Sword Brother

Gaël's gaze was drawn toward the front of the hall, where a long stone table stood at its center, covered with strange objects. Spheres etched with runes, instruments forged from an unknown metal, small artifacts glowing with a hypnotic shimmer.

Behind the table, three figures stood.

Two young men and a girl.

They seemed slightly older than Gaël and Kaëlan, dressed in gray uniforms adorned with golden insignias, an emblem of a twisted tree, heavy with fruit, the symbol of the Academy.

One of the boys, short-haired and athletically built, stood with his arms crossed, watching the newcomers with a carefully measured intensity.

The other, leaner, with sharp features and neatly kept hair, maintained a straight, rigid posture, his expression unreadable.

But it was the young girl who drew the most attention.

Her eyes were a pure, unblemished white, devoid of any visible pupils, as if they had been sculpted from ivory by a divine hand. Yet, as she swept her gaze across the assembly, golden filaments stirred within them, swirling around a ring of gold, like a blaze trapped within a pearl-like orb. They were not lifeless eyes, but mirrors of the Lumen, reflecting an unfathomable, eerie, and mesmerizing light.

A shiver ran down Gaël's spine.

'Is she blind?' he thought.

It seemed obvious… and yet, the way she looked at them did not feel empty.

There was something in her gaze, an awareness that went beyond mere sight. It wasn't just about perceiving shapes or light. It felt as though she was reading them, dissecting their flaws, peeling away their defenses layer by layer.

Instinctively, Gaël averted his eyes.

Her uniform, though similar to the others, bore a distinct brooch engraved with the symbol of the Lumen.

She wore a faint smile, yet something about her stance made it clear, she was no mere spectator.

When all the newcomers had entered, a clear, authoritative voice shattered the silence.

"Good. You're all in one piece. That's a decent start."

Professor Délviane had spoken.

She scanned the group, her gaze sharp and unyielding, assessing each face with meticulous scrutiny.

Then, she stepped aside and gestured toward the three students behind the table.

"These will be your first guides at the academy. They are exemplary students, those who have already proven their worth. Your arrival is… unusual. You are joining the curriculum mid-year, but do not expect special treatment. I demand nothing from you, except excellence!"

She pointed to the first boy, the one with the severe demeanor.

"Hector Dicon. A student of luminic warrior combat arts. He excels in close-quarters combat. If you think brute strength alone is enough to survive, he will quickly change your mind."

Hector squared his shoulders slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the new recruits.

Then, she gestured toward the neatly-kept boy, the one who seemed cold and unshaken.

"Soren Veld. A student of lutech technologies, an apprentice lutech engineer. He wields lutech weaponry with surgical precision. If you ever hope to master these technological marvels, he will be your greatest rival..."

Soren simply inclined his head, his gaze as unreadable as a still lake.

"If you're incapable of thinking," he said in a measured tone, "then you have no place here."

A fleeting smile crossed his lips, but there was no mockery in it, only a cold truth.

Finally, Professor Délviane's eyes settled on the young and beautifull girl.

"And this is Sélène de Valmire. A disciple of the way of Lumen, an Ardentis. A specialist in luminic arcana, she will set the standard for the path of sacred energy... for those who are worthy of it."

Sélène smiled slightly, crossing her arms.

"Pleasure to meet you," she said in a soft voice, tinged with undeniable confidence.

Professor Délviane took a few steps back, giving them space.

Then, her gaze locked onto Gaël and the others.

"From this moment on, you are no longer citizens of Kernéval. You are students of the academy of the Golden Tree."

Silence.

Then, slowly, the portal behind them faded.

The last door to their past had just closed.

"Two among you claim to have been graced by the Lumen but were never trained due to their lackluster talent. We'll put that to the test. Sélène will evaluate you."

Two recruits exchanged hesitant glances. One of them was the only girl in their group.

"Six of you wish to join the apprentice lutech engineers. You will follow Soren."

Soren didn't react, but the corner of his lips curled slightly.

The six students cast nervous glances at one another.

"As for the rest of you… follow Hector."

The young warrior folded his arms, his expression as hard as stone.

"I'll see what you're capable of. And if you're worthless… you'll find out soon enough."

Gaël clenched his fists, feeling his heartbeat quicken. Excitement, apprehension, a fire stirring within him.

As they stepped beneath the stone archway leading out of the great hall, a golden light enveloped them, warm and comforting.

Gaël blinked, momentarily blinded by the sudden transition. The atmosphere was nothing like that of their ruined city.

Before him stretched a vast courtyard, bathed in an almost unreal radiance.

At its center stood a majestic tree, its gnarled branches reaching toward the sky. Its thick trunk, twisted by the ages, bore luminous grooves, as if an ancient energy pulsed beneath its bark.

He had never seen a living thing so… alive.

The air around the tree hummed softly, filled with a peaceful yet undeniable force.

The students already present didn't just ignore the tree, they respected it. Some meditated beneath its branches, while others traced runes into the dust on the ground, as if this place were a sanctuary.

Gaël didn't know why, but he felt his breathing slow, his mind settling for just a moment.

A low wall of white stone enclosed the space, separating this inner courtyard from the rest of the Academy.

All around, countless flowers in vibrant hues blanketed the ground, creating a dazzling tapestry of colors. The scent of fresh herbs and petals filled the air, a striking contrast to the metallic weight of the portal they had just passed through.

But what truly struck Gaël was the way this place was maintained. Not a single fallen leaf, not a single blade of grass out of place. Every stone seemed laid with absolute precision, every corner cherished and protected.

The buildings surrounding the courtyard were of gray stone, seamlessly blending with their environment. They bore the marks of time, their engravings worn away by wind and rain, yet they remained as steadfast as ever.

And beyond these structures, Gaël glimpsed an entirely different landscape.

They were high up.

The academy of the Golden Tree was built atop a mountain, towering over a valley swallowed in shadow.

Below stretched an ocean of dense, dark forest, forming an ominous emerald carpet. The contrast between the academy's golden light and the vast sea of trees was striking.

This place was a sanctuary… but also a fortress.

Then he noticed that even the mountain itself was carved.

Buildings clung to the steep slopes, linked by winding stone pathways and daring suspension bridges. Some trails seemed barely traversable, etched directly into the rock, meant only for those unafraid of heights.

Beside him, Kaëlan let out a low whistle as he took in the horizon.

"Well… If I'd known, I would've done more climbing practice."

Gaël gave a faint smile, but his focus remained on the path ahead.

The group kept moving, but now they were splitting into three distinct contingents.

Gaël and Kaëlan followed Hector, who led them through the paved courtyard and beyond, slowly ascending toward a more secluded section of the academy.

The building they approached seemed to merge with the mountain itself. Its architecture was stark and unembellished, almost camouflaged against the raw stone.

The entrance was imposing yet unassuming, carved directly into the rock, flanked by two massive pillars inscribed with ancient symbols.

But it was the inscription at the center that immediately caught Gaël's attention.

"He who does not bleed here will bleed elsewhere."

A wave of apprehension welled up inside him.

"Charming welcome," Kaëlan muttered beside him, a nervous smirk tugging at his lips.

Then, with feigned lightness, he added,

"I seem to recall Professor Délviane saying we were going to have fun!"

Gaël exhaled, amused despite himself.

"Not me."

Kaëlan shrugged.

"Yeah, well… maybe I misheard."

A deep, grating noise cut their exchange short.

Their guide had just pushed open the massive stone doors before them, revealing a darkness far deeper than mere shadow.

The moment Gaël stepped across the threshold, he understood, most of the structure extended underground.

A learning center carved directly into the rock itself… as if this knowledge needed to be shielded from the outside world.

'A golden cage? Or a temple of knowledge?'

Gaël couldn't say.

But one thing was certain, he would be spending the next few years of his life in this place.

For better… or for worse.