“See you guys later!” Roy shouted at the top of his voice, waving as the rest of the boys sped off on their hover bikes. His voice barely carried over the roar of engines and the sounds of the bustling city.
Denwen briefly raised a hand in acknowledgment but didn’t bother turning around, keeping his focus on the road ahead. Both of them maneuvered skillfully through the traffic, weaving between various vehicles, from massive cargo transports to smaller, personalized hovercrafts gliding just above the molten-etched roads of Pyro.
“You don’t have to shout like that all the time, you know,” Denwen muttered into the mic attached to his helmet, his voice calm and steady.
Roy chuckled as he accelerated, easily overtaking a public hover-bus. “And you really need to stop slamming doors in my face. Who knows? You might end up doing it to your crush someday.”
Denwen sighed. “Ugh, you’re still going on about that? I have bigger things to worry about than some imaginary crush you’ve made up in your head.”
Roy laughed. “Come on, man. One day, you’re gonna have to loosen up. You can’t survive in Velos without a little fun. Unless, of course, you plan on becoming a ball-less eunuch, living with the paladins in Solvaris.”
Denwen rolled his eyes as he took a sharp right turn onto the main highway. Before them stretched a vast, structured chaos of Pyro, the Infernal Dominion. Towering structures of blackened steel and obsidian lined the horizon, their spires breathing plumes of steam and fire into the red-hued sky. Enormous bridges arched over flowing rivers of molten rock, carrying the city’s citizens across districts, while the ever-present clanking of machinery and the roar of furnaces echoed in the background.
—
Velos is a very, very large planet made up of several continents, to put it into perspective, it is so large you could fit the whole planets in the milky way and there would still be space.
The planet is divided into nine kingdoms with each spanning as large as the diameter of planets containing multiple continents.
The Fire Kingdom is an empire of industry, war, and craftsmanship also known as Pyro is fourth largest Kingdom amongst the nine.
—
The Pyronese, its people, were famed for their superior skill in fire-based abilities, unrivaled weapon-smithing, and mastery over heat and metal. Despite being known for their explosive tempers, they were also fiercely loyal and valued honor above all else. The kingdom’s heart pulsed with the labor of the dwarves, the true architects behind Pyro’s legendary forges. However, it was the humans who ruled, handling politics, trade, and governance, ensuring that Pyro remained a dominant force on Velos.
Denwen and Roy rode past one of the largest forges, the massive Dwarven Conglomerate’s primary facility, where a fleet of mechanical arms and elemental smiths labored away, shaping weapons, armor, and machinery infused with essence. Sparks flew from enormous anvils as dwarven smiths hammered at metal, their runes glowing in the dim light. Even from outside, the heat was intense, a reminder of the unrelenting flames that kept Pyro alive.
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“Look at them,” Roy said, nodding towards the forge as they zoomed past. “Day and night, those dwarves never stop. If they put that much effort into politics, we’d probably have a dwarf king by now.”
Denwen smirked. “Yeah, if only they cared about ruling as much as they do about making weapons. But I doubt that’ll ever happen. They’re content just building, as long as they’re left alone to do it.”
They sped past another district, the streets lined with towering obsidian buildings with crimson banners, the insignia of Pyro’s ruling house embroidered in golden flames. Battle arenas were scattered throughout the city, where warriors trained, sparred, and proved their worth in fire-infused combat. The Fire Kingdom didn’t just forge weapons—they forged warriors.
As they approached their destination, a large dome-like structure loomed in the distance, its surface shimmering with protective enchantments. This was Pyro’s premier academy, a place where students trained in combat, engineering, and mana refinement, honing their abilities to contribute to the kingdom’s legacy.
“Ah, I guess there’s going to be a little hiccup,” Roy said, nodding towards a group of boys standing near the entrance, their uniforms identical to his and Denwen’s but worn with a smug air of entitlement.
Denwen sighed. “Angus. It’s too early for this.”
Angus, a broad-shouldered brute with flames flickering along his knuckles, was one of the academy’s most notorious troublemakers. He leaned casually against his hover bike, flanked by his usual gang of lesser goons, each wearing a smirk that promised trouble.
“Well, if it isn’t the little errand boys,” Angus sneered as they dismounted, their hover bikes shrinking into compact wrist devices. “Still playing it safe, Denwen? Riding in the shadows of others instead of standing at the top?”
Denwen didn’t react, simply adjusting his helmet as it folded into a sleek earpiece around his ear. He had no patience for Angus’ usual provocations.
Roy, however, grinned. “Still trying to act like you run this place? I’d say that’s cute, but honestly, it’s getting a little pathetic.”
Angus scowled, the flames on his knuckles intensifying. “What was that?”
Denwen stepped forward before things escalated. “Not today, Angus. We have better things to do than entertain you.” He walked past him, brushing shoulders slightly. Angus tensed but said nothing, watching them enter the academy with narrowed eyes.
Inside, the academy was a marvel of Pyronese architecture, blending ancient fire-infused stonework with modern mana technology. Halls lit by floating ember-lights stretched endlessly, leading to different training grounds, research facilities, and lecture chambers.
Usually their first class of the day was Essence Theory, a subject that delved into the mechanics of mana and essence manipulation. Pyro’s warriors weren’t just brutes with fire—they were scholars of destruction, understanding every nuance of their abilities to refine them into deadly art. But today was different.
Roy nudged Denwen as they took their seats. “So, tell me, when are you going to start actually enjoying life?”
Denwen rolled his eyes. “Roy, this is life. And if you spent half as much energy learning and training as you do teasing me, you might actually be worth something in a real fight.”
Roy gasped mockingly. “You wound me, dear friend.”
Before Denwen could retort, their teacher entered—a towering figure with ember-like eyes and a beard.
“Settle down,” the teacher’s voice rumbled like an active volcano. “Today, I am sure you are all excited about your awakenings.”
The students began to chatter happily as they all knew that today is the day their lives would change.