Marge leaned back against the cool stone wall of the academy corridor, her arms crossed as she eyed the group gathered around her. “Look at the four of you,” she said, shaking her head in mock disbelief. “I can’t believe the four of you made it onto the same team.” Her eyes flicked to Martin, Flo, Hans, and Rem, all standing together in an oddly harmonious cluster.
Martin grinned, nudging Hans. “Guess it’s fate, huh?”
With a sigh, Marge glanced down at her parchment listing her teammates. “Look at my team” she muttered, “I barely talk to any of them except Paupau. There’s Harry, and... Andrez.” Her voice trailed off at the mention of his name, the frustration evident in her tone. “It’s not exactly the dream team.”
Hans chuckled and exchanged a glance with Flo before turning back to Marge. “What do you mean by that, Marge? You’ve got Andrez on your team. From what I’ve seen, he teases you every chance he gets.”
Marge’s face turned a bright shade of red as she sputtered in protest. “W-What? That’s nonsense! He’s just... annoying, that’s all!” Her flustered denial only made Hans laugh harder, and even Flo had to stifle a smile.
Ika, standing quietly nearby, broke the laughter with a soft voice. “I’m not much different from you, Marge.” She held up the parchment listing her teammates’ names. “Seraphine, Alexander, and Nova... I barely know them, except for Nova. She’s been on the top student list every year, so at least I know she’s reliable. But the other two? They don’t really stand out. They’re not exactly the most well-known students at the academy.”
Her fingers fidgeted with the corner of the parchment as she glanced down. “And then there’s Captain Steven as our leader. He’s not even from the academy. That’s adding so much extra pressure.” She let out a small sigh. “I mean, it’s one thing to be evaluated by professors who know us, but someone like him? It feels like everything we do will be under scrutiny.”
Rem stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Ika’s shoulder. “You’ll do great, Ika. I’m sure of it.” Her voice was warm and encouraging, a stark contrast to the lingering nerves hanging in the air. “We all will. But for now, let’s get prepared.”
The group nodded in agreement, their earlier teasing giving way to a sense of determination. They each dispersed, heading back to their respective dormitories, the weight of the upcoming mission settling more heavily on their minds.
As night fell across the academy, a chilling stillness settled over the dormitories. Inside one dimly lit room, a shadowy figure moved silently, its presence almost undetectable. The figure approached a rune-etched mirror resting on an intricately carved wooden stand. The runes glowed faintly as the figure raised a hand, tracing them with deliberate precision.
The surface of the mirror rippled like water, and an image began to form—dark, shifting clouds parted to reveal the sinister visage of Coeus, the Titan of Intellect. His piercing gaze burned through the glass as he sneered. “Father,” the figure hissed in a voice laced with malice. “The time has come. Two Emperor Rings will be in Aetheris. It is time to strike. The world of men grows complacent, and their arrogance blinds them. The titans will reclaim what is ours by right.”
Coeus tilted his head, with a deafening shriek, the image in the mirror dissipated, leaving the room in silence once more. The shadowy figure stepped back, its resolve solidified as it faded into the shadows of the night.
——
Far from the academy, in the grand royal palace, King Chris Elysionsonn stood alone in royal chamber. The room was illuminated by a soft, golden glow emanating from an ornate fresco on the wall depicting the legendary Emperor Rings. Chris’ gaze lingered on the depiction of two rings in particular—the Ring of Thunder and the Ring of Wind—symbols of his and his late twin brother’s bond.
His eyes shifted to the cabinet where both rings once rested, though now only one remained. The Thunder Crown adorned his hand, its radiant energy a constant presence. The Cyclone Crown, belonging to his twin, was sealed within the cabinet, its light faint but persistent.
Chris placed a hand on the glass of the cabinet, his voice barely above a whisper. “Brother... something dark is coming. I can feel it. Please, lend me your strength.” His words were filled with equal parts sorrow and determination.
As if in response, the Thunder Crown on his finger began to glow with renewed intensity. Inside the cabinet, the Cyclone Crown pulsed in tandem, its light growing stronger with each beat. The air in the room seemed to hum with latent power, a bond between the two rings rekindling in the face of an approaching storm.
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Chris straightened, his resolve hardening as he turned back to the fresco. “Whatever it is, I won’t let it destroy what we’ve fought to protect.”
——
“Train halt!” the conductor shouted, his voice echoing through the corridors. Hans glanced out from his compartment window, a frown creasing his face. “But we haven’t arrived at Aetheris yet. Why are we stopping here?” he asked, turning to Neil.
Neil remained calm as he addressed the group. “The tracks to Aetheris are no longer accessible. We’ll have to disembark at the nearest station and proceed from there.”
The train came to a complete stop with a jolt, and the students began disembarking onto the overgrown platform, surrounded by dense forest. The midmorning sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the moss-covered concrete. The air was thick with the scent of greenery and faint traces of moisture, a stark contrast to the desolate ruins they would soon face.
As Team Two stepped off the train, the other teams followed suit, each group gathering in clusters on the platform. All the students were clad in the newly issued combat suits designed specifically for this mission. Flo tugged at the fabric of her suit, examining how it hugged her frame. “I can’t believe how airy and mobile this uniform feels, considering how tightly it fits,” she remarked.
“It’s made from a special material,” Rem chimed in, brushing her hand over the sleek fabric. “I heard Professor Rebecca developed these suits. They’re testing them out during this mission. The material is harvested from Kathmara silk worms—lightweight but incredibly durable.”
Hans stood with Team Two, his gaze drifting toward the other groups beginning to assemble. He spotted Team One organizing under Master Khan’s watchful eye, their leader’s towering figure impossible to miss. Master Khan’s booming voice carried across the platform as he barked orders, his commanding presence energizing his team. Hans’ gaze lingered on Marge, who was already directing her spectral moths to scout the surrounding area. She caught his eye, and he raised a hand in a brief wave. Marge returned the gesture with a small smile before refocusing on her task.
“Focus, Hans,” Neil said, snapping Hans out of his thoughts. Neil’s tone wasn’t harsh, but it carried the weight of leadership. “We’ve got our own mission to worry about.”
Hans nodded, turning his attention back to his own team as they gathered around Neil. Flo stood beside him, flexing her fingers as vines began to creep along her gloves. She gave a low whistle as she examined the forest. “This place feels alive,” she muttered. “I can sense the roots shifting beneath us. It’s like the whole area is watching.”
Rem, her cosmic energy faintly shimmering around her, stepped up beside Flo. “It’s a good sign. If we can sense the energy of the land, it means we’re tuned in. Use it to our advantage.”
Neil cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Team Two, listen up!” he began, his voice firm but steady. “The tracks ahead are blocked, so we’re adapting. Our mission remains the same: clear a path for the extermination unit and ensure Motherglare has no escape. Each of you has a role to play, and the success of this operation depends on how well we coordinate.”
He turned to Martin, “Martin, your ring, Humming Sun, will be our eyes. Use your echolocation to map the area ahead. Identify potential threats and safe routes.”
Martin gave a quick nod, the faint glow of his ring beginning to pulse as he prepared to activate its power.
“Flo,” Neil continued, “you’ll use your rose vines to create barriers and immobilize any smaller titans we encounter. Your control will keep our team moving safely.”
Flo grinned, clenching her fists as a thorny vine curled up her arm. “Got it. Just point me in the right direction.”
“Rem,” Neil said, shifting his gaze to her, “your cosmic energy will be critical for offensive strikes and support. If a threat gets too close, you neutralize it.”
“Understood,” Rem replied, her voice calm and composed.
Finally, Neil turned to Hans. “You’ll use your aero-aqua manipulation to provide cover and shield us from detection. The mist you generate can disorient enemies and buy us time if things get hairy.”
Hans nodded, his fingers twitching in anticipation as he visualized the movements he’d need to summon a protective veil of water and air.
Neil’s eyes swept over the group, his expression serious but steady. “This forest is just the beginning. Once we reach the outskirts of Aetheris, the real challenge begins. Stay sharp, stick together, and trust your training. You’ve got this.”
As the team murmured their affirmations, the faint hum of Martin’s ring filled the air. A soft golden wave rippled outward, his echolocation mapping the immediate surroundings. “I’m picking up traces of movement ahead,” Martin reported. “Smaller signatures—could be minor titans or local wildlife.”
“Let’s not take any chances,” Neil said, motioning for the group to follow him. “Stay close and watch each other’s backs. We move as one.”
The team set off, their combat suits gleaming faintly under the filtered sunlight. Hans glanced back one last time at the platform, where Master Khan’s voice still boomed as he rallied Team One. Then, with a deep breath, he turned forward, the weight of the mission settling on his shoulders.
The forest seemed to close in around them as they moved deeper into the wilderness, the dense foliage swallowing the light and muffling the sounds of their footsteps. Hans flexed his fingers, summoning a thin veil of mist that clung to the air around them, obscuring their movements. Beside him, Flo’s vines slithered along the ground like watchful sentinels, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
Ahead, Martin paused, his tuning blade catching a glint of light. “Something’s shifting to the north,” he whispered. “About 200 meters. Can’t tell if it’s hostile.”
Neil raised a hand, signaling the group to stop. His voice was low but firm. “We’ll approach with caution. Hans, increase the mist cover. Everyone else, prepare for engagement.”
Hans exhaled, his hands weaving through the air as the mist thickened, swallowing their forms into the forest shadows. Flo and Rem exchanged a glance, their powers thrumming just beneath the surface, ready to unleash.
The mission had barely begun, but already the weight of their task pressed heavily on them. Yet, as they moved in unison, their confidence grew. They were Team Two, and they would carve the path forward—no matter what awaited them in the depths of Aetheris.