On a tranquil pond, atop a mountain of black rock, deep in the horrible barrows of Virgo, a boy meditates trying to find himself. Grayshire, the home to the less fortunate citizens of Virgo, finally produced something worthwhile.
Kayui though, was not worthwhile. Not able to find the power of altitude in his heart, he was being left behind slowly.
Altitude. The unique life energy that every living thing possessed. He was about to awaken his own.
'Ahh, I almost felt it,'
Losing focus again to the sounds of children playing below him, he shook his head before closing his eyes once again.
A second later he appeared in his mindscape, a cloudy blue sky reflecting onto perfectly still water below. The vast emptiness could be felt beyond a sea of fog in all directions. The shallow water rippled around his ankles.
"Here comes the hard part"
The water began rising steadily and the pressure increased, and not a second later the fog began lashing as if reacting to the sudden change in energy.
Kayui didn't move an inch. The frenzied fog lashing at his body. The water continued to rise slowly swallowing his body. As it reached his chest the fog began to change — growing thin and weak, he could see something in the distance.
A gray sphere, floating in the distance without a reflection nor a shadow. Its emptiness radiated over him and the dissipating fog, the water unaffected by it as if they were one.
He hardened his will and exploded out of the rising water towards the sphere, His momentum carrying him through the air. The water rose up to grab him in the form of powerful claws.
Twisting to avoid the claws, and propelling himself forward he grew close and closer. The pressure grew along with his exhaustion. Slashes and tears appeared along his body.
Nearing the sphere a giant wave blocked his path, threatening to engulf him completely.
"This is new." He said before taking a breath and calming his mind. He focused his mind and body as the wave crashed into him. Propelling his body forward he quickly grew weak as if the water was sapping him of strength.
He continued forward evading slashes. His vision grew dim, but his pride did not let him slow down. He swam for what felt like an eternity, the pain in his lungs and mind trying to hold him back, until he finally broke through.
His vision returned and his mind reinforced. The sphere was right in front of him.
Before he could reach out a whistle blew past his ear snatching his attention on the outside world. The familiar sound made him hesitate for just a second.
"Just one more second, you jerk" He yelled unknowing if anyone could hear him.
He outstretched his hand, reaching to touch the soft stone like material. Using all his remaining strength, he had barely touched it. As his finger tip landed on it, the water and sky around him became gray and disappeared in the same instant, before the world exploded in black light.
***
A loud voice rang out irritating the quiet pond.
"Kayui!"
He opened his eyes to three figures standing on the edge of pond. Two tall like himself and the third short and stocky.
"Moma told me you'd be here. I got some news for you," the one in the middle said stepping into the water.
As he grew closing the wind grew agitated and made Kayui tremble.
"All those pushups you do and you still look like a child." A chuckle came from the tall one to the left.
The words struck a slight insecurity in Kayui. He didn't let it show.
"I am a child, idiot." He retorted standing up looking at his hands, now pruned from being in the water. The sun was setting showing significant time had passed.
'I don't feel any different. Did I fail again?'
The wind grew intensely causing Kayui to look up. His older brother was already upon him. His pristine uniform contrasted Kayui's old, wet street wear. "Ah, that needs to change soon."
The two were almost identical. The youngest, slightly shorter and skinnier. Dark eyes and hair along with vibrant umber skin. The only thing separating them was their hair.
He stuck his hand out, a black envelope within it.
"Hurry up Makil, we gotta be back in the dorms before nightfall." The stubby figure said from afar, his voice harsh.
Makil threw a glance behind himself and returned to look his brother in the eye, their black eyes reflecting off one another. "Don't mess this opportunity up Kayui. We worked hard for this one."
The strong sense of camaraderie from his brother contrasted his words, giving Kayui a mixed signal.
'How often do I mess things up?' he thought.
He sighed and lowered his gaze. He gave into his soft side even within the tension and gave a smirk. Makil reflected the gesture.
The tall one in the back let out another chuckle before disappearing in a flash of flame.
In an instant Makil disappeared as well, a gust of wind replacing him.
The two could be seen flying in the sky a large distance away.
"Nothing to say Kezan?"
The stubby one looked up at the sky before sending him a deathly glare. With that he took out a green crystal necklace and disappeared with a flash as well leaving Kayui with a scornful expression.
He sighed and let go of the temporary resentment. He looked at the black envelope floating in the water. It's ebony paper, untouched by the light-azure water.
He picked it up, the rough feel of the material made him hesitate. A red stamp sealed the envelope shut.
'An altitude seal.'
It read, "Prodigies of Celestia, The Virida Academy". His heart began to race. He sent in his own altitude into the paper and the seal popped sending a small out a small shockwave..
"Kayui, I principle Zenith welcome you to the Ninth grade of our Celestia Altitude Academy, based in the capital of Virgo, Celestia. Stop by as soon as possible and I'll situate you personally."
He couldn't believe his eyes. His face was cold, but his mind was in a frenzy.
'Ninth grade?' He thought for a second befoe bursting into movement towards his home.
His superhuman agility and speed was nothing out of the ordinary in Virgo. Those who awaken like Makil and his friends make Kayui look like child play — Well technically it was.
He covered about a mile of distance in mere minutes, Sprinting and leaping through the trashy buildings and grim surroundings.
Flying through the slums, the grey clouds and broken buildings surrounding him attracted none of his attention. All he could think about was how much his life was about to change.
'I finally caught up'
Joy could be seen in his eyes. No one in town paid him any mind.
His home was in view. A combination of multiple small gray buildings, the sizes varied from small classrooms to the size of a small vehicle, smashed together into one. His home sat on the very top, one of the bigger ones, a small patio protruded out the front, a ladder leading to the ground.
He didn't bother touching the ladder, he jumped from roof to roof until he reached the top.
Before he knew it he was bursting through the door, almost knocking it off the hinges.. "Ma, I'm going to Celestia!"