Chapter 1: The Summoning Gate
The first thing Aster felt was cold stone against his back.
Then, the second—panic.
His eyes flew open, breath caught in his throat. The sky above wasn't the pale blue he knew. It was violet. Not in the poetic sense—an actual lavender hue stretched overhead, still and surreal, like the sun had been filtered through some magical lens. There were towers in the distance. Massive. Intricate. Looming. Each one looked like it had been carved from obsidian and moonlight.
Due to his panic he sat up too quickly,making his stomach lurching.
Where was he?. He wondered
His pulse thundered in his ears. A courtyard? A plaza? He spun around. Hundreds maybe thousands students stood in neat rows around him, all in matching uniforms. None of them looked surprised. No one else looked panicked.
"Where the hell am I?" he whispered, but the words barely left his mouth.
When it hit him.
> [New Quest: Attend the Opening Ceremony.]
Objective: Do not cause a scene.
Reward: +20 Credits
Failure Penalty: -Lose your next quest reward.
The floating message faded like smoke, but its weight lingered. His hands were shaking.
"No, no, no…" Aster muttered. "What kind of nightmare is this?"
He tried to remember what had happened before. Nothing. Blank. Just darkness, then this. Like he'd been yanked through a door in the universe.
Like he never existed before
And no one else seemed to care.
They weren't scared. They weren't asking questions. They were standing in formation like this was normal.
> [Hidden Quest Unlocked: Do Not Draw Attention to Yourself.]
Note: You are currently flagged as "Unfamiliar."
Another ping. Another subtle threat.
Then silence.
Aster's throat was dry. He could barely swallow. Was he kidnapped? Was this a dream? Was this a game?
But before he could spiral further, the noise in the plaza dimmed. A ripple of silence spread.
A man walked onto the raised platform at the front.
Old. Impossibly so. Robes black with streaks of red shimmer. A staff that looked ceremonial. His voice, however, was cold iron wrapped in velvet.
"Welcome to Valebourne Academy," he said. "Realm of the Chosen. Domain of the Proven."
Aster's heart pounded. That didn't sound like any academy he'd ever heard of.
"You have not been invited here. You have been summoned. Chosen by fate, trial, or some unknown pattern beyond your comprehension. This place is no gift. It is a crucible."
Aster's fingers curled into fists. The word summoned rang in his head like a war drum.
"You will be tested both mind body and spirit. Those who endure may rise. Those who falter…"
The man's eyes gleamed, and for a moment, they locked onto Aster.
"…will be erased. Completely."
'did he just say that warning to me'
Aster froze. The students around him didn't flinch. Either they didn't hear it… or they already knew.
Erased?
> [Updated Threat Level: Existential. You may now permanently die.]
The world tilted. Aster stumbled one step back.
This wasn't a dream. And it wasn't a game either.
He wanted to scream. To demand answers. But he couldn't. The system warned him not to draw attention. No scene. No chaos.
So he stayed still. Trembling.
'come on aster if you want to survive you have to calm down'
but aster was so scared and panicked he couldn't calm down at the least
And before aster could even realise what was going on
The Headmaster raised his staff.
"Your Orientation Trial begins now. You will be evaluated. Ranked. Observed. You may be discarded."
Aster's vision blurred at the edges. He felt like throwing up.
Then the platform beneath his feet lit up. So did the ones under all the other students. A faint hum of magic. A rising pulse. Aster barely had time to blink.
> [Trial Warp Engaging — Orientation Phase 1 Begins.]
Everything turned white.
---
He came to in a stone chamber.
Walls carved with sigils. No doors. One torch. And a silent system window already blinking before his eyes.
> [Orientation Trial: Begin.]
Objective: Escape this chamber. Time Limit: 30 minutes.
Bonus Objective: Discover the hidden sigil.
Penalty: Delayed Class Assignment. Possible reputation loss.
His limbs were still shaking.
He was not ready for this.
But the clock had started.
And no one was coming to help him.