The portal hummed around them, a deep resonant sound that made the air itself seem to bend and stretch. John felt as if he were falling endlessly, the light around him warping and twisting in impossible ways. His small hands gripped his mother's tightly, and panic rose in his chest.
"Mum…mum! Help meeee!" His voice echoed, swallowed by the strange shifting soundscape of the portal.
His mother's grip was firm, her voice calm and unwavering as it carried through the warping hum. "John, I understand this is frightening, but you must be strong. Challenges like this…they are a test of both mind and body. If you cannot face them, you may not be ready to be compatible with a strong beast during the gene fusion ceremony. And you must be, my son."
John swallowed his fear, his small body trembling. "Hmm…yes, mum. I understand."
The twisting colors around him shifted again, settling into a panorama of floating buildings illuminated by neon lights, casting long, unreal shadows. His eyes widened in awe, and for a moment, the fear left him.
"Mum…all these buildings are floating! I thought it was only ours. Is it magic?" His voice was a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.
A soft laugh escaped his mother's lips. She looked at him with a mixture of warmth and solemnity. "No, dear. Nothing here is magic. These buildings float as a symbol. They show who belongs to the elite class, who is different. They are stabilized in the air through electromagnetic pull. It keeps them balanced, steady, safe. Science, not magic."
John's gaze wandered, taking in the cityscape. Floating mansions, walkways suspended above the streets, and glowing panels lighting the pathways gave the city an unreal, almost dreamlike feeling. PTVs passed in blurs, carrying people from one towering structure to the next. Neon signs flickered, reflected in his wide eyes as he tried to absorb everything around him.
"Mum…" He lowered his voice slightly, a hint of sadness creeping in. "Isn't Grandpa supposed to enjoy this too?"
His mother's eyes softened. She held his hands, feeling the subtle tremor of his small fingers. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her sigh was deep but controlled. "John…your grandfather could not enter the elite class. He did not fuse with a beast strong enough to meet the standards. And without that…without that compatibility…he cannot contribute fully to this society. Laws are strict here. One exception opens the doors to chaos. The pillars of humanity cannot allow it."
John's wide eyes, dark and sparkling, reflected both awe and sorrow. "But…he is kind, mum. He's good. He should have had this too."
She looked down at him, her gaze steady, and spoke in a low, almost reverent tone. "John…your grandfather was a man of honor. He lived his life well. But the world we inhabit…it demands more than kindness. It demands strength, compatibility, the ability to survive where others fail. That is why we are here, my son. That is why your father was chosen. And you…you are very much like him. One day, you may surpass him."
John's eyes widened, glinting with a mixture of pride and disbelief. "Really…like Father?"
She nodded, smiling faintly, but the smile did not touch her eyes. "Yes, John. Look at you. Your eyes, your dark hair…your patience, your mind. There is something in you that reminds me of your father. I see the same resolve in you. If you work hard, if you endure…you may become greater than he ever was."
John's chest swelled with something he had never felt before—hope, mixed with a quiet determination. He squeezed her hands tightly as they walked along the floating walkway, neon light flickering against their figures.
"John, look around you," she continued, guiding his gaze upwards toward the vast panorama above. "These floating homes…our streets…everything here represents what can be achieved by those chosen to ascend. But remember, not everyone sees this view. Not everyone knows what it takes to reach here. Those below, in the middle and lower classes…they face harsh skies, broken streets, and the truth of hardship. The elite…we see a curated world. You must learn to appreciate it, but not forget why it exists."
John looked down briefly, trying to imagine the stark contrast. Then his gaze lifted again, taking in the beauty of the floating city. Buildings of every conceivable shape hovered in perfect balance, their neon lights mirrored in the artificial lakes and walkways below. The air itself shimmered, reflecting the parallax of moving structures.
His mother's voice cut softly through his wonder. "John…we are nearly home. When we enter our mansion, you must remember what I have told you. Strength is not given—it is earned. And one day, you will be tested. Not by me, not by your grandfather, but by the world itself. Remember your father. Carry his lessons, and never doubt yourself."
John's grip on her hands tightened again. He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words and the pulse of the city around him. The walkway extended ahead, buildings growing taller, more intricate, and more illuminated as they neared the far corners of the city where the elite mansions were reserved.
Finally, they stopped in front of a massive structure, larger and more imposing than any other in sight. It hovered with absolute stability, a marvel of electromagnetic engineering, glass and steel casting reflections of neon against the sky. His mother turned to him one last time.
"John…look up. This is your home. Remember, greatness is not inherited. It is earned. And you…my son…are destined to be great."
John's breath caught. He looked up, eyes wide, heart pounding, feeling a mixture of fear, excitement, and awe. The city stretched endlessly before him, lights reflecting off the domed sky, a world built for the chosen few. And in that instant, John knew—this was only the beginning.