The Sound of the Dome

During the morning twilight, the sky over the Kingdom of Aurora began to brighten. And today was an unusual day. The air remained humid and still, without the sound of wind, people, or animals.

Even by its normally peaceful standards, it was strange. What had once been familiar—the distant murmur of the city, the rustling of life—had vanished. All that remained was a heavy stillness, burdened with an omen no one dared to name.

Beyond the barrier, it was always like this. No sound ever crossed through. Only emptiness… and the constant fear that, one day, whatever existed out there would find a way inside.

The Dome was a translucent barrier, a force field that covered the entire kingdom, surrounding an area of approximately 800 km² with a subtle golden glow that shimmered across its surface.

Birds from outside circled the structure, which reflected the sky and the surrounding biomes. From the sea that bordered it to the west to the towering mountains in the north. Inaccessible and mesmerizing.

                                                                                        (...)

Art Hammer, a seventeen-year-old boy with short black hair, awoke to the piercing sound of the attack alarm, its shrill wail burrowing deep into his ears. A constant pulse that irritated him.

“Aaarg! That damn noise!” he said as he stretched.

After sitting on the bed for a while, he stared at the ancestral runes—stones found in abundance throughout the kingdom and used for decorative purposes due to their fluorescent properties—that adorned his ceiling. The light of the runes blended with the blue of his eyes. He remained lost in thought until he finally blinked hard and stood up.

He took heavy steps toward the window.

“Right, there’s no escaping it…”

Art unlocked the window and opened it.

Light and wind rushed in, finally waking him completely. He rested his arms on the windowsill as he stared at the edge of the Dome to the east of the kingdom, only 300 meters from his house. Towering trees lined the edges of the main road—a route used to transport luminis wood, white obsidian, and black adamantite, the rarest materials in the kingdom.

It was a high-security area located within the Noble Zone, where the kingdom’s most influential families lived. The Military District also stretched across this region, home to the kingdom’s primary military base: the Aurora Force.

The road led to the boundary of the Dome, where one of twenty Observation Towers stood. Their purpose was to detect high-grade threats attacking the barrier and triggering the alarms. Together, they monitored the kingdom’s perimeter of approximately 100 kilometers, with each tower positioned five kilometers apart.

Given all of that, the view was considered a privilege. To the noble families, however, the sight of the incomprehensible force field served as a reminder of their powerlessness—of how weak they were compared to the unknown.

From his window, Art could make out silhouettes gathering near the Dome, the threat everyone tried to ignore while occupying themselves with their everyday problems.

Would it be wrong to spend the whole day here, just watching another futile attempt? he thought. To him, remembering that the unknown existed was what drove him forward.

After a few seconds, he closed his eyes and lowered his head. He took a deep breath and put on his uniform.

“Hmm… I don’t remember this boot being this tight.” He struggled to pull it on. “There! It’ll do for today… I’ll buy a new one on the way back.”

Leaving his room and stepping into the hallway, he was met with the messy living room.

“If Diana sees this…! Ah, but I don’t have time right now.”

He grabbed some apples from the kitchen and left the house.

As he hurriedly opened the door, he found himself face-to-face with her: someone standing there with one arm raised, just about to knock.

“Hey!” he exclaimed, startled after rushing out like that. Faced with his friend’s mixture of surprise and embarrassment, he needed a moment to regain control of his day. Even so, they continued staring at each other.

“I… I was just about to…” Diana began, trying to break the silence.

“I know. Here, take your apple!”

She remained silent as she stared at the fruit.

“What?”

“You’re bringing me food? That’s new.”

“Yeah…” Art hesitated, looking away as he discreetly closed the door.

“Why are you acting like that? Are you hiding something, haha?” she said, sneaking a glance inside.

“Of course not! Come on, let’s go!”

He shut the door, the messy living room still on his mind.

They continued on their way to work.

They passed through rows of residences marked by sprawling flower gardens and massive structures—mansions built with rare materials used in abundance. Thick beams combined luminis wood, harvested from a resilient tree that produced expensive and delicious fruit, with black adamantite, a metal capable of absorbing both physical and magical impacts. Most of the finishing details were made from white obsidian, dyed in a wide variety of colors to create unique visual designs.

It was the heart of the Noble Zone, along one of the routes leading to the Aurora Force base.

“Ready for another day of pointless work?” Diana asked, back to her usual tone.

“Of course! I can barely contain my excitement.” Art rolled his eyes, forcing a sarcastic expression.

“Hahaha!” she laughed as her lilac hair, tied into a thick braid, swayed beneath the sunlight. “You’re terrible at that.”

“At what?” He glanced sideways at her.

“Ahh! Never mind!” she said, brushing it off. She breathed slowly. “You know… maybe our pointless job isn’t so bad compared to fighting those creatures.” On the horizon, the sky reflected by the Dome shimmered in her golden eyes.

“If that ever happens…”

He hesitated. Despite his fear of seeing the people he cared about in danger, he wanted to discover the truth beyond the Dome.

“Just… come on! We’re already way too late.”

“Yes, Captain, sir!” Diana pulled the bow from her back to play along with the joke.

“You’re hopeless, you know that?”

“Is that a smile? You should smile more.”

After a few minutes, they arrived.

Ahead stood the two massive watchtowers, gleaming like glass and casting silver reflections. They were made from a mixture of iron and white obsidian—as durable as stone, yet lighter. From the top of each structure hung banners bearing Aurora’s symbol: a white phoenix engulfed in flames, its wings spread wide, surrounded by a ring of fire.

“I hope the Captain doesn’t find out we’re late,” Art said.

“We just have to blend in!”

Diana sounded confident.

“Masteeer!”

The shout came from afar.

“Huh?” Both friends turned around.

The girl who had shouted came running toward them. Her pink hair—vibrant as cherry blossom petals—stood out as she struggled to secure her shield onto the holder on her back. Her eyes, nearly the same color as her hair, showed her delight at seeing them. She wore white armor with gleaming golden details. She was clearly nervous about the time.

“Asuka! You’re late too?” Diana asked.

“No! I mean… I think so.” She looked down at the ground.

“Let me guess, you’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you? How long this time?” She crossed her arms, already accustomed to her friend’s behavior.

“Ah, barely at all! I just got here too, haha…”

“All right! Let’s go! And stop calling me ‘Master.’”

When they reached the entrance to the base—the complex surrounded by towering walls decorated with golden ancestral runes that glowed softly at night—they found one of their friends… distressed.

It was Harold Griffin. He had short dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His brown eyes examined everything around him. He wore a dark blue tunic with silver details—typical attire for Supports—and carried a staff fitted with a small blue ancestral rune.

“Thank goodness you’re here! The Captain and the Leaders called a meeting for five minutes from now,” he said, looking worried. “Ah! I can’t believe you took that risk again!” He pointed the tip of his staff at Asuka.

“In my defense, I arrived with them,” she replied, leaning forward.

“Are you serious? She’s been at the tower entrance for an hour,” the young Support said as the small Shielder subtly hid behind Diana. “And somehow, you’re all still late…” he added, narrowing his eyes as he watched her stick out her tongue.

“Asuka…” Diana sighed.

Art stepped forward.

“That doesn’t matter right now. Let’s get to the main hall.”

As they approached, they found the place packed with soldiers, all dressed in their armor and carrying their weapons, standing in orderly lines and ready to receive commands. Rough stone pillars supported the hall, which could easily accommodate the entire fighting force. At its center was a completely golden depiction of Aurora’s symbol, with runes accentuating the artwork: the flaming phoenix surrounded by a ring of fire.

At the front, on a raised platform, stood the Captain and the Leaders of each Squad. The Captain spoke loudly:

“…Today is a special day. You have all gathered here so that we may take the next step toward our freedom. And I am not talking about the threat outside.”

Edgar—the Captain of the Aurora Force—was a middle-aged man with an imposing presence. He had a thick beard and short gray hair, always neatly kept. His blue eyes were deep and attentive to everything around him. He wore silver armor—polished until it gleamed—and a long coat over it, with a brooch on his chest bearing the kingdom’s symbol.

“What? But the alarm sounded throughout the entire kingdom,” one of the soldiers questioned.

“That’s right. That means a Grade 3 threat,” another soldier added.

“I think it could be that, or even higher!”

“What are you talking about? Grade 4 would mean a Commander-level threat.”

“Silence! Show respect to your Captain!” Lucian, Leader of the Striker Squad, shouted.

He was a serious man with an imposing posture, black hair, and golden eyes that resembled flickering flames. He wore a black tunic adorned with golden runes and a long cloak that rippled in response to his magic.

“Thank you!” Edgar said, a rough sound escaping him as he cleared his throat. “We have obtained crucial information regarding the Hidden Gear. We will divide into groups and strike several possible locations simultaneously. Those bandits will suffer a devastating blow today.”

He looked at Lucian and nodded.

“We will select our best soldiers for this mission. We have divided them into five teams, each assigned to strike a strategic location. The teams have been organized according to function: three Warriors—one Shielder, one Archer, and one Swordsman or Lancer—and finally, two mages: one Striker and one Support.”

“Five soldiers per team? There’s no way we’re being left out,” Asuka whispered.

“Pretty confident, huh!?” Diana said.

“Shhhh! Let him finish,” Harold said.

“The names of those selected are posted on the information boards outside the hall. You have ten minutes to report to your respective group Leaders. As for everyone else, you will be assigned to the Dome’s Observation Towers. That is all. Dismissed!”

As soon as it ended, everyone rushed to find their names on the lists, creating a crowd in front of the board.

“Yes! I got picked, and my leader is the Captain!” one soldier shouted.

“My leader is Elara,” another replied.

“Lucky! I’d give anything to be on her team. The most beautiful woman in the kingdom.”

“You pervert!”

Art walked through the crowd.

“Damn it! I can’t see anything from back here!”

“Hey! Over here!” a familiar voice called. It belonged to a muscular man with brown hair and green eyes. His armor was heavy, yet he moved as though it were the lightest thing in the world. A large sword was secured to his back by a sturdy harness.

“Mark! Did you get assigned to a team?”

“Yeah… I think I’m on the Captain’s team,” he said, scratching his head.

“So there you are, you giant! Where have you been this whole time?” Harold approached, irritated.

“In the main hall. Menna helped me look for you, but before I knew it, I’d lost her too. I thought she’d found you…” Markos wore a teasing smile as he nudged his friend with his elbow.

“Ahhrg!” Harold grunted, putting a hand over his face. “What about you two? Which team did you get?” he asked, looking at Art and Diana.

“I can’t find it. Maybe…”

“Found it!” Diana interrupted him. “Art and I are on Leader Kaela’s team.”

“Let me check mine.” Asuka moved closer, worried. “Noooo!”

“What happened? You weren’t chosen?”

“I’m not on your team, Master!” She stared sadly at the board.

“Huh… It happens.”

“I’m the only one who ended up on the Captain’s team…” Markos said.

“What are you talking about? You’re with me on Leader Lucian’s team,” Harold replied.

“But on the board…”

“Can you even read, you giant? It says Malton, not Markos. And Asuka is there too—” Harold snapped while Art, Diana, and Asuka burst out laughing.

“So that’s it. Diana and I are on Leader Kaela’s team; Mark and Harold are on Leader Lucian’s team; and Asuka is on the Captain’s team.”

“Good thing we were chosen. This mission could be our chance to move up in the ranks,” Harold said. “Let’s hurry. We’re running out of time.”

As they entered the hall again, they formed ranks and waited for the Leaders, who arrived moments later.

“Form lines in front of your Leaders,” Edgar ordered. “Team Lucian: Markos Finnian, Swordsman; Viktor Eisen, Shielder; Sigmund Noirel, Archer; Ingrid Zoric, Striker; Harold Griffin, Support.”

“Their team is really strong,” Art commented.

“As if the lineup weren’t enough,” Diana began, “their Leader is Lucian. I heard some people saying he has the potential to surpass his father.”

“I’d like to see that fight,” Asuka said. “But I’d be rooting for Gideon,” she added with a smile at Art.

“Keep your voice down, Asuka!” Diana scolded in a whisper.

“Sorry! I don’t think anyone heard.”

“…Team Elara: Arik Matsuno, Lancer; Ronan Skarnulf, Shielder; Lysandra Monclair, Archer; Tomás Von Falken, Striker; Elowen MacCrae, Support. Team Edgar: Malton Valtren, Swordsman; Asuka Iwagaki, Shielder…”

“My turn. Good luck, Master!” She walked toward the line.

“Does she know she’s considered a prodigy?” Art asked.

“Of course she does. She’s just a little too focused on defeating me,” Diana replied.

“A little?”

“Hahaha!”

“…Varen Havt, Archer; Ron Conrad, Striker; Tenshi Heinrich, Support. Team Peter: Menna Moonshadow, Lancer; Yuki Haruo, Shielder; Adam Miller, Archer; Dakota Mori, Striker; Margareth Jensen, Support.”

“Now it’s our turn!” Diana grew excited.

“…Team Kaela: Oliver Everhart, Swordsman…”

Oliver was a young Warrior with ruby-colored eyes and a haughty bearing. His golden hair fell to his shoulders, complementing his aristocratic appearance. He wore an imposing suit of black and dark red armor, forged with details of pure gold displaying the royal crest of his bloodline. His sword, a royal relic, hung elegantly from his black leather belt, reflecting both his arrogance and his position of power.

“Great! Now I have to carry this dead weight…” Oliver taunted Art with a crooked smile as he walked toward the line.

“Eh? He was here this whole time?” Diana said.

“I can already tell this mission is going to be hell,” Art added.

“…Sylvaine Duskbane, Shielder; Diana Prouse, Archer; Art Hammer, Striker; Kenno Von Falken, Support.”

“Now that everyone is organized, I will explain the mission.”

“You were chosen based on a combination of experience and potential. If the mission is successful, you will be promoted.”

The sound of conversations and whispers filled the hall.

“Silence! Given the danger of this mission, and considering that half of you are at Recruit rank and the other half at Sentinel rank, all of you will be promoted to Vanguard. Therefore, remember this: your Leaders will evaluate you throughout the mission and assign scores based on your performance. That said, you will be sent to five possible Hidden Gear bases. If they are present at these locations, they will be heavily armed. Do not forget that they are specialists in the use of technology and possess the finest Inventors and Combat Artificers. From this moment forward, follow the commands of your Leaders. For Aurora!”

“For Aurora!” everyone shouted together.