Time seemed to stretch endlessly, with each minute passing like a lifetime. Two guards stood vigil, weapons aimed into the gloom, their bodies tense and ready. The frightening creature known as the Nocturnal lurked just beyond the light, its disturbing clicks and hisses providing an eerie soundtrack. Kaito remained quiet among them, feeling both exhausted and alert as he took in the scene: the guards' tense stances, the composed watchfulness of their Lumenkins—the sturdy Gravemole and the sleek Veilark—and the overwhelming brightness provided by the Day-Pyramid. This was a system—a beacon of light amidst encroaching darkness.
At last, the silence was broken by the soft, electric whir of an approaching vehicle. A sleek, armored van, emblazoned with the bold colors of the TLA, glided to a stop just inside the gate. Its side door swung open, and a man emerged.
He was not the soldier Kaito had expected. Much older, perhaps in his late fifties, he had a neatly trimmed grey beard and kind, weary eyes. Dressed in a frayed tweed jacket over a standard TLA uniform, he embodied a unique mix of intellectualism and authority. On his shoulder perched a Lumenkin—an odd, stout creature with bioluminescent claws—that Kaito's LuminaDrive struggled to identify.
The guard captain snapped to attention. "Is Headmaster Caldeira your sender, sir?"
The man nodded, his gaze already fixed on Kaito. "Indeed. I'm Levon Armanian." He approached with slow, deliberate movements, bypassing the guards and the creature to focus entirely on Kaito. "Easy, men. Stand down; the light wall will hold." He paused a few feet from Kaito, his curious expression betraying his fatigue. "That was a close one. You're lucky to be alive, son."
Kaito remained silent, his thoughts racing. 'Son. A casual term, an indication of a non-threatening, paternal demeanor. He's trying to make me feel at ease.'
"What was that creature?" Kaito asked, his voice hoarse but eager for answers.
"That," Levon said while glancing into the shadows, "was a Nocturnal. One of the locals. They don't take kindly to light. Neither do we." He turned back to Kaito, his expression softening. "But you aren't a local, are you? No BOI, no gear, no Callstone... My guards think you might be what we call an otherworlder."
The term was new to Kaito—a piece of jargon from a world he didn't understand. "Otherworlder? You mean... from another planet?" It was the most logical assumption for a boy from the 21st century.
Levon chuckled lightly, though his laughter carried a hint of sorrow. "Not another planet. Another 'life'. A completely different world. It's complex, and it happens infrequently."
Kaito mentally cataloged this information. 'Transmigration. It exists. I'm not as unique as I thought.' The realization reshaped everything. He was not just an isolated anomaly; he was part of a rare event known to others.
"The TLA has specific protocols for individuals like you," Levon continued, his tone shifting to one of soft explanation. "For your safety, and ours. We must register you and integrate you properly. It's in everyone's best interest."
"Integrate into what?" Kaito asked, allowing confusion to seep into his tone. "What is the TLA?"
"The Terran Lumen Authority," Levon explained patiently. "They are what remains of the world government. They oversee the light, the Binders, the Lumen Days. They are why this wall remains unbreached." He paused, seriousness returning to his demeanor. "Listen, kid... this world is chaotic. The TLA is the glue that holds it together. They aren't perfect, but they're all we have."
He gestured toward the waiting van. "An unregistered otherworlder with a high-ranking Lumenkin is an unpredictable element—potential trouble. A target for the Nightbinders and a prize for the Lightmongers. Registration grants you our protection—under our... observation."
The term "observation" sent alarms ringing in Kaito's mind. He grasped its implications: surveillance and control.
"I... I don't know anything about that," Kaito replied, acting innocent. "I just awakened in the ruins. I have no memory of how I got here."
"I understand," Levon replied calmly. "That's part of the pattern. Follow me. We can't discuss this in the open— we need the right equipment."
He guided Kaito into the van, which resembled a mobile laboratory rather than mere transport. Crystal screens lined the walls, and advanced instruments hummed softly on polished surfaces. Auri, his Lumenkin, chirped nervously, her light dimming.
"It's alright, little one," Levon reassured her, his badger-like Lumenkin responding in kind. "We only need to take a reading."
He motioned for Kaito to place his hand on a smooth, black crystal pad. "This will gauge your bio-signature, your... resonance. It aids us in categorizing your abilities."
Kaito hesitated, realizing this was a test. Slowly, he pressed his hand to the pad. The crystal lit up, triggering a complex array of charts on a nearby screen.
"Fascinating," Levon murmured, his eyes widening. "Your cognitive pattern is... layered. It resembles memories stacked upon one another. And the bond with the Lumenkin... it's not just a bond; it's a fusion. I've never seen anything like it before. There's no Callstone, yet the connection is more stable than most bonded pairs."
He sensed the influence of the LuminaDrive but lacked the grasp to fully understand it. To him, it was just data.
"And your Lumenkin," Levon continued, turning to Auri. "An A-rank, you mentioned?"
Kaito nodded. "That's what the creature in the ruins called her."
"Her species is absent from our databases," Levon said, genuine excitement brightening his demeanor. "Her photonic signature is unparalleled. She's a rare find, son. A true gem."
"Her name is Auri," Kaito asserted protectively.
"Auri," Levon replied with a smile. "What a lovely name. Well, Kaito, the protocol is simple. Given your unique status and your companion's power, you'll be fast-tracked to the Lumen Academy. You'll be registered as a probationary F-rank Binder, but with special considerations. You will receive training, housing, and a place here. In return, the TLA will oversee your development and you'll need to comply with our regulations."
It was an offer Kaito found hard to refuse. To decline meant being an unregistered otherworlder, a target. Acceptance meant becoming part of their system, a pawn in their game. However, it was also the only real path available.
"Okay," Kaito murmured, resigned. "I'll go."
The van began to move, smoothly navigating the pristine streets of Lumenreach. As he gazed out the window, his thoughts raced. He was now an asset—an enigmatic, valuable asset. He would adapt, learn their rules, their systems, and their vulnerabilities. He would play their game and aim to surpass them.
As the city unfolded before him, he observed citizens in modest clothing walking under the artificial sun, Binders with their Lumenkins patrolling the streets, and children joyfully playing with small, glowing Flitlings in a park. It was a city that had found a way to thrive amidst the shadow of the Black Sprawl.
Eventually, the van arrived at a massive, fortified structure—the Lumen Academy. It resembled a small city within a city, complete with its own defenses.
As the van came to a stop, Levon turned to Kaito. "This is your new home, Kaito. It will be challenging. You'll face tests. But you will find safety here, and you will learn."
Kaito stared at the Academy, an imposing fortress of stone and light. He had weathered the Black Sprawl, confronted a nightmare, and outsmarted the guards. Now, he was about to engage in an even more complex game.
A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face. "Let the game begin," he whispered.