With a hum of dimensional light, Riah activated her warp device. In an instant, the team was pulled from the battlefield and dropped onto the pristine grounds of the Vandor Faction Campus.
The shift was jarring—chaos fading into calm.
Towering marble structures stretched toward the sky, infused with subtle elemental veins. The grounds were immaculately kept, with glistening crystal paths and mana-reactive trees swaying with soft luminescence. It felt like they had stepped into a different world.
Riah turned to the group, her voice gentle but full of pride.
Riah: "Welcome home. You've earned this."
She tapped her earpiece. Instantly, several drones floated in, scanning each member and displaying glowing names over assigned dorms.
Inside Tyrone's Dorm
Tyrone: (dropping onto the bed) "Yoo, my room is sweet! A king-size bed? Big-ass TV? Everything spotless? This gotta be the High Hunter reward. I'm loving this."
Lihanna's Side
Lihanna walked into her suite quietly, setting down her weapon by the bed.
Lihanna: (calmly) "Welp, time to unpack and head to training…"
Courtyard Gathering
As the sun dipped behind the academy walls, the team regrouped in the courtyard beneath the soft glow of starlight.
Mia: (stretching) "Sooo, how are y'all rooms? Mine's hella nice."
Lihanna: (tilting her head) "Mine's huge. Feels like I'm some rich noble's daughter."
Felicia: "Same. High-thread count sheets and a full-length mirror? I could get used to this."
Tyrone: (grinning) "Looks like we all got the royal treatment. Good. Fairness is rare in this world."
Just then, Riah approached, hands folded behind her back, eyes observing with that quiet confidence of a general.
Riah: "Seems like everyone's settling in nicely. You all like your rooms?"
Tyrone: "I love it. Feels good knowing our hard work means something."
Mia: (smiling) "I love mine too… I just wish I could lay in it with him."
Tyrone: (raising a brow) "Him? Wait—you got a boyfriend?"
Riah: (playfully feigning surprise) "Looks like someone has a special someone on their mind…"
Felicia: (smirking) "Interesting… this calls for some intel collection."
Lihanna: (stone-faced) "…"
Mia: (groaning) "Fine! Yes—I do have a boyfriend."
Tyrone: "Alright then, where he at?"
Mia: (softly) "I don't know…"
Tyrone: (pauses, smirks) "So he ghosted you? And you're still loyal? Hate to say it, but sounds like he out there clapping someone else's—"
SMACK!
Mia's hand cracked across his face.
Riah: (sipping imaginary tea) "…"
Lihanna: (glancing sideways) "Hoo boy."
Felicia: (snickering) "Gotcha."
Tyrone: "Yo, what the hell?! I ain't even touch you!"
Mia: (voice rising, trembling) "Because you don't know what happened! We were attacked by parasites—we barely escaped! I've been searching for him ever since. That's what's driving me. And people like you, who don't understand pain, love running their mouths like they know!"
Above them, Kazimir stood at the edge of the Vandor Tower, looking down silently.
Mia: (shouting) "Don't mess with me, Tyrone. Don't make me remind you why I fight."
Riah: (stepping in gently) "That's enough. You've spoken your truth. Tyrone, choose your words more carefully next time."
Tyrone: (lowering his head) "Yes, General…"
Lihanna: (muttering) "You and Raijin would make a terrifying pair. The kind of duo I'd never want to see angry."
Riah: "Anyways, listen up."
Her tone shifted.
Riah: "Just like the High Alpha Alliance, you all are allowed to form your own unit. Choose a captain among yourselves—you have my full permission as your Vandor."
Tyrone: "Wait—I thought that was Kazimir's call?"
Riah: (smirking) "It's both of ours. But right now, he's watching from the tower."
Mia: (gazing upward) "He really is…"
Lihanna: "Oh no."
Tyrone: "Damn… considering what I've seen him do… I do not want to be on his bad side."
Riah: (smiling coldly) "Then you're worrying about the wrong one. He probably won't even notice you."
She stepped forward, eyes glinting with dangerous fire.
Riah: "Because the one you should worry about—is me. Kazimir and I? We're equals."
Mia: "Wait… you're as strong as him?!"
Riah: (closing her eyes) "Watch closely."
With a low hum, the ground beneath her shimmered red. Her aura surged, then exploded outward in a spiral of radiant crimson.
Flames licked the air—but did not burn. Wings of molten light spread from her back, and her hair floated like fire suspended in time.
Riah – Crimson State.
Her presence felt divine.
Tyrone: "WHAT. THE. HELL?!"
Mia: (eyes wide) "She's like… a goddess of fire…"
Lihanna: (watching in awe) "So much flame… but no heat."
Riah: (voice echoing) "This is my Crimson State. The blaze is alive—but controlled. If I let it loose, you'd all be nothing but ash. But I wanted to show you… I can stand beside him."
Mia: "It's like Kazimir's form… just red."
Felicia: (typing fast) "Power couple confirmed. Danger level: ridiculous."
Riah: (releasing the state with a soft sigh) "Thanks, Felicia."
Her voice returned to normal as the fire faded, leaving only flickering embers behind.
Riah: "That's all I came to say. Enjoy your stay, Vandors."
She turned and walked away, her footsteps quiet—but the weight of her presence still lingering in the air like smoke after a wildfire.
Their journey at the academy… had just begun.