New Astrea was one of the few Tier 2 cities left on the European continent, safeguarded by the formidable Dragon Legion—renowned across the solar system for its advanced military power. Unlike the Tier 3 cities, which clung to a medieval aesthetic with only marginal modern upgrades, New Astrea proudly displayed the full extent of humanity's resurgence over the past 500 years since the Great Fall.
The skyline rose in defiance of gravity, filled with shimmering skyscrapers that towered at least 500 meters high. Their mirrored glass facades refracted sunlight in dazzling displays. Landing pads were embedded at every 150-meter interval, allowing antigrav vehicles to glide between buildings like silver fish through sky. These sky-lanes served the elite, corporate personnel, and various branches of the military.
At ground level, the city throbbed with a different rhythm. Crowds bustled between buildings, and sleek electric vehicles zipped down multi-layered streets. Despite the technology, many of the less fortunate citizens muttered about how little of it truly served them. Even the electric transports—capable of covering vast distances in a single charge—could not smooth over the societal divide.
Verdant life weaved through the city's infrastructure: vertical gardens scaled the high-rises, while open parks flourished in every district, integrating greenery with chrome and steel. High-speed rail lines arced like veins through the city's bones, humming with energy and efficiency.
On the city's outskirts, the hills bore a different kind of life—lavish mansions that sprawled across private valleys, each grand enough to house a small kingdom. The contrast between the outer wealth and the inner grind was sharp and intentional.
Gilbert De Nune sat in silent awe within an antigrav transport, his eyes drinking in the pulse of the city. It felt alive—vibrating with ambition and invention. He wondered if his modest hometown, with its cobbled streets and wind-worn houses, could ever become something like this.
Crackling static pulled him from his thoughts.
"This is Traffic Control. Adjust vector ten degrees. Proceed to Landing Zone 4-7-Alpha."
The automated voice buzzed through the speakers as the antigrav vehicle banked gently toward a colossal parking platform.
"So," Gilbert asked, turning to his cousin, "where exactly are we headed?"
Daniel grinned, pointing toward one of the tallest towers, its logo wrapped in vines and flowers—a stylized 'A' etched into green-tinted steel.
"To the Ameliorate Company—the largest pharmaceutical powerhouse in the solar system."
As they descended, Gilbert noted the crowded landing area, filled mostly with military transports. A few privately-owned vehicles hovered in the distance, isolated behind security barricades.
Upon exiting the vehicle, Gilbert and his friends joined a growing crowd. Military personnel, suited in power armor, moved with practiced precision. Most suits looked standardized, distinguished only by their weapons and color tints. Gilbert's curiosity grew—until it was cut short.
A striking woman with wine-red hair approached, flanked by two armored soldiers. Her lab coat fluttered in the wind, and her eyes—chestnut brown and unsettlingly calm—locked onto Daniel's group. His cousin and squad instantly snapped to attention.
"Afternoon, Colonel Eden!" they chorused.
Gilbert, meanwhile, gawked—captivated by her beauty, the way her presence seemed to draw color from the world itself. Before he could linger too long, a sharp smack to the back of his head snapped him back to reality. Whirling around, he saw Daniel and his squad chuckling while everyone else stared at him.
"Now that I have everyone's attention," Colonel Eden said coolly, "Daniel, you and your squad are dismissed—return to the academy. The rest of you, follow me. Eyes sharp. Ears open."
Without waiting for acknowledgment, she turned and strode toward the tower.
Gilbert, still red-faced, waved goodbye to Daniel's squad as he joined the others. More children—likely new arrivals—lined up behind them. They marched toward the building in a loose formation, their excitement bubbling into chatter.
Once they reached the main entrance, a sudden, jarring noise blared through the air, silencing everyone.
"Listen up," Colonel Eden commanded. "There will be no speaking, no running, and no questions unless asked. After your examination, you will be given one of three options:
An invitation to the Mustaleem Dragon Knight Academy,
Employment with one of many Tier 2 companies around the world,
Or return home—if you're lucky."
She paused, then added, "Oh, and I'm Colonel Aniela Eden, your examiner and guide for today. Follow me."
The children obeyed, their anticipation now cloaked in unease. The interior of the building was corporate and pristine—white walls, polished floors, and glowing panels. Awards and historical milestones from the Ameliorate Company decorated the walls, with a central emblem of the vine-wrapped 'A' dominating the lobby. Receptionists and lab technicians coordinated with military staff to register the new arrivals.
Once everyone had been logged, Colonel Eden addressed the group again.
"I'm sure you've all heard stories about Examination Day—how it might change your life. But let me explain what it actually means.
"Half a millennium ago, humanity encountered extraterrestrial life. What should have been a marvel became a nightmare. The Stygians—who call themselves the Strix—brought war, and with them, a disease: Black Mind. It killed 40% of the global population. Half of the survivors were left sick, frail, or mentally shattered. Only 10% were immune.
"From that 10%, we discovered the seeds of a cure—a way to fight back. That cure evolved into what we now call the Human Development Serum. It made us faster. Stronger. Smarter. It gave birth to the Marine Knights.
"Now, through years of research, we've found that ages 11 to 13 are the ideal window to begin injections. Any younger, and the body fails. Any older, and the risk increases exponentially."
The children were quiet now.
"Your examination begins with one dose. It will purge latent traces of the disease and prepare your body. After that, you choose—go home, or receive additional doses. But be warned: each extra dose raises the stakes. Only at five doses do you qualify to become a Marine Knight.
"If your body rejects it, you may die. If you survive with no effect, you might be offered a second serum. If you succeed—you may become something more. That is how the examinations were born. That is how the world changed."
She turned, guiding them down winding corridors and into a massive underground chamber. Dozens of circular metal chambers stood in neat rows. Children lay inside, restrained, as a thick black liquid—still as oil—was injected into their veins.
Gilbert stared. Soldiers in armor saluted Colonel Eden as she passed. Others watched her with barely concealed reverence. Something about her presence pulled at him—like she was more than just a decorated officer.
Before he could dwell on it, another smack to the back of his head hit home.
"Would you stop that?" he muttered, rubbing his scalp.
"Maybe if you stopped ogling our examiner, we wouldn't have to keep hitting you," Anastasia replied smoothly.
Gilbert blinked. "Wait—you didn't hit me the first time?"
"Oh, now he gets it," Adam said with a smirk.
"Guys, don't cause a scene," Kean muttered, but Anastasia was already two steps ahead—delivering a double smack to both Adam and Gilbert.
"Can you two not embarrass us?" she sighed as Colonel Eden returned.
"Now then," Eden said, her voice carrying across the hall. "Each of you gets one question. Choose wisely."
Dozens of hands shot up. Eden pointed at a boy near the front.
"Introduce yourself and ask."
"I'm William Munro. What happens if someone chooses to leave after one dose?"
"If they're from a Tier 2 city, they're free to return home," Eden answered. "If they're from a Tier 3 city, their memory of everything inside this facility is erased. They're returned to their doorstep with only a vague recollection—they failed their exam but at least visited one of the fabled Tier 2 cities."
Gilbert could almost swear she was looking straight at him.
He looked around.
Among the group, only he and his friends seemed truly unnerved by the idea of being sent back.