Renjiro stirred restlessly in his sleep, his dreams clouded by chaos. The sounds of battle filled his mind—clashing weapons, terrified screams, and the heavy thrum of Lumina energy tearing through the air. His breath quickened as his dream placed him in the heart of the carnage, surrounded by chaos but helpless to do anything.

"Don't do this!" a voice cried out, raw with pain and desperation.

Another voice answered, colder and more resolved. "I have no choice."

Renjiro's heart raced as tension surged; the dream tightened like a vice. Then, through the swirling confusion, two names echoed, their weight crashing down on him like thunder.

“Migama!”

“Remedias!”

The intensity of those names shook Renjiro to his core. He didn't know who they were, but the dread that accompanied them was inescapable, suffocating him.

Renjiro gasped. His heart pounded in his chest as he sat up in his cot, the morning light filtering through the edges of his tent. The voices from his dream still echoed faintly in his mind, clinging to him like a shadow. Those names pressed heavily on his thoughts, but he shook his head, trying to dispel the lingering unease. There was no time to dwell on it now. Today marked the true beginning of his journey at the Azeron Guardians' Academy.

Stepping outside, Renjiro was greeted by the sight of the Academy coming to life. The air was cool, but there was a hum of energy around him, buzzing with anticipation. Recruits were already sparring in the distance, their bodies glowing faintly with Cerula. Some wielded shimmering blades of Lumina, while others unleashed beams of energy, the air crackling around them with raw power. The clang of weapons filled the grounds, reminding him this was where warriors were made.

As Renjiro walked through the grounds, the scale of everything overwhelmed him. He passed rows of barracks, obstacle courses, and sparring rings—each filled with recruits pushing themselves to the limit. The Academy felt alive, but the intensity was suffocating. This wasn't a place for the weak.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard loud chewing from his left ear. Beside him stood a boy devouring a loaf of bread. He was built like a well-fed ox, thick from head to toe. Crumbs flew in every direction as the boy stuffed another piece into his mouth, filled with excitement.

The boy caught Renjiro's eye and grinned, even as he chewed. "Hey! You a recruit, too?"

Renjiro nodded as his nerves began to settle. "Yeah. First day."

The boy wiped his mouth with his hand and extended a thick, meaty arm. "Name's Taro. Nice to meet ya! Man, I've been waiting for this my whole life! Can't believe I'm finally here."

Renjiro shook his hand, "I'm Renjiro. Nice to meet you, too."

Taro beamed with excitement. Despite his imposing build, there was a softness in his demeanour, a genuine warmth that made Renjiro feel at ease. "Look at this place! So many recruits from all over Azeron!"

Renjiro nodded, still taking in the sheer number of recruits. "I've never seen so many Luminarians in one place before."

Taro blinked, his confusion spreading across his face. "Wait, what do you mean? Have you never seen Luminarians before? Aren't you one?"

Renjiro hesitated, unsure how to explain. His entire life had been spent in a secluded human village, and his recent discovery of his Lumina abilities left him grappling with who he was. "I'm not from Azeron. I lived in a kingdom far from here," he said, his voice trailing.

Taro raised an eyebrow, " So you're a refugee? Eh, no biggie. Looks like something's happening anyway."

A bell rang out across the grounds, signalling the recruits to gather. Renjiro and Taro approached a large platform where several senior Luminarians stood, waiting to address the crowd. At the group's centre was a man with silver hair; his posture was regal. Beside him stood a tall, brown-skinned man with a bald head and a piercing gaze. Renjiro could feel the weight of their presence even before they spoke.

Taro grabbed Renjiro's arm excitedly. "No way... Captain Rei! He's here!"

Renjiro glanced at the man Taro was pointing to. "Who's Captain Rei?"

Taro stared at him as if Renjiro had grown a pair of heads. "What?! You don't know who Captain Rei is? He's one of the strongest, most noble warriors of the Azeron Guardians! He moved up the ranks faster than anyone. Some say his spiral is abnormal, but only a few live to see it. And the guy with the silver hair is Commander Thalor, our greatest leader. He has seen countless battles; some say he's mastered Harrasien to perfection."

"Spiral? Harrasien?"

Renjiro looked back at the two warriors, taking in his calm yet commanding demeanour. They radiated power, but there was something else—something deeper beneath their composed exteriors.

 An older man on the platform raised his hand, silencing the crowd. 

"Welcome recruits to the Azeron Guardians' Academy. I am General Seraphus; with me are Captain Rei and Commander Thalor. You are here because we believe you have the potential to become great warriors. Many of you have experience from your regions, but you will become more than that here. You will become Azeron Guardians—protectors of peace."

Renjiro stood straighter, feeling the weight of General Seraphus's words. His mind briefly wandered back to the chaos of his fallen home, and his fists clenched as the memory of the Crimson Dynasty's attack resurfaced.

"As you train here," Seraphus continued," we will mould you into warriors. But know this: the world outside the dome is changing. The Crimson Dynasty grows more violent each day. They attack human villages, searching for something. Whatever it is, we must be ready for any battle."

The crowd buzzed with murmurs as tension rippled through the recruits. Renjiro had seen their destruction firsthand, and the thought of them growing more powerful made his blood run cold.

"In time, we will select those who stand out to join our elite forces, where you will fight alongside our best warriors. Your path will not be easy, but the rewards will be great for those who prove themselves worthy."

With that, General Seraphus stepped back, allowing Commander Thalor to take his place. Thalor's silver hair gleamed in the sunlight as he addressed the crowd calmly but firmly.

"You will all be placed into squads," Thalor said, unrolling a scroll. "Within these squads, you will train, fight, and grow together. Over time, we will evaluate your progress, and eventually, you will face the Trials. A series of challenges will determine who among you is ready to join the elite ranks of the Azeron Guardians."

He began reading names:

"Squad Mist. Tarek, Farin, Nira, Esmir."

Each recruit stepped forward, their expressions a mix of determination and nerves.

"Squad Storm. Kairro, Violet, Thyros, Illira."

A hush fell over the crowd as Kairro stepped up. His presence alone was enough to make the other recruits. He had Dark blue hair and piercing eyes. There was something about Kairro—an air of leadership and strength. The other recruits instinctively parted to let him through, sensing his presence.

"Squad Sky."

"Taro," he called, and Taro practically bounced forward, his excitement palpable.

"Emi." A  girl with hazel hair and glasses stepped forward next. Emi seemed nervous, but she gave off an aura of sharp intellect in how she carried herself.

"Renjiro." His heart pounded as he stepped forward, joining Taro and Emi.

"And finally, Yumeru," Thalor finished.

Renjiro glanced at the mysterious girl as she approached. It was the same girl he had seen at the refugee camp the night before. Her black hair and eyes gave her an air of calm intensity, and something about her presence unsettled Renjiro. Something he couldn't quite place.

With the squads assembled, Commander Thalor gave the final instructions. "Your squads will train together from now on. Together, you will learn what it means to be Azeron Guardians. Prepare yourselves. Dismissed."

As the recruits dispersed, Taro turned to Renjiro, crumbs still clinging to his face. "This is gonna be awesome!" he said with a grin.

Renjiro managed a smile, but his thoughts were elsewhere. His journey was part of something much bigger than he had ever imagined. And deep down, he knew that the path ahead wouldn't just test his strength—it would test everything he was.

The Trials were coming, and Renjiro had no choice but to be ready.