The journey from Fort Luminar to Arcasium wasn't much different from their previous trip from Reptiscale Caverns, just a bit longer. The whole way, Brian was bored by the endless desert around them, the sand a weird shade of purple. It got all over their shoes, leaving gritty residue with every step.

As the miles stretched on, Brian's mind began to organize his goals. His immediate plan was straightforward; attend the decimator academy to learn to use valtite, meanwhile learn about the aestari, and hopefully blend in with them. But he had two other, more personal missions, he wanted to find out why he was able to speak to the monsters while others couldn't, and find out what was this Calamity that Silas the grivaxian beta, had mentioned.

Brian thought back to the last thing Mandrix had told him: 'Once you reach Arcasium and join the decimator academy, you'll come in contact with many government entities. DO NOT TRUST ANY OF THEM! Most of them are being manipulated by another, more powerful group anyway, but be on the lookout.' Brian was immensely grateful for what Mandrix had done for him, but he couldn't deny that the man sounded like a crazy conspiracy nut. Of course, not knowing anything about life in Valteria, Brian couldn’t come to any conclusions. One thing was certain, though: Mandrix had managed to stir his anxiety.

Arcasium finally came into view, at the base of the mountains. From afar, amidst the unchanging desert, it almost seemed like an illusion. Its buildings were fascinating, reflecting the twilight colors like some sci-fi movie. Their defenses, though, were the real highlight. Brian could tell they were designed to keep out the nasties prowling the nearby wastelands.

As they approached the gates, a uniformed guard stepped forward. With his eyes hidden behind the sheen of his protective visor, he held out a gloved hand, signaling for their IDs.

Lana greeted him cheerfully and confidently handed them over. She engaged in light conversation about the weather and the journey from Fort Luminar while he looked over the cards.

Brian shifted his feet, suddenly anxious. Would their fakes pass muster? Brian found himself staring, wondering if the guard's eyes were meeting his behind the reflective visor. The thought made him anxious. Just when he was struggling to maintain his composure, the guard lifted his head ever so slightly. Brian's stomach dropped - the guard hadn't been looking at him before, but he definitely was now.

Brian could feel the blood drain from his face as the guard glanced between Brian's ID and face, but he tried to appear relaxed.

Sophia was calm at first, but Brian’s behavior was clearly starting to make her uncomfortable.

“So yeah, the grivaxians won’t be a problem anymore,” Lana said. She was leaning against the guard’s booth with her elbow.

The guard flipped Sophia’s ID over. “Thank you for everything you do. All of you Decimators are so brave.”

“Oh no stop, it’s you guys, the enforcers, that keep Arcasium safe,” Lana responded with a ray of appreciation. She flashed the guard a grateful smile and he handed back the IDs with a nod.

"Welcome to Arcasium," he said and waved them through.

Once inside Sophia let out a shaky breath as they entered the city. "That was scary! I thought for sure he was onto us. Brian you have to relax."

“Haha, I’m not good at that,” Brian admitted.

“Don’t worry,” Lana smiled reassuringly. "All part of the plan. The guard was just doing his job."

Brian was impressed out of his mind by the city's layout, walkways hanging in the air and lights that glowed with Valtite power. The mix of valtite and engineering was genius. Brian noted the city's water system too; he appreciated smart planning. It gave the place a peaceful vibe, so different than the purple desert outside.

Their tranquil stint in Arcasium didn't last long, though. The Decimator Academy waited just outside the city, accessible through a side entrance.

The landscape between the bustling city and the Academy was merely a patch of quiet emptiness separating the two.

The Academy itself wasn't the prettiest building. Rough, all steel and concrete. But inside, it was a different story, clean and bright. It was a vast space, with ceilings so high they made him think of two basketball courts stacked next to each other.

A focused, blond woman was there to greet them. Brian took note of her uniform: crisp white with a neat cream stripe. As she regarded him and Sophia, there was a hint of judgment in her eyes. Immediately, Brian sensed her confidence and resourcefulness.

The young woman promptly approached them. "What brings you to the Decimator Academy?" she asked with a brisk tone.

“I brought you some new recruits," Lana replied.

"Oh great. My name is Caelia Tarnis, and I'm the Decimator Assignments Coordinator. We have a class that’s starting nexlum.”

Brian glanced at Sophia, "Sounds like good timing, huh?"

Sophia chuckled and nodded.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Lana chimed in, "Well, you two get started right away, then. I'll leave you in Caelia's capable hands. Good luck… And let’s go together on a mission when you become fully fleshed decimators." She winked and exited the building.

“Please follow me.” Caelia gestured around the vast interior space. "This here is the main training floor. You'll spend most of your time here. The dining area is over in the corner." She pointed at two picnic tables.

"Through here is the dormitory wing." She led them down a wide hallway flanked by doors. "The academy’s library, training rooms, Darius's office. You’ll meet Darius nexlum. He is the Decimator Academy Instructor.""

Finally they arrived at the dorms. Brian and Sophia were relieved to find simple but comfortable rooms, they each got their own room. Their accommodations consisted of modest rooms with simple furnishings: four walls, a door, a small table, a twin bed and a tiny bathroom similar to those found on cruise ships. It was far from extravagant, but a definite step up from Fort Luminar.

Sophia turned on a tap, Running water - a luxury!

"Make yourselves at home. But Food will be served shortly in the dining hall," Caelia informed them.

As they turned to leave, Caelia added, "I'll need your IDs to register you, and training starts at 0 sols tomorrow. Don’t be late, Darius won’t forgive tardiness."

Brian and Sophia exchanged uneasy glances.

"Uh, do you happen to have an alarm clock I could borrow?" Sophia asked with an anxious chuckle. "Don't want to be late on the first day!"

Caelia raised an eyebrow. "I'll see you tomorrow."

After their much-needed showers, Brian and Sophia were ready for some food. Their shoes clacked against the shiny tiles as they walked across the vast room. Every echo seemed to kick Brian's nerves up a notch. New places always got to him, especially when the stakes felt this high.

They reached the two picnic tables and three others were already there. Just like Brian and Sophia, they were about to dive headfirst into the world of decimators.

Putting on his best cool-guy act, Brian nodded hello to the group, making sure not to come across too excited. He checked out each face, watching how they moved and the looks they were throwing around. But he wasn't going to be the one to get things rolling. He'd rather wait and see how things shook out before he got too chatty. It was his usual game plan—hang back, size things up, and know what he was getting into before he made his move.

"Hi there. I'm Sophia and this is Brian. It's nice to meet you."

Brian watched with relief as Sophia's introduction paved the way for their three classmates to reveal themselves.

“Greetings, I’m Kael.” The man’s chiseled features and rich, dark skin reminiscent of Indian heritage, was only accentuated by his striking blue and white attire that looked like he had just stepped out of a popular ninja anime.

Brian learned that Kael has a fascination with rare insects. A shinobi with an entomologist's heart.

“Hello! I am Livia. It is nice to meet you,” She was a young woman with a gentle smile and twinkling eyes behind a waterfall of chestnut curls. She wore a white uniform with a cream stripe, identical to that of Caelia's, the woman who had initially greeted them at the entrance.

Our very own Florence Nightingale. Livia exuded a warmth and a sense of welcome that was as tangible as the purple desert that they’d just trudged through.

"And you are?" Sophia turned to the last individual.

The man gave them a nonchalant shrug and a sideways grin, "Jax." He gestured towards himself with a muscular arm.

Jax was a different story, all muscles and power, with short hair and dark skin that screamed, “Don't mess with me!" He seemed nice enough, but Brian had a feeling he was a bit eccentric.

Jax revealed that he had a soft spot for animals, on Earth he would probably own a bulldog. But Jax was impossible for Brian to pinpoint; he was like his crazy cousin who would randomly spit on his own pizza slice for no fucking reason.

Kael and Livia seemed friendly and approachable. It wasn't that Jax wasn't - his heart appeared to be in the right place. But his mind, Brian observed, seemed to be elsewhere.

With a casual swipe of his Oculus sight, Brian read their energy signatures. Nothing unusual. Just like him, they were all on a level playing field, energy-wise at least – trace.

Brian sat down by the edge of the table. “Does anyone know how long this course is supposed to be?”

“There’s no time limit. It goes until we’re ready.” Kael said.

"That makes sense.” Sophia said while sitting in front of Brian and sweeping her eyes across the table. “So, why did you all choose to join the Academy?" Sophia asked.

A warmth flickered in Livia's eyes. "I work for the directorate, but seeing so many aestari go out there and not return…hurts. I want to be able to bring them back. I joined to ensure more come back."

"Livia, that's really admirable" Sophia acknowledged softly. Livia merely shrugged, a touch of sadness in her smile.

Brian remained silent, not knowing how to respond. “That's brave…” he muttered under his breath.

Kael’s eyes were gently closed, he seemed to have been in some sort of meditation. "The world is... vast. Unexplored. I want to see it all."

Everyone’s attention fell on Jax, who was twirling a spoon between his fingers. "What about you, Jax?" Livia inquired.

Jax gave the spoon one last twirl before he let it drop back onto the table, a playful grin spread across his face. "I heard the Academy has an impressive collection of ancient alien paraphernalia. Figured I'd sneak into the vault one of these days. And of course, who could resist the charm of potential interstellar wrestling matches?"

Sophia's laughter came out louder than she had anticipated; it was like a melody that echoed across the open space. "I suppose we all have our reasons."

Jax leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, his grin never wavering. "And hey, if we're lucky, maybe we'll discover a new chillicious flavor out there. You know, 'Space Ripple', 'Galaxy Ganache', the possibilities are endless! I better stop, just thinking about the sweet, cold creamy consistency is about to give my brain an orgasm."

“Is that like… an ice cream?” Brian bit back a chuckle, leaning in to whisper to Sophia, "I’m not gonna lie, I want to try those flavors."

Sophia’s eyes twinkled with mirth. "Indeed. A journey worth taking."