Kael and Adrian walked to their first class.
Students of Black Haven were put in different departments according to their ranks and even here it was clear where he stood in the pecking order.
Their classroom was in the far corner of the academy grounds, in a wing that felt like an add on. The building wasn't as grand as the main halls.
The Etherion glow from the walls was dimmer, the air stale compared to the high tier sections. Students walked by in mismatched uniforms, their faces scowled and fidgety.
This was the department for the bottom tier students: the ones who ranked lowest, the dead weight of the academy.
Adrian whistled as they walked in.
"Wow. They really make sure we know we're at the bottom, don't they?"
Kael looked around. The room was bare, the furniture worn out. The desks were packed in, no space to move and the windows looked out onto a cracked empty courtyard.
"Better than the slums," Kael said, sitting down at the back.
Adrian snorted. "That's one way to look at it." He dropped into the chair beside Kael and leaned back, his arms behind his head. "I bet the first years in the high tier have rooms that look like a palace."
Kael didn't say anything. He didn't care about the high tier or their luxuries. Not yet, at least.
The instructor arrived a minute later, an older woman with sharp eyes and a stern face. Her presence commanded silence as she walked to the front of the room, her robes flowing behind her like a wave of authority.
"My name is Instructor Velora," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "Welcome to Common Knowledge. As first year Lightforged, you are at the very beginning of a long and difficult journey. Most of you will fail. A few of you will survive long enough to graduate. And maybe one of you will rise above your station."
The students squirmed in their seats. Velora's words were harsh but Kael knew they were true.
"As first years in the bottom tier," she said, "you should already know that your access to the academy's resources is limited. Your dorms, training facilities and even the food you eat is lower tier than your high tier peers. This is on purpose. Black Haven is a meritocracy and your place in the academy reflects your ability or lack thereof."
Adrian leaned over and whispered, "She's a real ray of sunshine."
Kael ignored him, his eyes on Velora.
"For those of you who don't know, let me explain how the academy is structured," she said, picking up a small crystalline device from her desk.
A flicker of Etherion passed through it and a glowing projection appeared above her, showing a diagram of the academy.
"The academy is divided into three tiers," she said. "First year students are in the lower sections of the campus, with each department separated by ranking. Second year students are in the mid tier buildings, they have better facilities and more advanced training. Third year students are at the top of the academy, literally and figuratively. Their facilities are the best and they are being groomed to be elite Lightforged who will represent the academy at the Earth Coalition."
The projection changed, showing a clear separation of the academy. The lower tiers were cramped and functional, the upper tiers shone with grandeur, their spires reaching up to the sky.
"You will notice," Velora said, "first, second and third years don't interact with each other. This is on purpose. Those in higher years have no time to waste on those who haven't proven themselves yet. And their power levels are vastly different. A first year Lightforged wouldn't survive a sparring match with a third year, let alone the pressure of being in their presence."
The class whispered to each other, the truth dawning on them.
"Now," Velora continued, "let us move on to the basics of the Lightforged. As most of you are aware, being Lightforged means you have been imbued with Etherion, granting you abilities that allow you to combat the monsters that plague our world. However, your strength is determined by your Light Core, which—"
Kael tuned out. He had heard most of this before, either from whispers in the slums or during his short time at the academy. None of it was new. Etherion, Light Cores, rankings—it all felt like noise.
But then Velora's tone shifted, and her next words caught his attention.
"Alright," Velora said, her voice more serious, "let's talk about the Fractured Nexus."
Kael sat up straight, his full attention on the instructor.
"The Fractured Nexus," she said, "is where all Etherion comes from. It's a realm where worlds collide—a place that connects countless dimensions through its gateways.
When a world is called to the Nexus, Blight seeps in. This is how our world, Earth, first encountered Blight five centuries ago. The Reaches opened, monsters emerged and humanity had to adapt or die."
She pointed to the projection which now showed a swirling vortex surrounded by dozens of smaller worlds.
"Vitalite crystals, as you know, are why we're still alive. They create force fields that purify Blight and turn it into refined Etherion. These fields protect our cities and allow us to live but the process isn't perfect. Beyond the force fields, Blight spreads and corrupts the land and those exposed are prone to illness and early deaths."
Kael clenched his fists under the desk. He didn't need a lesson.
"Every world called to the Nexus has its own gateways," she said. "Through these gateways, Lightforged and other beings can enter the Reaches to seek power, knowledge and glory. In four months you'll make your first trip into the Nexus."
The room murmured in hushed tones. Four months.
"The Nexus isn't just a realm of trials—it's a battleground of countless civilizations. Beings from other worlds far stronger than Earth's Lightforged are there, many of whom see us as insignificant. Earth has no power in the grand scheme of the Nexus."
Kael's thoughts spun. Kain's life flashed before him—the Nexus, the gods who had come to claim their power and the trials that had made him.
"Clearing a Reach," Velora continued, "grants rewards beyond measure. Divine artifacts, immense strength, and even the possibility of ascending beyond mortality. But the risks are just as great. Many who enter are consumed by the Nexus, their bodies and souls torn apart by its trials."
Velora paused, her gaze sweeping over the class. "But that is a lesson for another day. We will delve deeper into the Nexus and its mysteries in future sessions. For now, you are dismissed to the training hall for your next class."
A collective groan rose from the students, though Kael remained silent. He hadn't even realized how deeply engrossed he had been until she stopped speaking.