The students were still buzzing with energy because they had received their own weapons, but Kaelyra raised a hand, and the buzz fell to silence like a flipped switch.
"Before we go any further," she said, her voice clear and sharp, "it's time you understood the structure you're now a part of."
The floating lights above them dimmed slightly, shifting into five glowing orbs. One in the center glowed white, and the other four, which were blue, red, gold, and bronze, circled it slowly.
"This," Kaelyra continued, "is the Tower System. A structure designed to divide learning paths based on ability, not hierarchy or nobility. Those Towers we assigned some to yesterday weren't for fancy."
She tapped a device on her wrist, and the lights expanded into a projection—five towers, each distinct, each casting its own shadow.
"The Central Tower houses the majority, the majority being students who scored within the standard range of our exams. They will receive balanced instruction, general mentorship, and foundational development under my supervision."
The white orb pulsed.
"But for the top ten percent, which are roughly ninety-six students in total, you have been assigned to the outer towers: North, South, East, and West."
Each colored orb lit up in turn.
"Each Tower has its own training halls, study chambers, and residential levels. More importantly, each has its own Tower Master, a guide who will mentor you more personally than I can."
She made a small motion with her hand, and four figures stepped into view from the far wall. The temperature of the room "dropped".
"These are your Tower Masters."
They moved slowly and deliberately. The room fell completely silent. Kaelyra gestured to the teen at the far left. He was dressed plainly, his blindfold tied neatly around his eyes.
"North Tower. Supervised by the one known as The Unseeing Sword."
A few students whispered. Most recognized him as the one who folded Thera like laundry with a single punch.
Piera blinked. That was the same man who had shut Thera down with a single strike—and now he was going to be their mentor? He even had a title.
"His name," Kaelyra said, voice dropping ever so slightly, "is Sil Dwin. You won't need it. What you need to know is that he sees without sight, teaches without mercy, and evaluates without bias. You'll learn discipline. Or you'll fall."
Piera's team and two others stood a little straighter.
"South Tower," Kaelyra continued, "will report to Eshtren Velna, a strategist from the old border wars and a master of applied mana theory. Don't let her soft voice fool you way more... troubled than she seems."
The South Tower students, of which Thera was among, remained unreadable, except for Vex, who let out a single low whistle.
"Elthera Vaelwyn will handle the East Tower," Kaelyra said, her tone shifting to something oddly respectful. "A graduate of Kriel. Former S-class Spell Architect. She knows every line of runework this school has ever printed."
A few gasps there. She was something of a legend.
"And the West Tower… will be under Yosi Yahu, our youngest Tower Master, but a veteran of the Rift Raids. He believes in combat first, theory second, and is a great analyst. You'll know pain. You'll know him."
She turned now, facing the largest section of the room—the bulk of the students, most of whom were shifting nervously.
"And the rest of you. You're with me. Kaelyra Mondrel. Central Tower."
Her voice hardened.
"You will not be pitied. You will not be overlooked. I expect more from you than anyone else."
She paused, probably for what Lex understood as Dramatic Effect.
"And congratulations to the rest of you who were assigned to the four towers. You are now under new management. This doesn't exempt you from general classes, though. There will be other teachers." She paused for a while, and then continued, "You were deported to their rooms yesterday, so I'll presume you don't know where to go from here. All I can tell you is that this place we are in is the EVENT CENTER. That is all. Fred, come and give these kids a tour, then take them to their tower masters."
A tall man in an academy cloak stepped forward like he'd been waiting there awkwardly the whole time. He had the face of a man who'd rather be sleeping and the walk of someone who used to care, but couldn't care less at the moment.
He gave a crisp, too-loud clap.
"Alright, kiddos. Name's Fred. You'll forget it, and that's fine."
He pointed toward a door that just shimmered into view behind him. "As Kaelyra has told you, this is the Kriel Event Center, or as we staff call it: the most confusing building on campus. Built by ten architects who never met and fueled by mana logic. In short, it makes zero sense and doesn't want you to understand it."
Auren raised an eyebrow. "That explains the staircase we climbed yesterday that led to nowhere."
Fred nodded solemnly. "Yeah, that was 'Staircase D.' That one's sentient. Likes to prank people."
"Bro, what?" Syris muttered.
Fred clapped again. "Let's move."
They followed Fred through winding hallways lined with floating text in languages none of them recognized, probably runes. Portals shimmered past like blinking lights, and sometimes the floor just shifted to glass with no warning.
"That's the Observation Dome. It's enhanced with "small" magic, one of the most unassuming affinities that are known in the universe..." Fred said, pointing at a floating sphere filled with what looked like miniature battlefields. "You'll go there for your first simulations eventually. Not today. Unless you piss off your Tower Master."
He gestured at a wide window overlooking a central courtyard where training fields pulsed with energy. Students in matching robes were dueling under instructor supervision. "Combat yards. You don't touch those till your Tower Master says you can. If you do—boom. You explode."
"Wait, for real?" Uriah asked.
"Dramatic effect," Lex muttered, smirking.
"No, seriously," Fred said, eyes deadpan. "You might actually explode."
They passed the Mana Regulation Chamber, the Canteen of Manifestation (which Lex declared was "clearly misnamed"), and a floating lecture hall called the Dome of Thought that bobbed like a balloon tethered to chains of light.
Finally, Fred pointed to four split bridges that extended outward from the main spire, each one marked by glowing symbols.
"Those lead to your Towers. North. South. East. West. You slept there yesterday so you might know the way from here."
He turned to the Central Tower kids. "And the elevator over there is for Central. Don't fall asleep on it. It loops if it gets confused."
Kaelyra reappeared beside him like she'd been standing there the whole time. "That will be all, Fred."
"Thank the stars," he whispered, already walking away.