The morning sunlight slipped through the gap between the curtains.
Solmnaire City had already come alive since dawn.
The sound of wagon wheels echoed through the streets.
Merchants began opening their shops.
Adventurers were leaving through the city gates, ready to begin their journeys.
Everything was moving again…
as if the tragedy that had occurred only a few days ago…
had never touched the city at all.
Aether had finished straightening his clothes.
The sword Rowan had given him hung from his waist once more.
He checked the strap to make sure it was secure.
Then he turned around.
Lyra was ready as well.
Her red hair was tied back simply, while her bow and quiver rested against her back.
She took a slow breath.
“Ready?”
Aether nodded.
“I think so.”
Lyra glanced around the room one last time.
Nothing had been left behind.
“Then…”
“…let’s go.”
A few minutes later, they made their way down to the inn’s ground floor.
The innkeeper, who had served them since the previous night, greeted them with a warm smile.
“You’re leaving pretty early.”
Lyra nodded.
“Yeah.”
“We have to head to the Academy.”
The man’s smile widened immediately.
“Oh…”
“Prospective GIMA candidates, I see.”
He took the two room keys from them.
“Good luck.”
Lyra returned his smile.
“Thank you.”
Aether gave a slight bow.
“We’ll be on our way.”
They stepped outside.
The morning air in Solmnaire was much cooler than it had been the previous afternoon.
The farther they walked…
the more young people around their age they began to see.
Some arrived in groups.
Some came with their families.
Others were accompanied by local knights.
Some wore noble cloaks.
Others dressed like hunters.
A few were already wearing light armor.
They had come from all across the Empire.
Region Ignis.
Region Frostheim.
Region Verdania.
Region Arkhaven.
Region Lunaris.
Region Solmnaire.
The mountains of Frostheim.
The grasslands of Aurelia.
The coast of Valcrest.
The Emeraldia Forest.
The deserts of Astranor.
And even…
some carried the insignias of remote border territories whose names were rarely heard.
Yet they all shared the same goal.
The Galaxium Imperial Military Academy.
The city’s main road was packed with people.
Many of them wore combat gear.
Some carried massive swords.
Others had spears resting across their shoulders.
A few wore mage robes.
Some of the faces were incredibly young.
Yet their eyes were filled with determination.
Lyra looked around.
“…There are so many.”
Aether nodded.
“Are they all heading to the Academy?”
“Yeah.”
“From different Regions.”
Along the road…
they began seeing group after group arriving.
A carriage bearing the emblem of Region Valenor passed by.
Behind it came a group of Vestigers from Region Asteria.
Some groups arrived riding tamed beasts.
Others came on foot.
There were even families accompanying their children.
Fathers.
Mothers.
Siblings.
All of them were escorting their children toward what might become the first day of a life-changing journey.
Aether watched the scene.
“…It’s really crowded.”
Lyra smiled faintly.
“That’s what GIMA is like.”
“Every year…”
“…candidates come from every corner of the Empire.”
The farther they walked…
the more people they saw heading in the same direction.
Until finally…
the building came into view.
…
Aether stopped.
Lyra stopped as well.
Standing before them…
was a complex so enormous…
it almost looked like an entire city.
White walls stretching dozens of meters high extended into the distance, their ends impossible to see.
Towering stone structures rose above them.
Their roofs were covered in silver-gold metal that glittered beneath the morning sunlight.
Dozens of Galaxium Imperial flags fluttered proudly in the wind.
The emblem of a winged dragon clutching a sword adorned every tower.
At the top of each one…
black-and-gold banners swayed in the breeze.
The Galaxium emblem stood proudly at their center.
The main gate was made of black metal decorated with intricate golden carvings.
It was so enormous…
that several war carriages could pass through it at the same time.
Beyond the entrance, a wide road stretched straight toward the central building of the academy.
The structure stood like a palace.
Five stories of white marble rose above the grounds, supported by towering pillars.
A golden dome reflected the sunlight overhead.
A massive fountain decorated the front courtyard.
Statues of the Empire’s greatest heroes stood in rows along the road.
Beyond the main gate…
there were enormous stone pathways.
Training arenas.
Lecture halls.
Military dormitories.
A massive library.
A parade ground.
Administrative buildings.
Even an artificial lake occupied the center of the complex.
Everything was grand.
Everything was meticulously arranged.
Above the main gate…
the emblem of the Galaxium Empire was carved into the stone.
A dragon coiling around the sun.
Beneath it…
golden letters were engraved into the gate.
GALAXIUM IMPERIAL MILITARY ACADEMY
— GIMA —
Lyra glanced at Aether’s expression and smiled.
“Impressed?”
Aether was still staring ahead.
“…This…”
“…isn’t this almost bigger than Solmnaire itself?”
Lyra let out a quiet laugh.
“Yeah.”
“Much bigger.”
Thousands of candidates were already gathered in front of the main gate.
Their voices filled the courtyard.
They came from countless different backgrounds.
But today…
they all shared the same destination.
GIMA.
The gateway to the future of the Empire’s Vestigers.
Suddenly…
the sky grew slightly darker.
A massive shadow passed over the crowd.
WHOOOOOSH—
A powerful gust swept across the entire courtyard.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
A massive silver dragon soared across the sky.
Its scales reflected the sunlight like liquid metal.
Its enormous wings stretched across part of the heavens.
Every beat of its wings sent powerful gusts across the courtyard, causing dozens of Imperial banners to flutter even more dramatically.
Its roar echoed throughout the city.
ROOOOOAAARRRRRRR!!
“A dragon…”
Aether murmured.
Lyra nodded slowly.
“That’s the Empire’s Silver Dragon.”
“The guardian of Galaxium.”
Standing atop the dragon’s back…
was a man with golden-blond hair.
A long white robe embroidered with gold fluttered behind him in the wind.
A simple black crown rested upon his head.
His expression was calm.
Yet…
the moment he appeared…
the entire courtyard fell silent.
An immense aura spread across the entire academy.
It wasn’t painful.
It wasn’t oppressive.
It was something else.
Absolute authority…
the kind that made everyone instinctively straighten their backs.
Even the air around them seemed heavier.
A high-ranking officer immediately drew his sword.
“His Majesty the Emperor!”
At once…
every Imperial soldier saluted.
CLANG!
Swords were raised to their chests.
The instructors.
The officers.
Even the candidates…
all stood at attention.
Their right fists struck their left chests in unison.
Lyra immediately did the same.
Aether glanced at her.
“What?”
Lyra whispered quickly.
“Just follow along.”
Aether immediately copied her.
Without needing another instruction.
Then thousands of voices echoed throughout the academy.
“FOR THE GLORY OF GALAXIUM!”
The words reverberated against the white walls of GIMA.
The Silver Dragon slowly circled above the academy.
The Emperor’s gaze swept across the gathered candidates.
Calm.
Sharp.
Studying every face below him.
A moment later…
the dragon gracefully landed upon a raised stone platform overlooking the academy.
The man stepped down.
His movements were calm.
Yet every step carried the authority of a ruler.
In an instant…
an extraordinary pressure spread throughout the academy.
The aura did not hurt anyone.
But it was enough to make everyone feel the presence of a true sovereign.
Even the air seemed heavier.
Some candidates who had never experienced an Emperor’s Aura before…
swallowed nervously.
“…Heavy.”
He whispered.
Lyra kept her head lowered.
“That’s…”
“…the Emperor’s Aura.”
He was…
Laurence V.
The Emperor of the Galaxium Empire.
The Emperor and Vestiger who had ruled Galaxium for centuries.
Laurence looked over the thousands of candidates standing before him.
Then he spoke.
“I am…”
“…Laurence Arthur et Galaxium.”
“The Fifth Emperor of the Galaxium Empire.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet every person within the academy could hear him clearly.
“Welcome…”
“…to the Galaxium Imperial Military Academy.”
“GIMA.”
Silence settled over the entire academy.
“It is here…”
“…that your courage will be forged.”
“Your honor will be tested.”
“And the future of the Empire will be built.”
His eyes swept across the candidates once more.
“I do not care…”
“which Region you come from.”
“I do not care…”
“whether you are a noble,”
“an ordinary citizen,”
“or a hunter from some remote village.”
“Once you step through the gates of this academy…”
“…you are all cadets.”
“Here…”
“you will not be judged by where you come from.”
“Not by your family.”
“Not by your wealth.”
“And not by your title.”
His gaze swept across the crowd.
“What determines your future…”
“…is your determination.”
“Your discipline.”
“And your ability to rise again…”
“…every time you fall.”
The wind blew once more.
The Emperor’s white robe fluttered gently.
“The Empire does not merely need strong people.”
“The Empire also needs those…”
“…who are willing to protect others.”
Several candidates clenched their fists without realizing it.
“May I…”
“…one day see your names…”
“…engraved among the proudest names in Galaxium’s history.”
Laurence raised his right hand.
“FIGHT FORWARD!!”
The Imperial soldiers raised their weapons.
And with one unified voice that echoed throughout the academy…
they shouted.
“FOR THE GLORY OF GALAXIUM!!”
Thousands of candidates joined them.
“FOR THE GLORY OF GALAXIUM!!”
The roar reached the heavens.
The Silver Dragon let out another majestic cry.
ROOOOOAAARRRRRRR!!
Laurence V leapt onto the Silver Dragon’s back, and the dragon soared into the sky once more, its enormous shadow sweeping across the academy.
WHOOOSHH!!
Emperor Laurence V looked down at the sea of people below.
His expression remained calm.
He studied the thousands of new faces who would become the Empire’s next generation.
Some looked nervous.
Some were full of confidence.
Others even stared back at him with burning determination.
He saw them all.
He gave a small nod.
Then the Silver Dragon beat its wings again.
Slowly, it flew back toward the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor’s Aura that had filled the courtyard gradually disappeared.
Only then…
did the silence that had filled the academy finally break.
The courtyard immediately erupted into noise.
Some candidates were still visibly stunned.
Others excitedly discussed the Emperor’s speech.
Aether looked at the GIMA gates once more.
Then he took a deep breath.
“…This world…”
“…is much bigger than I imagined.”
Lyra smiled faintly.
“And we’ve only just stepped through its gates, you know.”
Not long afterward…
the academy’s great bell rang.
DOOONG…
DOOONG…
DOOONG…
An instructor stepped forward near the main gate.
His voice echoed throughout the courtyard.
“All prospective candidates!”
“Prepare for the registration process immediately!”
The thousands of candidates who had been talking moments earlier slowly began to move.
The crowd gradually formed long, orderly lines.
Dozens of registration desks had been prepared in front of the gates.
Each one was staffed by an administrator from the Galaxium Imperial Military Academy.
Behind them…
stood a large board bearing the word:
REGISTRATION
Below it…
two separate lines had been designated.
MALE CANDIDATES
FEMALE CANDIDATES
Lyra stopped walking.
“Aether.”
“Hm?”
“We split up here.”
Aether followed her gaze.
“Oh…”
“The men’s and women’s lines.”
Lyra nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Looks like we won’t be able to stay together after this.”
Aether smiled faintly.
“Then…”
“…good luck.”
Lyra nodded back.
“You too.”
Then she added,
“And don’t cause any trouble.”
Aether chuckled.
“I feel like everyone has decided trouble always follows me.”
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
“Because it does.”
Aether could only laugh.
“Then…”
“…see you later.”
“See you later.”
Without another word…
they walked toward their respective lines.
Lyra followed the flow of female candidates.
There were fewer of them than the male candidates.
But their line was no less crowded.
Girls around her age stood on either side.
Some wore light armor.
Some carried magic staffs.
Others carried longbows nearly as tall as themselves.
The atmosphere was filled with whispers.
Evaluating glances.
And nervousness that everyone was trying to hide.
…
Lyra let out a quiet breath.
“…There are quite a few.”
It was only after leaving Nareth…
that she truly began to realize…
just how vast the world was.
At the front of the line…
a red-haired girl was playing with a small ball of fire above her palm.
The flame constantly changed shape.
Sometimes becoming a bird.
Sometimes becoming a flower.
Yet it never went out.
Several candidates around her could only stare in admiration.
Not far away…
a white-haired girl was reading a thick book.
Even as the line moved…
her eyes never left the page.
As though the noise around her didn’t exist.
On the other side…
a fox-eared girl stood with both hands behind her back.
Her tail swayed slowly.
Her sharp gaze kept studying everyone who passed by.
Lyra stared in surprise.
“…Beastkin…”
It was the first time she had ever seen one in person.
A little farther ahead…
there was also a noble girl.
Her clothes were far more luxurious than those worn by the other candidates.
Two servants remained outside the academy gates.
They bowed respectfully before the girl entered the registration area.
All of them…
came from different places.
Had different backgrounds.
Yet today…
they shared the same goal.
To become cadets of the Galaxium Imperial Military Academy.
Lyra unconsciously tightened her grip on her recommendation letter.
“…Sir Rowan…”
“…I’ll do my best.”
The line slowly moved forward.
One candidate after another was called.
Before long…
it was her turn.
The administrator looked up.
“Name.”
“Lyra.”
“Family name.”
“Everhart.”
The administrator began writing.
“Region of origin.”
“Solmnaire.”
“Age.”
“Twenty-three.”
The administrator nodded.
Then looked up again.
“Authority?”
“Starshot.”
The administrator immediately wrote it down.
There was no hesitation.
No surprise.
The Authority was already familiar to him.
He opened the Standard Class Classification.
Found the appropriate page.
Then placed a small check mark beside it.
“Marksman Class.”
“Authority: Starshot.”
He smiled faintly.
“That’s an excellent Authority for a Standard Class.”
“If you continue developing it…”
“…its potential will be very high.”
Lyra simply nodded.
She had heard those words many times before.
Yet…
she also knew.
Potential…
The faces of Finn…
and Rowan…
briefly appeared in her mind.
She immediately pushed the thoughts away.
Today…
she wasn’t here to continue mourning the past.
She was here…
to become stronger.
The administrator reached for a small metal badge.
An engraved number was visible on its surface.
0428
“That’s your candidate number.”
Lyra accepted it.
“Thank you.”
“Proceed to the selection area.”
Lyra nodded softly.
Then left the desk.
As she walked toward the next area…
she briefly felt someone watching her.
Lyra turned around.
The white-haired girl who had been reading earlier…
was now looking at the military recommendation badge hanging from Lyra’s chest.
Their eyes met.
Only for a moment.
The girl slowly closed her book.
“…How does someone like you get a military recommendation letter?”
Her voice was calm.
“Not many candidates arrive with one.”
Lyra smiled politely.
“…I suppose I was just lucky.”
The girl slowly shook her head.
“Luck doesn’t get someone a recommendation letter.”
For a few seconds, they stared at each other.
Then the girl opened her book again.
“I hope we meet again.”
Without waiting for a response…
she walked toward another line.
Lyra watched her back for a few moments.
“…What a strange person.”
She let out a quiet breath.
Then continued toward the selection area.
In the male section…
Aether had already joined the long line of male candidates.
The line stretched far into the distance.
In front of him…
stood a muscular young man carrying a massive axe.
Behind him…
a young noble dressed entirely in white.
Farther ahead…
someone wore the robes of a mage.
There were also hunters, knights, wanderers, and sons of noble families from various Regions.
Even their accents were different.
Some came from Solmnaire.
Others from Valenor.
Some had traveled from Drakenfall.
Others came from Elysia, Frostgard, and Asterra.
They had all come…
with the same goal.
To become cadets of the Galaxium Military Academy.
At the same time…
Lyra continued waiting among the female candidates.
There were fewer of them.
But the tension in the air was just as strong.
A red-haired girl was warming up a small flame in her palm.
Beside her…
a young mage was reading a book while completely ignoring the surrounding noise.
Several other candidates were already watching one another.
Many had begun sizing up their future competitors.
Lyra simply let out a quiet breath.
“…There are so many.”
The line slowly moved forward.
One candidate after another was called.
Name.
Region of origin.
Age.
Vestige type.
Everything was recorded carefully.
Before long…
it was Aether’s turn.
The administrator looked up.
“Name.”
“Aether.”
“Family name?”
Aether gave an awkward smile.
“…I don’t know.”
The administrator’s pen stopped.
“Hm?”
“I lost all my memories.”
“So…”
“…I don’t even remember my family name.”
The administrator stared at him for a few seconds.
Then slowly nodded.
He had worked at the academy for quite some time.
A situation like this was extremely rare…
but not impossible.
“All right. Then…”
“Region of origin?”
Aether shook his head again.
“I don’t know that either.”
The administrator wrote something down.
Region of Origin: Unknown
“Then…”
“Estimated age?”
Aether thought for a moment.
“Maybe…”
“…around twenty?”
The administrator chuckled softly.
“All right.”
“I’ll put twenty.”
He continued writing.
Then raised his head.
“What type of Vestige do you possess?”
Aether answered without hesitation.
“Authority of Creation.”
The administrator’s pen stopped.
“…Creation?”
“Yeah.”
The administrator showed no surprise.
Instead, he reached for a thick book beside him.
The cover read:
STANDARD VESTIGE CLASSIFICATION
The book contained the most commonly recognized Vestige classifications throughout the Empire.
Fighter.
Mage.
Assassin.
Marksman.
Tank.
Support.
Healer.
Under each Class…
hundreds of documented Authorities were listed from records spanning centuries.
Authority of Iron.
Authority of Swift Step.
Authority of Healing Light.
Authority of Explosive Arrow.
Authority of Stone Skin.
Authority of Frost Spear.
And many more.
The administrator studied the pages for a while.
Then closed the book.
“…It’s not here.”
He reached for a second book.
This one was much smaller.
Its cover was pitch black, with the Empire’s golden emblem stamped at the center.
Only three words were written across the front.
UNIQUE CLASS RECORD
The administrator opened it.
Authority of Wind.
Authority of Flame.
Authority of Ocean.
Authority of Earth.
Authority of Lightning.
Authority of Light.
Authority of Shadow.
Authority of Gravity.
Authority of Space.
Authority of Time.
All of them were Authorities that controlled fundamental concepts of the world.
The administrator read for quite some time.
Every now and then, he flipped back through the pages…
making sure he hadn’t missed anything.
But…
the result remained the same.
He slowly closed the book.
Then looked at Aether again.
“…All right.”
“Your Authority has never been recorded in either the Academy’s archives or the Empire’s records.”
Aether blinked.
“What does that mean?”
The administrator picked up his pen.
“For now…”
“…we’ll classify it as a newly discovered Authority.”
He began writing on Aether’s registration form.
Vestige Class: Unique (Tentative)
Authority: Creation
Status: Unregistered Authority
The administrator blew lightly on the wet ink.
“This status is only temporary.”
“All Unique-Class Authorities must undergo direct verification by the academy’s evaluators.”
“If the results confirm it…”
“…your Authority will officially be added to the Empire’s records as a newly documented Authority.”
Aether nodded slowly.
“…I see.”
The administrator smiled faintly.
“I’ve only worked here for a little while…”
“…and this is the first time I’ve ever had to write a report like this.”
He then took out a small metal badge.
An engraved number was visible on its surface.
0713
“That’s your candidate number.”
“Don’t lose it.”
Aether accepted the badge.
He studied it for a few seconds.
“Not bad.”
The administrator chuckled.
“Hey, that’s not a souvenir.”
“You’ll have to return it later.”
Aether blinked.
“Oh…”
He gave a faint smile.
“That’s a shame.”
The administrator laughed softly.
“Proceed to the selection field.”
“The next instructor will be waiting for you.”
Aether nodded.
“Thank you.”
The administrator smiled.
“Go on.”
“The next instructor will direct you from there.”
Aether nodded once more.
Then walked away from the desk.
Several administrators quietly continued staring at his registration form.
One of them whispered,
“…Authority of Creation.”
“…I’ve never heard of that before.”
The first administrator closed the Unique-Class Record.
“Neither have I.”
“But…”
He looked toward Aether’s retreating figure.
“…if he passes verification…”
He paused.
“…that boy might make history at this academy.”
NEW STORY BEGINNN!!!