Magneta learned quickly that there were two kinds of silence. There was the quiet that belonged to sleep, soft and harmless, and then there was the quiet that belonged to them. The kind that sat in your lungs and made you unable to breathe. The kind that made laughter sound like a horrific crime. The type that was a constant reminder that, even when nobody was speaking, you were being watched.
This morning started on a softer note. They had a routine in their little pocket of Yokohama, hidden behind layers upon layers of concealment, tucked into a private space that felt it shouldn't exist on Earth at all. The room looked simple if you didn't stare too hard: worn tatami, low tables, an old television that shouldn't have worked, and thin paper walls that somehow held back the outside world as if it were rain.
Giozan was sprawled on his back like a cat that had decided gravity was optional. His dreads fanned out around his head, and his violet eyes tracked the dust floating in the air like it was prey. Shadow sat in the corner, knees up, pale skin almost blending in the dimness. His black hair fell on his pitch black eyes that stared into nothingness, yet he was aware of everything around him at the same time. Vhaleria was by the kettle with Rael, both of them pretending they weren't standing too close to each other. Rael's blonde hair was messy, as if he had slept in the middle of a thunderstorm. His eyes, electric blue, kept flickering to Vhaleria's face then away again. Vhaleria's crimson eyes did the same, but she was far more subtle. Magneta watched it all while tying her hair up, fingers trembling slightly. She didn't want anyone to see. She didn't want anyone to smell it on her.
Fear.
She had only been here a short time compared to the others, and she still felt as if she was wearing the wrong skin. Like she was too.... alive. Her smile was too bright. She could feel it in the way Noctyra's gaze lingered on her when she smiled too easily. Miastra glided through the room like warmth disguised as cold. She was pale like Shadow, her hair long and dark, falling in a smooth curtain down her back. Her eyes were closed, they always were, and yet Magneta felt them anyway, as if they were hands on her shoulders, like a presence checking her posture, her pulse, the very shape of her thoughts.
"Good Morning, my babies," Miastra said, her voice low and calm. Giozan rolled onto his side and grinned. "Morning, Unnie." Shadow's mouth didn't change, but something in his posture loosened, a tiny permission granted. Rael lifted two cups of tea like they were an offering. "You're up early." "I didn't sleep much," Miastra said simply, as she walked past them to ruffle Giozan's hair once. He giggled before he batted her hand away. Magneta expected Noctyra to appear at any moment and turn the air to stone. But for a few breaths... they were just children.
Vhaleria held her cup too close, steam warming her face. Rael leaned over, whispering, and when Vhaleria laughed, Magneta witnessed Rael's ears reddening. "What?" Vhaleria asked, narrowing her eyes. Rael shrugged, pretending he wasn't pleased. "Nothing. You're just... less scary when you laugh." Vhaleria's crimson eyes sharpened. "I can be scary right now if you want," Rael smirked. Giozan made a dramatic gagging sound. "Ugh. You two are so gross." Vhaleria threw a napkin at him. Giozan caught it with two fingers without looking, like he had predicted it before it happened, and flicked it back, hitting Vhaleria right on her forehead. Magneta blinked. "How did you do that?" Giozan glanced at her, grin turning sly. "Do what?" "That." She pointed at the napkin resting on Vhaleria's reddening face. "You... caught it without looking." Giozan's pupils tightened, violet eyes gleaming with pride. "I felt it." "You felt a napkin," replied Magneta, her voice unable to conceal the absurdity. "I felt intent." Giozan's smile widened. "Everything has a shape before it happens." Rael snorted. "He's showing off." Giozan rolled his eyes. "You're jealous because your power makes your nose bleed." Rael's smile faltered for half a heartbeat. His hand lifted unconsciously, wiping beneath his nose like it was a habit. There wasn't anything there, but Magneta saw the flicker in his eyes, the way Rael's body tensed as if it was expecting excruciating pain. Vhaleria noticed too. Her reddening expression softened just slightly. "Stop," she said firmly to Giozan. Giozan's grin didn't vanish, but it changed to a sharper, less playful smirk. "Fine". Shadow's voice came from the corner, quiet as a blade sliding from its sheath. "We're wasting time." Magneta looked at him. " Do you ever relax?" Shadow blinked slowly, black eyes unreadable. "I am relaxed," Giozan laughed. "That's him relaxed." Miastra's mouth lifted at the edges. It wasn't a smile exactly, more like approval.
Then the air shifted. Not loud. Not sudden. Just....heavier. Everyone straightened at once. Even Giozan. Miastra's hand lowered from Giozan's hair and returned to her side like a switch had been flipped.
Noctyra opened the door without saying anything. One moment, she wasn't there. The next moment, she was standing near the doorway, short dark hair framing her face, curved figure wrapped in a coat that looked too light for how cold she made the room feel. Her eyes were a deep dark purple and empty of any warmth. Magneta's heart dropped into her stomach. The others did not flinch or tremble, but they did change. They became... weapons. Noctyra's gaze swept across them, pausing on Magneta for a fraction longer than the rest. Magneta tried not to smile. Noctyra's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she could taste it. Miastra spoke first, her voice calm. "They ate sister, they are ready." Noctyra's reply was cold. "They should always be ready. Today, we see if they are worthy." Giozan's grin returned, but it was thinner now. Shadow stood. Vhaleria's shoulders squared. Rael's fingers flexed. Magneta swallowed, forcing herself to move with them. Noctyra turned and walked. They followed. Their private place opened into a deeper section, training chambers hidden under concealment and silence. The walls were stone. The air was much colder, and the lights were dimmer too. There were stains Magneta tried not to look at.
They entered the main hall, and Magneta froze. Targets stood at the far end, and they weren't wooden dummies or paper. They were people. Human-shaped. Still. Silent. Some were armoured in ancient attire, samurai plating, medieval armour, even uniforms that looked like they belonged in wars Magneta only knew from history books. Their eyes were dull and empty, their skin too pale, too dry. Undead. Miastra's hand rested lightly on Magneta's back, guiding her forward. "These are your instructors," Miastra said softly. "They will not break by accident." Magneta's throat tightened. "They're....real." "They were," Shadow said flatly. Giozan's violet eyes gleamed, voice almost reverent. "Strong souls leave strong echoes." Noctyra stepped forward. "No questions," she said. "Start."
The undead moved. Fast. A spear thrust towards Giozan's throat. Giozan swayed aside as if he'd already seen it. Shadow vanished into darkness and reappeared behind an undead warrior, his hand forming something sharp. Magneta's eyes widened. Shadow was not holding a normal weapon; he was shaping it. Oblivion crystals, dark, jagged, glittering, as if the night sky froze over, grew from his palm, laced through with pale bone. The blade looked wrong, like it belonged in some hellish nightmare. Shadow drove the blade forward, cracking the undead warrior's chest as if it were made out of glass. Shadow inhaled sharply. For a second, Magneta saw it, the shift in him. Like satisfaction flooded his veins. Like something hungry awoke. His shoulders rose, his eyes rolled back, and his mouth twitched, not quite a smile but close. Pleasure. It was not a normal pleasure. It was a high, violent yet intoxicating. Shadow moved again, faster, colder like the killing had turned him into something better, something more powerful. Giozan laughed, wild and bright, and the air around him shimmered. A pulse, silent but heavy, hit an undead warrior that was charging at him, and its bones jerked mid-step like invisible strings had yanked them back. Giozan's fingers curled, and the warrior's spear bent sideways as if reality obeyed Giozan's mood. "That's not... elemental," Magneta whispered. "It's still energy," Giozan said, not looking at her. "Just not the kind humans understand." Vhaleria stepped forward, crimson energy coiling around her arms. It looked like lightning, but Magneta felt the difference; this was much heavier, deeper, like a void wearing the shape of electricity. An undead warrior swung a sword at her. Vhaleria raised her hand. The blade didn't hit her; it just stopped. Like gravity had grabbed it. The sword shuddered then snapped in half. Rael's eyes widened a little. "Nice." Vhaleria's cheeks coloured slightly. "Stop staring." Rael grinned and lifted his hands, blue lightning channelling through his veins and humming around his fingers. "I'm not staring." "You are." "I'm appreciating the art." Vhaleria rolled her eyes, but her crimson energy tightened into a cleaner, sharper shape that was more controlled.
Magneta noticed the pattern. Vhaleria's power became more efficient when Rael was near. No, exactly stronger but definitely steadier. Rael caught Magneta looking and shrugged awkwardly. "It's....a technique," he murmured. "I showed her how to shape it. If she imagines it like lightning, her power behaves more." Vhaleria huffed. "It's not lightning." "I know," Rael said softly. "But you control it like it is." Magneta's chest tightened at the way they looked at each other, like the world could be engulfed in chaos, but nothing would matter as long as they had each other. Then an undead warrior slammed into Magneta's space. Magneta yelped and barely threw her arms up. The impact still knocked her to the ground hard, air leaving her lungs. The undead warrior raised its weapon again. Miastra didn't move, nor did Noctyra. This was a test. Magneta's eyes burned. Her body felt too small, too weak. Then she remembered what she was. A child of the sword god. Even though she hated him, strength lived in her bones like a curse. Magneta pushed off the ground and grabbed the undead warrior's wrist mid-swing. It tried to wrench away, but Magneta did not let it. Her grip tightened until bones cracked before she tore the undead's arm off, black blood splurting everywhere like a fountain of ink. Magneta stepped in and slammed her forehead into its face. The skull caved in, and the warrior stumbled before dropping to the floor. Magneta's breath came in sharp breaths. She had no idea where that strength came from. Giozan whooped. "There you go!" Shadow appeared beside her like a shadow detached from the floor. His eyes were too dark, too empty. For a moment, Magneta smelled blood. Sadow's breathing was slightly faster. The high still lived in him, making him brighter in the darkest way. He leaned close, voice low. "Don't hesitate," he said. "Hesitation is mercy. Mercy is weakness." Magneta swallowed. " Do you ever... feel bad?" Shadow blinked slowly. "No." He didn't say it like he was pretending. He said it like the idea of it didn't exist. The training lasted until Magneta's arms shook. Until Giozan's laughter turned hoarse. Until Rael's nose finally bled, and he wiped it quickly before anyone could comment. Until Noctyra raised her hand.
Everything stopped. The undead fell still again, obedient. Noctyra looked at the children as if she were weighing their value. "You are improving," she said, voice flat. Miastra's hand brushed over Magneta's hair once, gently. "You did well." Magneta almost smiled. Noctyra's eyes flickered to her. Magneta froze. Noctyra's gaze shifted away as if disgusted by the impulse. " We have limited time," she said. Earth is changing. The Wardens have arrived. Giozan's grin returned. "I want to see." "You will," Noctyra said. " You will learn who the new rulers of this world are, and you will learn where you stand beneath them." They moved into the observation room, a place with a screen that shouldn't have existed, showing live feeds like someone had cracked open the world's surveillance. Four images rotated. Four continents. Four Wardens. The Warden of the North hovered above Yokohama, spear raised, wind and lightning displayed around him. The Warden of the East stood beneath a burning sky, fire and light forming banners, metal orbiting like a halo. The Warden of the South moved like an ocean given a body, water, ice and earth bending into platforms beneath her feet. The Warden of the West was darkness with a voice, shadow, poison mist and psychic pressure twisting the world into silence. Magneta's skin prickled. Giozan leaned closer to the screen, eyes glittering. "They are strong." Rael swallowed. "Are they... stronger than you?" He looked nervously at Noctyra, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The room went quiet. Too quiet. Even Shadow's breathing slowed completely. Noctyra's head turned slightly, eyes like dark violets carved from ice. She looked at Rael as if he were stupid. Then she spoke, soft and scathing. " Why would I waste my time with mere children?" Rael's throat bobbed. "I..." Noctyra cut him off. "Watch," she commanded. On the screen, the Warden of the North lifted his spear. The wind stopped. Flags froze mid-flutter. Helicopters hung motionless. Even the ocean beneath Yokohama's bay flattened unnaturally. Magneta's mouth went dry. That was not power, it was authority. Miastra spoke quietly behind them, voice gentler than Noctyra's but no less serious. "This is what it means to stand above the world. Not because they burn brighter. But because reality obeys." Giozan didn't look away from the screen. "What makes them that strong?" Miastra's closed eyes tilted towards him.
"Tiers."
Magneta blinked. "Tiers?" Miastra nodded once. "Elementals have levels. Not ranks given by governments, or titles given by empires, but the truth inside the body." Noctyra allowed it, a rare permission. Miastra stepped forward, hands behind her back, voice calm like a teacher explaining something sacred. "There are sixteen tiers," she said. " Each tier is not a number. It is a threshold your body crosses. A boundary your spirit survives." Magneta listened as if her life depended on it.
"Tier One," Miastra began, " is the Mortal Realm. A spark, A person can produce elemental effects, but their bodies are unstable. They can injure themselves as easily as others. They can ignite streets or collapse small structures, for example."
"Tier Two," she continued, "is the Awakened Realm. The spark becomes a flame. The body learns to channel elemental energy without tearing itself apart. They become dangerous to ordinary humans, capable of destroying small buildings."
"Tier Three is the Elemental Initiate Realm. The elemental energy begins to strengthen the body, bones become denser, muscles faster, and senses sharper. They heal quicker than humans as well. Elemental techniques begin to specialise. They can destroy a building, and some can even destroy a city block. The average elemental is around this level."
"Tier Four is the Adept Realm. They can release their element beyond their skin with intention: blasts, constructs, shaping. They can easily collapse buildings and devastate city blocks alone."
"Tier Five is the Vanguard Realm. Their reserves deepen. They can fight for days. Their element begins to respond instinctively, as if it has a will, bending the weather, whole eco-systems to their will. These beings can reshape cities as they please."
"Tier Six is the Commander Realm. Their presence affects the environment, air thickens, temperatures shift, gravity trembles, and shadows deepen. Weak minds panic simply standing near them; even large cities are at their mercy."
"Tier Seven is the Lord Realm. Their element saturates their organs, even their blood isn't spared and instead becomes threaded with energy. Their attacks can even destroy a country. Their bodies become unnatural."
"Tier Eight is the Monarch Realm. Their output is catastrophic. They can reshape whole landscapes from collapsing mountains to burning entire districts. A single battle can scar a region entirely. They are truly a continental threat."
Magneta's breath finally caught up. Miastra continued, voice steady. "Tier Nine is the Archon Realm. These beings are a multi-continental threat; they aren't just powerful, they are truly disasters personified. A lazy strike can wipe out entire coastlines. On the other hand, a focused strike can shatter entire nations." Giozan's grin faltered for the first time.
"Tier Ten is the Dominus Realm," Miastra said. "The planet itself would be in danger, the atmosphere all the way down to the tectonic plates, and all the above are vulnerable to the beings who stand in this realm."
Rael swallowed hard.
"Tier Eleven is the Stellar Realm. These beings are very powerful beings whose presence alone destabilises the entire world. They can fight for several years straight without rest. They can destroy multiple planets if they wish to, without a hint of exhaustion. Even large worlds do not endure prolonged conflict at this tier. Luckily for your world.....four such beings have claimed your planet under their jurisdiction." Miastra's lips curled into a cruel smile as the children realised how terrifying the four Directional Wardens are. However, at the same time, the children all had the same thought in their heads. If these four beings are considered "mere children", then how powerful is... The children all stopped thinking. They knew collectively, deep down, they could not afford to even have such a thought. The thought died before it finished forming. Vhaleria's eyes flickered sideways to catch even a glance at Noctyra.
Death stared back.
Miastra's voice lowered. "Tier twelve is the King Realm. At this stage, an individual's authority can dominate vast regions; their presence alone can force entire armies to kneel. These terrifying individuals can even destroy the very stars themselves."
"Tier Thirteen is the Ascendant Realm. At this stage, the body stops ageing, and their energy reserves feel endless. Fights between these individuals can last for centuries without rest, and the entire solar system can be destroyed from their conflict."
"Tier Fourteen is the Paragon Realm," said Miastra. The air felt heavier just hearing the words. "At this stage, their influence reaches beyond solar systems. They could destroy whole star systems if they so desired to."
Rael's heart pounded.
"Tier Fifteen is the False Sovereign Realm. Their existence becomes a cosmic threat. Their influence spans galaxies and civilisations can even end from indirect consequences. or simply from collateral from the conflict between these beings.
"Finally, Tier Sixteen is the True Sovereign Realm," said Miastra. "These beings are so vast in power that even galaxies can become arenas."
Silence.
Magneta felt small in her own body. Giozan's eyes gleamed again, but with something sharper than excitement. Hunger. Even Shadow was unable to hide the excitement from his usual stoic face. "So where are we ranked in the tiers?" Magneta asked before she could stop herself. Noctyra's head turned, dark purple eyes piercing her. Magneta's throat tightened. Miastra answered instead, gently. "You are all children, not even up to 11 years old," she said. "Your bodies are growing, and your power is... budding."
Noctyra's voice sliced in. "Tiers means nothing without cruelty. Without proof. Without the will to ascend the tiers." "How do you ascend?" asked Shadow. Noctyra's mouth did not smile, but her eyes sharpened. "You remove what limits you." Noctyra stepped away from the screen. " Enough watching," she said. " Now you act." Magneta's stomach tightened. "Act how?" Noctyra didn't answer right away. She walked to the far door and opened it.
A hallway filled with stone, stunk with the scent of fear. The children followed. The next room was larger. Empty except for cages. There were humans inside. Not criminals or soldiers in uniform. Just regular people. Men and women, young and old alike. Their eyes were wide and their mouths trembling, their bodies shook with so much fear the cages rattled. Magneta's blood froze. "What is this?" she whispered. Noctyra looked at them like they were livestock. "Prisoners," she said. Those who interfered with our territory, some smuggled awakened humans. Those who hunted without my permission. And those unfortunate to enter my territory." Giozan's mouth curved upward. Shadow's eyes darkened. Vhaleria's shoulders stiffened. Rael's jaw clenched. Magneta was struggling to breathe properly. "We're....going to hand them to the authorities, right?" The room went still. Then Giozan laughed like she had told the funniest joke in the world. Shadow smirked. Vhaleria stared at Magneta as if she were stupid. Noctyra's gaze fell on Magneta like a hammer. "Weapons do not cry," she said quietly. Magneta's chest constricted."I didn't...." Noctyra's voice cut through her.
"Kill."
One word, a command. All the other children moved. Shadow walked to the cage door like he'd done it a thousand times. He shaped an oblivion crystal blade from his palm, bone threading through it like veins. The prisoner inside screamed for help. Shadow immediately stabbed the prisoner in the throat. More prisoners screamed as blood squirted from the prisoner's neck over Shadow. There was a moment where Shadow inhaled sharply, shoulders lifting, eyes brightening with that disgusting dark pleasure again. Satisfaction. The beginning of a high. He withdrew the blood-coated blade almost lovingly. Giozan reached through the bars and pressed his index finger against a prisoner's forehead. The woman convulsed as if her brain had been unplugged. She dropped dead immediately. Vhaleria held up her palm, crimson void-energy crackling in lightning-like arcs. She didn't blast the cage; instead, she threaded the energy through the skulls of the prisoners, their mouths frozen mid-scream as death claimed them. Rael stood still, breathing hard, his eyes locked onto the cages. Noctyra's gaze snapped to him. "Rael." Rael flinched. Noctyra's voice lowered. " Prove you belong." Rael lifted his hand, blue lightning forming, trembling. His jaw clenched as if he was resisting something inside himself. Then he struck, lightning spreading through the bars, switching off the lives of the prisoners one by one.
Magneta had not moved. Miastra's hand touched her shoulder. Gentle. Protective. "It's okay, baby," Miastra murmured, so only Magneta could hear. "Breathe." Magneta's eyes stung. "This is wrong." Miastra didn't argue; she only said, "It's what we are." Noctyra's voice hit like a truck. "Magneta." Magneta looked up. Noctyra's eyes were dark and cold. "Kill," she repeated. Magneta's hands shook. The prisoner in front of her was an old man, who was pressing himself to the back of the cage, sobbing. Magneta's breath came in sharp, swift bursts. She could feel the other children watching. She could feel Noctyra's displeasure like a knife was held against her throat. She stepped forward. The man begged and begged. Magneta's vision blurred. She remembered the Sword god's eyes. The way he looked at weakness like it was filth. She remembered being sent away like trash; she remembered being told she was worthless. Magneta grabbed the cage bars and tore them apart as if they were paper. The man screamed. Magneta's hand closed around his throat. Strength surged through her like a wave. She lifted him easily as if she were holding a newborn baby. The man kicked desperately to no avail. Magneta stared into his eyes and felt something in her chest break. Then she tightened her grip, snapping the man's neck immediately. The dead body fall. For a second, she desperately hoped to feel some pleasure like Shadow did; however, all that she felt was emptiness. Giozan watched her, his expression unreadable. Miastra's hand rested on her head. " Good girl," she whispered.
Noctyra turned away as if she had gotten what she wanted. "Now," Noctyra said, voice calm, "the hunt." Magneta's head snapped up. "What?" Noctyra gestured, and another door opened. Outside was a fenced training ground, hidden from the city; trees, broken concrete, abandoned structures. A false wilderness built inside Yokohama's shadow. A new group of prisoners came forward, alive, terrified and restrained. Noctyra's eyes sparkled faintly. "These run," she said. "You chase." Rael swallowed. "Why?" Noctyra looked at him as if he had asked why water was wet. "Because hunting removes hesitation. It teaches you what you really are." Miastra's voice was soft, almost regretful. "It is a lesson," she said to Magneta. "A cruel one. But necessary." Noctyra stepped back. "Release them".
The restraints snapped open. The prisoners ran away, screaming and falling over each other as they tried to scramble to safety. They scattered into the training ground. Noctyra looked at her five weapons. "Bring me silence," she said. Giozan grinned. Shadow's eyes darkened with anticipation. Vhaleria's crimson energy coiled. Rael's lightning hummed. Magneta's stomach churned. And then they moved together, not as strangers or rivals or even siblings but as a pack. Magneta ran beside Giozan without thinking. Shadow vanished and reappeared ahead of them whilst Vhaleria followed Rael's lead instinctively, her void energy shaping into crimson arcs that snapped and cut like lightning but felt like emptiness. Rael glanced at her mid-run. "As I showed you," he said. Vhaleria's eyes narrowed. "I know." But her energy tightened into cleaner lines regardless. The children hunted and as they did, Magneta realised something terrifying. They weren't just trained to kill but to kill together; to cover for each other, to sacrifice for each other. A family forged into one powerful blade. Above them, the screen in the observation room continued to show the Wardens moving across the world. Magneta's mind flashed back to Noctyra's words.
Mere children. For the first time, Magneta wondered what it meant to grow up into something that even the Wardens would eventually fear.