(Silfira's Pov.)
The moment Savero Algorian Raven stepped fully inside the tent, the atmosphere shifted. His presence, dark and undeniable, commanded the attention of everyone, including myself. He didn't look pleased—his jaw was clenched, and his eyes held that sharp edge of frustration as if he'd just wrestled with some invisible storm and lost.
The rest of us couldn't help but turn toward him. Even the soft humming of the assessment machines and quiet rustling of fabric faded under the weight of his gaze.
Head Professor Darien's voice cut through the silence. "Good morning, Savero."
Savero's lips twitched, not quite a smile. "Morning," he muttered, voice low and rough like gravel on stone.
Darien didn't waste time. "Well, that conductor is a bit strict with his time. And because you're late, you've cost him at least ten minutes of his precious schedule."
From the side, General Vasileious his posture rigid in a crisp uniform spoke with a clipped tone. "Let's finish this. The bus will arrive soon."
There was no room for argument.
The assessments stretched on for another thirty minutes. Savero was the last to undergo the series of tests. I watched him closely—his movements precise, controlled, but there was an energy that radiated beneath his skin like a coil ready to spring. When he finally finished, Doctor Ruan stepped forward with that familiar unreadable smile.
"Results are in," Doctor Ruan announced, voice even but carrying weight. "All of you have qualified." He let the words hang, and none of us dared to breathe too loudly.
"As for the data collected, it is sufficient. We know enough to proceed." His gaze scanned the room, pausing briefly on each of us before shifting toward the tent's entrance.
At that moment, a figure entered a man carrying a small crimson box with delicate gold etchings along its edges. His movements were precise, each step measured.
General Vasileious nodded toward the newcomer. "This is Marshal Quen."
Doctor Ruan gestured toward the box. "Inside is a device, a watch. It will monitor your vitals, brain activity, and various other… indicators essential to your survival here."
Marshal Quen began walking the rows of beds, handing the box to each one of us. "Always wear this," the General added with emphasis. "If not, you'll be in big trouble."
The box felt surprisingly light in my hand. When I opened it, the watch inside was sleek, its surface a deep obsidian with veins of pulsing silver light weaving through the frame like a living thing.
Questions started trickling out, and Doctor Ruan welcomed them with patience, though his tone remained serious.
"What exactly will we be monitored for?" Jasver asked, his voice steady but edged with concern.
Doctor Ruan looked up thoughtfully. "Your vitals will indicate physical health, of course. But more importantly, it tracks anomalies fluctuations in your energy signature, stress levels, and brain activity."
Head Professor Darien leaned in, fingers steepled. "Think of it as an early warning system. If your body or abilities behave outside safe parameters, we will be alerted immediately."
"Safe parameters?" Lueur asked quietly.
"That depends," Darien replied sharply. "On what you're capable of… and how far you're willing to push it."
There was no room for jokes here. The tension thickened like a rising storm.
After what felt like hours, the distant hum of engines drew our attention. The General rose and looked toward the tent's entrance. "Our ride has arrived."
We followed him out into the plaza. The moment the tent flap opened, I caught movement—watchful eyes concealed behind shadows and windows. They observed us from afar, silent and still, a barrier keeping something or someone at bay.
My gaze locked with a figure standing just beyond the low barricades—a faint outline but unmistakably human. A whisper brushed through my thoughts, almost inaudible.
"You guys are something else…" Doctor Ruan murmured beside me, voice barely above a breath.
As we approached the vehicle, voices drifted through the air from the crowd behind the barricades. Words barely caught, but their tone carried a mix of awe and apprehension.
"…the next batch?"
"Are those the new arrivals from the assessments?"
"They say only the strongest get through."
"Seen one of them, scarred like a warrior."
The whispers grew louder, weaving through the crowd like threads of a warning.
"Move along," General Vasileious barked sharply, eyes darting nervously toward the growing mass. "We'll be late, and Dean Viella Akanni won't be pleased."
The bus itself was unlike any vehicle I'd seen before. It hovered gently above the ground, a sleek craft that looked part machine, part living organism. Its surface was a glossy black with iridescent patterns that shimmered softly as it adjusted to the evening light.
The door hissed open, and we stepped inside one by one. The interior was spacious, yet intimate, with seats molded perfectly to each passenger's form. Soft ambient light radiated from the walls, pulsing gently like a heartbeat.
As the door closed, a quiet rumble hummed through the cabin. Slowly, the bus rose, lifting us high above the plaza.
Below us, the Hidden City sprawled, its streets winding like veins between buildings that seemed to float on clouds of mist and light. The city shimmered, its towers crowned with glowing crystals and its windows flickering like stars in the dusk.
Suddenly, a colossal structure appeared ahead, looming like a sleeping giant. It was a castle carved from white stone, but not ordinary stone, this one pulsed faintly with internal light, veins of azure and gold streaming across its surface like lifeblood.
Towers spiraled upward in impossible curves, balconies and terraces lush with gardens that glowed softly under the twilight. The entire building seemed alive, as if breathing in sync with the city itself.
"This is your campus," Doctor Ruan's voice broke the silence, soft but filled with pride. "The Magìo Institution. Also known simply as Magìo High."
A hush fell over us as the bus began its descent.
The vehicle settled gently on a platform surrounded by towering columns etched with runes and sigils that shimmered in the fading light.
General Vasileious stood, voice commanding as always. "Good luck. We will see you next time."
Without waiting for a response, the bus lifted off, its engines humming as it retreated toward the station from which we had come.
Head Professor Darien didn't waste a moment. "Let's move. The Dean and the other Professors are waiting. Orientation begins tomorrow, but this time… you will need to speak with the Dean personally."
We quickened our pace, feet echoing on the crystalline pathways as shadows lengthened around us. I glanced back once, catching the silhouette of the bus disappearing into the mists of the Hidden City.
I wondered what awaited us inside those glowing walls, and if we were truly prepared for what was to come.