There was a subtle glow over the vast city as the evening sky hung heavy with orange hues. The only sound on the train, aside from the occasional mutter of the few other passengers, was the repetitive clang of the tracks under Khael and Felix's seats. Tall structures soared far into the distance through the dusty windows.
Unlike the streets they had left behind, the city was alive, full of activity, and full of possibilities. Ads flashed over enormous screens in all directions, as neon signs flickered above stores. As it went by, Khael leaned against the cool glass and looked at the skyline. Along the elevated tracks, the train hummed steadily. Between the tall skyscrapers, they travelled through dark, curving roads and across bridges.
The train began to slow as they approached the station. Ahead of them, the city became bigger, the buildings closer now, their size overwhelming the dusk sky. They both looked out the window as the shriek of the train's brakes echoed in the cabin. With one last jolt, the train came to a stop.
Khael stood up and stretched. His fingertips touched the top of the seats as he made his way to the exit.
The train's door slid open with a soft mechanical hum, and Khael stepped out first, followed by Felix. The moment they set foot on the platform, they were greeted by the sterile, almost futuristic atmosphere of the station. The floors were polished, gleaming under the bright white lights that stretched the entire length of the space.
The noise of vehicle's and other activities grew louder as they got down using the escalator. They arrived at a small space which led to the exit. As soon as got outside, they were greeted with the city. It looked better than before from inside of the train. Ahead countless cars and taxis moved on the six lane road. After that, there was a big mall, some other shops beside them and then offices and houses.
"So, this is the city everyone's been talking about… not bad," Khael murmured.
Ahead, a line of taxis waited idly by the roadside. Without much thought, Khael and Felix stepped into one. The driver looked a few years older than them. He glanced at them through the rearview mirror.
"Commandeer Academy?" he asked.
"Yes… wait, how did you know?" Khael asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Most of the kids who come here are for that place," the man replied, starting the engine. The taxi eased onto the road with a tiny bump. "The military demand is through the roof these days."
"Why is it in such demand?" Khael asked.
"For war, of course," the driver said matter-of-factly.
Khael raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "War? I thought the war was over."
The driver let out a dry laugh. "You really don't know much, huh?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"The war never ended," the man explained, his eyes fixed on the road. "It's just been put on pause. We ran out of soldiers. We were this close to wiping out those damn monsters for good, but out of nowhere, our troops started dropping like flies. The death toll shot up so fast… no one could keep up." He paused, then added, "Now they're taking anyone willing to fight. Lucky for you, Commandeer Academy reduced its fees. It's only a few hundred now."
"Then why aren't more people going?" Felix, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
The driver snorted. "Because enrolling would mean going directly to the front lines—a guaranteed way to die."
Khael's eyes flicked to a sign they passed. It read, Commandeer Academy with an arrow pointing in the opposite direction. He frowned, leaning forward again. "Hey… aren't you going the wrong way? That sign said the academy's back there."
"They moved their enrollment office temporarily," the driver answered calmly. "It's at Station Arcana now."
"Do people still enroll?" Khael asked, his tone skeptical.
"A lot," the driver replied with a shrug. "You think the fear of death is enough to stop people from joining a prestigious academy? Even if it means being sent to the front lines, the rewards for surviving are too tempting to ignore."
"What kind of rewards?"
"Let me put it this way," the driver responded, giving a quick glance behind him. Out of 46,000 soldiers dispatched from our country, only 16 made it back alive. Those few? They are now treated as heroes. Imagine the power and recognition that could result from surviving the next war.
"I guess, I'm just unlucky…" Khael muttered to himself as he leaned back to his seat and stared out the window.
As the taxi came to a stop, both of them stepped out and found themselves staring up at Arcana Station.
Their eyes traveled across the massive building towering above them. It looked more like a corporate headquarters than anything remotely resembling a station. The sleek black walls gleamed under the afternoon sun, with bold silver letters spelling 'ARCANA' across the entrance.
At the door was one armed guard. He eyed them briefly before speaking. "Enrollment for the academy is that way," he said, gesturing to a door to their right.
The door was pushed open.
Inside was a small but pristine room. The air carried a faint scent of something fresh, perhaps lavender. The luxury was understated but undeniable. A sleek glass desk sat at the center, its surface gleaming, with neatly arranged papers and a laptop perched atop. A pen holder and a single potted plant added just the right amount of personality to the otherwise minimalist setup.
A luxurious couch with soft cream leather cushions that appeared as costly as most people's salary was positioned against one wall.
A young lady in a fitted suit sat behind the desk. Her hair was tied back into a tidy bun, and her dark-rimmed eyeglasses sat neatly on her nose. Her fingers ran swiftly across the keyboard, and the quiet was broken by a slight clicking sound. She glanced up as the two of them entered, her fingers halting mid-type.
"Welcome to the enrollment office for Commandeer Academy," she said. "Are you here to submit an application or finalize your registration?"
"Enrollment," Khael replied.
"Please take a seat."
As they moved to the chairs, she continued. "May I have your name, sir?"
Khael looked behind him to make sure if someone was there because she was looking at him. He shook his head. "Oh, not me. I'm not the one enrolling." He gestured to Felix. "It's him."
The woman looked at Felix with a neutral yet alert expression. "I understand. If so, could you tell me your name, sir?
"Frost Hale."
She began typing rapidly on her laptop. Since Khael had no reason to stay there, he got ready to leave the room. Before standing up, he asked the woman a question.
"Hey, is it possible for someone to lose their national ID?"
The woman's keen eyes studied him for a time as she looked up from her typing. She then responded in her typically calm manner "Yes, it's possible, but exceptionally rare for someone's national ID to be completely erased from the system."
"How do I get it back?" Khael asked.
"You'll need to apply for a new one." She resumed typing without missing a beat.
"Ughh, now I have to deal with all that paperwork–"
"You can't do that anymore," she interrupted flatly.
"What do you mean?"
She adjusted her glasses and gave a small, professional smile. "The policy changed six months ago to improve citizen training and national security. If you need a new ID, you'll have to enlist in the military. And for that, you must attend an academy like ours."
"That's ridiculous." he said, his voice rising. "It wasn't like this before."
"It's the law," she replied with measured calm.
"So now I have to waste years of my life studying?"
"This isn't a traditional school. It's a training institution. You'll take some theory classes, but–"
"I've already been in the military!" Khael snapped. "Can't I just rejoin?"
"If that's true, then present your service documents."
"…"
Khael pushed his chair back and stood up suddenly. He turned toward the door, muttering, "Whatever, who even needs an ID anyway?"
"You'll get arrested," she replied calmly.
"I don't care," He grabbed for the door handle, but stopped in the middle. He looked back at her with a sigh. He hesitated for a second, then went back to the chair and leant back.
"When do I start?" he asked, his tone resigned.
"Tomorrow," was her easy response.
The process was quicker than Khael expected. The woman simply asked for his name and took his fingerprints.
"Is that it?" he asked.
"Not quite. You must fill out these forms." She handed over a thick stack of neatly printed pages, bound together with a small clip. Khael looked at them for a moment. Then got up from the chair.
"Wait, you have to fill these–"
"Give them to him. He'll handle it," Khael said, motioning toward Felix without a second glance.
Felix stared at the papers, then at Khael. "Hold on, how am I supposed to find you later?"
"Just stay here. I'll be back," Khael replied curtly as he walked to the door.
As soon as he walked outside, the door clicked shut behind him, a mechanical thud coming from the spring mechanism. He stopped and viewed the city. In his hometown, evenings marked the beginning of calm; people returned to their homes, and the streets grew quiet. But this city was the opposite. The streets were busier; buses and cars passed in endless lines.
Khael glanced to his right and spotted the armed guard from earlier. When their eyes met, the guard straightened slightly as Khael approached.
"Is something wrong?" the guard asked.
"Not exactly," Khael said in a cool but strong voice. "Do you know if there's an orphanage nearby?"