Arriving in Nine City was like stepping into a whirlwind. The air pulsed with a chaotic energy, so different from the steadier, familiar rhythms of Seven Star Town. Crowds swirled everywhere, people dressed in robes of every color and carrying themselves with a certain confidence that left me feeling unexpectedly small. This wasn't home anymore, and that realization felt heavier with each step. The noise of passersby load and energetic Tall buildings and bustling mass filled the world in front of me ,beckoning for me to explore.
I barely had time to absorb everything as we disembarked from the carriages and stood in front of a massive castle-like structure that can only be the Nine Academy, before we knew it we were being ushered with a group of new students toward an enormous hall where the attributes test would take place. In a sense, this test would determine our place in the academy. I'd never taken a formal test of this kind before, having been overlooked for so long in our family, but I was ready. Or as ready as one can be when they barely know what's ahead.
The hall buzzed with the nervous energy of dozens of students. These students like me , came from all over the continent hoping to make it into this glorious Academy. Some muttered to themselves, reciting techniques or reminders under their breaths. My sisters, Vanessa and Mai, lingered in the back, sneering and exchanging looks like they owned the place. They always did look the part, with their porcelain-like beauty and eyes that hinted at disdain. Vanessa, with her icy aura, seemed so composed it was nearly unbearable, while Mai, all flowing water and serene smiles, seemed to glow with an inner smugness. I could feel their gazes on me like ice on bare skin.
When my turn arrived, the exam began with a test stone that glowed faintly to gauge one's spiritual and physical aptitudes. For others, the stone lit up in an array of colors or gave off a vibration that seemed to communicate the depth of their skills. I stood there, the stone remaining stubbornly still and dull, not betraying an ounce of my true abilities. After an awkward silence, the examiners exchanged puzzled glances, deciding that I should be placed in the Physical Attributes Faculty by default.
Though I felt a slight relief that my powers would remain hidden, that relief was quickly clouded by doubt. Would people here see me as a dud too? It was as if my life back home had simply carried over, shadowing me even here.
Once the testing was over, we were led to the dormitories. My roommates, who were assigned by the administrators after the test was over ,and I shuffled through the entrance, eyeing each other with an odd mixture of curiosity and reluctance. The four of us were strangers, each carrying our own secrets, barely masking the tension between us. I had always been on my own—no allies, no friends—and yet here I was, about to share a space with three others.
The first to introduce herself was Aerin, a slight girl with a thin, wiry frame. Her short-cropped hair framed a face that looked sharper than her slight build suggested. I had the distinct impression she could disappear in a crowd with ease her coloring added to this image with her brown hair and eyes. She carried herself like a wraith, her voice quiet yet filled with a steely resolve. "I'm from the Falcon Clan," she said softly, as though she'd just given away a piece of herself. I'd heard of them—the assassins known for their silence, their prowess, and their secrecy.
Next was Mira, a fierce-looking girl with dark eyes that burned like embers, her hair seemed like an indicator of her temper. Her tone was dismissive, almost defiant. "I'm here for the Beast Tamer faculty," she said, her gaze lingering on each of us as if assessing weaknesses. She didn't share her clan, but I noticed a small emblem on her wrist—a wolf, fangs bared. She had the look of someone who would bare her teeth just as easily if pushed.
The last was Caius, a boy with an oddly quiet demeanor and intense eyes that betrayed a world of untold stories the contrast of his siver hair and deep green eyes made his whole presence eye catching. He wore the simplest of robes, without any of the adornments that the others had. His silence was almost unsettling, and when he finally spoke, his words were measured, almost as if he didn't want to reveal anything more than absolutely necessary. "I'm from the Spirit Attributes Faculty," he murmured, not elaborating further.
I quickly introduced myself, leaving out as much detail as I could, and nodded at them as if to say, I'll respect your secrets if you respect mine. I didn't trust them ,after living in the Storm household its to be expected as trust can easilybe broken ,though I wasn't opposed to trying. The academy's rules were simple: strength is cultivated together, and bonds are formed through struggle.
The first week was uneventful , it was given to us to get to know each of our roommates to foster friendship and teamwork. As the days wore on, I watched as we gradually, if reluctantly, began to mesh. Aerin moved through the shadows effortlessly, sharing silent nods with me as we navigated our way through the crowded halls. Mira occasionally muttered her irritation, though her expression softened in rare moments of camaraderie. Caius was a mystery—a silent figure who seemed to carry the weight of centuries in his gaze. Each of them, I realized, had probably lived a life as complicated as my own.
I tried to immerse myself in the routine, spending time in the Heaven's Lake dimension at night, practicing in secret. There, time stretched out, and what felt like a single day in the world outside became ten days inside. Under Iris's watchful gaze, I pushed my telekinetic abilities further, experimenting with the power hidden within me.
By the end of the week, though, we all knew the real test lay ahead—the entrance exam was only the beginning. Our cultivation levels determined our faculty, but we'd soon be assessed for much more than that.