''captain....''. ''Captain...'' CAPTAIN!'' A voice pulled me from within my memories.
''No need to call me out like that Icarus,''
''When did you and the troops make your way over here and how did you find me?'' I questioned my 3rd in command.
Jason aka Icarus was the man who stood beside me even way before the world went to shit.
We gave him that code name due to how he was built and his choice of mobility.
Standing in over 6ft tall, his eyes, a sharp molten amber, held the restless energy of someone who is constantly calculating risk, consequence, and the next leap forward.
They shine brightest when he talks about ideas larger than himself dangerously bright, some might say.
Skin as bronze as the molten furnace.
He's lean, almost wiry, as if shaped by his own momentum. There's a tension in the way he carries himself, shoulders slightly forward, expression alert, like a man bracing for impact but refusing to slow down.
His hands are marked with old burns and scars, evidence of failed experiments, reckless stunts, or simply a life lived at the edge. His hair dark but sun-streaked at the tips gave the look of a man who never was afraid to burn to achieve his goals.
''Finding you was easy enough...'' Icarus let out with a reserved sigh as he surveyed the land dyed in red.
''You never have clean battles, always leaving a trail of destruction in your wake.''
''Learn to focus more on technique than power will you''
''As for your former question, we made our way here not long after we received a distress signal of a 'monster of a man' tearing his way through the shadowlands.''
I could only let out a faint chuckle as he continued to speak nothing but facts.
''Alright then,'' I let out a huff before making my way back up to my feet to gaze at the columns of armed soldiers lined up before me.
''MEN! THE BATTLE IS OVER, WE HAVE CLAIMED BACK A PORTION OF LAND WE HAD LOST TO THE SHADOWS!'' A low rumble resounded through the land as the men shouted back to their captain.
''SET UP CAMP AND GUARD THIS LAND UNTIL THE 2ND PLATOON HAS ARRIVED!'' I bellowed using a slight amount of aether to amplify my voice. A slight dizzy spell followed.
''YES SIR!''
''As for you my friend,'' I took a brief pause and allowed a smile to grace my features
''Bring around the horses and lets go home''.
It took around 5 hours of Horseback to reach our base, one of many built to stand and shelter as from the day, moving as quick as we could before the sun came up.
''Home sweet home,'' I let out a grunt at what could only be described as magnificence.
Jagged cliffs cradle it on three sides, making it appear both protected and perilously perched.
Mist coils around its outer walls at dawn, giving the structure a ghostlike presence until the sun burns through the veil.
Walls built from dark granite quarried from the same mountain, giving the fortress a seamless, almost natural camouflage.
Time and wind had smoothed some stones, while others remain rough and sharp, bearing the scars of battles it had withstood.
The main keep stands tallest-a monolithic tower with narrow arrow slits like watchful eyes.
Reinforced buttresses cling to its sides like ribs, providing stability against brutal winter storms that roar through the passes.
One of the very few sanctuaries across the world that people could move around without fear of the sun.
Leading our mounts through the gates, watched by arrays of men stationed atop the walls.
Leaving our trusty steeds with the guards of the gate.
What lay before us was a bustling market place, vendors shouting and hollering for people to purchase their goods, guards stationed around to prevent or suppress any commotions, not much any different from any other marketplace.
''Lets move quickly, Gwen is going to give another speech at the academy and she wants You to attend,'' Icarus proceeded to ruin my day dreaming once again .
''Pretending like I don't already move like my life is on the line,'' muttering under my breath.
''What'd you say?''
''Nothing.. Nothing.''
''Thought so,'' I really wanted to swipe that smug grin of his face.
We made our way through the fortress until we arrived at the academy, stationed to the very back of the fortress.
The main building, a grand structure of pale limestone, its façade adorned with tall arched windows and intricately carved columns depicting scholars, explorers, astronomers, and philosophers from ages past.
Ivy climbs the outer walls, creeping toward the massive central clock tower that rises above the roofline, chiming each hour with a deep, resonant bell that can be heard across the campus.
A wide, tree-lined avenue forms the entrance, opening into a sprawling courtyard paved with smooth cobblestones.
Two bronze statues -symbolic guardians of wisdom-stand on either side of the main doors. Beyond the courtyard, manicured gardens, flowering hedges, and walking paths wind between smaller academic buildings, dormitories, and study halls.
Buzz Buzz
''Hello? Icarus speaking''
''We found her boss''
''I've got to go, Xzavier'' He mumbled his words, without even giving me time to process what he said, he dashed off in the direction of the research facility.
Taking advantage of my alone time, I made my way slowly towards the lecture hall taking glances at the empty hallways before finally standing Infront of the polished, mahogany door.
The lecture hall is alive with energy - packed wall to wall with students from every year and every club the academy has to offer.
The air buzzes with conversation, laughter, and the rustle of uniforms, jackets, and club insignia.
From the first-year students in crisp, almost too-new attire to the fourth-years who move with a practiced confidence, the hall looks like a tapestry of personalities, ambitions, and colors.
The chatter fills the space with warmth- voices rising and falling in waves.
First-years whisper excitedly about their first assembly, while older students trade inside jokes or speculate about what today's announcement might bring.
In the front rows, the honor students sit straighter than most, notebooks already open despite the event not yet beginning.
At the center of it all, standing on the polished wooden podium, is the principal.
Dressed in formal academy regalia-deep colors trimmed with gold-the principal surveys the sea of students with steady, experienced eyes.
A hush gradually falls as more students notice the figure on the stage. When silence finally ripples across the room, it feels almost ceremonial.
The atmosphere holds a mixture of anticipation and reverence-an assembly where everyone, regardless of year or club, is gathered under the same roof.
For a moment, the bustling academy feels like a single organism: hundreds of hearts beating with curiosity as the principal prepares to speak.
As I step into the room, students shift their gazes from the principal to me, eyes filled with reverence, competition and slight jealousy.
'' Ahem, Ahem''
The atmosphere cools down instantly as the principal speaks into the mic.
''If its not the man of the hour, Sir Michael,''
''I am glad you could attend the opening ceremony,'' Her words seemed courteous
'What took you so long, Michael, you were the one supposed to be making this speech, yet they dumped it on me just because you were out being what could only be described as a muscle head'
A line of barely perceivable aether connected our psyches together allowing us too communicate our thoughts.
I ignored her ranting as she prepared to make the speech she had been preparing for the ceremony.
''Students, faculty, and honored guests,
Thank you for gathering here today. As I look across this hall, I see not just a crowd of faces-I see the living heart of our academy. I see first-years taking their first steps into a world of challenge and discovery. I see upperclassmen who have already weathered countless trials and stand ready to leave their mark on the world. And I see clubs, teams, and societies whose passion and dedication make this institution more than a school-make it a community.
Every one of you brings something unique to this place. Your curiosity, your determination, your creativity, your courage-these are the forces that shape the culture of our academy and drive it forward. When you walk through our halls, you are not simply attending classes; you are building a legacy.
And so today, I ask each of you to remember this:
You belong here.
Your voice matters.
Your efforts matter.
Your dreams matter.
But belonging does not mean standing still. I challenge you-no matter your year, your club, or your background-to push beyond what you think you're capable of. Try the thing that scares you. Join the club outside your comfort zone. Ask the question others stay silent about. Lead when no one else will. Learn when no one else wants to. Support one another, because success here is not a solitary journey.
This academy thrives when you do.
As we begin this new chapter, I encourage you to set goals that excite you, to embrace setbacks as stepping stones, and to treat each day as an opportunity to grow into the person you envision.
Together, let us create a year defined by courage, unity, and excellence.''
She took a brief pause before gazing in my direction and addressing me.
''Sir Michael, will give the closing speech and your first lesson of this year.''