Part 1
The morning sun reflected off the futuristic windows of Seisen, casting shimmering patterns over the marble paths that connected the academy's various buildings.
Students walked in groups—some still half-asleep, others chatting excitedly about what awaited them on their first day of class.
Among the crowd, Touma strolled with his hands in his pockets, while beside him, Hina kept giving him a look, one brow arched.
—You're seriously not gonna say anything? —she finally said.
Touma yawned and lazily turned his head toward her.
—Morning, Hina.
—Oh, so now you remember I exist?
—What are you talking about?
—Don't give me that! I was messaging you all night while you were probably chilling in your dorm ignoring your best friend.
—That's not true.
—Oh, really?
—I ignored you after the third message. By the fourth, I was already asleep.
Hina stopped in her tracks and smacked his arm.
—Kisaragi Touma!
—Hey, hey! I was kidding. I came looking for you, but they wouldn't let me into the girls' dorm.
Hina puffed up her cheeks in indignation but decided to let it go as they kept walking.
As they moved through campus, the environment split into two distinct worlds.
To their right, students from the Research Division walked around with floating tablets and drones, some fine-tuning devices in real time using holographic displays.
The air buzzed with conversations about calculations, experiments, and tech development.
To their left, the Combat Division presented an entirely different scene.
Some students were already going through morning drills with heavy practice weapons, while others tested EXO suits designed for battle, adjusting propulsion and defense systems.
—Seisen is amazing, —Hina said, watching a group of combat cadets practice dodging within energy barriers—. It's like living inside a sci-fi movie.
—Or a luxury military simulator, —Touma added—. Wouldn't be shocked if some of these guys sleep hugging their plasma rifles.
The classroom buildings were nothing like a regular university's.
Each room had automated doors, smart desks, and massive projection screens that looked like they came straight off a spaceship.
—Look at that—adjustable ergonomic seats and personal screens, —Hina said as she scanned the room—. Way better than any normal college.
—Yeah, but I bet it comes with way harder exams, —Touma muttered, eyeing students already browsing data projected from their Astra Lens.
Just as chatter filled the room, the door slid open with a gentle hum, and the sharp click of heels echoed with elegance against the floor.
A striking figure entered the room, capturing every gaze in an instant.
Lilac hair, long and wavy, partially tied back with an elegant accessory.
Sharp, deep eyes that exuded confidence, maturity, and a hint of mystery.
Her presence wasn't just that of a professor—it was of someone who had lived through experiences beyond the pages of a book.
Her outfit, though formal, carried a distinguished air that only amplified her poised stance and natural authority.
The classroom fell into complete silence.
With a soft but commanding voice, she spoke—no need to raise it.
—Welcome to your first class at Seisen.
Her eyes scanned the room with calm precision, as if she could read each student's potential with a single glance.
—My name is Eleonor Duval, and I will be your instructor for the Astra Core Integration course. I also serve as the lead professor for the Research Division, so we'll be seeing each other until the day you graduate.
The way she said her name made several students swallow hard. She didn't need to raise her voice to command authority—her very presence did that on its own.
—I'm an aerospace engineer specializing in tech development and renewable energy applications.
Eleonor raised her hand, and a glowing core floated above her palm, radiating vibrant energy.
—Let me be clear—this isn't your average academy, and Astra Cores aren't mere tools.
The classroom fell into a captivated silence.
—You probably felt a surge of power when you first received your Astra Core, —she continued, spinning the core with her fingertips—. That's because it bonded with your essence, granting you a magical nucleus.
With a simple snap of her fingers, a flame danced at her fingertip—its glow tinged with a bluish hue.
—With this power, you can do things like this… "magic", —she said, her tone making it clear this was far more complex than it sounded—. You'll also be able to synchronize with an EXO suit for combat.
She let the flame vanish with a flick of her hand, then swept her gaze across the room.
—But if you're lucky—something only ten percent of students achieve—your core may resonate with your desires and ambitions…
Touma leaned his elbow on the desk, staring at the bracelet on his wrist with a flat expression.
—Great. So statistically, only ten out of a hundred people can do anything interesting with this.
Hina nudged him, annoyed.
—Don't say it like it's a lottery!
—That's basically what it is, —he replied indifferently.
A new wave of murmurs rippled through the room as the word "resonance" was mentioned.
—If you achieve resonance, your core will evolve—granting you advanced abilities and expanding your potential.
—To demonstrate this, we have with us the Student Council President, Evangeline Strassburg.
The classroom doors slid open with perfect precision, and Eva entered with the poise of a German noblewoman.
Her long blonde hair swayed gently with each step, and her flawless posture projected an aura that combined authority and absolute composure.
—Eva possesses a level 3 Astra Core—the highest known to date. Her core evolved into an Artillery Mode, allowing her to fire light-based projectiles.
Eva nodded calmly.
—Thank you for the introduction, Eleonor-sensei.
—Thank you for joining my class. Would you kindly show our new students how your Astra Core works?
—Of course.
Eva closed her eyes and let out a soft breath, as if syncing with her core.
—Materialize: Valhalla & Ragnarok.
With a flash of golden light, two imposing energy rifles materialized in her hands—elegant in design, yet undeniably intimidating.
The aura they emitted was overwhelming, as if the very atmosphere of the classroom had changed.
—Is that… normal? —Touma muttered, a chill running down his spine.
Hina swallowed hard.
—This is way beyond what I expected…
The murmurs among the students were inevitable. The gap between them and Eva was staggering.
Eleonor crossed her arms, her expression calm and slightly amused.
—SEI, activate the 'Virtual World' dome for Class A-1. Let's show them Strassburg's full potential without putting anyone at risk.
—[Confirmed. Activating 'Virtual World' mode.] —SEI replied in its mechanical tone.
Suddenly, the entire classroom took on a green-tinted digital overlay, and the desks vanished—as if the room had been replaced by a full virtual simulator.
Eleonor extended a hand toward Eva, her expression confident.
—All right, Miss Strassburg. Show them what a level 3 Astra Core is truly capable of.