[Location: Verm Evocaier Academy – Training Zone – Morning – Year: 1092 Ad Felicitas]

Under the clear morning sky, the Training & Entertainment Zone buzzed with activity, creating a symphony of academy life. The clinking of weapons from the training grounds blended with the cheerful laughter of students relaxing at the cafeteria, while the gentle ripples of water from the swimming pool added to the harmony of the scene.

Drifter walked calmly beside Luna Sabriel. The soft breeze played with the long black dress that draped her figure, while her flowing teal-green coat swayed gently with her graceful steps.

In the distance, muffled explosions from the combat training area reminded Drifter of his purpose at the academy. His chest felt heavy, knowing that the peace surrounding him might not last. Lost in his thoughts, a soft voice from Luna pulled him back to reality.

"Today will be meaningful," she said, her voice almost a whisper carried by the morning breeze.

"The Skyship Fleet is the backbone of our defense. It’s time for you to understand the basics of command here."

Drifter responded with a small nod.

Ahead of them, the Simulation Room stood tall—a futuristic tower of bluish-gray crystal with a magical aura. Its sharp angles gleamed under the morning light, defying gravity. The automated door slid open with a gentle hiss, inviting them into a corridor illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the walls.

Their footsteps led them to the main room. Drifter stopped for a moment, awestruck by what lay before him. A vast blue sky, dotted with rolling white clouds, enveloped the room. Flashes of light streaked across the expanse, revealing massive triangular constructs floating in the air. Some were smaller and sleeker, resembling metallic birds with glowing blue tails.

The constructs moved, firing beams of blue energy from box-shaped modules on their sides. The room was alive with bursts of light and sound until everything suddenly faded. The sky dissolved back into the crystalline structure of the room.

"Alright, you’re done. Practice whatever you like. Any questions? Hopefully none," a voice drawled from the far end of the room.

Drifter turned to see a man leaning casually. He wore a tilted cowboy hat that partially hid his unruly brown curls. Aviator sunglasses reflected the room’s lamp light, and a wide grin spread across his face.

image [https://i.ibb.co.com/P1kxxg7/01-11.jpg]

The students nodded and returned to their consoles, as the simulation sky once again transformed into a bright blue expanse. Drifter remained at the door, observing the students' activity intently.

Sloane Gast tapped his console rhythmically, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Easy. This is basically routine," he muttered.

Meanwhile, Lorcan Grindelwald looked frustrated. Drifter noticed that the ship he was piloting kept veering out of control.

"Ugh! Stupid thing—why does this keep happening?" Lorcan grumbled loudly.

On the other hand, Reine Lindt remained calm. His fingers moved with precision, and his ship glided steadily despite the chaos of the simulation.

"You’re overdoing it. Just slow down," he said, his tone almost like guidance.

Suddenly, the door slid open, and the sharp click of Alina Walsh’s boots echoed as she approached the man in sunglasses. Her expression was stern, her voice cutting through the room’s chatter.

"What is this, Jaxon? This isn’t a playground. They’re supposed to be preparing for tomorrow’s live drills—not goofing off under your 'supervision'."

Jaxon Virelli turned slowly, his movements loose and easy, a stark contrast to Alina’s sharp tension. His grin stretched wider.

"Oh, relax, Alina. A little chill goes a long way. You wind ’em up too tight, and they’ll snap under pressure," he said, tossing in a casual shrug.

Alina approached the nearest console, her sharp gaze scanning the room. Her voice dropped but retained a steely edge.

"And if they’re too relaxed, they’ll die on the battlefield."

Jaxon’s smile shifted into a challenging smirk.

"How about we settle this, Alina? The classic way—a simulation duel."

Alina frowned briefly before a thin smile crossed her face.

"Fine. But if I win, you handle the debrief tomorrow."

Jaxon tilted his hat back slightly, his tone turning playful.

"Fine, deal. But if I win, you’re on debrief duty next month. Fair trade, yeah?"

The room’s energy shifted, a buzz of anticipation in the air. Jaxon adjusted his sunglasses with a cocky smirk, his tone oozing confidence.

"Alright, crew. You ready to take on Alina’s squad? Let’s show ’em how we turn laid-back into lethal."

Sloane grinned, his fingers still tapping his console in a steady rhythm.

"Easy, boss."

Lorcan looked eager, though his tone carried a careless edge.

"This’ll be a piece of cake. Just some girls."

Alina’s gaze locked onto Lorcan, her voice quiet but sharp as a blade.

"Big words, Lorcan. You’d better prove you can deliver."

Nearby, Alma Rosenthal raised a hand, her voice steady as she cut through the tension.

"Big talk. Let’s see if you can back it up."

Behind her, Nadia Fernleaf nodded subtly, her calm eyes reflecting quiet determination.

[A Moment Later]

The formation of dark gray ships began to appear on the holographic display—a massive triangular vessel at the center. Two smaller, equally angular ships flanked it on either side, while four smaller and faster craft darted around the formation, their pointed silhouettes weaving as they advanced toward the center of the simulation arena.

Luna Sabriel raised her hand, pointing at the floating hologram.

"They’re using a standard formation," she said softly, though her voice carried a firm edge. "One Flagship, two Cruisers, and four Corvettes. The smaller ships are operated by the students, but look at this—Jaxon and Alina are directly controlling the Flagship."

Drifter focused on the hologram, his gaze drawn to the large, dark gray triangular ship at the center of the formation.

"That’s the Flagship," Luna continued, shifting the hologram to highlight the ship’s details. "It’s about 1,200 meters long and can carry up to 600 people. But it only takes one operator to control all its systems through the Command Nexus. On top of that, it can deploy hundreds of Skystrikers."

Drifter nodded slowly, though the confusion on his face was evident.

"Wait, Luna... these terms are a bit confusing. Command Nexus? Skystriker?" he finally asked.

Luna glanced at him, her tone remaining calm.

"The Command Nexus is the ship’s main control system. Everything is remotely operated and synced with the user’s mind. Place your hands on the console, and the ship will move as if it’s part of your body. But it takes time to adapt."

Drifter nodded again, his understanding growing clearer.

Luna gestured toward the smaller ships.

"Those are Skystrikers, small aircraft typically controlled through the Command Nexus on the Command Bridge of a Flagship or Cruiser. However, there’s also a portable version of the Command Nexus that allows operators to control Skystrikers or golems from safer locations," she explained, her tone steady.

"Thanks, Luna," said Drifter, nodding slightly.

Suddenly, the simulation’s weather changed dramatically. The sky darkened, and the arena was engulfed in a storm and heavy rain. Drifter watched as the large ships from Jaxon’s fleet disappeared into thick clouds, while Alina’s fleet held its position, firing continuous blue energy beams into the storm.

Moments later, from the other side of the clouds, Skystrikers from Jaxon’s team emerged at high speed, launching an assault. The attack destroyed one Cruiser and one Corvette from Alina’s fleet before retreating back into the safety of the storm.

Breaking the tense silence, a loud voice shouted through the room.

"Charge! They’re almost done for!" yelled Lorcan, his Skystriker surging forward without hesitation.

"Oi, Lorcan! That’s not the plan, you know!" Sloane sighed, a small smirk on his face, though his tone remained calm.

"Let’s finish them!" added Alyssa, her excitement spilling over as she followed Lorcan’s lead.

Lorcan’s ship and several other students’ Skystrikers attacked recklessly, their movements chaotic and uncoordinated. Meanwhile, Alina’s fleet held firm, raining down sharp, precise energy fire into the storm. Within minutes, one by one, Jaxon’s Skystrikers exploded, leaving trails of smoke in the air.

The fleet’s cannons continued their relentless barrage, forcing Jaxon’s fleet out of hiding. Though their ships returned fire with blue beams, without their Skystriker cover, their formation crumbled. Alina’s fleet and Skystrikers swiftly finished them off, leaving behind only wreckage.

The simulated sky gradually faded, replaced by the room’s crystalline walls glowing in soft blue light, signaling the end of the exercise.

Jaxon rose from his seat, raising both hands with an exaggerated grin.

"Alright, alright. You win this time," he said, feigning surrender, though the admiration in his expression was hard to miss.

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Alina approached him, her steps calm but commanding. Her sharp gaze locked on Jaxon, her voice low but firm.

"Take it seriously next time, Jaxon."

Alma Rosenthal walked up to Lorcan, patting his shoulder with a triumphant look.

"Well, didn’t you say you wouldn’t lose?" she teased.

Lorcan scoffed, glancing sideways as he shrugged.

"Ah, just a fluke," he muttered.

As the students began to leave the room, Alina Walsh approached Drifter. Her turquoise-blue hair shimmered under the soft glow of the room’s light. She moved with purpose, her hands folded casually in front of her, her piercing gaze meeting Drifter’s.

"We didn’t get a chance to meet yesterday, did we? I’m Alina Walsh, one of the instructors here," she said, her voice clear in the quiet room.

Drifter nodded slightly, his gaze steady on Alina.

"Drifter," he replied simply, his tone measured. "Good to finally meet you."

Before they could exchange more words, Jaxon Virelli appeared beside Drifter, his wide grin and relaxed demeanor filling the space between them. He raised an eyebrow, his voice playful.

"So, you’re the guy from the past, huh? Drifter, right?"

He extended his hand with a sharp gesture, gripping firmly for a moment before releasing it slowly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Jaxon Virelli. Nice to meet ya, Drifter."

Drifter gave a slight nod, his gaze shifting between the two instructors. His expression remained neutral, though a subtle curiosity flickered behind his eyes.

His voice was measured and calm.

"Pleasure to meet you both."

Standing a few steps behind, Luna observed silently, a faint smile gracing her lips. Her gaze moved from Jaxon to Alina before she spoke, her tone calm yet thoughtful.

Luna greeted them both with a more serious tone.

"Jaxon, Alina… I have a request."

Both turned toward her with curiosity, waiting for further explanation.

Luna remained composed, her eyes meeting theirs.

"I want Drifter to observe the Skyship training directly tomorrow. I think it’ll be very useful for him to experience it firsthand."

Jaxon leaned casually against a nearby console, his arms crossed over his chest.

With a smirk, Jaxon spoke, his tone playful, though his raised eyebrow hinted at intrigue.

"An observer, huh? Why not? It’s a great experience for him."

He leaned forward slightly, his grin sharp, and every word seemed like a subtle challenge.

"So, Drifter? Ready to see the real thing?"

Drifter looked at him, his expression calm.

"Yeah… this will be something new for me."

Alina Walsh’s voice remained steady as she tilted her head slightly, one eyebrow raising, her gaze locked on Drifter.

"Wait, Golem, in your time, didn’t they already have the Command Nexus?"

She glanced briefly at the others before returning her focus to him.

"You can try piloting one of the Skystrikers, if you’d like."

Drifter hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixed on the sleek Skystriker model. He sighed softly.

"Everything was manual back then."

Shaking his head slightly, his voice remained firm and resolute.

"Thank you, but I’d rather just observe for now… I’m not sure I can handle it yet."

Jaxon grinned widely and stepped closer.

"I’ve seen you fight. Bet controlling it’s as easy for you as handling those hovering swords," he said with a casual tone.

"Come on, give it a try."

Drifter offered a small, appreciative smile, but his reply remained firm.

"Maybe next time."

Alina gave a small nod and stepped back with a smooth motion.

"Next month, if you want to try, let me know."

Drifter held her gaze for a moment before nodding, his jaw tightening slightly as if affirming a decision.

"Of course."

With that settled, they began moving toward the door, their conversation gradually fading. Jaxon and Alina exchanged a few more words, but the atmosphere felt different now—more relaxed, more familiar. Luna, who had been silently observing, gave Drifter a small nod, signaling it was time to continue their tour.

Luna Sabriel led Drifter through the winding corridors, her steps steady.

Her voice broke the silence, soft but edged with understanding.

"A lot to process, isn’t it?"

She cast him a brief glance.

"Hearing about something isn’t the same as experiencing it firsthand, is it?"

Drifter kept his eyes forward, his voice low.

"Yeah… strange. Everything feels new. Ships floating in the air… controlling constructs from a distance… things that people from the past could never have imagined."

Luna’s gaze shifted slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile as she slowed her pace. Her eyes swept across the long, silent corridor.

"This place," she said softly, as if speaking more to the walls than to him.

"It’s been here for so long. But sometimes, even now, it feels like we’re still learning about it. Or… it’s still learning about us."

Drifter’s thoughts drifted back to the Black Cube—the mysterious object that continued to haunt him. What did it mean? Had the researchers here uncovered anything about it? He wanted to ask, but… would that make them more suspicious of him, suspecting he had been corrupted by the Black Cube’s influence? His hand tightened briefly into a fist before he chose to remain silent.

The silence between them grew thicker, their footsteps the only sound echoing softly in the corridor. Luna seemed to drift further ahead, her gaze fixed on some unseen point in the distance.

"Sometimes," she said, her voice breaking the stillness with gentle clarity,

"you never really leave a place you’ve been. They’re just… waiting for you to find them again."

Drifter exhaled slowly, his thoughts growing heavy as his heartbeat faltered. Memories of the Abyssal Breach surfaced in his mind—a rift that once unleashed untold destruction. Though nearly 700 years had passed since the last Cataclysmaris, the threat of another Abyssal Breach still lingered over Area Zero, where the ruins of Paxluma stood as a silent reminder of the past.

He shook his head slightly, trying to dispel the dark thoughts.

"Hopefully, there won’t be any new Abyssal Breaches. No matter how advanced the technology is now… it won’t matter," he thought, continuing to walk steadily behind Luna.

[Location: Verm Evocaier Academy to Nethia Airport – Docking Area – Morning – Year: 1092 Ad Felicitas]

The next morning, in the academy courtyard, Drifter stood still, his gaze fixed on a sleek blue Alcherider, a design unlike anything he had encountered before. The vehicle loomed before him, its elongated, box-like frame exuding a futuristic elegance. He reached for the door handle and stepped inside, the faint hum of anti-gravity engines vibrating through the cold metal into his hand.

The chatter of instructors and students around him faded into the steady drone of the engine. Everyone had gathered for today’s simulation, the air buzzing with anticipation. The Alcherider began to move, slowly leaving the academy gates behind.

The city of Nethia unfolded before them like a giant crystal mosaic. Towering skyscrapers stretched high, their shimmering surfaces reflecting sunlight in thousands of dazzling hues. The Eirda River cut through the cityscape like a glistening silver vein, while rows of exotic trees swayed gently in the breeze.

Other Alcheriders floated low above the city streets, creating a symphony of the distinct hums from their anti-gravity engines. In the distance, Nethia Airport came into view, its magnificent structure resembling a crystalline crown with towering spires and gleaming domes reaching toward the sky.

As they arrived at the departure platform, Drifter’s ears caught a strange sound—a deep, resonant hum from the Skyships, powered by Evocyte Generators. The sound was different, deeper, more primal, vibrating the air in a way that felt almost mystical.

Luna Sabriel stood beside him, her presence bringing an odd sense of calm amidst the bustling activity of the airport. They walked together past rows of automatons busily at work. Each automaton was uniquely designed; some tall and slender with precise mechanical arms, others shorter and sturdier, built for heavy labor. Their movements were efficient yet graceful, like metal dancers in perfect choreography.

Ahead of them loomed two Clavusia-Class Cruisers. The sharp triangular hulls of the ships looked as if they were designed to pierce the sky. Their dark gray bodies stood in stark contrast to Nethia’s vibrant blue atmosphere, while the protruding command bridges atop the ships resembled proud, ancient crowns.

"We’ll be boarding Jaxon’s ship," Luna said softly beside him. "You’ll see firsthand how he commands."

"Understood, Luna," Drifter replied, his eyes still fixed on the majestic structure before him. The intricate design of the ship stirred a mix of awe and anticipation in his chest.

An automated elevator carried them up smoothly. Drifter felt a subtle shift in air pressure, his nose catching the faint scent of metal and ozone from the advanced machinery around them. The walls of the elevator glowed with a soft blue light, creating the illusion of swimming through an ocean of light.

The command room greeted them with the sight of a technological orchestra in motion. Students moved swiftly between their Command Nexus stations, their fingers dancing across holographic control panels that shimmered in a dazzling array of colors. Every movement had purpose as they prepared the Skystrikers for the upcoming drill.

Jaxon Virelli sat at the main Command Nexus in his signature style—relaxed yet authoritative. His boots rested on the console, his posture seemingly lazy, but his sharp eyes missed nothing as they scanned every corner of the command room. There was an effortless aura of command in every one of his movements.

"Alright, today we’re just marking targets. Follow my lead—it’s simple," Jaxon said, his tone light but underscored with authority. His eyes flicked to a holographic display showing Alina’s ship, a competitive smirk tugging at his lips.

"Winning doesn’t matter, the experience does. Let’s make this fun."

Reine Lindt stood nearby, his fingers fidgeting nervously. His eyes flicked to Drifter with a mix of respect and doubt.

"It’s good to see you here, sir," he said, his voice as gentle as the morning breeze.

Drifter turned, a faint, warm smile softening his otherwise stoic expression.

"Hello, Reine."

Lorcan Grindelwald and Sloane Gast leaned casually against the cold metal wall, their postures relaxed but ready to spring into action at any moment. Lorcan grinned widely, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"Hey, old man, don’t get too comfortable here—you might just drop dead," he teased, his tone dripping with youthful confidence.

Drifter replied with a barely visible smirk.

"You’d better watch yourself, Lorcan. Didn’t you lose to Alma and the others yesterday?"

Lorcan’s grin faltered, his shoulders tensing defensively.

"That wasn’t on me—the Command Nexus was glitching. Total trash system."

Sloane snorted, his tone carrying his trademark sarcasm as he stepped closer, his boots tapping against the metal floor with a confident rhythm.

"Right. Sure. But let me guess—you’ll still be the first one to get shot down."

The lighthearted atmosphere shifted as Luna turned her sharp gaze toward them. Her intense stare seemed to slice through the air, silencing the group instantly. Even the hum of the surrounding machines felt muted under her presence.

"Perhaps now is the time to get to your positions," she said in a tone that left no room for argument.

Sloane straightened quickly, clearing his throat awkwardly. He walked briskly to his station.

Lorcan chuckled quietly, his mischievous tone still lingering as he nudged Drifter’s shoulder playfully.

"Relax and enjoy the ride, old man."

Drifter offered a brief nod in response, his expression unchanging.

"Sure," he replied simply, his voice calm but firm.

Jaxon placed both hands on the Command Nexus, the blue crystal on the console glowing brightly. Without any further motion, the sound of engines rumbled—a deep, resonant growl like that of an ancient beast.

The room began to shift. The bright blue of the sky outside slowly gave way to inky darkness. The floor beneath them vibrated softly, almost imperceptibly. With a seamless motion, the room began descending into the Skyship’s hull, its mechanisms whisper-quiet.

The once-dark screens gradually turned transparent, revealing the view outside. The endless blue sky stretched before them, showing Alina’s Clavusia Cruiser already airborne. Its command bridge appeared obscured, hidden from sight. The anti-gravity thrusters at its rear glimmered like starlight, propelling the ship forward with breathtaking speed.

The air grew heavy, resonating with the deep hum of the anti-gravity generators. A subtle jolt signaled their ascent as the Skyship glided effortlessly, piercing through clouds that reflected the light. Each droplet of mist sparkled, as if welcoming their journey to boundless heights.