P93 - The Astral Ascent

The sky-sailing ship cut silently through the clouds, hurling to its destination.

Glonk stood near the front windows besides the cockpit, arms folded, eyes locked on the mountain ahead. Jin leaned against a support beam nearby, unusually quiet. Valentine rested on the bed in the back, staring out a nearby window, while Hoshina sat on the chair beside him, with her hands clenched tightly in her lap. LuLu remained still in the passenger seat beside Abstra, with her scythe resting beside her, with Brant standing with Toku near the hatch, both of them holding onto handle bars, waiting for the door to open.

At the pilot's seat, Abstra adjusted the controls, her eyes looking around, watching the horizon as the ship flew forward through the mountains.

"I've already radioed the Academy," she said. "They're aware of your arrival. Guides have been dispatched to meet with you at the base of the mountain, and the Astral court shall meet with you tomorrow."

Valentine and Lulu nodded. The mountain came into view.

As the ship descended, the base of the mountain revealed the Star Hangar--a vast platform carved directly into the stone. The ship settled gently, its engines humming down to silence.

Waiting for them were three figures.

Shrine maidens, clad in flowing robes of purple and white silk, stood motionless near the edge of the hangar. Their hoods were drawn low, faces hidden in shadows, bodies perfectly still as if they were statues.

The side hatch of the ship opened with a hiss, and one by one, the group stepped out onto the platform.

As their boots touched the stone and gravel below, the shrine maidens lifted their hands and slowly pulled back their hoods.

Their hair shimmered as if glitter covered the outside, as they were dusted with stardust.

LuLu was the first to step forward, Valentine beside her.

"We're here on official business," Valentine said. "We were told to come to the Academy of Astral."

Before either of them could continue, one of the shrine maidens raised a hand.

"Introductions come first," she said gently, her voice calm but clear.

She stepped forward and placed a hand against her chest.

"I am Daedaze, but you can call me Dae."

She gestured behind her to the left.
"This is Rudbeckia, you may call her as Ru."

Then to her right.
"And this is Serenity, and you shall refer to her as such."

The three shrine maidens inclined their heads in unison.

Without another word, they pulled their hoods back over their shimmering hair and turned away, beginning their ascent up the mountain. A series of staircases carved into the rock, with a purple prismatic line, going up the sides of the stairs.

They said no more words, but it felt like they were gesturing for the new arrivals to follow them.

So if they wanted answers,
they would have to climb.

About twenty minutes into the climb, the strain was already showing.

Toku's breath came in heavy bursts as he dragged one leg after the other up each step, sweat dripping from his brow. Brant wasn't doing much better--his shoulders rose and fell with every breath, his armor feeling heavier with each stair they conquered.

Glonk and Jin pressed on in silence, while Valentine muttered under his breath, half-cursing the mountain, half-daring it to break him. Hoshina clenched her jaw and kept moving, refusing to slow, and LuLu followed closely behind, her scythe tapping faintly against the stone, creating small sparks with each hit.

When they finally reached the summit, the climb ended abruptly.

Two grand doors stood before them--towering slabs of stone carved with constellations, swirling galaxies, distant planets, and a night sky frozen in eternal motion of Bronze and Saptium, a metal obtained from asteroids. The carvings glowed faintly, reacting to their presence.

As the NTG group caught their breath and looked around, something felt... off.

Only one shrine maiden stood before them.

At the edge of the cliff behind, the other two were leaned against a massive pillar, vomiting over the side of the mountain.

"They're still not used to the climb," Serenity said, her voice steady despite the fact that she herself was slightly out of breath.

Daedaze and Rudbeckia slowly pushed themselves upright, their faces tinged green and blue as they wiped their mouths. Without a ceremony, Rudbeckia and Serenity stepped forward together and pressed their palms against the massive doors.

The doors groaned.

With a deep, echoing rumble, they began to part and open up.

Beyond them laid a vast open chamber--an enormous hall lined with towering glass panels that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Natural light poured in, being refracted through astral prisms embedded in the glass, bathing the room in soft hues of starlight and sky.

"This," Daedaze said while catching her breath, gesturing ahead, "is our Academy."

Daedaze turned to Serenity, signaling her.

"Take Rudbeckia to the infirmary," she said calmly. "I'll escort our guests."

Serenity nodded, gently guiding Rudbeckia away as Daedaze motioned for the NTG to follow her.

They were led through a series of pristine corridors until they reached their quarters.

Two rooms, separated by a small central hall.

Inside, rows of bunk beds dressed in white sheets lined the walls. A massive glass window in the back of each room, offering an uninterrupted view of the sheer cliffside and the endless sky beyond the horizon.

"The rooms are separated," Daedaze explained. "One for the men. One for the women."

Before leaving, she paused at the doorway.

"Each room will have its own assigned shrine maiden to assist you during your stay."

She pointed down the hall.

"For the men--Rinka."

Then toward the opposite door.

"For the women--Komi."

With that, Daedaze turned and departed, her footsteps fading into the Academy's halls.

As night fell, the sky beyond the glass ignited with stars--countless lights stretching across the heavens.

The group sat on their bunks, eating their rations and looking out the giant glass window.

Admiring the Beauty of their planet.