NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37 - Arrival
The campfire crackled beneath the Colombian stars, casting dancing shadows across the faces gathered around its warmth. The scent of Francisco's signature barbecue—marinated meats and vegetables infused with spices that had been passed down through generations—hung in the air, a sensory memory Nick knew he would carry with him to the Academy.
Laughter flowed as freely as the wine among the adults. Francisco regaled them with sanitized stories from his early days with the Arcadian Initiative, carefully edited to avoid classified details but retaining enough adventure to captivate his audience. Maria occasionally interjected with gentle corrections or knowing glances when he embellished too dramatically.
Nick found himself watching his friends more than participating in the conversation. Maggie sat between her parents, Dr. Meilin's arm draped protectively around her daughter's shoulders while Dr. Zhang nodded approvingly at something she was saying. Jordan sat slightly apart as usual, but the rigid formality he typically maintained had softened. He was actually smiling—a rare, unguarded expression that transformed his usually stern features.
"Thinking deep thoughts, kiddo?" Francisco's voice pulled Nick from his observations.
"Just... taking it all in," Nick replied, gesturing vaguely at the gathering. "Tomorrow everything changes again."
His grandfather nodded, understanding filling his weathered features. "The Academy is unlike anything you've experienced, even here. But you're ready." The certainty in his voice wrapped around Nick like a blanket.
As the evening wound down, people gradually drifted toward their quarters. Hugs were exchanged, goodnights called across the courtyard. Nick walked with Maggie and Jordan part of the way, their comfortable silence speaking volumes about how far they'd come as a team.
"See you at breakfast?" Maggie asked when they reached the point where their paths diverged.
"Wouldn't miss it," Nick confirmed. Jordan nodded his agreement.
They separated, each heading to their own room. Nick had just finished his nightly routine and was considering whether he had the energy to review some of Francisco's notes on the Academy when a soft knock sounded at his door.
Marcus stood in the hallway, his expression uncharacteristically hesitant. "May I come in? There's something we need to discuss before your departure."
Nick stepped aside, allowing his mentor entry. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes and no," Marcus replied cryptically. "Your integration with Arlize's memories has been progressing well, but there's one more memory shard you need to assimilate before you leave."
Nick felt a flutter of anticipation mingled with apprehension. The memory shards always left him disoriented, sometimes for days. "Is this really the best timing? We leave in the morning."
"It's precisely because you leave in the morning that this can't wait," Marcus said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This particular memory contains information you may need at the Academy. The environment there will... complicate certain processes."
Nick sighed, recognizing the futility of resistance. "What do I need to do?"
"Come with me."
Marcus led him through the quiet compound, past darkened training rooms and empty laboratories, descending into areas Nick had never visited. They passed through several security checkpoints, each requiring Marcus's biometric verification, until they reached a circular chamber deep beneath the mountain.
Unlike the technological sophistication of most Arcadian facilities, this room was austere—almost primitive. Concentric circles were carved into the stone floor, their grooves filled with what looked like liquid silver that gleamed in the dim lighting. At the center stood a simple stone chair.
"This is the Resonance Chamber," Marcus explained. "One of seven worldwide. The natural mana convergence in this location amplifies memory integration and reduces neural strain."
Nick approached the chair cautiously. "What exactly will happen?"
"You'll sit. I'll activate the resonance sequence. The memory shard will integrate more completely than previous fragments." Marcus handed him a small crystal vial containing clear liquid. "This will help you maintain conscious awareness during the process. Without it, you might lose yourself in the memory."
Nick downed the contents without hesitation—after everything he'd experienced, a mysterious ritual in an underground chamber hardly registered as concerning anymore. The liquid tasted of nothing, yet somehow left an aftertaste reminiscent of starlight and mountain air.
He settled into the chair, feeling the cool stone against his back. "I'm ready."
Marcus nodded, moving to the chamber's perimeter where an ancient control panel awaited. His fingers traced specific patterns across its surface, and the silver lines in the floor began to pulse with increasing brightness.
"Focus on your breathing," Marcus instructed. "Let the memory come naturally. Don't fight it, but don't surrender to it completely either. Observe."
The chamber began to hum with energy that Nick felt rather than heard—a vibration that resonated with his heart circuit, causing it to activate without his conscious effort. The world around him blurred, colors bleeding into one another until reality itself seemed to dissolve.
Then, darkness.
Not the darkness of a dimly lit room or even the pitch black of a moonless night, but a profound absence of everything—light, sound, sensation. He was nowhere and everywhere simultaneously, his consciousness untethered from physical form.
A memory, not his own and yet entirely his, crystallized with startling clarity.
He was young—perhaps thirteen in human equivalence, though Aurilian development followed different patterns. His slender frame still carried the awkwardness of adolescence, but his movements already displayed the grace that would one day make him a formidable combatant.
He'd disobeyed his mentors, sneaking away from the Academy to explore a restricted area where dimensional researchers had reported minor fluctuations in the Veil. Such exploration was strictly forbidden to initiates, but curiosity had always been his defining trait—both his greatest strength and most dangerous weakness.
The fluctuations had been minor when reported, but what he found was far more severe—a full fracture pulsing with unstable energy. He'd approached too closely, driven by the reckless courage of youth. The fracture had expanded suddenly, pulling him through before he could retreat.
And then... the Void.
Not empty space as humans might conceive it, but something far more terrifying—a place between dimensions where reality itself was merely a suggestion. Oppressive darkness pressed against him from all sides, not just physical darkness but something alive and malevolent, hungry for his essence.
He couldn't breathe, couldn't scream, couldn't orient himself. Death seemed inevitable, his young life about to be extinguished in a place where no one would ever find him. Terror gripped him, his training and discipline forgotten in the face of primal fear.
Then, something changed.
A presence enveloped him—not physical, not even entirely energy-based, but something beyond his comprehension. It surrounded him in what he could only describe as warmth, though temperature had no meaning in the Void. The malevolent pressure receded, unable to penetrate this protective embrace.
Peace washed through him, replacing terror with serene certainty that he was safe. Though he couldn't see or hear the presence, he sensed its sentience—an ancient awareness that recognized him specifically.
Time lost meaning. He might have floated in that protected state for seconds or centuries. Then, without warning or transition, he found himself back on Aurilia, lying on solid ground before the Veil where the fracture had been.
Except the fracture no longer existed. The Veil showed no signs of damage—not even the thinning that had initially drawn researchers to the area. It had been completely restored, stronger than before.
For years afterward, he'd remembered the experience vividly, trying to understand what had happened and what he had encountered. But as he grew older, as responsibilities accumulated and his position as High Noble demanded more of his attention, the memory had faded, becoming fragmented and eventually forgotten entirely...
The vision dissolved, reality reasserting itself as Nick gasped, lungs filling with air as though he'd been submerged for minutes. The Resonance Chamber snapped back into focus, silver lines now pulsing in perfect sync with his racing heartbeat.
"What did you see?" Marcus asked, his voice seeming to echo from far away despite standing right beside him.
"Arlize as a young man," Nick managed, his throat parched. "He was pulled into the Void through a fracture, but something saved him. Something... protected him." He shook his head, struggling to capture the essence of what he'd witnessed. "And when he returned, the fracture wasn't just closed—it was completely repaired."
Marcus nodded slowly. "So the legends were true."
"What legends?"
"There are stories, passed down among the oldest Arcadian lineages, about entities that exist within the Void itself—not the creatures that seek to cross through fractures, but something native to the space between dimensions." Marcus helped Nick to his feet as he continued. "Beings that maintain the barriers, perhaps even created them in the first place."
Nick frowned, his mind racing with implications. "If such beings exist, why don't they stop all the fractures? Why allow any creatures to come through?"
"That," Marcus said with a faint smile, "is the question that has occupied Arcadian scholars for centuries. Perhaps you'll find answers at the Academy."
They made their way back through the compound in silence, Nick's thoughts churning with questions the memory had unearthed. When they reached his quarters, Marcus paused.
"Get some rest. The integration should stabilize overnight." He hesitated, then added, "And Nicholas... be cautious about sharing this particular memory at the Academy. Not everyone views the Void with the same... perspective."
After Marcus departed, Nick sat on the edge of his bed, replaying the memory of that presence—the overwhelming sense of peace it had brought. It reminded him of something he'd experienced since his awakening—moments during meditation when that same tranquility had washed over him.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
What did that presence have to do with the Void, the Veil, and the monstrosities on the other side? Why had it protected a young Arlize? And why had Marcus seemed concerned about the memory being shared?
Sleep eluded Nick, his thoughts racing too rapidly for rest. Finally, he resorted to Arlize's method—a precise pattern of breathing combined with specialized visualization techniques designed to quiet even the most turbulent mind. The ancient practice worked as it always did, drawing him gradually into dreamless sleep.
Morning arrived with gentle insistence, sunlight filtering through his window and stirring Nick from slumber. Since he had packed everything the previous day, he showered quickly and headed to breakfast, eager to spend these final hours with his grandparents.
The dining hall hummed with subdued conversation as he entered. Maggie sat with her parents at a large table where Jordan was already seated alongside Francisco and Maria. The families had merged their breakfast, creating one last shared meal before departure.
Nick noticed the barely concealed sadness on Maria's face despite her brave smile, matched by a similar expression from Dr. Meilin Zhang. The mothers had bonded quickly during their time at the compound, united by their shared concern for them.
"There he is," Francisco called out, gesturing to an empty seat between himself and Jordan. "We were beginning to think you'd sleep through departure."
Nick slid into the chair, accepting the cup of coffee Maria immediately poured him. "Sorry, had trouble falling asleep."
"Understandable," Dr. Zhang nodded. "The anticipation of new environments often disrupts normal sleep patterns."
They kept the conversation deliberately light throughout breakfast—discussing the weather in New Zealand, speculating about Academy cuisine, sharing stories from Francisco and Maria's early days together. No one mentioned Veil fractures, dimensional threats, or the training that awaited them. For this final meal, they were simply families enjoying each other's company.
All too soon, Marcus appeared at the entrance, Val at his side. "Transport is ready whenever you are," he announced. "No rush, but we should depart within the hour to maintain our schedule."
The mood shifted instantly, reality reasserting itself. They finished their meals, drained final cups of coffee, and gathered their carry-on items before heading toward the landing pad where the same aircraft that had brought them to the compound waited to carry them to their next destination.
The goodbyes were both beautiful and painful in their simplicity. Nick embraced his grandmother, her cheeks wet with tears she didn't bother hiding.
"Te queremos mucho," she whispered, holding him tightly. "Remember everything we've taught you."
His grandfather clasped his shoulder firmly. "We'll see you soon, mi hijo," he said, voice rough with emotion. "This isn't goodbye—just until next time."
Nick nodded, a lump forming in his throat that made speech difficult. "I'll make you proud," he managed.
"You already have," Francisco replied simply.
He moved to the Zhangs next, shaking hands formally with Dr. Zhang.
"Keep Maggie safe," the scientist requested quietly. "And let her keep you safe as well. You need each other."
"I promise," Nick agreed, meaning it completely.
He exchanged brief farewells with Master Hernandez and Dr. Velez, who had emerged from their respective domains to see them off. Then, with one final look at the compound that had transformed them from ordinary students into something far more significant, they boarded the plane.
As they climbed the steps, Nick was surprised to see Marcus and Val already ahead of them.
"Wait, you're coming with us?" Nick asked, unable to hide his surprise at Val's presence.
Val turned, her expression as neutral as ever. "I'm one of the combat instructors at the Academy. I usually only teach upperclassmen. I returned to the compound because we were on break and because Marcus requested I prepare you."
A weight Nick hadn't realized he'd been carrying lifted from his chest. Having Val at the Academy meant they'd have someone watching their backs, someone familiar in an unknown environment.
"You just didn't want to miss seeing your favorite student do great things," he said with a smile.
Val's lips curved slightly upward—the closest thing to a smile he'd ever seen from her—but she offered no response to his teasing as she moved toward the front of the aircraft to sit near the cockpit.
Marcus remained standing by their seats as they settled in, clearing his throat to get their attention. "We'll be taking off in the next five minutes. The flight will be approximately sixteen hours. I suggest you sleep and recover your strength. As soon as we land, you'll begin orientation and familiarization with the Academy."
"You mentioned it's sixteen hours away," Maggie said, leaning forward in her seat. "What country is it in? Obviously it's across the world. I tried to find our flight plans, but those were blocked from my access."
Marcus chuckled softly. "Yes, I know. I saw your digital fingerprints yesterday searching through our travel logs when you should have been enjoying Bogota."
"I was enjoying Bogota," Maggie protested. "I was just multitasking."
"I'm sure you were," Marcus replied with knowing amusement. "The Arcadian Initiative Academy is situated between two mountain ranges on the South Island of New Zealand."
"We're going to New Zealand?" Maggie exclaimed, her face lighting up. "I'm so excited!"
Nick felt a momentary shock. He'd never been so far from home before. When he was younger, he and his parents had traveled often, but they'd either visited Colombia or taken road trips across the continental U.S. This would be his first time crossing an ocean, yet despite the distance, he found himself looking forward to the journey.
"One of my mom's favorite movies was Lord of the Rings," he said quietly, memories surfacing of evenings spent with her as she shared random facts about the filming locations. "I guess we'll have to visit all the spots where the movie was made, in her honor."
He hadn't meant to speak aloud, but Maggie turned toward him immediately. "I already have an itinerary ready. It's been on my bucket list forever. Elias and I were supposed to go the summer he disappeared." Her smile turned wistful, tinged with sadness.
Jordan, who had been silently observing their exchange, spoke up unexpectedly. "We'll get him back, Maggie. We know where he is now. We've confirmed it. We will get him back."
Maggie nodded, her expression softening. "I believe you. I just miss him."
"I understand that," Jordan replied, a rare vulnerability crossing his features, but he didn't say more.
The admission created a moment of shared understanding between them before they each settled back into their seats, preparing for takeoff.
The captain's voice crackled over the speakers, and two flight attendants emerged from the rear cabin—a young man with vibrant blue hair and a woman with sleek blonde locks. They performed the standard safety demonstrations with practiced efficiency, then distributed drinks before the captain instructed everyone to secure themselves for departure.
As the aircraft began to move, Nick gazed out his window toward the compound one last time. His grandparents stood watching, their faces turned toward his window. When their eyes met, they waved with soft, sad smiles that conveyed volumes of unspoken emotion. He returned the gesture, feeling the tears he'd fought all morning finally escape down his cheeks.
The jet taxied along the makeshift airstrip at the compound's perimeter, accelerating swiftly before lifting into the air. Within moments, the place that had been their home and training ground for weeks diminished beneath them, the jungle canopy swallowing it from view.
Nick settled into his seat, thinking of the games Maggie had helped install on his system before they'd left—a small comfort for the long journey ahead. As he prepared to select one, his system interface unexpectedly flickered to life:
[Hello again, Host.]
Oh, you're back.
[Yes, I'm back. Host, did you give thought to what you would name me?]
Is there a specific name you prefer based on Arlize's and my memories?
[Not particularly. Searching your Earthen media, I find myself drawn to words that represent knowledge. There is one in a language no longer commonly spoken that most closely resembles a true name and may encapsulate my essence.]
Oh? What is it?
[Sophia—Wisdom.]
Sophia? As in the name?
[Yes, but specifically meaning "wisdom" in Ancient Greek. Host, do you object to this name?]
No, I like it. Sophia it is.
[SYSTEM CHANGE: Arcadian System AURΣL-9: Sentient Cognition Nexus, now designated "Sophia"]
That's settled, then. Do you think there's anything we need to do to prepare for the AIA?
[Yes. You've acquired the second memory shard, but need to fully interface with it. Since Host has already been in contact with [ERROR], this process should be easier and less painful than previous integrations.]
Excellent. What do I need to do?
[Host will need to sleep.]
I can do that.
Nick took a deep breath and reclined his seat. The flight attendants had provided pillows, blankets, and slippers, allowing him to make himself comfortable. Using the meditation technique he'd learned from Arlize's memories, he gradually slowed his breathing and heartbeat, guiding himself toward sleep.
As Nick's consciousness began to fade, he briefly wondered about the [ERROR] Sopha couldn't talk about.
Another mystery to unravel when we reach the Academy. For now, let's just sleep, he thought, eyes closing as sleep took him under.
Hours later, Nick opened his eyes as the aircraft descended through cloud cover, the captain's announcement having roused him from his slumber. What greeted him stole his breath away. Below them, the landscape had transformed into something belonging in fantasy films rather than reality.
The Southern Alps stretched beneath their aircraft—a breathtaking panorama of jagged peaks thrusting skyward, their summits draped in veils of mist. Deep valleys carved by ancient ice flows nestled between the mountains, and alpine lakes dotted the terrain like scattered sapphires catching the midday sun.
"Fiordland National Park," Jordan called over his seat, his usually stoic features showing awe and excitement. "This is one of the most remote regions in New Zealand."
The aircraft banked sharply, following the contours of a particularly forbidding mountain range. Nick noticed what appeared to be natural rock formations guiding their approach—until his enhanced perception revealed their true nature. They weren't geological features at all, but mana navigation pylons masterfully disguised as part of the landscape. Each pylon pulsed with Arcadian glyphs that shimmered green momentarily before fading back to invisibility.
Maggie pressed her face against the window, childlike wonder replacing her usual demeanor. "It's absolutely beautiful," she whispered, fogging the glass with her breath.
"And completely isolated," Jordan added, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the terrain with practiced precision. "No viable ground approach without mountaineering gear. Air and water routes? Probably under constant surveillance." There was a note of grudging admiration in his voice. "The defensive setup is... masterful."
Val's low chuckle drifted from the front of the group, and Jordan flushed, realizing how much glee had crept into his tone.
As they circled what appeared to be a particularly massive, unremarkable mountain peak, the true nature of the Academy gradually revealed itself. What had seemed like natural cliff faces and weathered rock formations began to transform before their eyes—not through any change in the structures themselves, but through a shift in their perception.
Architectural elements emerged from the stone as if an invisible veil were being lifted, showing how seamlessly the Academy had been integrated with the mountain itself. Towering spires of polished stone rose from granite walls. Crystalline observatories nestled in crags caught the sunlight, refracting it into prismatic displays. Terraced gardens clung to near-vertical slopes, defying gravity with their lush greenery.
Nick stared in wonder. The Academy hadn't been built on the mountain—it had been built into it, concealed by both its natural terrain and arcane methods.
Without warning, Sophia's interface flashed in his vision:
🜂【ARCΛDIΛN SYSTΞM – ENVIRONMENT SHIFT】🜂
[Detected: Layered Arcadian Field]
[System Dampening / Recalibration Requirreedddd&#(@EEERRROR Recalibration Overrided]
[Admittance Key: Validated – Initiates (3)]
Override? Sophia, is this because of the [ERROR]
[Host, that is correct. Prepare yourself.]
The sensation hit him instantly. Like pressure changes during rapid altitude shifts, but affecting their mana circuits rather than their physical bodies. Nick felt his heart circuit flicker like a lightbulb during a power surge before stabilizing at a noticeably lower output level. In the seat ahead, Jordan flexed his hand with a slight frown, watching as the golden glow of his manifestation circuit dimmed visibly beneath his skin. Across from him, Maggie winced, pressing fingertips to her temples where her cognitive circuit pulsed erratically before settling into a steadier, more subdued rhythm.
"Mana circuit suppression field," Jordan observed, his tone wary. "Similar to what Val taught us during signature concealment training, but automated and encompassing the entire environment."
"Makes sense," Maggie replied, still rubbing her temples. "Keeps everyone on an even playing field. Prevents anyone from overwhelming security systems with power displays—or accidentally bringing down half a mountain during practice sessions."
The transport decelerated as they approached what appeared to be nothing more than a sheer cliff face jutting from the mountainside. For a heart-stopping moment, it seemed they were on a collision course with solid rock. Nick tensed involuntarily, his body bracing for impact despite his mind's insistence that this must be part of the arrival procedure.
Then, as they drew within meters of the stone wall, the illusion dissolved—revealing a massive hangar carved directly into the mountain's heart. The aircraft glided smoothly through the opening, joining several other transport vessels of varying designs arranged with military precision across the polished stone floor.
"Welcome to the Arcadian Initiative Academy," Marcus announced from the front of the cabin, rising from his seat as the engines powered down.
Nick exchanged glances with Maggie and Jordan. After everything they'd experienced—the rigorous training, the dimensional fracture, the encounter with the echo-creature—this still managed to feel like the most surreal moment yet. They had arrived at a hidden academy built inside a mountain on the other side of the world, where they would learn to defend Earth against a threat they couldn't even begin to comprehend.
As the exit ramp lowered, letting in the cool, cavernous air of the hangar, Nick took a deep breath. Whatever awaited them within these stone walls would define not just their futures, but potentially the fate of humanity itself.