I. The Path Above the Clouds
They climbed in silence.
The mountain rose before them, the trail narrowing to a winding ridge path carved into the slope by ancient hands. Wind hissed through the trees below, but here, only the crunch of gravel beneath boots broke the quiet.
Kai led the way, his steps steady despite the ache in his limbs.
Lina followed with her cloak drawn tight, staff tapped lightly to the ground.
Aren kept one hand on his sword, every sense alert after the night's battle.
Corin and Seren trailed a little behind, walking with the silence of those used to long, dangerous roads.
The battle with the fused remnant had left them exhausted, shaken—but alive.
The corrupted divine had been driven out.
And something in Kai had awakened.
They had no more illusions that the world would let them rest.
But ahead, rising from the mountain face like a temple carved by god-kissed giants, stood their destination:
The Academy of Echoes.
II. The First Glimpse
The mountain trail curved one final time and opened onto a wide overlook.
Everyone stopped.
No one spoke.
Below them, nestled in the basin of the mountain, was the Academy.
It didn't look like a school.
It looked like a monument.
Sprawling halls of pale stone flowed into towers etched with living runes that shifted in slow spirals. Bridges arched between peaks, suspended over air itself. Glowing glyph-lines ran like veins along its walls. A dome at the center pulsed faintly with gold light, beating like a great heart beneath the sky.
And above it all stood a tower—the Spire of Echoes, so tall it pierced the clouds.
"By the stars," Lina breathed.
"Didn't think it'd be real," Aren muttered, awed despite himself.
Kai's shard pulsed faintly, responding to the magic in the air like a whisper saying home—and danger.
III. The Gatekeepers
The path led to a gate not made of wood or metal, but woven light—a shimmering lattice of sigils floating in the air, humming softly with old energy.
As they approached, the glyphs shifted.
And spoke.
"Who seeks entry to the Academy of Echoes?"
The voice was layered, male and female, young and ancient.
Kai stepped forward. "We were sent for," he said carefully. "By Instructor Sera Maren."
There was a pause.
Then, the gate shifted again.
And from the sides, two figures emerged—neither quite human.
They wore long silver robes, faces hidden beneath mirrored masks. Their arms were inscribed with living tattoos that moved like waves under their skin.
They were Sentinels of the Veil—constructs, once human, now bound to protect the Academy's outer gates.
One of them raised a hand.
"You carry an echo."
Its mirrored mask turned toward Kai.
"A deep one. Dangerous."
The other stepped closer to Lina, scanning her silently.
Aren bristled. "We're not your enemies."
The Sentinel ignored him.
"He is a resonant risk. Authorization required."
IV. The Voice That Cut Through Magic
A ripple passed through the light gate.
Then—like wind through silk—came a voice both warm and commanding.
"They are under my protection."
A woman stepped forward from within the gate, the lattice folding to let her through.
She wore simple robes of deep gray, accented with a sash marked with spirals and relic-keys. Her dark hair was bound at the nape, and her eyes were violet—sharp, thoughtful, and focused directly on Kai.
"Instructor Sera Maren," she said, offering a nod to the group. "You've had quite a journey."
The Sentinels turned to her, and one bowed slightly.
"He triggered a divine reaction."
"It echoed through three archives."
Sera didn't flinch.
"Then it's time he came home."
She stepped beside Kai.
"Come. All of you."
To the Sentinels, she said only, "Provisional clearance under Echo Protocol 17."
The lattice shimmered once more.
Then parted.
V. Through the Gate
Crossing the threshold felt like stepping between worlds.
Cool air shifted.
Sounds became distant, muffled by enchantments laced into the very stones. The path curved into a courtyard lined with spiraled trees and fountains that whispered words in forgotten tongues.
Students passed by, some in robes, others in travel gear like Kai's group. They glanced over, some curious, others wary.
One young man stared at Kai a little too long—then quickly turned away.
"You're already known," Sera said, catching Kai's glance.
"How?" he asked.
"Because when echoes stir, they ripple through everything."
She led them into a smaller antechamber just inside the eastern wing. A fire burned in the hearth, and chairs surrounded a stone table marked with divine sigils. It felt more like a home than a stronghold.
"Rest," Sera said, gesturing to the seats. "We'll do full orientation in the morning."
She turned to Seren and Corin.
"You'll stay under observation. Don't worry—it's standard."
Corin nodded once, unsurprised.
Seren raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
To Kai, she handed a folded parchment.
"Your official enrollment. The Academy doesn't usually accept students mid-cycle."
"But you're… not usual."
Kai opened it slowly.
His name was inked in flowing script.
And beneath it:
Resonant Classification: Echo-Class Potential
Division: Relic & Memory Studies
Assigned Guide: Instructor Sera Maren
VI. A Quiet Moment
Later, as they were shown to their dormitory quarters, Kai stood alone on a balcony overlooking the lower courtyard.
The moon hung low over the mountains.
From here, he could see the Spire's peak.
And the faint shimmer of runes floating in the sky above it.
This place pulsed with ancient memory.
It was beautiful.
And terrifying.
Lina joined him, her expression quiet.
"We're really here."
"Yeah."
"Think we'll be safe?"
Kai didn't answer.
Because the truth settled heavy in his chest.
"No."
"But we're closer."
She didn't ask what that meant.
They both knew.
The answers were here.
So were the dangers.
And the war hadn't even begun.