Sam sat quietly in a cushioned seat within the sleek, futuristic train car as it sped through the vastness of space toward Guardian Academy. The faint hum of the train blended with the ambient sound of the stars outside. He turned his head, gazing out the window. Beyond the shimmering planets and glowing asteroids, a massive floating island hung in the void of space, suspended as if by magic. He stared at it for a moment, the sight both awe-inspiring and intimidating.
As the train began to slow, a soft, robotic voice filled the cabin. “Destination reached: Guardian Academy. Please ensure you have all personal belongings before disembarking.”
Sam sighed and reached for a small, glowing orb on the seat beside him, tucking it carefully into his pocket. Rising to his feet, he adjusted his bag and stepped out of the train.
The academy was breathtaking. A grand, sprawling field of lush green grass stretched out in the middle of the campus, lined with towering, crystalline buildings that glimmered in the sunlight. Students hurried to and fro, their chatter filling the air, but Sam felt their eyes on him as soon as he stepped off the platform.
Near the entrance, a holographic sign floated, displaying his name. Standing by it was a stern-faced woman dressed in a sleek, dark uniform. Sam hesitated briefly, then walked toward her. He stopped in front of her and extended a hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Sam said, offering a small, polite smile.
The woman glanced at his hand but didn’t take it. Instead, her expression remained neutral, almost cold. “Follow me. The Grandmaster wants to meet you,” she said curtly before turning on her heel.
Sam lowered his hand awkwardly and adjusted his bag. “Understood, ma’am,” he replied, trailing behind her.
As they walked through the campus, Sam noticed the whispers. Students stopped to glance at him, their gazes lingering longer than he was comfortable with. A group of boys near a fountain murmured among themselves, and a girl passing by shot him a curious look before hurrying off. Sam kept his head down, trying to ignore the scrutiny.
The woman led him to an elevator at the base of one of the tallest buildings. As the doors slid open, Sam took a moment to glance out of a nearby window. From this angle, the academy looked even more beautiful. The buildings glimmered like jewels, and ships floated in the distance, docking at the edges of the campus.
“So, ma’am,” Sam asked hesitantly, breaking the silence. “May I ask what class I’ll be assigned to?”
The woman glanced back at him, her tone sharp. “Don’t talk to me.”
Sam blinked, surprised by the bluntness. He looked at her for a moment, then nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself.
When the elevator stopped, they stepped out into a wide corridor lined with classrooms. As they passed, Sam noticed students peering through the glass windows of their doors, their faces a mix of curiosity and surprise. His stomach churned, but he kept his face neutral.
Finally, they reached a large set of ornate doors. The woman stopped and gestured toward them. “Enter,” she said simply.
Sam pushed the doors open and stepped inside. The office was grand, with high ceilings and walls lined with bookshelves and holographic displays. Behind a massive desk sat an older man with a warm smile and sharp eyes. He stood as Sam entered.
“Ah, hello, Sam. It’s finally great to meet you,” the Grandmaster said, his voice deep and welcoming. “Raiden has told me a lot about you.”
“She did?” Sam asked, stepping closer.
The Grandmaster nodded. “Yes, she mentioned that you’re a strong fighter and a fast learner.”
Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “Thanks, sir.”
The Grandmaster motioned for him to sit, but he remained standing as he continued. “Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter. As you know, Guardian Academy is the largest and most prestigious of its kind. We take in 2,000 students every eight years to train the next generation of Guardians. What makes your case unique, Sam, is that you are a transfer. You didn’t go through the same rigorous selection process as everyone else. But there’s another reason you stand out…”
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Sam raised an eyebrow, his expression calm but his tone firm. “I’m black, isn’t it?”
The Grandmaster hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes… you’re the first, to be exact. In the academy’s entire history, no one of your background has ever attended. That is why I must ask you directly: are you ready for the challenges this will bring? You will face prejudice, ridicule, and mockery from those who see your presence here as an affront to tradition. Can you endure that?”
Sam stared at him, unflinching. “I didn’t come here thinking it would be easy, sir. I came because I want to become a Guardian. That’s all that matters.”
The Grandmaster was silent for a moment, then a smile spread across his face. “Good. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear, my friend.” He clapped his hands together, and the doors opened behind Sam. The woman who had escorted him earlier stepped inside.
“Aubry, take Sam to his dorm room so he can meet his roommate,” the Grandmaster instructed.
“Understood, sir,” Aubry replied. She gestured for Sam to follow her again.
Sam turned to the Grandmaster and nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“Welcome to Guardian Academy, Sam,” the Grandmaster said warmly.
Sam followed Aubrey down the wide hallways of the Guardian Academy dorms. The metallic floors gleamed under the artificial sunlight streaming through massive windows, showcasing a stunning view of the academy’s floating architecture suspended in the starry void. Each step echoed faintly, and Sam couldn’t help but marvel at the grand design of the place.
As they arrived at his dorm room, Aubrey stopped and gestured to the door. “This is your room. Your roommate’s already inside. Try not to cause trouble,” she said curtly, turning on her heel and walking away before Sam could respond.
Sam hesitated for a moment before opening the door. Inside, he saw a muscular young man on the floor, effortlessly doing push-ups.
“10,001… 10,002… 10,003!” the man counted aloud, his voice filled with energy.
“Ahem,” Aubrey cleared her throat from behind Sam. The man paused mid-push-up, looked up with a grin, and sprang to his feet.
“Tushar, that’s enough. Meet your new roommate,” Aubrey said, stepping back to let them greet each other.
Tushar strode forward with confidence, extending a hand. “Pleasure to meet you! Name’s Tushar, from the northern planets.”
Sam shook his hand, surprised by the warmth in his grip. “Nice to meet you, too. I’m Sam.”
“Alright, boys. Play nice,” Aubrey said before leaving, the door hissing shut behind her.
Tushar gave Sam a once-over, then clapped his hands together. “So, let’s get to training!”
“Training?” Sam asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah! Gotta know what my new roommate’s made of.” Tushar dropped to the floor and resumed his push-ups. “Come on, join me!”
Sam sighed but got down to the floor. “Why are we doing this again?” he asked, moving in rhythm with Tushar.
“To get to know each other! We’re roommates now, and training together builds trust,” Tushar said without missing a beat.
Sam hesitated, then asked, “So… you don’t hate me? You know, because of…”
Tushar stopped and sat up, looking Sam directly in the eye. “Listen, I don’t give a rat’s ass that you’re black or that people are going to treat you differently here. The only way I’ll ever hate you is if you don’t give 100% in everything you do. Got it?”
Sam blinked, taken aback by the sincerity in Tushar’s words. “Got it,” he said firmly.
“Good. Now, ten more push-ups!” Tushar grinned, dropping back to the floor.
The next morning, Sam got up early, using his rover orb to guide him to his first class. The academy’s halls were bustling with students, and Sam felt the weight of their stares. Whispers followed him as he passed, but he kept his head high, determined not to let it bother him.
When he entered the classroom, all eyes turned to him. “Ah, Sam. Your seat is in the back,” the teacher said, gesturing toward an empty chair.
Sam nodded and began walking to his seat. As he passed one student, they stuck out their foot, tripping him. Sam stumbled but caught himself before falling.
“Of course the void skin can’t even walk straight,” the student sneered, prompting laughter from the class.
Sam clenched his fists but said nothing, continuing to his seat. As he sat down, a voice next to him spoke softly, “Are you okay?”
He turned to see a girl with a kind expression. Her worry was genuine, and it caught him off guard.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, offering a small smile.
“Good,” she said, nodding as the teacher began the lesson.
The class soon transitioned to a lecture on Theons. The holographic displays on their desks flickered to life, showing images of powerful beings with glowing orbs in their hands.
“Theons are beings who exist outside our universe,” the teacher explained. “Each Theon represents a fundamental aspect of existence, such as time, space, or death. For example, Powehi is the Theon of black holes and stars, responsible for their creation and destruction.”
A student raised their hand. “How does someone become a Theon?”
“To become a Theon, one must acquire their jewel orb,” the teacher explained. “When the orb is crushed, its pieces fuse with the user’s soul. The stronger the connection to the orb, the more power the user gains. However, even a single shard of a Theon’s power is enough to destroy a universe.”
Another student pointed at the hologram. “Why are four Theons listed as missing?”
“Those are the Theons of Death, Dreams, Ice, and Fire. They currently have no bearers.”
The class murmured in curiosity, but the teacher clapped her hands to regain their attention. “Enough questions. It’s time for your practical exam. Follow me to the training facility.”
The training arena was massive, with a high ceiling and walls lined with observation windows. Students stood nervously in their battle gear, waiting for their turn.
The teacher addressed the group from a booth above. “Your task is simple: survive against a hologram monster for ten minutes without getting hit.”
One by one, the students took their turns, facing off against various monsters. Some succeeded, others failed. Finally, it was Sam’s turn.
He stepped into the arena, pulling on his combat gloves.
The teacher smirked. “Since you were trained by the Grand Master, your challenge will be harder.” She pressed a button, and a Frostback Knight materialized—a towering, ice-covered warrior wielding a massive frozen blade.
Sam frowned. “That’s a B-class monster. Weren’t we supposed to face C- and D-class ones?”
“Prove your worth, transfer student,” the teacher said smugly.
The Frostback Knight charged, its blade aimed straight for Sam. He dodged at the last second, the freezing wind from the blade chilling him to the core.
“Frostback Knights can freeze souls with their swords. One hit, and I’m done,” Sam thought, staying light on his feet.
The knight attacked relentlessly, but Sam dodged and countered with quick punches, his gloves crackling with electricity. The students watching from above were shocked—Sam was holding his own against the B-class monster.
As the timer ticked down, Sam timed his final move perfectly. Dodging the knight’s sword, he unleashed a flurry of electric punches, stunning the monster. The timer buzzed, signaling the end of the test.
The room was silent, the students in awe.
Sam had gotten a perfect score.
“That void skin must’ve cheated!” someone yelled, breaking the silence.
Sam ignored the comment, walking off the field with his head held high.