Morning light was busy creeping through the slits of my blinds, golden beams playing tag on the walls. The clock screamed 'first day of the academy,' and I shook off the last remnants of sleep. I pulled on my new black tee and pants, both clinging to my muscles like a second skin. You could say it was a new kind of school uniform.

The rich aroma of sizzling eggs, toasting bread, and the oh-so-familiar scent of coffee had my stomach growling in no time. "Morning, Amelia," I said, striding into the kitchen, the cool ship floor solid beneath my bare feet.

With a casual flip of my wrist, my WristComp hummed to life, and out popped Phoebe, sparkling brighter than any twelve-year-old should at this unholy hour. "Morning, guys!" she greeted, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Her appearance, just a bunch of pixels and light, scattered rainbows all over our tiny kitchen.

Amelia was clutching her coffee like it was some lifeline, her eyes locked onto mine. "Remember, Max," she said, the stern tone cutting through the otherwise homely kitchen noises. "Phoebe stays our secret at the academy."

"Copy that, Amelia," I answered with a firm nod, quickly devouring the stack of toast. The crunching sound filled my ears, joined by the distant hum of the ship's engine.

Phoebe threw us both a shimmering wink. "Cross my heart," she echoed, even as her form started to morph, becoming visible only to my eyes through the magic of my augmented-reality contacts.

As I weaved my hoverboard down the vibrant city streets, Phoebe glided next to me, her form shimmering with an ethereal glow that only my eyes could perceive through my augmented reality contacts. The cool morning wind combed through my hair and tickled my skin, delivering a rush of adrenaline.

"First day at the academy, Max," Phoebe's voice, crystal clear, rang through my AR earpiece. "Excited to conquer the new world?"

"Bring it on, Phoebs," I shot back, grinning. The thrill of what lay ahead gave me a potent shot of adrenaline, one that was both scary and addictively exciting. You know, the kind that turns your blood into a roller coaster ride and makes you feel like you could wrestle a grizzly.

I remember when Phoebe was just another standard-issue AI, one among many in the HarmonySphere—a talking user manual, if you will. But everything changed when Amelia decided to merge Phoebe with an ancient AI matrix. Now, she's one of a kind.

Imagine a 12-year whiz-kid, overflowing with sunshine, who just happens to also be in possession of the combined knowledge of humanity. That's Phoebe.

To be honest, Phoebe is less like a simple AI assistant now and more like my quirky little sister. Always chirping facts and insights, a proper know-it-all.

To make it worse, Amelia seemed to have asked her to keep an eye on me. Despite me technically being her 'owner', Phoebe always seems to follow Amelia's instructions to the letter. I can't figure out why she obeys Amelia unconditionally. But then again, that's just one of many things that make Phoebe, well...Phoebe.

Zipping through the early morning streets on my hoverboard, I turned to Phoebe. "Hey, Phoebs, ever thought about a change of your appearance? Maybe something more...Sexy?"

Her response was as instant as it was unchanging, her warm smile belied the firm denial. "Max, as per Amelia's operational guidelines, my avatar's appearance is non-adjustable."

I laughed again, feeling the rush of air on my face as we soared down the street, past familiar buildings and occasional early risers. "Worth a try, right?"

Phoebe's holographic face held a teasing grin. "Yes, for the hundredth time." Her voice held a lightness that seemed to dance with my laughter, yet behind it, I knew Phoebe would never break the boundary Amelia had set.

It was our routine, our running gag, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Nearing the bridge that led to the Academy Island, I came to a gradual stop, easing off my hoverboard. The academy, in all its wisdom, didn't exactly encourage zipping around on hoverboards within its hallowed halls. So, I dismounted, securing my hoverboard in one of the designated slots near the bridge, locking it with a simple swipe of my wristcomp. With one last glance at my trusty board, I turned to face the bridge ahead, the anticipation tingling in my veins.

Crossing the bridge with the Emeraldene River flowing beneath, I smirked at Phoebe.

"Ever consider the probability of finding some ancient treasure buried under the river, Phoebs?"

She quirked a brow, her form aglow in the rising sunlight.

"The probability, Max, isn't zero. However, it's probably about as likely as Kael, our beloved meat-loving Feranox friend, turning vegan."

A laugh burst out of me, the image of Kael crunching on celery instead of a juicy steak too absurd to hold in.

"But really, Max," she continued, her voice filled with humor. "If you're that curious, I could always—"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Her sentence hung unfinished in the air as someone knocked into me from behind, sending my wristcomp flying. Phoebe's form, caught mid-sentence with a look of astonishment, flickered violently before disappearing altogether.

Worry hit me, hard. How damaged was the wristcomp? Could it damage Phoebe's program? Can I get her back? I wished I could go straight to Gizmo's to fix the wristcomp and get Phoebe back, but we were sternly warned not to miss the opening ceremony with threats of immediate probation hanging over us.

I turned, trying to see who had knocked into me. She was pretty. Not just ordinary-pretty, but picture-perfect pretty. Chestnut hair, porcelain skin, the whole works. Her clothes were pure Ivory district - high-class and expensive. Just my luck to be run over by an Ivory princess.

"Sorry," she said hurriedly, not bothering to even care about bumping into me, nor potentially killing off my little sister.

I grabbed her arm as she was about to rush off again. I had really wanted to yell at her, but worry for Phoebe was overwhelming me."Watch where you are going next time", I finally manages to say simply.

Her arm was surprisingly soft in my grip, delicate almost. Nothing like the hard, callused hands I was used to in the Rust District. A soft scent, floral, like some kind of fancy shampoo, filled my nose. Way nicer than the constant smell of oil and metal I grew up around.

I kind of got lost for a brief moment. Her protest of pain shocked me out of my trance. I let go.

As I watched Sela as she walked toward the assembly hall, my mood weighed down by worry for Phoebe. Around me, the whispers of the students grew louder, turning into questions. When I turned to see what caused the commotion, I saw Kael, my friend from Feranox, approaching.

"Hey, is that a Feranox?" someone asked.

"Why is there a Feranox here?" another wondered aloud.

Kael ignored them all, his focus on me. "Not a great start to your brand-new school life," he observed, his eyes on my broken wristcomp.

I tried to mask my concern with a retort. "Yeah, well, you don't seem to be having a great first day either."

Kael is an impressive sight, even to me. Standing at 7 feet tall, his imposing, muscular build still catches me off guard sometimes. His reptilian features are a stark contrast to the other students around him. His emerald scales shine, and his eyes sparkle with intelligence. His arms are easily twice as thick as my muscular thighs.

Kael's reptilian forehead twitched a bit, a sign of amusement I've come to recognize. "I think the Academy forgot to break the news that a Feranox is coming this year."

Trying to sound more upbeat, I declared, "Well, whatever happens, I've got your back, Kael!"

Kael's forehead twitched again, more pronounced this time. "With what? Those twigs you call arms?" he teased.

I couldn't help but grin, though my eyes still betrayed a hint of concern for my broken wristcomp. "Hey, it's not the size, it's how you use them," I playfully flexed my arms.

Kael's wide snout, filled with razor-sharp teeth, curved into what I recognized as a smile.

"That's what you keep telling me," he replied, his deep voice resonating like distant thunder.

We shared a moment of levity, ignoring the still-present whispers and stares. I know our friendship is unconventional in a world filled with animosity towards the Feranox, but that's never mattered to us. We're comrades, bound by shared experiences and a deep trust that goes beyond appearances.

But as we continued to the assembly hall, I couldn't shake the weight of the day's events. My worry for Phoebe lingered, casting a shadow over my excitement for the new school year. The world of the academy is new to me, filled with potential friendships and rivalries. The presence of Kael only adds to the complexity.

Kael and I walked side by side, heading to the Academy's opening ceremony. The grandeur of the hall resonated with a history that was both intimidating and inspiring. Only about two hundred and fifty students and a dozen staff were there, a small crowd considering the reputation of the Academy. It was a place for the future leaders of Veridion, after all.

The ceremony began with the usual pomp and ceremony. My mind drifted, thoughts tangled with worry for Phoebe and my broken wristcomp, until I saw her. The pretty Ivory girl, the one who might have killed Phoebe, walked onto the stage.

"And here's our Freshman Representative. Sela Lanford!" The principal's voice pulled me back to the present.

Sela started her speech, her words polished and confident. But when she said, "We are all standing on the same starting line as equals," something inside me snapped.

"We are anything but equal!" I yelled, standing up. "Not everyone here is raised in Ivory, and not everyone here is even human. If you think we are all starting equal, you couldn't be more mistaken!"

The room erupted. Insults and derogatory remarks about me and Kael filled the air.

"Bloody Feranox. Your ugly kind isn't welcome here. Go back to where you came from!" one student shouted.

In a fit of rage, I lunged toward him, but Kael's impressive reach stopped me. He grabbed me mid-air and held me like a mother cat holding a kitten.

"Let me at him! Bloody bigot! Ignorant idiot!" I yelled, my anger uncontrolled.

Kael took me outside, his grip firm but gentle. "Did you not hear a single word Amelia said? We knew this was going to happen."

"You are too easily provoked, Max," he said, his tone gentle but firm.

I felt a mixture of frustration and shame. "I just can't stand those bigots running their mouths when they know nothing about you guys."

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't angry," Kael replied. "But Amelia is right. This was unwise. You need to be more Unyielding, Max."

I tried to calm down, but my anger got the best of me, and I kicked a rock across the lawn. "I don't think this Unyielding thing works for me very well."

Kael's response was a clap on my back that nearly winded me. "Well, thank you for being angry for me, my friend."

"Oww! You're going to bruise my lung one of these days!" I coughed.

Kael laughed, and we headed to Gizmo's, leaving behind a troubled start to our school year. His laughter and the thought of seeing Phoebe again lightened my mood. Whatever else happened, I knew Kael and I would face it together.

I don't need any more prodding, and broke into a sprint toward my hovboard.

"Phoebe, please be okay." I thought as I sprinted.