Stravos Vortaris
"Ascension complete, you have reached the Adept stage. Astral forge access granted," my orb of communion said, flashing silver with each word.
Floating inside my nexus, I felt the surge of new strength flow through my astral body as I stared at my astral forge manifesting on the second floating stardust island.
I finally did it.
I commanded myself to the island. When I arrived, I realized this new island was much bigger. It had to be, considering everything it housed.
"Would you like me to explain what's here?" my orb of communion asked, blinking beside me.
"I've got some time to kill."
"The metal box that has a glowing heat source; that is your forge. The massive black block to its right is your anvil."
"And I would assume the tools leaning next to it are my hammer and tongs."
"Correct."
"The rectangular box north of your forge is your quenching trough."
"Which is used to cool the object I'm creating, right?"
"Correct."
My orb of communion continued for a bit, explaining how the repository on this island will be my storage for my soul weapon and armor, along with raw materials I collect as well.
After the explanation was finished, I took a moment to take it all in and absorb the feeling of ascending and being the first to do so at the academy. It gave reassurance that I was one step closer to my goal, one step closer to getting back what was taken from me.
He will see just how great I am.
"Would you like to check out your new node?" My orb asked me.
"Yeah, let's make it quick. I have something I need to do."
We blinked over to my stellar pathway, and a new glowing rune stacked itself on top of my first rune, Titan.
The new rune translates to astral forge.
Makes sense.
But my new and third node translated to adaptive plating.
"What does this do?" I said to myself
"It allows your titan to learn from attacks and evolve. It gradually reinforces vulnerable points. Develops resistance to recurring threats. Can shift plating density in response to danger," my orb answered.
No wonder I lost that day.
"Perfect, and I will be on my way."
"I'll await your return."
I floated to the portal and left my nexus.
When I returned to my physical body, my communicator began to ring. I glanced at the screen to see who was calling before answering.
I paused first, took a deep breath, and answered it.
A smooth, elegant voice was on the other end. "What's the progress?"
"I just ascended to the adept stage."
"Perfect, we have a short window in which we can get this done."
"I understand, but what about the surveillance around the vault? My recon didn't reveal any blind spots."
"Continue as planned; that has already been handled."
"Really?"
"Stravos, never doubt me."
"Alright. I'll contact you once I get it and meet you at the rendezvous point."
"We only have one shot at this; don't fail… otherwise you know what's at stake."
"Noted." The call ended, and I lowered my communicator to check the time.
Curfew goes into effect in an hour—time to meet Kuru.
I got out of bed and started packing things into my dimensional storage.
What am I doing? I don't need this.
I walked over to my spatha, tossed the blade in the air a few times, and was surprised by how much lighter it felt. I channeled cosmic energy into my second rune, and a portal opened before me. I placed my favorite blade into the repository.
I closed the portal and snuck out of my dorm room. As I dashed across the isle each step left divots in the ground. I knew the potency of cosmic energy was going to increase, but seeing its effect excited me.
I got to the courtyard before Kuru. The air was breezy, and the clouds were dark and overcast.
He'd better show up on time.
Something tapped my shoulder, and I let out a small burst of cosmic energy, which resulted in a squeal from something behind me.
"Dude, that hurts; it's me."
I turned to see Kuru picking himself off the ground.
"Don't sneak up on me."
"Do you want me to be discreet or not?" he chided back, pulling a hood over his grey skin.
"Fine, let's get going."
Kuru nodded and shrouded us both in shadows.
"Stay close."
I nodded and followed him to the faculty building.
When we got there and snuck in through the door, Kuru turned towards me.
"Brace yourself."
Then the shadows that surrounded us plunged us through the floor.
On the other side, we were greeted by bright lights, white tile floors, and walls.
"I had that look too when I found this place," Kuru said, dismissing his shadows.
I scanned the walls, looking for cameras, hoping none would be present.
As I walked down the hall and turned the corner. Multiple cameras with flashing green lights hung from the ceiling, swiveling and scanning the entire area.
So much for taking care of them.
"What are we gonna do about those?"
I signaled him to be silent; I needed to think.
These are the types of cameras to alert if they are destroyed, based on the info I was given. So what do I do?
They said never to doubt them. If anything, we will just fight our way in if need be. I really should have brought an armament tech.
"Follow me, Kuru, and keep up."
He nodded.
I imbued my body with cosmic energy. The new rush of power felt like I could do anything, so I dashed down the hall, timing the cameras as they turned from side to side, escaping their gaze.
I looked back, and Kuru was struggling to keep up.
Is the gap that big now?
"Kuru, use your shadows. Why are you moving so slow?"
"That ability has a cool-down period, and when did you get there so fast?"
I gritted my teeth; the cameras were about to turn again.
He's a pawn anyway.
I dashed forward, making it past the other camera and around the next corner.
When I looked back, I saw Kuru grimace; the camera was pointed at him.
Damn.
"Skip it; we will just lie and deny the image. Run over now!"
As he began to run towards me, I looked down the next hall and saw that it was situated the same way.
When I looked back at him, all of the cameras seemed to go limp, and the green lights were gone.
They were right; I guess I shouldn't have doubted them.
"Come on, Kuru, let's go."
We sprinted down the hall, made another right-hand turn, and there it was.
The academy relic vault.
The vault had two large black doors, and they appeared to be made out of celestium.
Of course. Judging by its grade, it wouldn't be easy to budge, at least not for an Embryonic-stage Starbound.
I stepped towards it, but I didn't have an access key to open the doors. So I settled for the next best thing.
Cowl fusion.
The armored fists of my War Brand Titan coated my hands. I dug them into the crack between the doors and, drawing on my strength as an adept Starbound, pried them open with ease.
"Stravos, you shouldn't be able to do that."
I just turned and gave him a smirk.
"Never doubt your leader, Kuru."
Then something cold and metallic struck my face, making me slide back.
"Did we plan for this?"
I looked up, and before me stood five seven-foot-tall modified sparring bots, made of a shinier, possibly stronger metal than the others, housed in the training facility.
"Intruder alert. Intruder alert. Unauthorized access to the vault," the bots said, walking towards us.
"Is there someone there?" A stern and raspy voice said from somewhere inside the vault.
That sounds like a human voice. Is a teacher down here?
I tried to look around the bots, but I couldn't see anyone else.
"Two intruders have tried to break into the vault," the bot in the front said.
"I'll be right down," the raspy voice said.
My heart thudded, and Kuru was looking around nervously behind me.
How am I going to escape this?
If I get caught, I'm for sure getting expelled and potentially exiled from my clan. I have to succeed here.
My eyes darted everywhere searching for any type of exit to escape through.
I saw none.
A loud siren rang from the vault.
"Dang it, someone set off a fire alarm in the middle of campus. I'll be down shortly; subdue the intruders," the raspy voice said from inside the vault.
The voice must come from some type of intercom.
I looked at Kuru.
"How much time do you have until you can phase us again?"
"Around two minutes."
My fists clenched, and my muscles tightened.
I will not fail.