It had been a month since Aiden began living with the Caleenas, and in that time, he had grown closer to Adrian. Though Aiden still carried an air of quiet reservation, he had warmed up a bit to the family, finding some measure of comfort in their household. Adrian, ever the energetic optimist, had made it his personal mission to pull Aiden out of his shell.
One crisp morning, about a week before Solana season, the Caleena household stirred earlier than usual. The faint sound of something landing on the doorstep echoed through the quiet house, followed by Vesper's sharp voice calling out, "Adrian! Aiden! Come downstairs. Now."
Adrian bolted upright in his bed, his heart leaping with excitement. He had been waiting for this day since he was a little kid- the day the Solstice Chip would arrive at his doorstep. Without even bothering to fix his already-messy hair, he rushed to the door of his room, practically dragging Aiden from his bed in the process.
"They're here, Aiden! The chips! They're finally here!" Adrian voice brimmed with enthusiasm.
Still half-asleep, Aiden rubbed his eyes and muttered, "The what now? Chips? Like the food?"
Adrian gave him a wide grin as he hurried them both down the stairs. "The Solstice Chips! They're the invitation to Genvah Academy. All the Magi in Soleil go there. I've been dreaming about this my whole life." He paused, excitement bubbling over as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "And wait till you hear this- the headmaster is so powerful, it's said he is time itself. Can you imagine that, Aiden? The things we'll learn there?"
Aiden, now fully awake, couldn't help but smile faintly at Adrian. "Yeah, now don't get your knickers up in a twist," he admitted, though his tone was more cautious.
When they entered the living room, they found Vesper standing near the door, holding two small velvet pouches, one in each hand. Einya stood beside him, her gaze warm as she stared at the two boys. The sunlight filtering through the windows seemed to highlight the pouches, their faint golden sheen almost glowing.
"Sit down," Vesper instructed, his tone calm but firm. "We need to talk."
Adrian quickly obeyed, plopping himself down on the couch, his knee bouncing with excitement. Aiden sat more slowly, his eyes fixed on the pouches in Vesper's hands.
"These are for you, kids," Vesper said, handing each of them a pouch. "But before you get too excited, there's something important you need to know."
Adrian couldn't wait any longer. He opened his pouch eagerly, revealing the golden Solstice Coin inside. Its surface shimmered like captured sunlight, and the engraved words seemed to glow faintly:
"The brightest paths are lit by those brave enough to follow the sun."
Adrian's face lit up, and he clutched the coin tightly. "This is it," he whispered. "This is what I've been waiting for." He looked at Aiden, who was carefully opening his own pouch.
Aiden's coin was identical to Adrian's, its golden light casting a soft glow across his hands. He stared at it for a moment, feeling its weight.
"It's just a coin?"
"Adrian, Aiden," Vesper began, his voice steady, "Genvah Academy is more than just a school. It's a place that shapes the future of Soleil's Magi. But there's something new you both need to understand."
The excitement in Adrian's expression dimmed slightly as he leaned forward, listening intently. Aiden glanced up, his brow furrowed.
"Because of the current... circumstances with Nillufer," Vesper continued, his tone darkening slightly, "the King has implemented a new system for all students attending Genvah. In loyalty to the Court of Soleil, all students are now required to serve in the army if a war breaks out."
"What's Nillufer?" Aiden asked.
Vesper met his gaze. "Nillufer is another region, one that Soleil is currently on bad terms with. There's tension between us- a conflict that could escalate at any time."
Adrian frowned, his earlier excitement giving way to concern. "So... we'd have to fight?"
Vesper nodded. "Yes. Unless you manage to secure a spot in the Top 10 by your fourth year. The King has decreed that those who make it to the Top 10 will be given the choice to opt out of serving in the army. But as you can imagine, that makes competition at Genvah even fiercer. Everyone will be fighting for those spots."
Adrian exchanged a glance with Aiden. The weight of the coin in their hands now felt heavier, burdened with responsibility and uncertainty.
"But don't let this discourage you," Vesper said, his tone softening. "This is why I've been preparing you both. I'll do everything I can to teach you how to handle yourselves, how to stand your ground, and how to survive-not just in battle, but in life."
Adrian's determination flared. "I'll make it to the Top 10," he said firmly. "I'll train harder than anyone else. I'll make you proud, Dad."
Vesper's expression softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I know you will, Adrian. And you too, Aiden. You've come a long way in the past month. Don't doubt yourself."
Aiden looked down at his coin, his thoughts swirling. He wasn't as certain as Adrian, but he felt a flicker of determination growing within him. "I'll do my best," he said quietly.
Adrian clapped him on the shoulder. "We've got this, Aiden. Genvah is going to be amazing—challenging, sure, but amazing. And with Dad's help, we'll be ready for whatever comes our way."
"But wouldn't the Top 10 need to be the first line of defense?" Aiden asked. "It's just... they're the top for a reason, so wouldn't it be better if they y-you know... fight?"
"What the region wants is the competition to get this spot. It's a very volatile spot and it's said that no one can keep a spot for a month. This will increase the skill levels of the students using the competition."
"Oh, yeah... makes sense. Thank you, Mr. C," Aiden replied.
Later that morning, Einya left for the Plaza to purchase the boys' uniforms and school supplies.
Back at the Caleena household, Vesper stood in the backyard with Adrian and Aiden. The sun cast long shadows across the grass as he began their first lesson.
"Offense and defense are the foundation of everything," Vesper said, pacing in front of them. "You don't need to be the strongest or the fastest, but you must know how to think on your feet. That's what will keep you alive."
Vesper handed Adrian a wood carved as a knife. "You first, Adrian. Let's see what you've got."
Adrian melted into those shadows, moving almost invisibly as he practiced slipping from one hiding spot to the next, his movements smooth and precise.
"Good," Vesper called. "Stay low, keep your steps silent. Use your surroundings. An assassin who can't be seen is an assassin who can't be caught."
Adrian nodded, his focus unwavering as he disappeared into the shade of a nearby tree, reappearing only when he lunged forward to strike at a training dummy with his wooden knife.
Aiden, meanwhile, stood at a distance, flames flickering in his hands. His fire grew stronger with each attempt, but hesitation still lingered in his movements.
"Don't hold back, Aiden" Vesper said, standing behind him. "Fire isn't something you control by force. It flows with confidence. If you doubt yourself, it'll burn you before it burns your target."
Aiden took a deep breath, steadying himself. He thrust his hand forward, sending a blazing arc of flame toward the dummy. The heat scorched the air, and this time, the fire struck true.
Adrian emerged from the shadows, smirking. "Not bad, Aiden. Maybe I'll keep you around for backup."
Aiden rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at his lips.
As the afternoon wore on, the two boys trained side by side, their skills sharpening under Vesper's watchful eye. Though their powers couldn't be more different—one hiding in the shadows, the other wielding flames—they worked together, growing stronger with each passing moment.
The past few days, the boys trained from afternoon till evening with the training dummies, Vesper teaching them control, and basic offense and defense in different situations.
And before they knew it, the day of the Solstice arrived.