The air was heavy with a mix of pride and sorrow. Parents stood shoulder to shoulder, waving goodbye to their children who were about to embark on a journey none could promise they'd return from. Some tried to smile, others wept silently, clutching one another as if that could hold time still.
No one wanted this—but they had no choice.
It was the price of survival.
When the decree was first announced, even the King himself had knelt before his people, his voice trembling as he declared,
"If we cannot find the Heart of the Sky… all of Elyndra will fall."
And so, families—bound by fear but driven by hope—offered their sons and daughters to the cause.
Among them was Kael Dino, standing beside his parents near the edge of Brimwell's border. The vast horizon stretched before them, and anchored just beyond the landing dock was a massive floating vessel, its metallic wings shimmering in the sunlight. That ship would carry all chosen Descendants to the Capital—Elyndra's heart—where six months of training awaited before the perilous descent into the Stormveil.
Kael's mother hugged him tightly, her trembling hands gripping the back of his shirt.
"Make sure you eat properly, Kael… and don't forget to rest," she whispered.
"I will, Mom," Kael replied softly, forcing a smile.
His father, a man of few words, placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You're doing this for all of us. Be strong."
Kael nodded, his throat tight. He wanted to say something—anything—to ease the pain etched on their faces, but the words just wouldn't come.
After a final embrace, he turned and walked toward the long line forming near the dock. Hundreds of young men and women—some anxious, others trying to mask their fear—stood waiting to board. The sound of crying parents, rustling luggage, and humming engines filled the air like a mournful symphony.
K9 units padded along the line, sniffing through bags, while uniformed guards sat at wooden desks, scribbling details into ledgers.
Kael stepped forward as his turn came.
"Name?" one of the guards asked without looking up.
"Kael Dino."
"Age?"
"Nineteen."
"Awakened? If yes, for how long?"
Kael straightened slightly. "Yes. Almost a year now."
At that, the guard glanced up briefly—mildly impressed but too tired to care. "Good. Here's your room assignment. Go there and unpack. When you hear the announcement for assembly, head straight to the main hall. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Next!"
Kael stepped aside, pocketing the slip of paper. The guard's voice carried no emotion—it was the tone of someone who'd done this a thousand times and had long since stopped wondering who would live or die.
When Kael finally boarded the ship, he was struck by its size. It wasn't just a transport—it was like a city of steel and light floating through the clouds. Dozens of corridors branched off from the main deck, with stairs spiraling upward toward higher floors.
He looked at the slip again. Room 6E25. Go to the 6th floor. Look for the piano and turn left.
Following the directions, Kael made his way up. The ship's halls buzzed with life—new recruits chatting nervously, engineers shouting orders, the faint hum of Aether engines thrumming beneath the metal floors.
He soon found the hallway marked with golden numbers.
"Room 6E25…" he murmured. His eyes landed on the door at the end of the corridor. "There it is."
He turned the handle and stepped inside.
The room was modest but clean—three bunk beds, a small table, and narrow lockers along the wall. Two of the occupants were already asleep, one was lying on his bed tapping at his phone, and another was unpacking his bag.
The last one—sitting cross-legged near the door—looked up and grinned.
"Hey there! New guy, huh? I'm Niel." His voice was bright and friendly, a welcome contrast to the tense atmosphere outside.
Kael smiled back. "Yeah. I'm Kael. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Niel said, standing to offer a handshake. "Looks like we'll be roommates for a while. Probably until we reach the Capital."
Kael shook his hand firmly. "Guess so. Hope you don't snore."
Niel laughed. "No promises!"
The others glanced over briefly but returned to whatever they were doing. Kael dragged his small suitcase to the corner bunk, sitting down as the ship's engines roared faintly beneath his feet. Through the circular window beside his bed, he could still see the faint outlines of Brimwell below—the farmlands, the rooftops, the distant silhouettes of his parents waving from afar.
His chest ached, but he didn't let it show.
"This is it," he whispered to himself. "No turning back now."
Outside, the ship's horn bellowed—a deep, thunderous call that echoed across the floating plains. One by one, the vessels began to rise, their wings glowing with Aetherlight as they ascended toward the Capital.
Kael looked out the window one last time before the clouds swallowed the view.