Morning dew still clung to the tips of the grass when the Rev's voice pierced the silence of the Atrium Lumen. "Mikhail, do you believe in God?"
The question fell like a metallic clink in the silent room, shattering the coolness of the nascent morning. Sunlight filtered through the towering glass dome, reflecting off the leaves of the shady trees, creating moving shadows that seemed to be listening. Small birds had just woken, their chirping providing a faint backdrop to a conversation that felt too grand for the quiet morning.
Mikhail closed his book slowly. His dark blue cloak with the sun emblem on his chest glinted faintly in the morning light. His eyes stared at the Rev with a rare seriousness, as if the words had opened a door to something greater than the vast dome that sheltered them. "You mean... the God they talk about in the Atrium?" his voice was low, almost drowned out by the whispers of the wind.
"Yes. Luminar David said that the universe is God, and that the universe is constantly expanding." "I don't know..." Mikhail mumbled, his fingers tracing the surface of the book, still cool with dew.
"You've been here longer than me. How come faith hasn't taken root in your heart?" Rev smiled slightly, lying relaxed, his light green cloak damp with dew. "Hmmm… all I can think about is the truth about my parents," Mikhail said quietly.
"You…" Rev sighed, then stood up eagerly. His hand reached out to Mikhail, his eyes sharp. "Your life is boring. You've never left the Atrium, have you?"
He faced the sky, his hand moving as if depicting a vast world. His voice was full of enthusiasm, as if he had seen it himself. "Although this Atrium Lumen is vast, there's a world beyond. When you reach level four, we'll embark on a mission to get out of here. You'll explore the city of Novron."
His tone grew more enthusiastic, his eyes gleaming. "Imagine cobblestone streets filled with vendors, markets bustling with the cries of sellers, the city hall standing majestically amidst the crowd, and narrow alleys that hold stories. Novron isn't just beautiful, Mikhail… it's alive, it breathes."
Mikhail lowered his head, feeling the vibrations of those words penetrate his heart. Beneath the doubt, a glimmer of curiosity began to grow, like a small seed newly illuminated by the morning sun.
The Rev then whistled softly, a light tune that bounced beneath the glass dome of the Atrium. A few seconds passed in the morning silence, accompanied only by the sounds of birds and the rustling of the wind.
Mikhail closed his book and stood quietly. He stepped firmly away from the shady tree, not because he cared about the teachings or the city of Novron that the Rev had described, but because it was almost Lumina time, and he had to prepare himself.
"Mikhail, where are you going? Wait for me!" The Rev hurriedly got up after him, his breath slightly labored, but his eyes remained serious.
"To my room. There's something I have to do," Mikhail replied briefly, without looking back.
In his small room, Mikhail stared at the bookshelf by the window. Scriptura Caelestis or history books? Scriptura seemed more appropriate. That holy book, with its thin, faintly glowing pages, was the teachings of the Universal God. He had never opened it, except when required during Lumina. Carefully, he picked up his Scriptura and notebook, setting them on the table.
Knock Knock Knock. A sudden knock on the door broke the silence, startling Mikhail. He quickly grabbed his Scriptura Caelestis and notebook and headed for the door.
A stern-faced boy with striking blue eyes stood in the doorway. His dark green cloak was adorned with a sun and three stars on his shoulders, a clear sign that he was the leader of the third year.
"Hurry up. Everyone must be inside before Lumina begins; there's a new student introduction," he said firmly, his voice like an irresistible command.
"Okay, Eric," Mikhail replied evenly, then stepped out. Eric simply nodded briefly before turning into another room, his steps steady, as if every second leading up to Lumina was part of a task he had to fulfill.
The light filtering through the windows of the Lumina room created a warmth like a morning hug. The scent of sandalwood incense enveloped the room, mingling with the breeze from the open window. The trees outside looked like a living painting. All the members had gathered.
Tak… tak… tak… The sound of approaching shoes. Two figures entered the room.
A grown man, his white cloak glowing in the light, a sun necklace hanging around his neck, was none other than Luminar David. Beside him stood a small child dressed in simple village attire, his hair disheveled, his face nervous.
"We have a new friend," David said, gesturing gently. "Welcome to the Atrium Lumen, where light unites souls from across the universe."
The child looked down, his cheeks flushed.
"Can you… introduce yourself?" David asked patiently.
He took a deep breath, looked down for a moment, and then finally spoke in a low voice Slowly.
"My name is… my name is… Ivan Yugostiv. From Versvyaz."
Versvyaz… what an strange name, Mikhail muttered to himself, his chin resting on the table in his hand.
"Please sit next to Lylia," David directed.
Lylia, the girl in the bright yellow robe, smiled warmly like a morning sunflower. She waved gently at Ivan. The boy smiled shyly and then sat down.
David raised his hand, his voice friendly but authoritative, "Let's begin today's Lumina."
Mikhail glanced back and stared at Ivan, who was now sitting quietly beside Lylia. A small curiosity swirled in his mind. Who exactly was this boy?
Luminar David began explaining the day's teachings, his voice calm as usual. The students opened their Scripturas.
Mikhail opened his book as well.
The pages were thin and glowed softly… as usual.
But…
His hand stopped. His fingertips felt suddenly cold.
In the corner of a page he had never read before, there was a small inscription that wasn't part of the book.
The inscription slowly emerged… like ink seeping from the light.
"He will come."
Mikhail froze. What… is this?
He blinked. The text disappeared.
His heart skipped a beat, louder than it should have been, as if something had just knocked him from deep within.
Pak!
The Scriptura closed tightly in his hand.
The sound shattered the silence of the classroom. Several students turned their heads. For some reason, the room felt even quieter than before.
"What's wrong, Mikhail?" Luminar David asked, his eyebrows slightly raised.
Mikhail hastily reopened the Scriptura. The page was blank. Just ordinary sacred text.
"I-it's okay, Luminar," he replied quickly.
His hands were still trembling slightly.
Who… is he?
Maybe I'm just hallucinating.
The Lumina continued as usual. Luminar David's voice filled the room again, the students took notes, and sunlight continued to stream in through the window.
From that moment on, the room felt a little too small… as if the walls were silently closing in.
And little did he know, that was just the beginning.