As the two suns rose into the sky, golden rays fell on the face of a boy sleeping soundly on his bed, and a girl sleeping listlessly beside a machine she had been working on.
In the upper area of Hemsworth, known as Earl, there stood a double-story house — a blend of white and blue giving it a techy look from the outside.
This was the Aurelith family house.
On the second floor, there were three rooms, and the one facing the road belonged to Ren.
As the sunlight embraced his closed eyes, Ren woke up, sitting up with his curly hair tangled and messy, making him resemble his ancestors.
He got out of bed, and as his feet touched the floor, the atmosphere of the room seemed to shift.
Heading to the bathroom, he brushed his teeth with an electric brush, leaving them shiny and white like pearls.
Stepping into the shower, he stood beneath a large circular shower head, warm water cascading down at the perfect temperature, nourishing his body from all sides.
Afterward, he stood on a mat that released a quick burst of hot steam, evaporating all the water from his body and hair.
Fresh and energized, Ren changed into his clothes:
a frilled white shirt inside a formal navy blue suit, classy yet lined with subtle techy details — waterproof, semi-fire-resistant fabric.
He wore a silver linen watch on his left wrist and a pair of sleek blue shoes with magnetic soles.
A pseudo-fabric tie, its other end embedded with microfibers, completed the outfit.
Finally, he fastened the UT Band to his left hand — a device displaying holograms, routines, emails, messages, health tracking, and more.
After a quick breakfast — fried egg with bread and jam — he bid farewell to his mother and walked downhill to the bus stand.
As the bus halted in front of him and the gate slid open, a soft voice announced:
"Welcome to Lev-Bus, running to Ariella University of Artificial Magic."
________________________________________
In a small portable house, with the blue walls made of transformable metal, build on the outskirts of town, Elara lived, having recently moved into town.
Waking up to the soft flare of sunlight falling softly on her eyes, she sat up and glanced at the unfinished machine beside her — her latest project.
Her eyes fell on the calendar beside her bed — a sleek LED tablet displaying the date and time, ticking steadily forward.
Suddenly, she remembered: today was the day to visit Ariella University!.
She quickly leapt from bed, running to the shower room attached, brushing her teeth and freshening up in record time.
Afterward, she opened her luggage, rummaging through her clothes, uncertain what to wear.
After some time, unable to decide, she holo-called her mom, the hologram screen popping up before her, as they debated loudly back and forth.
Twenty minutes later, after debating on what-to-wear, Elara finally stepped out the door.
She wore a yellow T-shirt under a green jacket, striped with blue, black, and white, the word "Cyborg" printed boldly across the middle.
Below, she wore a light blue, knee-length classy skirt and a pair of sporty tech shoes equipped with an air-booster — designed to elevate jumps —
paired with white socks.
On her right wrist, she wore the MT Band, displaying live holograms of her emails, charts, progression reports, and more.
After locking the door with her fingerprint, she set off on foot toward the bus stand, almost 8 km (5 miles) away.
Upon arriving, she waited as a Lev-Bus came to a halt in front of her.
As the doors slid open, a familiar voice greeted her:
"Welcome to Lev-Bus, running to Ariella University of Artificial magic."
________________________________________
Ren's bus was the first to reach Ariella University of Artificial Magic.
The AI voice echoed calmly inside the bus:
"We have reached our destination: Ariella University of Artificial Magic. Please step down one by one."
Ren stepped off, eyes widening as he look in the enormous campus.
A grand fountain stood before him, with a towering statue of a robo—water pouring from its eyes like tears.
The entrance gate was massive, surrounded by lush gardens and vibrant flower beds.
Everywhere he looked, intricate machines buzzed — all creations of the university's students.
Just then, another Lev-Bus arrived. As tourist students stepped down, a girl with black, pearl-like eyes appeared among them.
Elara. Her face lit up with excitement as she watched drones, semi-robo copters, mechanical birds, and insects flying across the campus. Her steps quickened.
They both approached the entrance, unaware of each other's presence.
At the entrance gate stood a man.
He had a flat mustache and beard, one eye glowing red and the other hidden behind a green lens, scanning for gadgets.
He wore a white coat with blue-striped borders and matching pants, his left hand gloved in blue — wires snaking into his nerves.
On his coat was the university's emblem: a stylized fish.
Ren felt an odd fear rise as he looked at the man.
Elara, however, tilted her head in curiosity.
Once the last of the students gathered, the man spoke in a deep, gravelly voice:
"I am Fren Gulberg, acting Vice Principal of Ariella University of Artificial Magic for today.
There are rules you must know before beginning your tour."
A hologram flared to life above them, projecting clearly.
"This university has over 400 rooms. Each is labeled with a color:
White and Green: open to all tour students
Blue: open only to applicants
Purple: requires special permission from the Principal
Gold: strictly off-limits.
There are also Black-labeled rooms for faculty only."
He continued with regulations:
No littering, no vandalism, no fighting, and no tampering with restricted devices.
Entering unauthorized areas would lead to application rejection — or worse, a Black Recommendation.
Ren was confused by the term "Black Recommendation" and hesitated to ask.
But then, a girl's voice rang out from across the crowd:
"What is a Black Recommendation, sir?"
Fren replied:
"It is a disciplinary warning sent to all institutions. It can significantly reduce your chances of admission, depending on its severity."
Ren turned toward the voice and caught a glimpse of the girl — silky black hair, a green coat, and eyes like black pearls.
The massive campus gates opened.
Ren stood in awe. Before him lay a university hall large enough to fit a football stadium inside.
The ceiling towered, easily high enough to fit a four-story building.
To the left and right were twin gates, leading to hundreds of rooms.
Elara, exploding with excitement, spun in place as she took it all in.
At the center stood two pillars — one made of aged cement, the other of sleek, modern rument — a contrast between tradition and progress.
The dome-shaped hall was lit by a blue-glass chandelier, which doubled as a hidden surveillance system.
At the far end was a grand black-labeled door — meant for faculty only.
Without speaking, Ren turned right and Elara left, both venturing into different parts of the campus.
________________________________________
Ren walked down a long corridor lined with labeled rooms.
Each door was marked white or green. As he passed by, he observed the interiors:
Mechanical Gear Class, Electrical Gear Class, Technical Gear Class, Experiment Lab, Gear Work Lab, Test Lab, Chemical Lab…
He noticed a pattern:
"All classrooms are white-labeled. All labs are green. And... there are multiples of each."
Eventually, he reached a large intersection with labels pointing in four directions.
He looked up:
"Gear Sector — that's where I came from.
Left: Bio Sector — not for me.
Front: Agriculture — like what Mom used to do…
Right: Magic Sector — now that's where I'm going."
With new purpose, he turned right.
________________________________________
Elara had already explored most of the campus. Thanks to online forums, she had a mental map of the layout.
She returned to the main hall and spotted a robo guide, explaining the university's history to a small group of students.
Curious, she joined them.
She already knew most of the information, but listened anyway.
"This university was built 20 years ago, following the Great Tech Drought," the robo began.
"Its purpose: to rebuild the scientific industry. It was founded by three pioneers.
Anyone know their names?"
Silence.
Then Elara raised her hand:
"Sir Rudd Velion, Sir Truce Hemlin, and Sir Victor Watfrown."
"Bingo!" the robo said, voice cheerful.
It continued:
"The university spans 30 million sq. ft. (approx. 790 acres),
with an extended underground and outdoor area totaling 108 million sq. ft. (2000 acres)....."
As the robo explained further, Elara quietly slipped away.
She had somewhere she wanted to be —
The Magic Sector.
________________________________________
As Ren entered the Magic Sector, the atmosphere shifted. Something in the air felt... different — a quiet intensity that told him this place held deeper meaning. All around him were rooms dedicated to the study of Artificial Magic, their titles glowing a little on glass panels.
Among dozens of those doors with white and green label
One door stood out, labeled in soft blue:
"Terraforming AM Lab."
He paused, uncertain. The name intrigued him — Terraforming — yet he hesitated. Before he could take a step forward, a voice, gentle and melodious, broke the silence.
"Do you love Terraforming too?"
He turned. It was the same girl from earlier — black pearl-like eyes, silky hair flowing beneath her green coat.
Caught off-guard, Ren stammered,
"Um... yes. I... like it. Terraf—terraforming."
She smiled — wide, sincere, and filled with warmth.
"Then we should go inside! Are you an applicant too?"
"Yes..." he said, still unsure, but somehow steadied by her energy.
Together, they stepped into the lab, where a demo lecture was underway. The room felt alive — halo-screens floated mid-air, 3D models turned slowly above a platform, visualizing terrain morphs and energy flows. The walls all connected with a projector.They found seats at the back of the class.
The professor's voice rang clear and passionate:
"Terraforming is the inevitable future. Across all eight new continents, agencies are racing to terraform the first viable planet."
He paused, scanning the room.
"Can anyone name these agencies?"
A hand rose confidently in the back — Elara's.
He smiled, intrigued.
"Name, miss?"
"Elara Selena. Applicant."
"Then please, show us what you know."said the professional
Without hesitation, she answered:
"In The Americas: CASA.
Oceania: ORCA.
Euratria: EESA.
Africana: ARRCA.
Troasia: TOLA.
Proasia: POLA.
Brasilia: BUROA.
And here in Artriea: AFCA."
"Brilliant, Miss Elara," the professor said, visibly impressed.
Ren smiled awkwardly, but deep down, a shadow of doubt crept in.
She's so smart… What if she finds out I barely know anything about Terraforming?
The professor continued,
"As Earth's resources dwindle, Terraforming becomes not just science, but survival. Currently, AFCA is working on terraform TB-1190 — aplanet 20 light-years away."
As the lecture continues for sometime
The professor asks a question:
"If a planet is habitable, is it safe for us to live there?"
Many nodded instinctively — including Elara. Looks like everyone was agreed with the point.
But Ren… didn't.
The professor noticed.
"You, young man — you don't agree?"
Something shifted in Ren's expression. His eyes darkened slightly, lost in a memory — maybe a cartoon from long ago, or a documentary he half-remembered.
"No, I don't think it's safe — not just because it's habitable.
We define 'habitable' by having breathable air, proper temperature, stable sunlight, maybe even food sources.
But that doesn't include everything.
What about unseen threats? Alien, microbes?
Unstable geology?
Or if it's in a meteor belt?
Habitable doesn't mean 'harmless'."
The professor's smile deepened — a different kind of smile, one of respect.
"Right! Another sharp mind among us.
What's your name, son?"
"Renaris Aurelith, applicant".
Elara looked at him, clearly impressed.
About an hour later, the lecture wrapped up. As Elara and Ren stood to leave, the professor called out to them.
"You two have sharp minds. Are you interested in taking Terraforming classes?" he asked, smiling warmly.
"Yes," Elara replied quickly. "I'm choosing Artificial Magic as my specialization, so I'll definitely be attending Terraforming."
The professor turned to Ren, who gave a small, unsure nod.
"I… I'm also taking Artificial Magic," he said, still hesitant but trying to sound confident.
The professor's smile widened. "Excellent. I'll recommend your names personally. You may begin attending classes early."
Elara's eyes lit up. In her excitement, she jumped—forgetting she was wearing Air-Boomer shoes. She lost balance mid-air, and before she hit the ground, Ren caught her.
They paused, awkwardly close for a moment. Elara giggled, brushing her hair back.
"Thanks, Ren. Looks like we're officially classmates. Will you be coming tomorrow too?"
Ren nodded, just slightly. They began walking toward the exit together. As they passed a garden blooming with soft-glow flowers, Elara glanced sideways.
"Renaris, why do you want to learn Artificial Magic?"
Ren hesitated. He didn't want to reveal the real reasons—not yet.
"I just like it," he said. "And… you can just call me Ren. What about you? Why do you like AM?"
Elara's eyes softened as she looked at the flowers.
"Because my father loved it. He always told me Artificial Magic would change the world. That's why I fell in love with it too."
Ren smiled gently.
"Your father must be a technician, right? It's pretty cool to have someone like that."
Elara stopped for a moment and turned to him, her smile tender but touched with sadness.
"Yes. He was really cool… but it's been twelve years since he passed away."
Ren's smile faded. Regret touched his voice.
"I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"No," she said softly. "It's okay. It's why I'll become one of the greatest Technicians in the world."
Ren felt something stir inside him—a flicker he didn't quite understand.
"'Greatest Technician'... that does sound really cool."
They reached the main exit hall.
Just then, a loud voice echoed from the overhead speakers, sharp and commanding:
"ATTENTION! Applicant 0078—report to the Regulation Office.
Reason: Theft."