Selene guided Null outside the building in silence, her expression unreadable as she held his hand. She led him to a train station, where Null's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of trains in this hidden world. As they boarded, he couldn't help but think, "Why didn't she just fly us? Where is she taking me?"
Selene guided Null to a seat on the train, and as they settled, he noticed the attention she was drawing. People glanced their way, some whispering in awe as their gazes lingered on Selene. Null shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of their stares, but Selene seemed unaffected.
Once they were seated, she finally began to speak, her voice calm. "Null, as a new Awakener, there's so much you don't know. I'm taking you to the Awakener Academy. There, you'll learn to control your power, train under experienced instructors, and uncover the secrets of the Mirror Worlds and the Inversians."
She continues, "Don't you want to become a Riftwalker. To become a Riftwalker what would you think is the most important."
Null listened very carefully and he replied, "Maybe it's knowledge about the other world?"
Selene looked at Null's face and with a smile she replied, "Yes, it's knowledge. It hasn't been too long since we started invading the Mirror world and it's still unexplored. It is a vast world-can also be bigger than our world. We have only a limited amount of information about that world and its creatures."
"You don't have to worry about anything, just stay at that place and learn everything you could."
Null listened intently, trying to absorb every word, and after a moment, he gave a slight nod. "Will they even allow me to learn there?" he asked, hesitant. "I'm just… an outsider. I don't belong here."
Selene gave him a reassuring smile. "Yes, you'll be fine. Don't worry about it. The academy is part of the government's effort to bring together talented Awakeners. Besides, you're not the only one from outside this place. There are plenty of others from the Upperworld, sent here by their clans to train."
Null's curiosity deepened. "Others like me? And… clans?"
Selene's gaze shifted slightly, as if choosing her words carefully. "Well, not exactly like you," she replied, her tone soft but firm. "You're different, Null. You don't belong to any of the clans that control the Upperworld, nor do you have connections within Nexum. But many of the others are connected to influential families or clans, and they're sent here to develop their powers and train. You're unique, Null—someone outside their structure, yet with potential that stands out."
Null took a moment, letting her words sink in. The idea of others like him, training and honing their abilities, intrigued him, even as he sensed a divide between them and himself.
"Aziara is governed by four main clans, with a central government located at the heart of the continent to maintain stability among them," Selene explained. "Each region has its dominant clan: Frosthaven in the North, Sunflame in the South, Azure in the East, and Shadowed Thorn in the West. The central government keeps the balance between them."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "These clans are not just powerful here; they also hold influence in Nexum. Within each clan are numerous powerful figures, and their leaders have reached the rank of Sovereign. They hold more power and sway than even the government itself. There are also other clans who work as their branches."
She continued, "These clans have been governing Nexum and Earth for many generations and they are still rising in power."
Null listened intently to Selene's explanation, absorbing every detail. He didn't ask further questions, sitting quietly until their stop came.
As they stepped off the train and walked for a few minutes, Null saw an expansive complex come into view. The academy, surrounded by towering walls, was as large as a small city. He could see buildings stretching high above, dorms separated for male and female students, multiple cafeterias, training grounds, and countless facilities that seemed almost like a fully-functioning city rather than a school. People of various ages, some around his own and others older or younger, moved around in groups or trained on the fields.
Selene noticed Null's astonished expression and gave a small smile. "Impressed, huh? This academy is the largest and most advanced, designed for those who will protect our world from others. Although there are other academies and training centers run by the clans, this one is the best—so powerful clans often send their members here to receive the finest training possible."