Arthur woke with a start as sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of his dormitory room. His eyes darted to the clock—6:30 AM. Perfect. He had plenty of time to prepare for his first day of classes at the Academy.
The throbbing ache in his chest reminded him of what made him different from most of the other people. Being a Chosen came with its price, and the formation of his core was that price. Each pulse sent waves of dull pain throughout his body.
Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Arthur winced slightly.
The shower's warm water helped soothe his aching muscles. As the water cascaded down his back, Arthur contemplated what lay ahead. He never imagined he'd be here—at the prestigious Academy for the Chosen, preparing to fight creatures from other realms. His life had taken a dramatic turn after the incident, one he was still coming to terms with.
After toweling off, Arthur meticulously brushed his teeth and fixed his dark hair. After that he dressed himself in a clean school uniform.
Before leaving the bathroom, Arthur reached for the small pill bottle Alicia had given him at the hospital. "Take one each morning," she had instructed with a kind but firm voice. "It will significantly reduce the pain flare-ups as your core continues to form."
He swallowed one of the small blue pills dry, grimacing at the bitter aftertaste. A necessary evil, he supposed.
…
The cafeteria buzzed with activity as students gathered for the morning meal. Arthur and Luke found a quiet corner table and settled in with trays of eggs, toast, and fresh fruit.
"Nervous about classes?" Luke asked between bites of toast.
Arthur shrugged, pushing his scrambled eggs around with his fork. "A little. Realm Theory first thing in the morning sounds intense."
"Professor Harmon teaches it. I heard he's strict but fair," Luke offered, adjusting his glasses.
They didn't speak much after that, but the silence wasn't uncomfortable. Arthur had never had many friends growing up. But despite his general wariness of others, especially after recent events, he found Luke's company oddly comforting. There was something genuine about the bespectacled boy that put Arthur at ease.
As they finished their meal, Arthur checked his schedule again. "We should head to class. Don't want to be late on the first day."
Luke nodded, gathering his tray. "Probably a good call."
…
The Realm Theory classroom was situated in the east wing of the main building. It looked surprisingly ordinary—a teacher's desk at the front, a large interactive screen on the wall, and about thirty individual desks arranged in neat rows. Nothing about it suggested they would be learning about parallel worlds and monstrous creatures.
Being the first to arrive, Arthur and Luke exchanged a knowing glance before making their way to the back corner of the room. Strategic positioning, Arthur thought. They could observe everything without being at the center of attention.
Gradually, other students filtered in. Arthur recognized the blue-haired boy from orientation. He entered with a group of newfound friends, laughing loudly at something one of them said.
"That's Aziel Borasten," Luke whispered, noticing Arthur's gaze. "His father was a accomplished pathfinder but retired after suffering a horrible injury"
Arthur was about to respond when she walked in—the blonde girl whose presence had commanded attention at orientation. Despite her cold demeanor, she seemed to radiate a warmth that filled the room. But what surprised Arthur most wasn't her beauty or her poise, but the fact that she wasn't alone.
Walking beside her was a shorter girl with messy brown hair that fell to her shoulders. She looked up at the blonde with undisguised admiration, chattering animatedly about something. The contrast between them was striking—one tall, elegant, and reserved; the other petite, disheveled, and enthusiastic.
"The blonde is Cara Lenning," Luke informed him quietly. "Don't know to much about her other than that she's a bit of a mystery. The shorter girl is Myah Brown. No relation to me, despite the similar looks."
Indeed, with her glasses and tousled brown hair, Myah could have passed for Luke's sister. Arthur found it intriguing that someone like Cara, who seemed determined to keep people at arm's length, had formed a connection with the animated Myah.
The classroom fell silent as the professor entered. He was a middle-aged man with neatly combed black hair, streaked with gray at the temples. His posture was rigid, his expression severe. Without preamble, he placed his materials on the desk and picked up a sheet of paper.
"When I call your name, say 'here,'" he instructed, his voice crisp and authoritative. He began reading from the list.
"Aziel Borasten."
"Present and accounted for, Professor!" the blue-haired boy responded with unnecessary enthusiasm.
The teacher's expression didn't change as he continued.
"Cara Lenning."
"Here," came the quiet but clear response from the blonde.
"Myah Brown."
"Here!" The small girl raised her hand energetically.
The roll call continued until everyone had been acknowledged, including Arthur and Luke.
The professor placed the list down and surveyed the class with piercing eyes. "I am Professor Harmon, and this is Realm Theory 101. In this class, you will learn the fundamental principles that govern your future as Chosen."
He paced slowly across the front of the room. "First thing to know: we believe there are seven realms in total, though we have only recently accessed the fourth."
A student near the front raised their hand. "If we've only reached the fourth, how do we know there are seven?"
Professor Harmon's lips curled into something resembling a smile. "Good question. While I am not a Chosen myself, we know that when Chosen first enter the second realm, they experience a… divine revelation of sorts. Much of our knowledge comes from these revelations."
The classroom grew silent as the professor's expression turned grim.
"We have good reason to believe that these seven realms were once worlds like ours—worlds that were attacked by the Dark creatures of the gates. These realms represent what happens when a world loses its battle."
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Arthur felt a chill run down his spine.
"The other realms are void of humans, filled only with the ruins of fallen civilizations. The creatures there—once normal animals, perhaps—have been corrupted and mutated into monstrosities. The divine revelations suggest that only by reaching the seventh realm and attaining the height of power can a Chosen gain the ability needed to save humanity."
Professor Harmon's gaze swept across the room, meeting each student's eyes briefly.
"This is why Chosen continue to enter the realms despite the dangers—to grow stronger, to reach the seventh realm, and to ultimately save our world before it's too late. Of course," he added with a slight shrug, "the substantial financial rewards and social status don't hurt either."
Arthur glanced at Cara, whose expression remained impassive, then at Aziel, who was leaning forward with eager anticipation. Two different approaches to the same daunting responsibility.