The rest of the trip was filled with horrors that Arovin never expected to experience. The unpiloted airship encountered turbulence during its flight. The shaking was so intense that the flotation engine broke down. This caused to airship to drastically drop in altitude. Fortunately, Jay, also a member of the Ship Engineering club, was an expert engine mechanic. He resolved the engine troubles calmly, but not before half of the passengers fainted. It was already night by the time they arrived at Goeden.

The new arrivals were gathered in an empty hangar before they could take in their new surroundings. Inside, a military officer was waiting for them along with four other groups.

“What took you so long?” asked the scowling officer.

“A bit of engine trouble,” answered Nina. These caused most of her passengers to pale as they remembered the incident. The officer only sighed, seemingly familiar with Nina’s antics.

Jay ushered the twenty-one late arrivals into a neat two column formation beside the other four groups.

“I am Lieutenant Ratt Haukur,” the officer introduced himself. “I am in charge of welcoming you to Goeden Military Academy. As you may have noticed, despite Havencinque being the homeground of the academy, we accept both student and staff from all over the five major islands of the United Races Alliance. I, myself, am an elf, which any of you can easily conclude if you have the slightest observational skill.” He pointed at his ears which were much longer than that of a human.

In fact, just by looking at the compositions of each group of new students within the hangar, one can easily tell from which major sky island they came from; humans from Havencinque, elves from Elfenheim, dwarfs from Skymount, and beastkins from Tengoku. One group which was a mix of races were from Misce, where the headquarters of the United Races Alliance could be found.

“Know that the URA has a seat on this academy’s executive board. Any form of discrimination within the academy’s jurisdiction on-site or off-campus will not be tolerated. As long as you carry the academy’s name, you are expected to follow its rules and regulations.

“From now on, each and everyone of you are enlisted within Goeden’s official ranks as a Recruit. You have been assigned your quarters. Everything you will need for your acclimatization were already prepared and waiting for you there. Your escorts will be here shortly. That is all.”

The lieutenant left as soon as he finished speaking. Like he said, they were soon escorted by higher year students to the dormitories. Four people were assigned to each room without regard for race, gender, status and class. Seeing their reactions, their seniors gave them some advice.

“You’ll just have to get used to it.”

“Any sort of harassment will receive severe punishment.”

The recruits could only hold in their dissatisfaction. Arovin on the other hand didn’t seem to care as he already knew this would happen. Only ranked officers have the privilege to possess a private room. His haughty demeanor made a quick turnaround however when he saw who his roommates where. All three were girls, with one of them being the person he considered his nemesis.

Morielle only gave him a quick glance before choosing a bunk. Their personal items had already been delivered in their room.

“I guess it’s time for some proper introductions,” a white-haired beastkin girl said after clearing her throat to catch the attention of the other three in the room. “My name is Yuna Shirotora. I’m from Misce, so I’m pretty used to interacting with all sorts of people. Nice to meet you all!”

Beastkins did not have the same naming convention as the other races. The last name they use was actually the name of their clan and its most defining characteristic. For example, the beastkins of the Shirotora clan usually have white hair, sometimes striped, and a pair of cat-like ears and tail. Because Yuna’s skin was a healthy bronze in color, the thin white hair on it was quite visible because of the contrast.

“I am Vonandi Benett,” said the next person. “I am also from Misce. I’m actually a… half-elf.” The girl was average in height. Her slender build made her look taller from far away when not standing next to anyone. She had her long dirty blond hair tied into a neat braid. Her ears were indeed longer and more pointed than an average human’s but not by much. If she didn’t mention that she was a half-elf, it would be easy to believe that she was actually human.

Elves only gave birth to elves. This was a well-known statement with regards to the elven culture. The elves abhor interracial reproduction of other races with their own. They do not care if the other races decided to mix their blood and flesh, but when elven bloodline was thrown into the equation, the resulting half-elf offspring was considered as taboo. Due to the intervention of the URA however, half-elves who were shunned by the elven community finally found a place they can call home.

The two girls who had already introduced themselves looked at the other two expectantly. Arovin only sighed as he spoke.

“Arovin Fragor. Havencinque.” His haughty expression, light blond hair, fair complexion, and piercing blue eyes screamed human and noble at the same time. In fact, he himself believed that he was what every noble human male should look like or strive to be. When his gaze met the green eyes of the half-elf girl, he saw her hurriedly look away with a slight blush.

Three pairs of eyes landed on the last person, a one-armed girl who was keeping her busy by putting her things into her closet. She stopped what she was doing to face the rest and introduced herself.

“Morielle Kraden. Havencinque,” she said in the same manner as Arovin, but without the haughtiness.

The young man was about to lie down in bed when his eyes suddenly widened in realization. Five years ago, he remembered his father saying something about a fleet general finding and adopting a strange child.

It seems like Morielle Kraden was Fleet General Keifre Kraden’s adopted daughter.

Four weeks passed by in the blink of an eye. The new batch of students quickly adapted to their curriculum. Every morning was physical and combat training while afternoon lessons were mostly theories and their practical applications. The academy was equipped with facilities which provided everything they needed from daily necessities to recreational activities.

Currently, the entire first year recruits were on the flight deck. They were separated into five major groups. Each group were further divided into five smaller groups of four people, corresponding to their room assignments. In each small group, there was a senior student taking charge.

“Hi, you two. It’s been a while,” greeted the senior student. This short and mischievous senior was none other than the president of the Ship Engineering club and third year student Nina. Arovin nodded in response while Morielle did not react at all causing the perky little senior to pout her lips. After exchanging introductions with the other two and some attempt at inviting them into her club, she took a more serious expression.

“Alright. You’ve finally reached this point in time,” she began. “Some of you may already have an idea of what’s going to happen next, but others may not and this primer is part of the formality. I can’t just skimp on it even if I want to. Today… will be a sort of initiation.

“For countless centuries, the various races of Erelia have lived on the sky islands prospering on the scant knowledge and technology our ancestors have left us. These giant pieces of land floating above the sea of clouds have been our home for as long as we remember, but as you have learned in your lessons this has not always been so. Erelia is not just made up of floating islands. The islands are just a small part of it, and today you will see with your own eyes the world that our ancestors have left behind: the Overland.

“Do not be fooled. The Overland may have been once our home, but now it is a place infested with monsters. Even the Horde dare not call the Overland their home, and that is why they tried to invade our islands half a decade ago. Despite the hazards, we still need to return once more, not to reclaim but to regain many of what we have lost and left behind.”

Nina paused to let the younger students take in her words. What she had given them was a summary of what they have learned in their first week here on the academy, the history of their world.

“You may think that it is a foolish task. Do we even need to send people down there when the islands are filled with sustenance? One of the reasons is the Horde. To fight against the Horde, we need specific things: resources like metals, components that can not be reproduced, and undiscovered ancient technology. Another reason is to improve the quality of living in the islands, and this requires non-renewable resources. For example, Goeden’s airship carrier is a gift from our ancestors, but it requires constant maintenance as well as improvements. Those requires different types of metals that can only be found in the Overland. As you can see, the sky islands can only provide us with renewable resources.

“The Overland is dangerous, but you are not going there unprepared. Your physical and combat lessons have helped the academy to single out the type of equipment and style of combat you will need. These will be essential in your stay in the Overland.”

Nina picked up the cases that had been beside her on the ground all this time, gave one to each person in the group, and told them to open the cases. Inside each case was a weapon and its accompanying holder.

Vonandi’s weapon unsurprisingly was a shortbow. Yuna got a pair of short, elegant, curved blades called wakizashi. Arovin got a standard longsword. The three of them were familiar with the weapons they obtained and were not surprised in the slightest. On the other hand, they could not help but stare at the strange object in Morielle’s case.

The weapon looked like a merge between a strange gun and a blade. Guns were commonly seen within the armies of Havencinque, but this one was completely different from those.

“That’s a developmental model that Fleet General Kraden himself designed. He called it a Revolver Gunblade,” Nina explained. Hearing her words, Arovin looked away and scoffed. He thought that even the praised hero could not help but favor his own daughter, adoptive or not.

“As a reminder, you may lose or break your weapons, but try your best to not to lose the holders. Those are important,” Nina said when the four had equipped their new weapons.

“I have a question,” Vonandi timidly called out.

“Go ahead.”

“Uhm… where are my arrows?” She blushed as soon as the words came out of her mouth. Indeed, she was a provided a bow but there were no ammunitions in sight.

“Good question,” Nina said cheerfully. “I was just about to get to that. Unlike your weapons which can be easily replaced and reproduced, those holders contain something which is the opposite of that. Find the thing on your holders that looks like a silver pyramid with a hexagonal base and press lightly on the point with your finger tip.”

“Ouch!” Vonandi and Yuna exclaimed at the same time. Their fingertips were now sporting a small prick. They heard Nina hold back a laugh.

“The first time always hurts,” she commented. Arovin gave her a dubious glance wondering whether her words had another meaning. Shaking his head to remove the unnecessary thoughts, he pricked his finger like the others.

“Was this a prank? I’m gonna get a little mad if it is,” said Yuna.

All complaints disappeared from her mind however as the object that had wounded her slowly opened like a blooming flower. The sides of the pyramid separated from each other and unfolded with the edge connecting each side to the base serving as a hinge. On the center of the base, a small emerald crystal orb was embedded. On three alternate ‘petals’ were smaller black orbs. The entire thing could fit in the palm of her hand. Looking at the other three, she saw that their central orbs were of different colors. Vonandi’s was light blue, Arovin’s was crimson, and Morielle’s was pale yellow. Looking closely, there was a faint image on each orb’s surface.

“This is one of the technologies that our ancestors left for us. We are unable to replicate it completely, though. We call these Jewel Armaments. Each Armament has a central jewel and up to six smaller jewels. The ones you have right now are low quality Armaments which only have three smaller jewels. Each central jewel represents an element and a fighting style. To answer Vonandi’s question earlier, her central jewel is of the ice element and archer style. Your Armament will create an arrow of ice for you when you prepare to shoot. You’ll get to test that out later, but not for now.

“Yuna’s central jewel is of wind element and reaper style. Your Armament can enhance your agility and dexterity, making you move faster and nimbler, allowing for lightfooted movement in the battlefield. Arovin—”

“I already know mine,” Arovin cut off Nina and ignored her indignant expression. “Mine is of fire element and swordsman style. It increases the effectiveness of my attacks by heating the blade, allowing it to cut through steel like butter.”

“Exactly! As for Morielle’s…” Nina slowed down in case the last girl also decides to cut her off which she didn’t. “Morielle’s is of the lightning element. As for the combat style, it is an unknown variant of the gunner style, with ammunition creation not too different from the archer style. Her attacks can cause shock and paralysis.”

“These Armaments are pretty cool,” said Yuna with shining eyes.

“Armaments are used in the military and are not that rare actually, although theirs are of a much lower quality than what we are currently provided,” said Arovin. “High ranking officers possess the highest quality ones if I remember correctly.”

“Armaments… Arms…” Yuna muttered as her eyes shifted from the Armament to the brown-haired girl who always seem to wear an indifferent expression. She then walked to her and smiled widely.

“Aren’t you glad?” she asked the other girl. Morielle wanted to just ignore her but the beastkin seemed insistent that she respond. Their senior was not showing any interest in moving on with the schedule unless she did so. With a sigh, she gave up and spoke.

“About what?”

“That you got a replacement for your mis—”

Yuna was unable to finish her sentence. She clutched her forehead where a flick from Morielle had left a red and sore spot.

“Alright!” said Nina to call their attention. “Looks like the other groups are ready to go, and so we also should.”

Near each group were airboats with a four-seat passenger cabin. All the airboats were similar models with slight differences, except for one.

“Meet Baby Moni!” Nina said as she ushered the four in. Arovin sighed in relief when he noticed that the seats were equipped with safety belts.

“Make sure you buckle your seat belts tightly,” a dwarf girl said as she appeared from the pilot’s cockpit. Her long curly hair was a flaming red color. “My name is Chevia Stormhand, a second year.”

“She’s the best pilot in our club and knows this airboat like the back of her hand,” Nina followed up as she entered the cockpit with the dwarf.

“I don’t like this,” muttered Arovin. From the window, he could see the other students also boarding their respective airboats, which looked more decent and safer than theirs.

The Baby Moni began taxiing toward the edge of the flight deck. The movement was very gentle and careful, and Arovin felt relaxed for a moment. He then realized something was wrong as the airboat got closer and closer to the edge.

“Hey!” he shouted at the cockpit. Vonandi and Yuna gave him curious looks. Morielle, usually indifferent, had a slightly pale face as she seemed to realize what Arovin had realized. “The flotation engine is still off!”

When an airship or airboat takes flight, it requires the flotation engine to counter the effects of gravity. One can easily feel its effects when it is turned on even at the lowest output. Despite the very gentle movements of the airboat, Arovin felt no such thing.

“Prepare for drop off!”

The four recruits heard Nina’s voice from the cockpit. Through the windows, they could only watch wide-eyed as the other airboats took off from the flight deck while theirs plunged cockpit first toward the Overland.