Despair – a bottomless pit
You can't be taught to use Chaotic techniques. You're forced to use them.
The price, however, is brutally simple: The more you use it, the more of yourself it consumes. Balance, judgment, identity – gone. The most potent users of Chaotic Energy aren't the most skilled. They're the ones still winning the battle in their own minds.
THE VEIN-CODE RANK SYSTEM
Human bodies can't contain raw energy. They have to be dissected to let it in.
When a person discovers they have either Astral or Chaotic Energy, intricate, glowing lines begin to form under their skin – living tattoos known as Vein-Codes. Every line represents a limit broken. They do not glow unless your energy is active. They do not lie. They do not forgive those who overstep their limits.
Astral users have Veins that shine in cold colors – white, silver, blue, and golden.
Chaotic users have Veins that blaze in hot colors – red and black.
Whether you're a hero or a disaster... Starts with how many Veins they can survive.
RANKS
Rank 1 - Sole Vein:
The first crack in the body. A faint line wraps the wrist. Beginners can sense energy but barely control it. Most are terrified of overloading.
Rein: Single Vein
Rank 2 - Dual Vein:
The body stops breaking. Control stabilises. A Dual Vein can finally fight without collapsing.
Stella: Dual Vein
Rank 3 - Tri Vein:
Energy begins obeying. Basic shaping becomes possible — blades, waves, barriers.
Zen: Tri Vein
Rank 4 - Quad Vein:
Power shakes the ground. Their strength is refined, their stamina terrifying.
Rank 5 - Penta Vein:
Elites who distort the air with every movement. Legends in the making.
Rank 6 - Hex Vein (Hidden):
Whispered about. A Hex Vein can compress energy into catastrophic density. Entire squads deploy to stop one.
Rank 7 - Void Vein (Mythic):
Seven perfect lines form a halo. A Void Vein no longer fights power — it is power. Even Rifts and storms cannot break it. Some call them heroes. Others call them omens.
***
Two days before the school concert, the front lawn of Silverlight Academy looked like someone had dumped a festival, a tech expo, and a circus on the same patch of grass.
The open field, normally used for combat training, was covered in:
Floating lantern frames waiting to be filled.
Half-built holo-stages.
Speaker drones hovering like impatient pigeons.
Astra students are shaping light into decorative ribbons.
Flux kids are climbing scaffolds with tools they definitely should not be trusted with.
Rein dragged a heavy box of prism-lights across the field.
"This is child labour disguised as school spirit," he muttered.
Zen trailed behind Rein, carrying a bundle of sparking cables as if they were snakes. "If you hate school spirit, just say that."
"I don't hate it," Rein said. "I just... hate being chosen for the 'manual labour' team every year."
Zen snickered. "Bro, you are the manual labour team."
Rein gave Zen a dead stare.
Just as Zen was about to continue his insults, Stella appeared out of the scaffolding area. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and there were a few sprinkles of silver sparks on her cheeks, evidence of Astral shaping. She looked... unfairly at home in the sunlight.
"Rein," she said, "we need those prism-lights to be placed on the center arch."
Rein gazed at the giant arch that was being constructed at the school entrance. It was a towering silver frame, surrounded by holo-panels that floated in the air.
"Up there?" Rein asked.
"Yes," Stella said. "And Zen, you're holding the cables wrong. You're going to be shocked."
Zen stopped in his tracks. "Wait... what...?"
Bzzzzt.
He yelped so loudly that one of the Astra students on a hoverboard at the side of the field fell off.
Stella sighed. "I told you so."
Rein snickered as he dragged the prism-lights over to the scaffolding of the giant arch.
The air was filled with the smell of grass, metal, and student sweat. It was a pretty standard school festival smell.
All over the school field, various groups were working:
Astra Division: Shaping floating orbs of light to create a dome over the school field.
Flux Division: Designing sound drones that floated at the edges of the school crowd.
Basic Division: Carrying chairs. Sweeping dirt. Setting up tents. Basically, doing everything no one else wanted to do.
Rein climbed the scaffolding ladder with a prism-light tucked under his arm.
The higher he went, the more the whole school came into view — students running around, holo-lanterns drifting, Astra orbs sparkling against the bright sky.
For a brief moment… It actually felt peaceful.
Stella called up from below, shielding her eyes from the sun.
"Rotate the prism clockwise once you get it mounted!"
"Got it!" Rein called back.
Zen added, "Don't fall! I'm not catching you twice in the same week!"
Rein rolled his eyes. "You're not catching me even once."
He reached the top… but then—
A cold prickle crept down his spine.
He looked at the grass far below.
Everything seemed normal.
Kids arguing over popcorn machines. A group is testing fireworks too early. Stella is reorganising equipment with intense focus. Zen nearly electrocuted himself again.
But then Rein glanced at his shadow on the wooden plank.
It bent wrong. Just for a second. Didn't match the angle of the sun. Like something else was pulling it.
Rein blinked. The shadow flicked back into normal shape. He swallowed hard. "Just tired. Just… tired."
He secured the prism-light. Stella raised her hand, sending a precise pulse of silver Astral energy upward. The prism activated, scattering a soft glow across the entire field.
Everyone cheered.
Zen whistled. "Stella, you're single-handedly carrying the visuals. Rein, meanwhile, is carrying boxes."
Rein flipped him off.
Stella pretended not to see it.
Her voice was slightly softer as she looked up at him. "You okay up there?"
"Yeah."
Stella narrowed her eyes at him. "Your shadow looks off again."
Rein stiffened. "…Probably the lighting?"
"There is no lighting," Stella said flatly. "We're outdoors."
Zen whispered to him, "Bro, she caught you in 4K."
Stella stepped closer, her hands on her hips. "If something's wrong, at least let us—"
Before she could finish—
A voice whispered into Rein's mind.
Smooth.
Sharp.
Hungry.
"…soon. Under the open sky… we begin."
Rein almost stumbled on the ladder as he climbed down.
Zen caught the ladder. "HEY—watch it!"
Stella was instantly at his side, with a worried expression on her face.
"Rein?"
He took a deep breath. "Sorry. Heatstroke, maybe."
It wasn't.
He knew it wasn't.
But with the concert only two days away… That voice was getting louder.
And the open sky above him was way too big.
Way too exposed.
"Hey, Rein! You good up there?" Zen called out from below him. "What are you looking for—some goddess coming down to bless us with free snacks?"
Rein, balanced on the ladder like he'd been born on it, slowly turned… and flipped Zen the bird again. Calm. Professional. Like it was part of the school uniform.
"Rein, come down and take a break," Stella said, hands on her hips as she checked the decorations. "And Zen—go help the others. Properly."
"WHAT? WHY DOES HE GET A BREAK?" Zen gasped, clutching his chest. "I've been working my soul to the bone! MY LIFE IS FLASHING BEFORE MY EYES—OH GOD I SEE THE LIGHT—WAIT NO THAT'S JUST A LAMP—AHHH—"
He tripped over absolutely nothing and stumbled backwards. Rein didn't even notice. Stella did.
She flicked his forehead. Hard enough to echo.
"Can you be useful sometimes? Just once? In your entire existence?" she snapped.
Zen rubbed his forehead dramatically. "Whoa. I actually made you mad. Historic moment. Somebody write this down."
"Shut. Up." Stella glared. "Just go. Before I use your skull as a hammer."
"Threatening violence already? Wow, Stella, you've grown," Zen said, skipping away with the energy of someone whose brain was on permanent vacation.
A second later, he tripped over a box labelled 'Fragile – DO NOT KICK'.
Rein finally climbed down the ladder, deadpan. "He's gonna break something."
"He already did," Stella muttered. "My sanity."
Zen popped his head up from behind the box. "I heard that!"
"Good," Stella said sweetly. "Now get back to work."
"I hope he actually does some work," Stella muttered, glaring in Zen's general direction.
"I hope so, too," Rein agreed, dusting his hands off.
He glanced at her. "But uh… why'd you call me down for a break?"
Stella hesitated—not something she did often. "Because you deserve it, obviously. You've been carrying, like, the entire decorating team on your back." She glanced away momentarily before adding, softer, "Also… would you maybe… want to sit with me? For a bit?"
Rein froze.
Not just froze—
Full system crash.
Brain: blue-screen.
Body: overheating.
Emotional processor: "ERROR 404: COHERENT THOUGHT NOT FOUND."
His face turned bright red, the color of a warning light.
"H–huh… ehh… y–yea," he stuttered, his voice cracking like a brittle cookie. "S–sure. W-why not."
Stella smiled, small but warm, and Rein's heart did a backflip so loud he was surprised Zen didn't hear it from across the field.
"Come on then."
Rein trailed after her like a lost puppy whose legs were made of jelly.
As they walked, Stella continued to give Rein sly glances. After a few steps, she finally worked up the courage to say something.
"And Rein… don't be shy around me, okay? I'm your uhhh—"
Her voice shook. She looked embarrassed, almost shy in a way Rein had never seen before.
"I'm your best friend… right?" she asked at last, her cheeks quietly burning.
Rein blinked, then laughed softly. A small, warm sound he hadn't made in years.
"Of course," he said, offering her a faint blush of a smile. "Of course we are."
He paused before adding quietly, "You and Zen… you're the only ones I trust the most."
Stella stopped walking. Right in front of him. Hands behind her back, eyes lowered, voice soft enough to almost blend with the evening air.
"Then… come to the concert," she whispered. "Please. I'd really… really like to spend some time with you."
Her blush deepened. So did his.
"…Yeah," Rein said, steadier than he expected. "I'll come."
For once, he spoke without stuttering. Without freezing. Without falling apart.
Behind them, quiet, unnoticed, Zen stood a few meters back.
He didn't laugh. He didn't crack a joke. He just watched the two of them with a calm smile tugging at his lips.
Stella… you're good for him, he thought, eyes soft. You make him breathe a little easier. And that's all I could ever ask.
He didn't say it aloud. He didn't need to.
For now, he was just happy, quietly, honestly happy, for both of them.
Rein and Stella sat at the back of the school, hidden in the quiet little garden that almost no one visited, a few benches curved beneath the trees, where falling leaves drifted like lazy snowflakes. The concert chaos felt far away here, replaced by birds, soft wind, and the warm evening sun.
Rein looked at the small notebook Stella always carried. "Soo… why do you keep that notebook with you all the time?" he asked.
Stella opened it absently, revealing sketches of armor lines, wing shapes, and Astral circuitry patterns. "It's just some drawings," she said with a shy smile. "Ideas for when we reach Class 4 and get our Astral suits custom-made."
Rein looked at her incredulously. "Stella… we still have three whole years left. Why start now?"
Stella closed the notebook slowly, fingers lingering on the cover. "Because… I need to make my family proud."
"Stella… did something happen?"
She hesitated… and then began.
"I grew up in a house where everything was a rule. Wake up at five. Train before school. Train after school. Study until your hands shake. Then train again. My dad believed strength was everything. 'Weakness is a choice,' he'd say."
She smiled sadly. "My mom was the only warmth in that place. She made life feel normal. She used to sneak me out for ice cream and call them 'missions.' She had this way of making everything, training, school, life, seem lighter."
Rein nodded gently, encouraging her to continue.
"But when I was twelve, she got diagnosed with Type 4 lung cancer. It spread too fast. She… she kept smiling until the very end."
Rein felt something twist in his chest.
"When she passed, Dad didn't slow down. He sped up. More drills. More pressure. My sister and I barely had time to breathe. Crying wasn't allowed. Questioning anything wasn't allowed. We were just… tools he had to sharpen."
She looked away, eyes clouded.
"But eventually, my sister snapped. On her eighteenth birthday, she grabbed my wrist and said, 'We're leaving. Now.' And we did. We ran away to Senkai City with two bags and whatever courage we had left."
Rein swallowed. "And your dad…?"
"He didn't come after us. Just sent money and told us to 'maintain the family's reputation.' That's it."
There was a moment of silence. Heavy. Real.
Then Stella looked at Rein—really looked at him.
"You always ask if you can help when someone's hurting," she said softly. "You did it just now, too. That's… that's rare."
Rein blinked. "Well… I mean… if I can help, I want to."
For a single instant, Stella's inner voice spoke up—loudly, though she didn't dare say it out loud:
"Yes… There is something. Please… stay with me forever."
But what she did say was:
"No," she said softly. "You've already gone through much worse. I don't want to burden you."
Rein shook his head lightly. "You're not a burden, Stella."
And that was it. That was all it took to break her.
Her breath caught, her eyes welled up, and before Rein could even begin to understand what was happening, Stella took two steps forward and wrapped her arms around Rein.
Not dramatic. Not desperate. Not anything except… real.
Her forehead buried against Rein's shoulder as she finally let a few tears fall—silent, warm, and honest.
For one instant, Rein was taken aback—stiffening as he tried to understand what was happening.
Then, without even realizing it, he raised his hand and placed it on her back, holding her with a sincerity he didn't even know he was capable of.
For the first time in years… Stella let herself be vulnerable.
And for the first time… Rein let someone close without freaking out.
Zen was standing at a good distance with his hands on his hips, the proud, chaotic parent witnessing his children grow from heartbreak to healing.
"OH MY BABIES—" Zen said dramatically with his fake tears. "THEY'VE GROWN SO MUCH— WAAAAAH!" And then his mood shifted again as he cracked up and took out his phone to take a wholesome photo of the hug.
Rein's phone buzzed with a message a second later.
"I wish I could get a girlfriend someday… XP"
Rein's eyes widened with shock before his anger ignited into a volcano.
His inner monologue exploded into existence at the speed of light: "THAT BASTARD— I'M GOING TO END HIM."
Rein was about to say something when—
"Hey, Stella, I—" But Stella suddenly clutched him tighter with her face still buried in his chest. "Sorry, Rein… I didn't expect to break down like that," Stella whispered shakily.
Her tears gently fell onto his hoodie, and Rein gently wiped the tears off her face and hood.
"Don't apologize," Rein said softly. "That's what best friends are for."
She managed a weak smile.
And then Rein took a deep breath. "Uhh, sorry to ruin the moment, but… Zen took a photo."
Stella didn't even react. "It's fine. He's stupid, but he's also incredibly kind."
Rein lightly laughed. "Yeah… I know. But still need to catch him."
Stella calmly replied. "Don't worry. I have a tracker on him."
Rein's eyes widened in shock. "What? How?"
Stella shrugged. "When you share contact info, there's an optional 'track them forever' setting."
Rein paused. "Yeah… That sounds like Zen."
Stella looked at her phone, tilted her head, and said, "He's… uh… behind the cafeteria. Hiding in a bush. User is stationary… rustling."
Rein blinked at her in shock. "Rustling?? Why is he rustling??"
And just as they were about to figure out why Zen might be rustling, a faint voice carried across the distance to them: "THE BUSHES ACCEPT ME AS ONE OF THEIR OWN…"
Rein stared off into the distance, as if questioning all of the life decisions that had led him to this point. Stella put her hand over her mouth, clearly fighting not to laugh. "…We should go get him," Rein said.
"Yeah," Stella said, still chuckling, "before he evolves into a shrub."
And together, Stella and Rein walked off towards Zen's hiding place. Rein didn't slow down at all, just reached in, grabbed Zen by the collar, and ripped him out of the bush like a weed being plucked from the ground-- BANG! Zen's head connected with Rein's fist as he came out of the bush.
"OW! MY BRAIN CELLS!" Zen shouted, holding his head as if it would fall off at any moment.
"Delete. The. Photo." Rein growled.
Zen grinned, wounded pride and leaves stuck in his hair. "NOPE! NEVER! THIS IS HISTORICAL EVIDENCE! I'M KIND OF A WAR JOURNALIST!"
Rein cracked his knuckles menacingly. "Zen…."
"OKAY OKAY! JUST GIVE ME A MOMENT!" Zen pointed at Stella accusingly. "How did you even find me?!"
Stella calmly lifted her phone, showing the screen to Zen, which had the tracker blinking with the words Detected, located at Zen's current position, which just happened to have the word "Yes" below it, as in, Zen had clicked "Yes" to allow Stella to use the tracker.
"STELLA! YOU PUT A TRACKER ON ME! HOW COULD YOU?!" Zen shouted, shocked, "Betrayed by my own comrade!"
Stella raised an eyebrow at him. "Zen… you clicked 'Yes' to the permission prompt."
Zen froze. "Oh."
Rein let out a deep sigh. "Idiot."
Zen puffed out his cheeks. "Still betrayal."
Stella started laughing first. Like, really, really laughed. Can't breathe, laughed. Zen followed suit. Instantly. By slapping the table like a seal. Rein tried to laugh too, but couldn't. Failed miserably. "You two are idiots."
Zen puffed out his chest. "Correct. Certified. Even."
Rein nodded. "Top-tier idiots."
Zen wrapped an arm around the two girls. "ANYWAY, pizza. A new shop opened. Let's go before my internal organs resign."
Stella scrunched up her face. "Fine. But after you eat, you're telling me if your work is done."
Zen waved a hand casually. "Details. Future Zen can deal with that."
Rein's inner voice: Future Zen is going to die.
After eating…
Stella placed her elbows on the table. "Okay. Talk. Did you finish your tasks?"
Zen didn't blink. "I… absolutely… completely… did nothing."
BANG!
Stella hit the table so hard that Zen jumped like a cat stepping on a cucumber. "YOU TWO ARE TRYING TO KILL ME!" Zen screamed. Rein raised his hands. "Hey, I'm innocent. I worked."
"You EXISTED next to Zen, that's enough!" Stella retorted. Zen rubbed his neck. "Look, look, look. It's not my fault. I was busy."
Stella glared. "Doing WHAT?!"
Zen zoned out as his brain opened a dusty drawer labelled: Memories I Should Not Admit To.
Flashback - 20 minutes before they met up:
Zen stood on a ladder outside the school, broom held like a holy sword.
He pointed it at a group of pigeons sitting on the roof.
"LISTEN HERE, SKY RATS. If even ONE OF YOU poops on the stage during the concert, I will PERSONALLY file a lawsuit. Don't test me. I know a guy."
One pigeon blinked slowly.
Zen gasped. "DON'T YOU BLINK AT ME WITH THAT ATTITUDE."
A janitor walked by.
"...Kid, what are you doing?"
Zen whispered dramatically, "Negotiations."
Back to the present.
Zen wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead. "So yeah. I was… ensuring aerial security."
Rein stared at him.
Stella stared harder.
Zen smiled like a child who definitely broke the vase.
Stella blinked once.
Twice.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
"Zen…" she said, voice trembling like a volcano trying to be polite, "you spent an hour arguing with pigeons?"
Zen nodded proudly. "They respect me now."
Rein whispered, "No, they don't."
Before Zen could reply—
BANG!
Stella's fist came down on his head like divine punishment.
Zen fell to his knees instantly.
"OW—OW—OW—MY BRAIN IS LEAKING—OW—WHY—STELLA—PLEASE—MERCY—"
Stella stood over him, fist still shaking with righteous fury.
"YOU ABSOLUTE MENACE! We're trying to prepare for a SCHOOL CONCERT, and you're out there running a bird diplomacy program?!"
Zen held his head. "I WAS DEFENDING THE STUDENTS FROM AIRSTRIKE HAZARDS!"
Rein couldn't help it. He burst out laughing.
Stella shot him a glare. "DON'T encourage him!"
Rein froze.
Zen, still on the ground: "Rein… help me up… my thoughts are blurry… I can see god…"
Stella cracked her knuckles.
Zen immediately stood up straight. "I'M HEALED. HAHA. MIRACLE. LET'S WORK!"
Stella sighed in disbelief. Rein whispered to himself, "You punched him again… and again it fixed him…"
Zen nodded proudly. "Stella punches are basically medicine."
Stella raised a fist.
Zen screamed. "NOPE! RETRACTED! I TAKE IT BACK!"
Soon enough, the three of them dragged themselves back to school. Zen attempted to quietly slip behind Rein like a scared cat, hoping Stella wouldn't notice him.
She noticed.
BANG!
"OW—WHY AGAIN?!" Zen clutched his head, wobbling like a malfunctioning robot.
Stella pointed at him. "THAT'S for not starting your work the first time."
Zen raised a finger. "Objection—actually, I did start—"
"What did you start?"
"...a conversation with birds."
BANG!
"OW—STELLA—PLEASE—MY BRAIN CAN'T KEEP SAVING OVER NEW DAMAGE FILES!"
Stella crossed her arms. "Then start WORKING before your brain runs out of storage."
Zen scrambled away instantly. "YES, MA'AM."
Rein chuckled as Zen fled like he was escaping an assassin.
But the moment they stepped back into the concert grounds, reality kicked in.
Students were everywhere, carrying lights, hanging banners, assembling stalls, testing speakers. It felt like a small festival on the verge of being born.
Stella looked around, inhaled deeply, and straightened her posture.
"Rein," she said softly, "I've got to head to the south stage team. Dual Veins get assigned as sub-leads… so I have to make sure the wiring and decor match the performance sequence."
Rein nodded. He knew the rules. Dual Vein students were expected to take on more responsibility, especially during events that were open to the public.
"Go on," Rein said with a faint smile. "You'll be fine."
Stella smiled back, almost shyly, before jogging off towards the stage.
Rein stood there for a moment, watching her go.
"Yo, Ayo… Rein, you staring off into space for a bit too long there, buddy…?" Zen called from behind his stack of crates.
Rein kicked one of the crates towards him.
"AGH—OKAY, OKAY, I'LL WORK!" Zen yelped as he dodged it.
And finally…
Well, they all started working.
Kind of.