Tides of the forgotten

The vast auditorium pulsed with quiet anticipation.

Saurai sat beside Bryn and Coral in the left middle section, his gaze scanning the immense space. Tiered rows curved inward like the layers of a shell, all focused toward a central stage of alloy and darkwood. The ceiling arched far above, ribbed with exposed support beams and interlaced with soft bioluminescent threads, casting an oceanic blue glow that pulsed like the slow breath of the ship itself.

A hush fell over the hall as the massive side door slid open with a low hiss.

In walked a man like a walking wall of muscle and silence. Beside him, six more teachers entered. Ms. Vareen was also among them.

They all seemed to be teachers for the first year. The group stopped behind the stage and stood still. Each of them had a distinct presence.

To the far left stood a tall woman with braided silver hair and sharp, calculating eyes behind rounded glasses. She wore a pristine white lab coat over her instructor uniform, several data-pads clipped to her belt. Her badge marked her as Level 5 likely head of the Research or Analysis faculty.

Beside her was a shorter, wiry man with burn scars along his left temple and a faint twitch in his jaw. His combat uniform looked older, worn at the edges, and the pair of tonfa strapped to his thighs marked him as a close-combat specialist. He kept scanning the crowd like he expected someone to attack.

Next stood a broad-shouldered woman with arms crossed, her skin the shade of burnished bronze and hair shaved on one side. She wore modified gauntlets over her sleeves and a fierce, no-nonsense look. Her Level 4 badge flickered red, hinting at her being from the Tactical or Weapons Division.

A tall, lanky instructor stood beside her, his black hair neatly tied back in a short tail. He wore his uniform a little casually. top button undone and sleeves slightly rolled but there was a calm, collected air about him. His Level 5 clearance badge shimmered faintly as he adjusted his glasses and scanned the crowd with a warm, observant gaze. He gave a small nod to a student in the front row, almost like reassurance. There was something approachable about him. the kind of teacher students could ask questions without fear. Reliable, steady, and known for breaking down complicated topics in a way anyone could understand.

Next was Ms. Vareen, arms folded behind her back, stern as ever. She hadn't moved an inch since stepping onto the stage.

Then came the odd one out: the young, smiling blonde man. His uniform was spotless, his posture perfect, yet the disarming smile on his face never faded. His Level 6 badge shimmered beneath the collar, higher than any of the others except the man at the center. His presence radiated charm, but there was something elusive about him like a blade hidden inside silk.

teacher with blonde hair stood out not just because of his appearance, but because all the others displayed clearance levels of 4 or 5, while this person had a Level 6 clearance. Despite looking quite young, he kept smiling. Even in this heavy atmosphere, he seemed completely unfazed by his surroundings.

Only the man in the center stepped forward.

He silently walked to the middle of the stage and began scanning the rows of students. The silence was suffocating. Many students felt the pressure like a weight pressing on their chests.

The man wore a modified black instructor's uniform trimmed in crimson lines that marked him as part of the combat division faculty. A scar ran down the side of his left cheek, barely missing his eye. His short steel-gray hair was swept back, revealing a face that had seen too many battles and survived most of them. His right arm, faintly metallic at the knuckles, moved with mechanical precision as he adjusted the lapel badge on his chest.

Seven white dots glowed above the badge: Level 7 clearance.

The highest Saurai had seen so far.

The man stopped at the center of the stage. Even without speaking, the weight of his presence pressed down like a gravity field.

Saurai murmured, "He doesn't look like he's just a simple teacher."

Bryn nodded and whispered, "That's Murphy Gaelic. Main teacher for the first year. Combat class. Rumor is, he once soloed a Deep Bloom extraction on a rescue mission and made it back limping with a dozen injured behind him."

"He doesn't look like he limps," Saurai murmured.

"He doesn't anymore. Got a reinforced knee and half an arm replaced with alloy weave."

"And he teaches here?"

"He got hurt in some classified mission. Since then, they say he's 'retired' to Artemis-5 and was assigned to train the next generation."

Murphy's voice broke through the quiet.

"Stand up."

The entire first-year cohort over 250 students rose in perfect disorganized unison.

"Sit."

They sat.

"I'm Murphy Gaelic," he said flatly. "Your principal combat instructor and authority in all matters of discipline, coordination, and inter-class ranking. While your class instructors may shape your knowledge, I decide if you stay or get reassigned to sea waste recycling. Understood?"

A loud, united, "Yes, sir!" echoed.

He stepped aside.

"I don't do long speeches. But structure matters. Behind me are the teachers who will guide you through your first year. You've met some already in your class and will meet others in the coming days. This is a general session, and all first-year students must attend it weekly."

He paused.

"Now, I will introduce the top student of this year."

From the back of the stage, another student stepped forward.

She wore the standard first-year uniform: a navy-blue jacket with white trim, silver shoulder insignias, and a black belt with utility pouches. Her uniform, though the same as the others, seemed to fit more elegantly tailored without vanity. Her posture was straight as a blade, chin lifted, the teal and white badge of Class 1-A gleaming proudly on her chest.

Her hair was midnight black, straight and tucked behind her ears, falling just past her collarbone. Pale, smooth skin and sharp gray eyes gave her an intensity that wasn't loud it was focused. Her expression was serious, but not cold. She bowed politely before speaking.

"I'm Delphine Ray. First in Class 1-A, and as of today, President of the First-Year Cohort."

A wave of murmurs broke through the audience.

Saurai noticed Coral stiffen beside him.

Bryn leaned in and whispered, "Yup. That's her. Don't mess with her."

Saurai raised an eyebrow.

"Delphine Ray. Top scores across science, combat, simulation logic, and strategy. Beat half of the second-year averages in preliminary tests. But that's not why she's untouchable."

He lowered his voice further.

"Her grandfather is Commander Arcturus Ray, Level 9 authority. He's the duke and also the commander of this ship. Literally rules Artemis-5."

Saurai's eyes widened. Level 9?

"And her parents are part of the Protectorate and stationed on the command deck. She's not just smart but she's genetically stacked too."

Coral crossed her arms with a grumble.

"I could've been president."

Bryn smirked. "But you're not even top of your class."

"Says the snail in Class 1-E."

"You're like second-place seaweed, Coral."

"Keep talking, Bryn, and I'll show you how second place can break your nose."

On stage, Delphine continued without pause.

"My job is to coordinate between the six first-year classes. Each class will choose its representative within a week. Class representative will report to me. Weekly cycle performance reports, rank adjustments, and access to higher-tier modules will be handled accordingly."

Her tone didn't demand respect.

It simply expected it.

Murphy nodded beside her. "The world we float in is changing. Reefs are rising. Monsters are stirring. And the sea won't stay quiet for much longer. You're not here to pass exams. You're here to be the last shield between civilization and collapse."

Instructor Murphy's words sounded mysterious. Maybe they were hinting at something… or maybe not.

A cold silence settled over the room.

Murphy's eyes swept the rows. "Some of you will die out there. Some of you will save others. Some of you won't make it past the first cycle."

He paused.

"Which one are you? You have to decide. And it will depend on the effort you put in over the next four years."

Then, without fanfare, he turned and left.

Delphine gave one final bow and followed.

The auditorium buzzed as the students broke into conversations.

Coral muttered, "That was dramatic."

Saurai stared at the stage, something shifting in his chest.

He didn't know where he stood yet a mushroom in the dark, or something else entirely. But what he did know…

The real test had begun.