08:44 JST – Interior of Train Car 4 — MagLev Track 7
The Crucible personnel worked quickly. One medic knelt beside a trembling boy clutching his arm. "Pulse is high, but stable. Minor shock. Recommend observation."
Another slid a scanner across a girl's eyes; the lens blinked green.
Sekhmet stayed where she was, scarf still partially pulled over her mouth. The glow from her singing was gone, but she could feel the aftereffects still humming in her chest. She looked to Shirogane, who was sitting up straighter now—but still pale.
"Isshin-Namikaze, Sekhmet?" one of the medics asked, glancing at a tablet. "Are you injured?"
"No," she said. Then corrected herself, "just winded. I'm fine."
"Let me check your vitals," the woman said, already holding up a scanner. Sekhmet flinched as the blue light passed over her. Readings appeared in neat columns across the tablet:
Heart Rate: 98 BPM
BP: 121/78 mmHg
Core Temp: 37.3°C
The medic gave a short nod. "Vitals normal. Slightly elevated heart rate, but no signs of shock. You're cleared." Sekhmet exhaled quietly. She hadn't realized how hard she'd been gripping the hem of her sweater.
"Next," the medic said, glancing at her slate. "Shirogane, Yu-Yevon?" Shirogane sat up straighter, visibly trembling. "Th-that's me," she said.
The medic knelt beside her and offered a reassuring smile. "Just a quick scan, alright? Won't hurt." Shirogane squeezed Sekhmet's sleeve as the scanner beeped.
The medic's eyes softened. "Heart's racing. You're fine, just a little shaken up." Shirogane let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. "I—I thought it was going to break through the roof…"
"I know," the medic replied gently. "But it didn't. And you're safe now." She stood and tapped a button on her earpiece. "Two cleared for extraction. Student IDs verified, I need an escort to the ground."
The retrieval team glanced between each other. One of them raised a hand to volunteer—
—but a voice cut in first.
"I'll take them." Their eyes turned as Nishiyama stepped forward, arms now tucked behind her back. The medic blinked, then nodded. "Understood."
Sekhmet looked at Nishiyama, puzzled. "You were one of the ones on the roof?" Nishiyama forced a small grin. "Sure was. I'm the one who finished it off, actually." Her gaze flicked toward the cadets who were still chatting about Mitsuki and Koby. Shirogane nodded slowly, "Thank you for saving us."
Nishiyama gave a small smile, "come on. The maglift's waiting outside." As they walked, the cabin's conversations were full of murmurs about the Drive "Boosted Gear" and "the angel guy." Nishiyama kept walking and stuffed her hands into her pockets.
08:51 JST — Train Car Exit Ramp, Near Shinsen Station
The lift platform was already in place beside the train car. Sekhmet flinched as the platform shuddered underfoot. "Step slowly. The drop's not fun if you slip," Nishiyama warned over her shoulder.
They descended the lift in silence, the whir of the hydraulics echoing through the area. At the bottom, Crucible personnel cordoned off a safety perimeter for the medics and rescue team. Officers barked into radios as med drones buzzed overhead.
As they touched down, a woman in a matte-blue coat approached. It looked like she was over it and slightly under-caffeinated. "You were in Car 4?" she asked. "Only these two ma'am," Nishiyama replied crisply, offering a quick informal salute.
Sekhmet and Shirogane stepped forward. "Sorry about that Nishiyama," the woman replied as her eyes skimmed across the tablet. "Isshin-Namikaze, Sekhmet. Shirogane, Yu-Yevon. First Year students," she read off her tablet. "No injuries, good." She tapped once on her screen. She then pointed toward the main gate a mile away. "Follow Nishiyama for processing." She turned briskly, already halfway to the next task. Sekhmet exchanged a look with Shirogane, who shrugged. "Guess we follow Nishiyama-senpai," Shirogane mumbled.
The morning sun crept higher as the three of them walked along the road. A gentle breeze passed through the open gaps in the buildings. Sekhmet looked at one of the banners to see the phrase:
"To Endure Is To Rise."
Nishiyama walked a few paces ahead of the two freshmen, her coat fluttering behind her like a cape. "So…" she started, hands resting behind her head, "you two survived your first Spiral encounter. Congrats. That's more than some manage on their first day." Sekhmet said nothing while Shirogane was still hugging her arm.
"That wasn't even a proper mission, right? That was just… an accident?" She mumbled.
Nishiyama shrugged. "Welcome to the Crucible Shirogane."
"But don't let that scare you. The campus is safe. Mostly. Ish. It's built on a former imperial defense stronghold. It has surveillance, Spiral containment cells the size of buildings. Hell, we've even got vending machines." Sekhmet stopped her sightseeing and gave Nishiyama a deadpan stare. "Comforting."
Nishiyama winked. "Get ready for a wild ride, orientation's a full-day ordeal. Intake interviews, Drive compatibility syncs, dorm assignments. And if you're lucky—" she raised a finger like she was listing dessert options, "the Commander comes out and gives you a 'Gold Star'."
Sekhmet's stomach twisted as Nishiyama rattled off tasks.
This… this is too much in one day…
Shirogane stiffened, "Is… all of that… normal?"
"For a first-year? Completely," Nishiyama grinned.
09:01 JST — Daelic Crucible, East Campus
The main gates of The Crucible were matte-black, manned by two guards. Beyond them stretched a sprawling campus of slate rooftops, courtyard towers, and skyrails connecting distant buildings. "Home sweet home," Nishiyama said, slowing just enough to let the two girls take it in.
Shirogane's eyes widened. Sekhmet's hand moved to adjust her scarf again.
Nishiyama turned and stretched her arms out, "Behold! The legendary halls of Crucible Academy, where heroes are forged, monsters are dissected, and tea breaks are scheduled between close-quarters combat drills!"
Shirogane snorted.
Even Sekhmet hid the ghost of a smile as they approached the outer gate. Embedded into the stone was a small circular interface.
"Cadet Identification – Touch to Verify"
Nishiyama placed her palm flat against the scanner. A faint whir kicked on, followed by a low chime.
NISHIYAMA, AVA
Third Year
Theta-4 Operative
Clearance Verified – Welcome Back
The inner doors began to part slightly, just enough to let a person through. Nishiyama turned and gave a small wave. "Alright, go ahead. It doesn't bite."
Sekhmet stepped up next, hesitating only a moment before pressing her hand to the scanner.
ISSHIN-NAMIKAZE, SEKHMET
First-Year Cadet
Status: Registered
Clearance Confirmed – Welcome to the Crucible
The system beeped once more. Sekhmet blinked at the gate as it allowed her through.
Shirogane followed after, hands still slightly trembling.
SHIROGANE, YU-YEVON
First-Year Cadet
Status: Registered
Clearance Confirmed – Welcome to the Crucible
She stepped through quickly and fell in beside Sekhmet.
"Congrats. You're officially in. You'll get your badges and housing assignments at the tent up ahead."
Nishiyama smiled slyly.
"And for the record? That scanner does bite if you lie about your name."
Shirogane flinched.
Sekhmet stared at her blankly.
Nishiyama just laughed and kept walking.
The plaza was a soft blend of stone and light, open-air with a distant view of the cityscape still cloaked in a thin morning mist. A small fountain bubbled quietly in the center.
As they crossed into the main quad, they spotted cadets clustered in tight groups. All dressed in fitted coats marked with house emblems. Some wore combat boots, others charmed sneakers.
-BOOM-
Sekhmet and Shirogane looked to their left to see two cadets sparring in an open ring.
One of the duelists snapped his arm forward. A bolt of wild fire appeared in his hand.
"Have some of this!" he exclaimed as the firebolt shot out of his hand.
His opponent sidestepped the firebolt.
"What was that Taiyo? Planning to miss shots like that when it's a Spiral in front of you?" She sneered.
Seconds later, it curved in midair unnaturally.
"Yeah right Amane! You think I'd miss this?" Taiyo grinned, tracing his finger to guide the flame.
Sekhmet's eyes widened.
"He's shaping the trajectory mid-flight?" Sekhmet whispered.
"That's not… normal," Shirogane murmured.
Nishiyana noticed the both of them struggling to follow the bolt of fire and smirked. "That's his Spira ability, 'Flame Control'. He's able to control any flame if his will is strong."
The other duelist planted her boot hard into the ground and twisted. A shield of compressed air bloomed from her arm, unfurling like petals mid-spin.
"So you were hiding something, you sly dog," she muttered, wind magic humming around her.
KA-THOOM!
The fire blast collided with the shield. Cadets along the ring barrier cheered wildly. A few flinched while others whooped and placed open bets, waiving their money in the air.
"Five hundred credits says Amina wins this round!" someone yelled.
"Are you high? Taiyo's been in the lab all semester!" another yelled back.
"All she needs is one redirect with her Spira ability."
Shirogane half-hid behind Sekhmet, eyes wide. "This is'friendly bout'?"
"They make it look like dancing," Sekhmet said quietly.
Nishiyama glanced over her shoulder. "You'll be in that ring soon enough. Hope your footwork's better than your flirting."
"I don't flirt," Sekhmet replied flatly.
"Exactly my point." Nishiyama smiled.
Shirogane flinched. "Is this… normal?"
"Completely," Nishiyama said. "Just keep your head low."
Up ahead, a large white canopy stretched over an arc of stone. A dozen newcomers waited in line while Crucible personnel waved scanners over each one.
A short woman was half-jogging between check-in desks, waving a clipboard and muttering. "No, he goes to Thorne Dorm B, not Myrrin. Did no one cross-check their Flux? Gods above—okay, next group!" She turned sharply, spotting Nishiyama. "Oh thank the Founders, someone competent."
"Flattery'll get you nowhere, Emi-sensei," Nishiyama said.
Emi blew a strand of hair from her glasses and gestured sharply. "Bring them here. This table's clear."
Nishiyama gave Sekhmet and Shirogane a nudge. "Go on. She only bites if you lie about your birthday."
Shirogane froze. "Is that a joke?"
Nishiyama didn't answer. She just walked off, hands in her coat pockets, whistling.
Emi ushered them forward and immediately began searching for their profiles from her clipboard-tablet. "Let's see… Isshin-Namikaze, Sekhmet. Origin: Shinjuku Sector. Incident Report: Spiral Encounter—seriously?" She squinted at Sekhmet like she was expecting horns to grow. "And you're still upright?"
Sekhmet nodded stiffly. "I… I guess so. A Spiral attacked our train earlier this morning. Shirogane and I were in Car 4."
Emi's fingers froze mid-scroll.
"Nishiyama-senpai and her team took it down. Saved everyone in the car." Shirogane nodded quickly beside her.
Emi blinked, then slowly resumed tapping. "That's… not in the preliminary report. Typical. Give a clipboard to a retrieval officer and suddenly they forget how to do their job. Wait… that's not their job…"
She turned to Shirogane, who straightened up. "Shirogane, Yu-Yevon. First-year. No dorm listed… seriously, still no dorm?" She tapped harder. "What are they doing up there, playing cadet roulette?"
Both student profiles glowed green on the tablet.
"Alright, both of you are cleared. You'll be housed in Varnen Dorm C, third tower in the southern campus. It's coed, which means keep your drama inside your rooms and keep the noise to a minimum during sleep hours."
She handed them two slim wristbands. A silver phoenix was engraved across the semi-translucent surface.
"These are your Cadet IDs. They scan you into buildings, mark attendance, and keep track of your Flux levels during training. Lose them, and you'll be training ten times harder for a week. Got it?"
Both nodded.
"Good. Welcome to the Crucible."
Sekhmet stepped out first as Shirogane followed just behind. Glancing around like she was half-expecting another Spiral to leap from the rooftops.
Near the base of a stone ramp, Nishiyama was waiting. When she spotted them, she pushed off with one foot. "So," she called, dryly. "Varnen Dorm, huh?"
Sekhmet tilted her head, "How do you—?"
Shirogane leaned in, whispering, "Wait… did she bug our wristbands?"
Nishiyama rolled her eyes, "please. You think I'd waste a bug on two rookies still figuring out how doors work?"
"Then how do you know?" Sekhmet asked, frowning.
"I read fast," she said with a shrug, clearly enjoying herself. "Besides, Emi-sensei yells like she's dying in a horror film."
Shirogane paled. "That… actually makes sense."
Nishiyama just waved them forward. "Come on. I'll walk you. Varnen's a hike."
09:26 JST — Daelic Crucible, East Campus — Intake Canopy
The three followed the winding stone path, wide enough for five cadets across. Sekhmet kicked a loose stone as they walked, "so… how long have you been here, Nishiyama-senpai?"
"Two years," she said without looking back. "Long enough to know when the cafeteria's going to run out of curry rice."
Shirogane raised a brow. "That's what you consider senior wisdom?"
Nishiyama smirked, "survival is about instincts. Especially in the dorm kitchens."
A group of upper-year cadets passed on the other side of the path. One was mid-gossip, "Heard Professor Shikama tore into Mitsuki again during CQA. Said he's 'hiding behind protocol' instead of using his head in ever changing scenarios."
The other snorted. "Damn, what's Miki doing this time? Guy's top five, but man, he pisses Shikama-sensei off like it's a full-time job."
Nishiyama scoffed under her breath. "Miki, what the hell are you doing in class?"
Sekhmet glanced at her. "You know him well?"
Nishiyama gave a sideways smirk, "we've been partners for two years, known him for all my life. He LOVES to play dead until the last second, then pulls off some miracle like it was part of the plan. It's infuriating."
"But it works?" Shirogane asked.
Nishiyama shrugged.
"Sometimes. And sometimes I have to bail him out. He's passive. I'm not. That's how Theta-4 works."
Her voice softened, "I wish he'd stop bottling things up. Everyone thinks he's just laid back, but he's just... scared of what happened last time."
She shook her head once. "Anyway. He'll be fine. He always is."
A deep rumble rolled across the plaza. The ground shook, like something was coming up from deep below ground. Shirogane tilted her head upward. "Is it getting darker…?"
The morning sky was now shrouded in rapidly forming clouds. Without warning…
A hole tore open in the sky.
A roar like thunder layered over itself three times. A Large Spiral emerged from the hole. Its face was masked in a gleaming carapace that spiraled backward. Sekhmet's mouth opened, but no sound came out. Shirogane took two slow steps back.
"That's a Spiral," she said quietly. "A Spiral just breached campus—"
"Calm down," Nishiyama said, not worried at all.
"It's in the sky—!"
"It's not attacking," Sekhmet said slowly. "It's… circling." Then, just as the Spiral Worm banked overhead, a figure stepped into view.
Someone was standing on top of it.
Shirogane's brain stopped working for a second. "That's a person. There's a person. Standing. On a Spiral."
The figure leapt from the creature's back. They dropped like a missile—straight toward the quad.
Shirogane's eyes widened in horror.
"They're gonna die!" she shouted, practically tripping backward.
WHUMP.
The landing kicked up dust but no crater.
Sekhmet stared. "Who…"
Nishiyama lifted her hand in a lazy wave.
"Commander Hoshino."
Shirogane gawked. "That's the Chairwoman?! She rides a Spiral like a mount?"
Nishiyama just grinned. "She trained it herself. Name's Svarog. It's classified as a tamed enforcer, but yeah. That's the boss."
The Spiral Wyrm let out a low croon and banked upward again, fading into the cloudbreak. The sky began to clear almost immediately.
Hoshino stood alone in the middle of the quad, brushing dust off her black coat.
Shirogane leaned toward Nishiyama and whispered, "Is everyone here like this?"
Nishiyama smirked, "Nah. She just loves scaring the first years like that. Says it weeds out the ones who were never serious."
Sekhmet stood frozen in place, her hand clutching the strap of her satchel.
"You three."
Commander Hoshino stood, arms crossed. Her silver hair gleamed faintly in the returning sunlight.
Nishiyama straightened immediately, arms to her sides in practiced reflex. "Ma'am."
"At ease, Nishiyama, report."
Nishiyama relaxed her stance just slightly. "Theta-4 and agent 1-1 responded to the Spiral breach within ninety seconds. Zero cadet fatalities. We neutralized the Spiral and held the perimeter until Crucible med and retrieval teams arrived."
Hoshino gave a single nod, "You held your line. Good work."
Then shifted her gaze.
It wasn't Sekhmet she was looking at—but the smaller figure half-shadowed behind her.
"You." She called out. "Cadet hiding behind the tall one. Step forward."
Shirogane visibly quivered and cowered further behind her.
Sekhmet instinctively shifted to protect Shirogane.
"At ease, tall one. I'm not going to hurt the small one."
Sekhmet gave her a wary glance, then eased back—just a little.
"Hey, Sin… why'd you stop blocking me?" Shirogane whispered, panicked.
"You were on that train, weren't you?" Hoshino asked.
Shirogane hesitated, then slowly stepped forward. "Y-Yes, ma'am."
"Then why do you still look like you're bracing for death?"
Sekhmet opened her mouth to speak.
"I asked her, tall one."
"She's still scared," Sekhmet interjected. "That had to be her first Spiral encounter."
Nishiyama's brows lifted slightly.
Shirogane shrank behind Sekhmet again as Hoshino smirked just a little. "This one's bold… I like her."
She turned her full gaze on Sekhmet.
"Name, cadet."
Sekhmet straightened. "Isshin-Namikaze, Sekhmet."
The air shifted as her breath fogged on the exhale.
A thin shimmer of silver-blue light leaked out around Hoshino, shimmering along her body.
Cadets nearby flinched. A boy with silver-rim glasses fainted sideways into the grass. One of them fell to a knee, hand on his chest like something had stabbed him. Someone by the Intake Canopy back threw up behind a bench.
A low pressure gnawed at Sekhmet's spine, then stabbed forward into her ribs. Her pupils sharpened involuntarily. For a half-second, the rings in her irises spiraled faintly—golden-yellow, then disappeared.
She smiled.
Shirogane grabbed Sekhmet's sleeve. "S-Sin…?"
Sekhmet didn't move.
"I've had worse things try to kill me."
Hoshino's lips twitched—not quite a full smile.
There was a glint of something behind her eyes. Respect? Curiosity? Hard to say.
But the weight lifted like it had never existed. Cadets nearby exhaled all at once.
"Good spine, and a dangerous one. Let's hope it grows straight."
Hoshino stepped forward, and stopped just beside Sekhmet.
Her presence felt heavier up close as she leaned in. "Try not to break early," she whispered to Sekhmet. "I want to see what kind of beast you become."
Then she pulled back without waiting for a response.
A long whistle cut the silence.
Nishiyama stood with her hands in her coat pockets, rocking back on her heels.
"Whew. Approval from her?" She tilted her head toward Sekhmet with a grin.
"Not bad, 'tall one'. Not many stay standing."
Shirogane sank to her knees in the grass with a quiet fwump.
"I'm gonna change," she mumbled.
Sekhmet turned toward her, "Change what?"
"My whole aesthetic," Shirogane moaned, burying her face in her hands. "No more Gyaru me Sin. I'm gonna be normal. Study-focused. Library-core. Just... neutral colors and no nail polish."
"You're still wearing glitter mascara," Sekhmet pointed out.
"I've lived a loud life and I've seen death today Sin," Shirogane replied dramatically. "Let me 'spiral'." She placed her face in the grass, "I just wanted to ride a train and have a cute dorm room," she whispered to the grass.
Nishiyama just laughed, offering her hand to Shirogane. "Welcome to the Crucible, 'fresh meat'."