Zayn looked up at the floating city, his eyes cold and analytical. "So this is it. The place they sell you dreams to keep you compliant." He glanced at Mohal, whose awe was plain on his face. "Don't get distracted by the view. Every person here is either climbing or being used as a stepping stone. We need to figure out which one we are."
"Yeah," Mohal breathed, still taking it all in. "Let's go."
They entered a two-seater automated taxi near the descending port. As it silently glided into the flow of traffic, Mohal pressed his face to the window. The city was a spectacle of vibrant, organized chaos. Pedestrians moved on pristine walkways below, while streams of multi-colored flying cars flowed along invisible, mid-air pathways, their movements too perfect to be human-piloted. Inside their own vehicle, there was no driver, only a screen displaying a map and an AI's glowing icon.
"Greetings, sirs. I hope your day is proceeding well. What is your destination?" The AI's voice was impossibly smooth, more human than some humans.
Mohal froze, the sudden address catching him off guard. It was Zayn who responded without missing a beat, his smile warm but his eyes sharp. "The Tome of Artifice. I understand travel is complimentary for students under the age of nineteen?"
"That is correct, sir," the AI replied politely. "The city offers free service to encourage its young scholars. Although you appear to meet the criteria, may I scan your identification for our records?"
"Of course," Zayn said, holding his ID up to a small scanner. Mohal fumbled for his own, his heart pounding. The AI confirmed their identities, and the taxi surged forward with a speed that pressed them back into their seats.
This was their first time in a flying car. For Mohal, the sensation was dizzying, a thrilling mix of fear and excitement. He glanced at Zayn, expecting to see a similar reaction. But his friend was perfectly still, his expression calm, as if he'd been doing this his entire life. It was a stark reminder of the chasm between them.
The taxi docked smoothly at the entrance to The Tome of Artifice. The grand gates scanned their identities and swung open. Inside, another AI assistant directed them to the accounts office on the first floor. After confirming their admission and receiving their class schedules, they decided to explore.
They found their classroom empty, save for one person. He was a boy their age with tousled brown hair and a bright yellow cap worn sideways. He radiated an infectious, carefree energy. When he saw them, his face split into a wide grin, and before Mohal could react, the boy had thrown his arms around both of them in a tight hug.
"You're finally here!" he exclaimed, pulling back. "I'm Sam. Look, I've already gathered a few of us. You have to meet them!"
Without waiting for a reply, he dragged them towards a small group of students. Mohal stiffened, a cold knot tightening in his stomach. 'This is a probe,' he thought. 'Physical contact to gauge our temperament. He's not friendly; he's assessing.'
"Hey guys, look who I found!" Sam announced to the others. "This is Mohal, and this is Zayn. Fresh off the transport this year, all the way from a small village on the border..." Sam rattled off their histories with unnerving accuracy, his cheerful tone a chilling mask for the invasive nature of his words.
Mohal felt a cold sweat on his neck. This wasn't a friendly introduction; it was an intelligence briefing delivered as a welcome. He glanced at Zayn, who was still wearing that same placid smile, his posture relaxed. But Mohal knew him better. That was Zayn's mask, the one he wore when he was analyzing a threat.
Noticing Mohal's frozen state, Zayn nodded at him almost imperceptibly before turning his smile to the group. "Sam has us at a disadvantage," Zayn said, his voice smooth. "You all seem to know our story. It's only fair we learn yours."
One by one, the seven other students briefly introduced themselves. Six were from the floating city itself, their confidence bordering on arrogance. One was from the ground city below. After the introductions, the group began to disperse.
"Hey, you two should come over to my place!" Sam offered loudly.
Zayn politely declined. "Thank you for the offer, but we need to check on our assigned apartment and then return to the village. Family matters. We have three days before classes begin."
"Alright then!" Sam clapped him on the shoulder. "If you ever need anything, just give me a call. I'll help out however I can!"
"We'll be sure to remember that," Zayn replied, his smile unwavering.
The moment Sam was out of earshot, Mohal grabbed Zayn's arm. "Who was that? Why does he know everything about us? And why were you just playing along?"
Zayn's own smile vanished, replaced by a cold seriousness. "I've never seen him before in my life. And you're asking the wrong question, Mohal."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't ask how he knows about us," Zayn said, his voice low as his eyes scanned the polished corridors. "In this city, information is a currency, and our lives are cheap. Ask why he made sure we knew that he knows."
Mohal stared, the pieces clicking into place with a horrifying clarity.
"It was a demonstration of power," Zayn explained. "He was telling us, 'I have connections you can't imagine. I know your background, your family. I am a valuable ally and a dangerous enemy.' He wasn't making friends, Mohal. He was recruiting assets." Zayn's eyes met his, and for the first time, Mohal saw the true depth of his friend's cynicism, forged by a lifetime of tragedy.
"Welcome to The Tome of Artifice," Zayn said, his voice barely a whisper. "The real test has already begun." He looked away, his expression hardening. "And we are already caught in it. I have a bad feeling about this, Mohal. We are weak, from a border village. A perfect pawn for someone's opening move."
"What do we do?" Mohal asked, the initial wonder of the city curdling into fear.
"We make ourselves irrelevant for now," Zayn replied decisively. "We check our apartment, get the keys, and we leave. Immediately. We go back to the village. We have three days. Let these factions posture and make their alliances. By the time we return, the initial power struggles will have settled, and we won't be caught in the crossfire as the newest pieces on the board."
Mohal nodded, his mind reeling but trusting Zayn's sharp instincts. "Okay. Let's go."
They quickly made their way out of the grand school building and headed towards a nearby residential tower, the weight of unseen eyes feeling heavier with every step.