The building stood silent as always, isolated from the rest of the Academy's sprawling network of towers and courtyards. No signage. No insignia. Just reinforced mana-treated plating that shimmered faintly beneath the daylight—an unspoken boundary that warned away curious onlookers.
Astron stepped through the front doors without hesitation.
The biometric lock recognized him instantly. A pulse of blue light passed over his form, confirming identity, clearing access. The heavy doors parted with a soft hiss, releasing the cool, sterile air of the interior.
Inside, silence greeted him—unbroken, unjudging. No instructors. No cadets. Just vast open space and the hum of mana-infused circuitry running through the walls.
He liked this place. It didn't pry.
