From the depths of slumber, it stirred, making its slow ascent toward the vast expanse of the sky. The Sun, in all its glory, illuminated the world below, scattering rays that danced in every shadowed nook, heralding the dawn.
The neon lights that once pulsated through the streets now dimmed in the presence of the colossal star. The glass facades of towering buildings caught the sunlight, painting the heavens with a kaleidoscope of colors.
In the quiet, unassuming streets of Hemsworth and the ceaselessly bustling roads of Feril, nestled within a modest house and a enormous apartment, a boy and a girl lay, blissfully lost in dreams.
His tousled curls obscured his eyes, hands tucked beneath his pillow, and sheets tangled around his legs. Meanwhile, the girl's long, silky hair cascaded over her body, hidden beneath the covers.
Suddenly, the alarm erupted in unison with the clock striking seven, a metallic bell ringing with a mournful clang, on other end accompanied by the distant chime of twinkling stars.
Ren opened his eyes, only to close them again, dismissing the alarm twice. Yet, when the metallic bell tolled a third time, he finally roused himself, his eyes heavy with the weight of sleep. "I hate alarms," he muttered.
Elara, however, needed no such persistence to awaken. As she sat up in bed, she let out a lazy yawn, taking a moment to orient herself with the world before reluctantly climbing out from beneath her covers.
Ren stepped down, feeling the shifted room's warmth envelop him, stretching his arms as he gazed out the window at the bright sun and the shimmering sphere of metal hovering above it. After a deep yawn, he made his way toward the bathroom.
Elara lingered by her bed for over fifteen minutes before finally rising, the room's temperature automatically adjusting slightly cooler to suit her preferences. Rubbing her still-drowsy eyes, she ambled toward the shower.
Ren opened the small drawer beneath the sink with a gentle tug, retrieving his plain blue toothbrush and setting to work on his teeth, making them gleam.
Elara approached her mirror, touching its bottom corner, prompting it to slide aside and reveal a hidden compartment. She retrieved her intricately designed auto orange toothbrush.
As Ren stepped into the shower, he gently washed his disheveled hair, sizing it up from all angles before turning the knob to the left, warm water cascading down upon him.
Elara, meanwhile, carefully pulled out a shower cap, shielding her hair from the water, then turned the knob slightly to the right, allowing cold water to rain down.
After his shower, Ren stood bemeath a large black metal box hung out of ceiling, the size of his head, which exhaled a gentle breeze of warm air to dry his hair.
Elara turned off the shower and pressed the knob like a button, steam billowing from the showerhead. She released her hair into the rising mist, nourishing it with care.
In front of the mirror, Ren styled his hair, each strand curling into a fluffy arrangement.
Once she had finished steaming, Elara combed her long hair, which cascaded down to her waist, glossy and silky.
Ren approached his wardrobe, searching for the perfect outfit. He selected a frilled white shirt and a navy blue jacket, classy yet subtly enhanced with technological details—waterproof and semi-fire-resistant fabric. He adorned his left wrist with a silver linen watch and slipped on a pair of sleek blue shoes with magnetic soles. "Perfect," he chimed to himself.
A pseudo-fabric tie, its other end embedded with microfibers, completed his ensemble. Finally, he fastened the Band to his left wrist, a device showcasing holograms, routines, emails, messages, health tracking, and more. He was ready.
Meanwhile, Elara quickly strode toward her bed, pulling out her luggage from beneath it. She unlocked it with a scan of her finger against the handle.
Inside, a myriad of dresses awaited her. "I am not good at this," she sighed, reaching for her phone to call her mother.
Twenty minutes later, after a spirited debate over what to wear, Elara finally stepped out the door. She donned a yellow T-shirt beneath a green jacket, striped with blue, black, and white, the word "Cyborg" emblazoned boldly across the front.
Below, she wore a light blue, knee-length skirt paired with a set of tech-savvy sporty shoes she had designed. On her right wrist, her Band displayed live holograms of her emails, charts, progress reports, and more.
***
After finishing his breakfast, Ren prepared his bag, ensuring he had everything necessary for an entire month.
"Don't forget your underwear!" his mother called from the kitchen. "Yes," Ren replied, tucking 'the book' into a hidden compartment in his bag.
"Here, take this," his father said, handing him a gleaming white box. Ren opened it to find a new band—the very one Leon had mentioned. "You didn't have to," Ren protested, but his father chuckled, ruffling his hair. "It's your first day at university, my boy," he said warmly.
After being reminded five times by his mother, Ren finally completed his packing. "I'm ready to go; the next 'AT' arrives in fifteen minutes."
"Ren," his mother called, and without a word, they embraced him tightly, wishing him good luck.
Outside, a taxi floated mid-air, his brother standing beside it. "Here it is; I called it," Ryu announced.
"Thanks," Ren replied, feeling Ryu's bear hug envelop him. "Don't do anything foolish," Ryu whispered.
Ren nodded and waved goodbye to his family as he stepped away.
***
Elara descended in the elevator from her apartment, an instant cup of noodles in hand, which she devoured on the way. Upon reaching the ground floor, she tossed the empty cup into the bin beside her. It crumpled within, transforming into a small coin worth a piece of candy. Elara pocketed the coin and made her way to the waiting taxi she had summoned.
As the taxi ascended into the sky, a loud horn blared behind her—the Air Train streaking past, crossing over a sea of cars at an astonishing speed.
Elara stood in awe, leaning halfway out the window, until the AI gently urged her to sit back down.
The roaring train reached its destination, Feril Station. As the doors slid open in unison, a throng of people poured out, among them a boy sporting a new shiny accessory on his wrist.
Ren circled the platform, scanning the bustling crowd, and after a moment's hesitation, he crossed to the elevator to catch a taxi. Below the towering buildings, a multitude of taxis hovered, awaiting passengers.
Just as Ren stepped outside, a taxi glided to a halt before him, its door opening automatically. He settled inside, and after scanning his identity, the AI voice inquired about his destination.
"Ariella University of Artificial Magic," he replied, as the taxi ascended into the air, heading toward his new adventure.
***
To the east of Feril, at the heart of a sprawling campus that stretched for miles, stood the most illustrious institution in the land: the Ariella National University of Artificial Magic.
At the entrance, a throng of students surged, 'Lev-buses', taxis, and cars arriving and departing in a ceaseless rhythm.
As yet another taxi came to a halt, a girl emerged, her black, silken hair cascading down her back. She stepped out with a sparkle of excitement illuminating her eyes.
She approached the towering entry gate, a formidable structure that loomed above her. Only one side of the gate was ajar, a narrow opening through which the eager students flowed.
Elara's gaze drifted to the floating drones that hovered above the crowd, equipped with speakers, diligently monitoring and directing the incoming throng.
Moments later, another taxi descended from the sky, and a boy stepped out, a bag slung across his back. As he did, a drone zipped toward him.
"You may submit your bag at the entrance hall and retrieve it later," it announced. "Okay," Ren replied, his gaze dropping to a girl a short distance away, captivated by the drones above.
Gradually, the crowd thinned as students made their way through the gate. Ren tilted his head upward, his eyes widening in awe at the magnificent structure that stood before him.
Resplendent in white, it resembled a castle, with a crimson door marking the entrance to the main building. The roofs arched gracefully, the glass glimmering like diamonds, and a grand fountain at the forefront sent sprays of water soaring high into the air. "It truly is amazing," Ren murmured.
Meanwhile, Elara's eyes sparkled with anticipation, darting in all directions. "I can't wait to get inside," she thought fervently.
As the students gathered at the center, before the crimson door and around the fountain, the door swung open with a metallic clang. A man strode out, flanked by several others.
The man in front wore a large white coat, edged in blue, reminiscent of a doctor's attire. His long white hair fell to his neck, and his face bore the marks of age, with deep blue eyes set within a hardened visage, complemented by a thick beard and mustache of the same snowy hue. A golden monocle adorned his left eye.
The individuals behind him donned similar garments, differing only in the number of stars displayed on their shoulders.
The man at the forefront bore five stars, while his companions had one or two.
"Welcome, young minds, to our esteemed university, the Ariella National University of Artificial Magic," he proclaimed, his voice resonating with authority and experience.
Adjusting his monocle, he surveyed the students, their excitement mingled with trepidation. "I am Fren Gullberg, the Vice Principal of this prestigious institution," he announced.
"As you may know, your presence here marks the beginning of an internship lasting one month, during which our esteemed professors will impart foundational knowledge of Artificial Magic," he paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle.
"At the end of this month, based on our evaluations and your decisions, a select few will be invited to become permanent students."
Silence enveloped the crowd, eyes gleaming with ambition and purpose.
"But heed my warning: to thrive here, you will need three essential qualities—the 'Ambition' that brought you here, the 'Determination' and 'Willpower' you will demonstrate, and the 'Intelligence' that will guide your survival."