Morning at Semesta

Morning light spilled across the crystal bridges linking Semesta’s Foundation Tower to its lecture domes. Drones hummed overhead, ferrying stacks of holographic tablets. Students flowed along the pathways in neat streams, splitting at the grand junction where the halls divided into two wings.

“Form 1 students to the west wing,” the announcement chimed.

Aru Aryan adjusted his silver-lined jacket and strode confidently toward the lecture dome.
Tom Anderson walked the opposite way, hands tucked in pockets, gaze half-lost in the glow reflecting off the glass walls. The air smelled faintly of ozone and alloy — the scent of learning through power.

TECHNOLOGY OF RESONANCE

The west wing dome shimmered to life as students settled into their seats. Transparent consoles bloomed above each desk, equations swirling like drifting snow.

At the center stood Ms. Reina Tavern, tall and composed, her coat threaded with blue circuitry lines pulsing like quiet lightning.

“Good morning, Form 1,” she said. “Today, we begin our first module of Technology of Resonance: How energy becomes measurable.”

A flick of her wrist summoned a lattice of glowing symbols.

Strength, Agility, Vitality, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Luck —
the seven pillars of modern Resonance science.

“These attributes aren’t fantasy,” Reina continued. “They are measurable reflections of how resonance interacts with biology. Rank — E through SSS — is simply a scale of density and control.”

Graphs exploded across the dome in sweeping arcs.

“Observe the jump between D-High and C-Low. Power expands exponentially. Breakthrough is not gradual… unless,” she smirked, “you possess a genius metabolism — or dangerous curiosity.”

Laughter rippled through the hall.

Aru raised his hand. “Instructor, mathematically, could an S-Rank overpower entire armies of C-Ranks?”

“Mathematically, yes,” Reina replied. “But raw magnitude without equilibrium results in field collapse. Control, not quantity, defines survival. Well asked, Mr. Aryan.”

Half the class admired him instantly.

A few seats away, Jenny scribbled furiously. Numbers blurred in her notebook. She bit her lip, then raised her hand.

“Ma’am… if aura saturation increases so fast, why doesn’t the body rupture before breakthrough?”

Reina’s eyes lit up.

“Because adaptation begins microscopically. Cells evolve energy channels — breathing resonance instead of oxygen. That, Miss Cross, is why cultivation and science must walk hand-in-hand.”

Soft applause followed.

THE SEVEN PILLARS — Interactive Lesson

A seven-point star ignited above them, each tip glowing a different color.

Reina clasped her hands.
“Let’s see how much Form 1 remembers. Miss Aira — explain Wisdom.”

Aira straightened immediately. “Wisdom is the mind’s perceptive sensitivity toward energy flow. It governs prediction, channel stability, and—”

“Thank you, Miss Aira,” Reina said gently before she recited the entire chapter. A few students sighed with comic despair.

“Mr. Kaito — Agility.”

Kaito shot up. “Uh… Agility is… moving fast? Like—dodging punches before they ruin your face?”

The hall burst into laughter.

Reina chuckled. “Correct, in spirit. Please avoid referencing violence in every answer.”

“Mr. Aryan — Strength.”

Aru rested one arm on his chair. “Muscular output. Combat pressure. The foundation of physical dominance — but dangerous without proper control.”

“Excellent summary.”

“Mr. Adam — define Charisma.”

Zachary grinned. “Leadership, presence, mental resonance… and persuading someone to share their notes when you overslept.”

Ryo smacked him with a book. The class cracked up.

Reina sighed. “Adequate answer. Mischievous application.”

She turned last to a quiet corner.
“Miss Tisya — Luck.”

Tisya tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Luck is probability bias. Some people naturally avoid danger or stumble into opportunities. You can’t train it… but you can learn to use it.”

Reina nodded slowly. “Well said, Miss Faelan.”

She stepped forward, hands behind her back.

“Form 1 — remember this: heroes rise from synergy, not maxima. History records a Strength-5 defeating Strength-12 simply by combining Agility and Wisdom.”

Kaito elbowed Aru. “See? I can beat you.”

“In your dreams,” Aru muttered.

The class laughed again.

RESONANCE BIO-SCAN POD

The dome lights dimmed. A rotating crystalline chamber shimmered into view above them.

“This,” Reina said, “is the Resonance Bio-Scan Pod — the heart of Semesta’s monitoring system.”

She walked beneath the projection as it lowered.

“The pod analyzes how your body absorbs resonance. It observes cell density, energy flow patterns, gland responses, mental rhythm under stress, and long-term adaptation. In simple terms… it watches how fast you grow.”

The chamber glowed brighter.

“Students may access these pods anytime outside class. Those who train diligently will slowly increase their attributes. Tiny improvements each week accumulate — and the Academy records everything.”

The hologram dissolved into drifting blue particles.

Tom’s Quiet Listening

Tom rested his head lightly against the window frame, eyes half-closed. Outside, the Axis Square fountain shimmered.

He wasn’t asleep.

He was listening — to the rhythm of resonance humming through the entire academy.

Still too loud, he thought.
Still too young.

AFTER CLASS

The bell rang. Students poured into the corridor, laughter echoing against the metallic walls.

Jenny clutched her notes as Aru walked beside her, still speaking animatedly.

“I told Ms. Reina the stabilizer algorithm could be improved by adjusting the mineral layer. She said it has merit. With refinement, it could qualify for a symposium paper.”

He was trying to impress her. Obviously.

Jenny nodded politely… but her eyes drifted elsewhere.

Across the hall, Tom stretched lazily beside Zachary who waved a tablet excitedly at him.

Jenny lifted her hand shyly.

Tom met her gaze — calm, warm — and raised his hand slightly.

A group of senior boys passing by whispered:

“That’s Jenny Cross from Form 1?”
“She’s adorable.”
“Should I confess?”
“Bro, take a number.”

Jenny didn’t hear them.
Aru did — and his jaw tensed.

Just like him who surround with secret admires, Jenny has her secret admires as well.

“Do you… like Tom?” he asked.

Jenny hesitated. Her heart felt divided — admiration for Aru’s brilliance and confidence… and a deeper, quieter pull toward Tom’s mystery and calm.

“I… like Tom,” she admitted softly.

Aru blinked, caught off guard.

Not jealousy — just calculation.
A desire to understand Tom.

“Hm.” He forced a calm smile. “Just be careful, Jenny. People who don’t take learning seriously may slow you down.”

Jenny smiled warmly.

CAFETERIA COURTYARD

Later, beneath the amber glow of sunset, Jenny found Tom at a fountain table. Steam curled from her cup; his remained untouched.

“You looked bored in class,” she teased.

“Not bored,” he replied. “Just… listening differently.”

“You mean sleeping.”

Tom smirked. “I heard every word. Even the ones you whispered when you got nervous.”

Jenny squeaked and covered her face. “That’s not possible!”

Her cheeks warmed, but she felt strangely at ease around him — safer than she’d felt with anyone else.

The fountain spiraled beside them, its rhythm quiet and endless.

STAFF OBSERVATIONS

That evening in the faculty lounge, Ms. Reina stood beside Instructor Erhad near the panoramic window.

“How was Form 3?” she asked.

“Peaceful,” Erhad said. “Yours?”

“Loud,” she laughed. Then her voice lowered. “That Anderson boy… he answered a shared holo-feed question without attending my class. And the system marked his energy data as unreadable. Ever seen that before?”

Erhad folded his arms.
“Once. Long ago.”

“Should I report it to Vael?”

“He already knows. And he wants every anomaly recorded.”

They both gazed out toward Axis Square, where the fountains pulsed softly — like the academy itself had begun listening.