Silas felt a wave of dizziness hit him, his room blurring into a chaotic swirl of gold, green, and red. It felt as though the world itself was spinning out of control, twisting into a kaleidoscope of color. Each second stretched on, as if he were caught in some strange, endless limbo. His stomach turned, and panic clawed at him as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
Finally, after what seemed like an age, Silas opened his eyes. He found himself staring at a massive castle, towering before him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—easily twice the height of a skyscraper, with walls that gleamed under a dim, purplish sky. The structure was made of an almost glass-like stone, translucent and shimmering as if woven with threads of silver and violet. It stretched so far in either direction that he couldn't see its ends, as if the castle was the edge of this world.
Silas blinked, disoriented, trying to piece together his surroundings. He noticed thousands of other teenagers and children around him, all just as bewildered. Some murmured nervously, while others looked around with wide-eyed fear or wonder.
Was it real? That voice, the warnings about Asdar… The memory of that voice echoed in his mind, urging him forward, and as he tried to steady himself, he heard it again. This time, it was sharper and clearer.
"Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you all."
Silas turned toward the source of the voice. A man stood at a podium—he was short, maybe five feet tall, but his presence was calming, even if slightly commanding. There was a sense of steadiness in his posture, and despite his size, Silas could tell that the man was someone who expected to be listened to.
"I'm sure you all have plenty of questions," the man began, his voice clear and reassuring. "But first, let me introduce myself. I am Professor Thorm, the Vice Headmaster of this institution."
He paused for a moment, giving the crowd a chance to take in his words.
"As you've probably heard by now, your planet will soon be joining Asdar. Earth will likely become an island nation—similar to Japan, if that helps you imagine it." His voice was steady and sincere, without any trace of mockery. "Asdar is a much larger planet, and every few hundred years, our world expands—adding new planets to the system and integrating them. It's a natural process that helps us grow together as a unified cosmos."
Professor Thorm allowed a moment of silence, as if to let the information sink in.
"This institution exists to prepare you for the changes ahead, to help you adjust and learn. For now, you will be shown to your rooms, where you can rest and gather your strength. The journey ahead will require everything you've got. Welcome to your new life, everyone."
The Vice Headmaster smiled warmly as he finished speaking, his expression calm and welcoming. There was a quiet strength in him, a promise that he would guide them all through whatever came next.
As soon as Professor Thorm's last word echoed away, Silas felt the vertigo hit him again. This time, it felt sharper—like a sudden pull that yanked him from one place to another, with his body twisting in the air before landing.
When the dizziness cleared, Silas opened his eyes and found himself in a cave.
"What the hell? With this huge castle, I get a cave?" Silas muttered, more to distract himself from the nauseous dread building in his stomach than anything else. "At least there'd better be some soft moss..."
Before he could finish, his stomach gave out, and he doubled over, retching onto the damp cave floor. Perfect, he thought, wiping his mouth with a groan. If this is some test, I'm definitely failing it.
Once the dizziness and nausea subsided, he took a few cautious steps further into the cave, squinting to make out his surroundings. The ground was uneven beneath his feet, and moisture dripped down the walls, leaving the rock slick and dark. As he ventured deeper, his sense of isolation grew—the only sound was the distant drip of water echoing against the stone.
After what felt like ages, he stepped into a larger cavern, dimly lit by some unknown source. There, sitting on a small wooden chair, was a man with long, golden hair. He couldn't have been older than twenty-five, but something about him felt… wrong. Silas froze, staring, sensing that this man wasn't like anyone he'd ever met.
At first glance, the man seemed entirely normal. But his eyes—his eyes were a startling blue, bright and artificial, like the glow of machinery hidden behind a human mask. Silas found himself mesmerized, unable to look away.
"I wouldn't stare too long if I were you," the man said, his voice smooth but carrying an edge. "In this realm, a few more seconds, and you'd have stared until you died of old age."
The man chuckled—a soft, empty sound, as if he were recalling some distant, bitter memory.
"Hello there, young one. What brings you here?" he asked, his voice calm, but his gaze sharp.
Silas blinked, still trying to shake off the dizziness and process where he was. "Well, I'm assuming this isn't my room?" He tried to joke, though his voice faltered. His instinct told him to be cautious; he'd stumbled into this strange man's cave, and the last thing he wanted was to provoke him.
The man's lips quirked into a slight, strange smile. "Well, it seems like Lady Luck is on your side today, young man. You can call me T." He paused, and the light in his eyes dimmed slightly, an odd sadness shadowing his face. "And I am dying."