Renjiro stirred restlessly in his sleep, his dreams clouded by chaos. The sounds of battle filled his mind—clashing weapons, terrified screams, and the heavy thrum of Lumina energy tearing through the air. His breath quickened as his dream placed him in the heart of the carnage, surrounded by chaos, but helpless to do anything.

“Don’t do this!” a voice cried out, raw with pain and desperation.

Another voice answered, colder and more resolved. “I have no choice.”

Renjiro’s heart raced as tension surged, the dream tightened like a vice. Then, through the swirling confusion, two names echoed, their weight crashing down on him like thunder.

“Migama!”

“Remedias!”

The intensity of those names shook Renjiro to his core. He didn’t know who they were, but the dread that accompanied them was inescapable, suffocating him. As the dream faded, a whisper lingered in the air, soft and ominous: “The balance... shattered...”

Renjiro gasped, waking with a start. His heart pounded in his chest as he sat up in his cot, the morning light filtering through the edges of his tent. The voices from his dream still echoed faintly in his mind, clinging to him like a shadow. The names—Migama and Remedias—pressed heavily on his thoughts, but he shook his head, trying to dispel the lingering unease. There was no time to dwell on it now. Today marked the true beginning of his journey at the Azeron Guardians’ Academy.

Stepping outside, Renjiro was greeted by the sight of the Academy coming to life. The air was cool, but there was a hum of energy around him, buzzing with anticipation. Recruits were already sparring in the distance, their bodies glowing faintly with blue Lumina. Some wielded shimmering blades of Lumina, while others unleashed beams of energy, the air crackling around them with raw power. The clang of weapons and the low hum of energy filled the grounds, a constant reminder that this was a place where warriors were made.

As Renjiro walked through the grounds, the scale of everything overwhelmed him. He passed rows of barracks, obstacle courses, and sparring rings—each one filled with recruits pushing themselves to the limit. The Academy felt alive, but its intensity was almost suffocating. This wasn’t a place for the weak.

His thoughts were interrupted when he spotted a large, muscular boy sitting near a mess table, devouring a loaf of bread. Crumbs flew in every direction as the boy stuffed another piece into his mouth, his excitement clear on his face.

The boy caught Renjiro’s eye and grinned, even as he chewed. “Hey! You a recruit too?”

Renjiro nodded as his nerves began to settle. “Yeah. First day.”

The boy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and extended a thick, meaty arm. “Name’s Goro. Nice to meet ya! Man, I’ve been waiting for this my whole life! Can’t believe I’m finally here.”

Renjiro shook his hand, a small smile pulling at his lips despite himself. “I’m Renjiro. Nice to meet you too.”

Goro beamed with excitement. Despite his imposing build, there was a softness in his demeanor, a genuine warmth that made Renjiro feel at ease. “Man, look at this place! So many recruits from all over Azeron!"

Renjiro nodded, still taking in the sheer number of recruits. “I’ve never seen so many Luminarians in one place before.”

Goro blinked, his confusion spreading across his face. “Wait, what do you mean? You’ve never seen Luminarians before? Aren’t you one?”

Renjiro hesitated, unsure how to explain. His entire life had been spent in a secluded human village, and his recent discovery of his Lumina abilities left him grappling with who he really was. “It’s... complicated,” he said, his voice trailing off.

Goro raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off. “Eh, no biggie. Looks like something’s happening anyway.”

A bell rang out across the grounds, signaling the recruits to gather. Renjiro and Goro made their way toward a large platform where several senior Luminarians stood, waiting to address the crowd. At the center of the group was a man with silver hair, his posture regal and commanding. Beside him stood a tall, dark-skinned man with a bald head and a piercing gaze. Renjiro could feel the weight of their presence even before they spoke.

Goro grabbed Renjiro’s arm excitedly. “No way... Captain Rei! He’s here!”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Renjiro glanced at the dark-skinned man Goro was pointing to. “Who’s Captain Rei?”

Goro stared at him as if Renjiro had just asked the most ridiculous question in the world. “What?! You don’t know who Captain Rei is? He’s one of the strongest, most noble warriors of the Azeron Guardians! Some say he’s the best soldier we’ve got. He moved up the ranks faster than anyone, with insane power and skill. People say he’s practically unbeatable.”

Renjiro looked back at Captain Rei, taking in his calm yet commanding demeanor. He nodded thoughtfully. “I see. He does seem... formidable.”

Before Goro could respond, the silver-haired man on the platform raised his hand, silencing the crowd. His voice was deep and authoritative as he addressed the recruits.

“Welcome, recruits, to the Azeron Guardians’ Academy. I am General Seraphus, and with me are Captain Rei and Commander Thalor. You are here because we believe you have the potential to become great warriors. Many of you have experience from your regions, but here, you will become more than that. You will become Azeron Guardians—protectors of peace.”

Renjiro stood straighter, feeling the weight of General Seraphus’s words. His voice was calm but carried the authority of someone who had seen countless battles. Renjiro’s mind briefly wandered back to the chaos of his destroyed village, and his fists clenched as the memory of the Crimson Dynasty’s attack resurfaced.

“As you train here,” Seraphus continued, “we will mold you into warriors. But know this: the world outside the dome is changing. The Crimson Dynasty, the Red Clan, grows more violent each day. They attack human villages, searching for something. Whatever it is, we cannot let them continue their reign of terror.”

The crowd buzzed with murmurs as tension rippled through the recruits. Renjiro’s chest tightened at the mention of the Crimson Dynasty. He had seen their destruction firsthand, and the thought of them growing more powerful made his blood run cold.

General Seraphus’s gaze swept across the crowd, landing briefly on Renjiro before moving on. “In time, we will select those who stand out to join our elite forces against the Red Clan. Your path will not be easy, but for those who prove themselves worthy, the rewards will be great.”

With that, General Seraphus stepped back, allowing Commander Thalor to take his place. Thalor’s silver hair gleamed in the sunlight as he addressed the crowd with a calm but firm tone.

“You will all be placed into squads,” Thalor said, unrolling a scroll. “Within these squads, you will train together, fight together, and grow together. Over time, we will evaluate your progress and eventually, you will face the Trials. A series of challenges that will determine who among you is ready to join the elite ranks of the Azeron Guardians.”

Renjiro’s heart skipped a beat. The Trials. He had heard tales about them from his home. Legendary challenges that tested not only a Luminarian’s strength but their mind, heart, and spirit. Few were able to prove their worth.

Thalor began calling out names, organizing the recruits into squads.

“Squad Mist,” he called, and a slim, stoic figure stepped forward. Tarek had an analytical air about him, his dark hair tied into a neat bun. He scanned the crowd with sharp, calculating eyes.

“Farin.” A bright-eyed boy with light brown hair approached next. Farin’s carefree confidence stood out, his relaxed demeanor a contrast to the serious atmosphere around him.

“Nira.” A girl with jet-black hair moved almost silently through the crowd, her presence stealthy but powerful. Small and slight, Nira exuded a quiet strength that seemed to go unnoticed by most.

“Esmir,” Thalor finished. A pale boy with blue-tinted black hair stepped forward. Esmir’s intense gaze and quiet focus suggested he was driven by something deeper than the desire to prove himself.

Thalor moved on to the next squad. “Squad Storm.”

“Kairro,” he called, and the crowd seemed to be still for a moment as a boy with dark blue hair stepped forward. His eyes, matching the color of his hair, glinted in the sunlight with calm confidence. There was something about Kairro—an air of leadership and strength. The other recruits instinctively parted to let him through, sensing his presence.

“Veyra.” A lean, athletic girl with curly brown hair followed. Veyra’s agility and speed were well-known, and her fierce, competitive nature made her an opponent to be reckoned with.

“Thyros.” A massive, muscular figure joined them, his scarred face adding to his intimidating aura. Thyros looked every bit the front-line warrior, built for strength and endurance.

“Illira.” The last of Squad Storm stepped forward, a slender girl with sharp, curious eyes. Illira was known for her fascination with Lumina’s history and the ways it could be harnessed. Her intellect was her greatest weapon.

Finally, Thalor reached the last squad.

“Squad Sky.”

“Goro,” he called, and Goro practically bounced forward, his excitement palpable.

“Emi.” A shy girl with hazel hair and glasses stepped forward next. Emi seemed nervous, but her sharp intellect and deep understanding of Lumina were evident in the way she carried herself.

“Renjiro.” His heart pounded as he stepped forward, joining Goro and Emi.

“And finally, Yumeru,” Thalor finished.

Renjiro glanced at the mysterious girl as she approached. Her black hair and eyes gave her an air of calm intensity and something about her presence unsettled Renjiro. She carried herself with quiet confidence, but there was something beneath the surface—something Renjiro couldn’t quite place.

With the squads assembled, Commander Thalor gave the final instructions. “Your squads will train together from now on. The path ahead will not be easy, but together, you will learn what it means to be Azeron Guardians. Prepare yourselves. Dismissed."

As the recruits dispersed, Goro turned to Renjiro, crumbs still clinging to his face. “This is gonna be awesome!” he said with a grin.

Renjiro managed a smile, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The Crimson Dynasty’s attack on his village, his uncle’s death, and the destruction he had witnessed—it all still weighed heavily on his heart. This Academy, these recruits, and this journey were part of something much bigger than he had ever imagined. And deep down, he knew that the path ahead wouldn’t just test his strength—it would test everything he was.

The Trials were coming, and Renjiro had no choice but to be ready.