The one retrieved from The Void

Vas arrived at the Highest College of Nexus later that morning, where preparations for the journey to Nu were already well underway. The courtyard buzzed with a mix of excitement and tension. Those selected for the expedition stood in uniform, identical in their crisp white jackets and sleek black gear, their faces a blend of anticipation and unease. Among them, Vas spotted Lily in a distant corner, surrounded by a small crowd of students. Altogether, there were around twenty students chosen for this mission, accompanied by four teachers who would oversee them.

One of the instructors, a stern-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair and a commanding presence, stepped forward. "Alright, now that everyone is here, let's get started," he announced, his voice cutting through the chatter. "For those who might not know, my name is Andres Bernardette, and I will be one of the teachers in charge of this expedition. Each of us will be responsible for a group of five students. The assignments have already been made. Follow your designated teacher's instructions, and let's avoid any unnecessary trouble."

The students listened intently as Professor Andres concluded his brief, efficient speech. Soon after, the other teachers began calling out names, assigning students to their respective groups. Vas's heart sank slightly when he realized that he and Lily would not be in the same group. Lily was assigned to Professor Antonio Maria, a specialist in linguistics, while Vas was placed under the supervision of Paula Milena, the mathematics instructor.

As the last of the names were called, a distant rumble announced the arrival of their transport. The Astra Vespera descended from the heavens, its majestic silhouette gradually taking form against the backdrop of the sky. The starship hovered in the air, a marvel of modern engineering and mysticism. Its hull, forged from rare Celestium Alloy, shimmered like liquid starlight, catching the faint glimmers of the sun and reflecting them in iridescent waves. It was as if the ship itself were a living thing, a celestial creature from the depths of space.

The vessel's sleek, angular body was covered in a symphony of panels and conduits that pulsed with the energy. At its rear, cerulean plasma thrusters emitted a soft, steady hum, their deep blue glow trailing like the tail of a comet. As it drew closer, its adaptive solar panels unfurled like wings, capturing the solar winds to draw in Helio-Crystal energy. Bioluminescent Aether-Sail fins extended from either side, their lines glowing faintly as if the ship were awakening, ready to glide through the cosmos.

Inside, the Astra Vespera was a seamless blend of functionality and luxury. The modular interior could adapt at a moment's notice, with rows of foldable seats retracting into the floor to make room for cargo or specialized equipment. Holographic displays flickered to life along the walls, projecting star maps, navigational data, and serene landscapes designed to calm the nerves of its passengers. It was a space that balanced the cold precision of technology with an almost ethereal beauty.

The cockpit, a marvel of semi-organic technology, was bathed in a soft glow. Pilots didn't merely fly the Astra Vespera; they synchronized with it, feeling each shift in trajectory as if the ship were an extension of their own body. Surrounding the pilot's chair were rings of holographic interfaces, reacting fluidly to every gesture, each command infused with the energy of the Modular CipherSync System.

The ship's ambient lighting came from clusters of bioluminescent crystals embedded into the walls and ceiling, casting a gentle, otherworldly glow that shifted in hue—from tranquil blues and greens during cruising to vibrant purples and reds when the thrusters roared for high-velocity travel. These crystals, rumored to be harvested from the enigmatic caverns of Oniria, gave the shuttle a dreamlike atmosphere, turning the vast coldness of space into something almost magical.

As Vas and his fellow students boarded, the shuttle's interior enveloped them in a sense of quiet awe. They took their seats, the soft hum of the engines vibrating through their bodies. The Astra Vespera's zero-gravity recreation area awaited them as soon as they broke free from the planet's atmosphere—a space where students would float weightlessly, practicing meditation techniques taught by the Disciples of Morpheus or simply gazing at the stars beyond.

The last echoes of the engines faded as the shuttle sealed its hatch. With a soft lurch, the Astra Vespera ascended, breaking through the atmosphere, ready to dive into the boundless expanse of the cosmos.

Vas found himself seated beside a figure cloaked in a deep, midnight-blue hood. He hadn't planned on paying much attention to his fellow passenger, preferring instead to retreat into his own thoughts. But the hooded figure was the first to break the silence.

"Vas?" A female voice, soft but familiar, cut through the quiet hum of the shuttle. "Well, at least I'm paired with someone I know."

Vas turned, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Carmilla?" he asked, not expecting to see her here.

"Yeah, it's me," she replied, pushing back her hood to reveal a cascade of dark hair and a playful smirk. "I was worried I'd be stuck alone with strangers."

Vas leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes as if already tired of the conversation. "We're not exactly close enough for you to consider yourself not alone," he muttered, his voice tinged with indifference.

"Ouch," Carmilla responded, her tone dripping with mock hurt. "I consider you a friend, you know."

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, a flicker of amusement crossing his otherwise stoic expression. But he said nothing more, choosing instead to stare at the ceiling, lost in his own thoughts.

Carmilla wasn't one to be easily deterred, though. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Come on, Vas. We've known each other for years now. At least I have someone to talk to who already gets me. That's something, right?"

"I guess that's true," he conceded with a half-hearted shrug, though his gaze remained fixed on the ceiling.