Stars of Destiny

The Hall of Metal

While Kibi began to speak, his friends prepared to listen attentively. They felt that the words he was about to utter would change their views of the academy. They all understood that information was the key to success. They could still accept being treated differently, but they wanted to at least understand why.

The beginning of his story was no different from the others. He had also taken a space shuttle to his training hall. When he arrived on this moon, he was just as struck by the splendid environment he saw.

On the planet Nemesisia, in a remote corner of its orbit, lies the mysterious moon of the Hall of Metal. As soon as you set foot on this land, an oppressive and austere atmosphere takes hold. The skies are often obscured by heavy gray clouds, like a veil of mystery enveloping the moon. The air, charged with metallic energy, seems to vibrate, creating a palpable sensation of intensity and power.

On its surface, one could observe towering, pointed mountains. The peaks of these mountains were constantly struck by lightning, testifying to the metallic nature of these mountains.

In the distance, tunnels and galleries could be seen dug into the sides of the mountains, indicating the attractiveness of the region's resources.

At the heart of this moon stands the majestic Hall of Metal, an imposing fortress built entirely of steel and titanium. Its walls, engraved with ancient runes and mystical glyphs, seem to exude strength and solidity. Inside, the harmonious sounds of hammers striking metal resound.

As I entered the hall with other comrades, I felt a sort of spatial distortion around me and noticed the scenery changing. The hall I had entered looked nothing like the one I had seen from the outside. I found myself in an immense room with no visible end. It was supported by huge sculpted metal pillars. Around me, I could see about a hundred apprentices, a significant number, but far from the thousands we had seen outside.

As we wondered why we were there, I noticed that some apprentices were not surprised by this event...

Kibi was interrupted by Zara in his story. "What do you mean by that? How could they already know what awaited them?"

Seeing that Kibi was also without an answer, Freya proposed her theory. "It's simple, in my opinion. They don't come from a lower world. They must come from worlds familiar with magic, meaning they know the specifics of the academy."

Hearing this, Phaistos nodded. "Indeed, we can't rule out the possibility of common course instructors providing them with more information, but your hypothesis seems more logical."

"Continue your story, Kibi, delving into the subject further won't advance the issue," said Miki.

Kibi continued his story, determined to share every pertinent detail of his experience. "As we acclimated to this grand hall, an imposing instructor appeared. He wore a shimmering metal armor and exuded an undeniable aura of power. He introduced himself as Master Aeron, one of the senior instructors of the Hall of Metal."

Aeron began to speak, explaining: "The different training halls operate under well-established standards. There are several mage instructors responsible for the daily teaching of apprentices. Currently, one of them is dedicated to teaching students who are still at the initial stage of their elemental mastery. Then, there are the senior instructors, like myself, who handle more specific and higher quality training. This year, I have been designated to accompany you and explain in detail the learning process we follow here. Finally, in each elemental hall, there is a grand mage who oversees the entire hall."

Without giving the students time to ask questions, he continued his speech. "I know that some of you already know why you were separated from the others, but I will explain for those who are unaware."

"The reason you are here is that you exceed the academy's standards. To be admitted, you only needed to reach the initial stage of your elements, but you have all reached the metallic stage. This places you above the others. We have therefore decided to give you special treatment. First, you are automatically enrolled as students of the Hall of Metal, so you don't have to take a test. Then, while other students only have one hour of training in a special training room, we give you two. Finally, the last reward is very simple, it is the information we have just provided. You have just understood that the academy is in no way egalitarian or fair. Everything you earn here represents only what you have managed to earn."

As Aeron was about to dismiss the apprentices to the training room, he let slip one last remark. "You are better than the majority, but I must warn you that there are apprentices much better than you. Some are already rank 2 apprentices, and a few are even rank 3 apprentices. Don't be blinded by your meager talent."

Deeply shocked by his words, Kibi found himself in a room with a heavy aura that forced him to bend his knees slightly. He noticed that the other students did not seem to notice. As if the academy did not want to reveal to the normal apprentices that there was favoritism within it.

A regular instructor began to speak: "Remember, the further you progress from the center, the more rewards you can obtain in your meditation."

Kibi looked up and observed his surroundings. He noticed that the room was divided into concentric circles, each circle seemed to be increasingly charged with metallic energy. At the center of the room, the metallic energy had even solidified into a massive metal cube.

With these words, the instructor left the room, leaving the students to their reflections and training. Kibi, still troubled by Aeron's revelations, vowed not to be discouraged by the academy's inequalities. He knew that to become a master of his element, he had to focus on his own progress and make the most of the opportunities that presented themselves.

After two hours of training, he woke up when his concentration wavered, and he noticed that he had been expelled from the training room and was now standing before a large portal he recognized as a teleportation portal.

He had already learned that he could now return to Nemesisia through this portal and no longer had to take the space shuttle. With this thought, he passed through the portal and headed to the main hall to explain everything he had just learned to his comrades.

[Kibi Osei]

[Rank 1: Initiate]

[Magic Power: 24]

[Combat Power: 15]

[Metal middle stage - 20%]

[Thunder initial stage - completed - awaiting a breakthrough]

[Spiritual Origin: A-]

[Magical Control: E]

[Lineage: ???]

[Talent: ???]

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As Kibi finished explaining what he had learned, a heavy silence fell over the group. They all needed a moment to process the implications of what he had shared. The realization that favoritism and inequality were embedded in the very fabric of their academy was hard to accept.

They didn't have a particular problem with inequality, as they had all experienced it before. But the academy had given them the impression that it was far removed from this kind of behavior.

Freya broke the silence. "This changes everything. We need to be more strategic in our approach to training and interactions. Understanding biases and taking advantage of the benefits we've earned is crucial."

Phaistos nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. We must support each other and share our knowledge. If we stay united and informed, we can navigate these inequalities more effectively."

Zara and Miki nodded silently.

Kibi felt reassured. He had been afraid that the difference in treatment would drive them apart. After all, their friendship was just beginning; they couldn't yet be considered close. Seeing that his friends didn't seem to hold it against him, he felt determined to help them as much as he could.

With a renewed sense of unity, they decided to go to the cafeteria to eat. During this time, they discussed what they would do next. For Freya and Miki, it was logical to continue following their elemental halls since they had only one elemental affinity. But for Phaistos, Zara, and Kibi, they had to decide which element to prioritize. In the end, Phaistos and Zara decided to focus on the light affinity for the former and the plant affinity for the latter.

They thought it was better to succeed in their tests before dividing their attention between different priorities. Kibi, on the other hand, decided to try to push his thunder affinity to the intermediate stage to try to bring his cores to the same level. He had a feeling that this was the best way to have the most stable magical path.

After their meal, they headed back to their house and devoted themselves to their magical studies. Phaistos spent the entire night trying to recapture the special sensation he had felt in the Hall of Light. But he felt that something was still missing.