As Azztheo approached the town gate, he spotted two armored jeeps parked just beyond the crumbling sign that once read Welcome to Willowshade. The vehicles were matte black, sturdy, and marked with the golden crest of the Superhuman Association.
The engines hummed softly, ready to depart.
Standing beside one of the jeeps was Lina, dressed in her tactical coat, arms crossed as she watched the horizon. Her expression softened the moment she saw him.
"There you are," she called out, waving him over with a gentle smile. "We've been waiting just for you."
Azztheo nodded silently and approached.
"Come on," Lina said as she opened the rear door for him. "Hop in. We've got a long ride ahead of us."
He climbed inside without a word and settled into the seat. As soon as the door shut, the vehicle rumbled forward, and the other followed closely behind. The convoy began its journey toward the capital — Velmora, the shining heart of the human world.
Azztheo watched through the window as Willowshade slowly disappeared behind him.
The only home he had ever known was now a speck in the distance… swallowed by silence, and sorrow.
A man in his thirties sat beside Azztheo, his sturdy frame wrapped in a simple armored jacket. He offered a warm but solemn smile and said,
"Hey, kid. I'm Scott. I heard about what happened in your town… and about your dad. I'm really sorry."
Azztheo kept his head down, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. He didn't have the strength to respond—his heart still heavy with grief and shock.
Scott glanced at him, then continued gently,
"I know it hurts. But don't let this break you. Your parents wouldn't have wanted that. You've got to stay strong. You're heading to the capital now—train hard, grow stronger. Do what you need to do. Whether it's finding your dad or getting revenge… you'll need strength."
Azztheo slowly lifted his eyes to meet Scott's. His voice was quiet but filled with determination.
"I will. I'll work hard… and I'll find him. No matter what."
Scott nodded, a spark of respect in his gaze as the armored jeep continued its journey down the broken road toward Velmora, the heart of Elyndor.
After nearly eight hours on the road, the armored jeep finally rolled into Velmora—the capital city of Elyndor.
It wasn't flashy like the cities Azztheo had seen in magazines, but it was clearly advanced in its own right. Wide streets stretched clean and orderly, flanked by modestly tall buildings made of steel, glass, and polished stone. Digital signboards blinked softly over storefronts and transit hubs. Hover-drones buzzed quietly overhead, monitoring traffic and safety. Public transport rails ran along the outer lanes, sleek and efficient. There was an air of calm order to it all—disciplined and efficient, not chaotic.
But what truly caught Azztheo's attention were the walls.
Towering structures of alloy-reinforced stone circled the city like silent guardians—at least twice the height of a grown man. Watchtowers stood at regular intervals, equipped with rotating scanners and mounted weaponry. It reminded him that even here, in the capital, the threat of demons was never truly gone.
The jeep slowed as they neared the edge of a well-maintained campus. A wide iron gate loomed ahead, set into high fencing covered in ivy. The vehicle stopped just before it.
"We're here," Lina said from the passenger seat. "Welcome to the Velmora's one of the best Superhuman Academy."
At the gate of Aetherfall Academy, Lina turned to Azztheo with a small smile.
"So, we're not allowed to go inside. It's a rule—outsiders can't enter the academy without special permission or an invitation. But don't worry, someone inside will show you the way."
Azztheo nodded, grateful.
"Thank you… for taking care of me along the way."
Lina, Scott, and the others waved him off from the jeep.
"It's fine, kid. Go on. We'll see you around," Scott said, giving a thumbs-up.
As the vehicle drove off and disappeared past the gates, Azztheo turned toward the academy with quiet determination.
Aetherfall Academy was vast.
A large open plaza greeted him first, paved with smooth stone tiles and lined with trimmed hedges and lamp posts that glowed faintly even during the day. In the distance, tall training halls and dormitory towers rose from behind tree-lined walkways. The main building stood proudly at the center—three stories high, built with dark stone and silver-trimmed glass. Wide archways and engraved banners displayed the academy's crest: a winged sword piercing a star.
There were students moving about in uniforms—simple black-and-grey jackets with the same crest on their backs. Some were talking, others going about their way. Even from a distance, Azztheo could feel something different about this place—an air of strength, discipline, and purpose.
He took a deep breath… and stepped forward.
A student wearing the academy's uniform, marked with two star symbols on the collar, stood waiting near the entrance. As Azztheo approached, the student stepped forward.
"Hey, are you Azztheo? The new student arriving today?"
Azztheo nodded. "Yes, that's me."
"Great! I'm Kevin. I'm here to show you around. Come with me."
Kevin led Azztheo through the front plaza and into the main building. They stopped at the front desk, where Azztheo registered his name. He was handed a pair of neatly folded academy uniform—grey pants and a black jacket with the Aetherfall crest on the chest with one star means first year—along with a student ID card and a rule book.
After that, Kevin began the tour.
He showed Azztheo the academy library, explaining,
"First-year students are only allowed on the first floor. The second and third floors are restricted to upperclassmen."
Next was the training hall, where students practiced physical combat and tested their powers under supervision. They briefly visited the gravity hall, a special room where the pull of gravity could be adjusted to enhance strength and endurance training.
Finally, Kevin brought him to his dormitory. It was a clean and private single-room space with a soft bed, a desk by the window, a closet, and even a small personal bathroom—more luxurious than most students might expect as it was one of best academy of the capital.
"This is your room. Not bad, right? Aetherfall doesn't hold back for its students," Kevin said with a grin. "Anyway, your classes start tomorrow at 9 a.m., so get some rest. I'll see you around."
With a wave, Kevin left.
Azztheo stood alone in the quiet dorm. Slowly, he began unpacking his bag, placing his parents' photo by the bedside and carefully tucking the mysterious shard into the drawer. As he looked around the unfamiliar room, the weight of everything finally started to settle in—but so did a small spark of resolve.
Tomorrow, his journey would begin, he just ate the half packed biscuit and began to rest for the day.