The plane touched down under a sky of pale gold. Morning light filtered through the clouds, bathing the tarmac in a soft sheen that shimmered against the metal of waiting aircrafts.
Ariel blinked as the announcement echoed overhead.
"Welcome to Solaria International Airport, Country C."
The moment she stepped out of the aircraft, a rush of cool, crisp air swept past her face. It smelled faintly of sea salt and city smoke a scent that spoke of distance, ambition, and promise.
Country C was unlike anything she had imagined. Even from the terminal windows, she could see the horizon lined with high glass towers that sparkled like blades in the sun. Beyond them stretched the silver-blue bay, filled with ships moving in precise order.
Serena linked her arm through hers. "Look at this place. It feels alive, doesn't it?"
Ariel nodded. "It does. It feels… awake."
They passed through customs easily, guided by a university representative holding a name placard. Outside, the city roared to life neon signs flickered in multiple languages, cars glided past in seamless streams, and the air was thick with the hum of modernity.
The Nation of ContrastsCountry C was known as the Empire of Glass and Gold.
For centuries, it had been a small coastal monarchy. Then, with the discovery of rare minerals in its northern mountains, it rose rapidly into a global power.
Now it was divided into two faces the Upper Districts and the Lower Sectors.
In the Upper Districts, where the elite resided, the streets were paved with marble and shadowed by private academies, art galleries, and corporate towers. Power moved silently here, behind glass walls and diplomatic smiles.
In the Lower Sectors, factories hummed day and night, building the empire's wealth. Smoke curled into the air, and the workers there were paid to dream small while the rich dreamt boundlessly.
It was a nation that glittered with opportunity but thrived on hierarchy.
Ariel observed all of this through the car window as they drove toward the university.
"It's beautiful," Serena whispered.
"Yes," Ariel said softly. "Beautiful and dangerous."
The University of CeryneTheir destination was the University of Ceryne, a renowned institution perched on a hill overlooking the main city. Its stone buildings were covered in ivy, and its grand clock tower chimed every hour like a heartbeat echoing through the campus.
Students from all nations walked along the paved courtyards some in sleek business attire, others in casual uniform. Languages mingled in the air like music.
The sisters were assigned to a dormitory overlooking the east gardens. The moment Ariel entered, she opened the balcony doors and breathed in deeply. The view spread before her the city glittering below, the sound of the sea faint in the distance.
"We're really here," Serena said, spinning once with excitement.
Ariel smiled. "Yes. But this time, we have to be careful. Every choice matters from now on."
Serena laughed. "You sound like a strategist already."
Ariel's gaze softened. "Maybe I'm learning to be one."
A Glimpse of PowerThat evening, the university hosted a welcome banquet for international students in the main hall. The chandeliers glowed softly, and music from a live orchestra filled the air.
Ariel wore a simple white gown, her hair pinned in a low twist. As she walked through the crowd, she could feel eyes following her not for her beauty alone, but for the quiet poise in her steps.
She listened more than she spoke, studying the way groups formed and dissolved how one handshake could change an entire conversation.
Halfway through the banquet, a subtle stir spread among the guests. A group of businessmen entered the hall, escorted by university officials. Ariel froze for a brief second.
It was them, the men from the airport lounge.
The tall man with the unreadable gaze walked ahead of the group, speaking quietly to a dean. The light from the chandelier caught the edge of his dark suit and the faint silver of his cufflinks.
Ariel's heartbeat slowed. Their eyes met across the room just for a moment before he turned away again, completely composed.
"Who is that?" Serena whispered beside her.
"Someone from the Xian Group," Ariel replied softly. "They're one of the biggest conglomerates in Country C."
"He looks cold."
"He looks powerful," Ariel murmured, her expression unreadable.
The evening continued, but her thoughts lingered. Fate, it seemed, had no intention of letting their first encounter remain a coincidence.
Later that night, when the campus had fallen quiet, Ariel stood again by the balcony. Below her, the lights of Country C stretched endlessly a map of power, ambition, and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
She touched the cool railing and whispered,
"This time, I will rise in this world not as a pampered miss, but as someone who understands its rules."
The stars above glimmered faintly, as if they were listening.