Chapter 475: Old times

The Eastern Sector stretched out before them, familiar and strange all at once. Noah walked alongside his team toward the imposing gates of Academy 12, their civilian clothes feeling odd after months of military uniforms. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pathway, and in the distance, the academy’s main building rose against the skyline like a monument to their collective past.

"Do you think they’ll even let us in?" Kelvin asked, adjusting the strap of his bag.

Noah glanced at the security checkpoint ahead. "Of course. This is an academy, not a base. Hundreds of people go up and down from the main city to the outside districts every day. We’re not exactly infiltrating enemy territory."

"Says the guy who just quit the military," Diana muttered, though there was humor in her voice.

Sophie walked close enough to Noah that their shoulders brushed occasionally. "It feels strange being back here. Like we’re completely different people than the kids who left."

"Because we are," Noah replied quietly.

Diana was grinning, actually grinning, in a way Noah had rarely seen from her. Her gaze fixed on the academy buildings with something approaching nostalgia. "I can’t believe I’m walking through these gates willingly. Last time I was here, I was trying to take down your top students during the academy war."

"You mean when Lucas led the other top twenty fives to retaliate at Academy 8?" Kelvin corrected. "That was one hell of a fight from what I heard."

Diana’s grin widened. "Noah and I went head to head. I trapped him in my dead zone, thought I had him completely neutralized."

"Until I summoned Nyx," Noah added, remembering that fight with crystal clarity. "Your momentum null zone couldn’t beat pure fear!"

"Cheap trick," Diana said without heat.

"Effective trick," Noah countered.

"You two are ridiculous," Sophie said, but she was smiling. "Reminiscing about trying to kill each other like it’s some fond memory."

They approached the main gate where security personnel stood at their posts, checking identification and processing visitors. The guards wore standard academy security uniforms, armed but not heavily so, their primary job being traffic control rather than threat response.

The first guard looked up from his tablet as they approached, his expression shifting from professional neutrality to recognition in the span of a heartbeat.

"Miss Reign," he said, straightening slightly. "We weren’t informed you’d be visiting today."

Sophie offered a polite smile. "It’s a personal visit. We won’t be long."

The guard’s attention shifted to Kelvin, and something like respect entered his features. "And Mister Pithon. Your father’s assistance during the Purge attack at the Nexus Arena was invaluable. The whole Eastern Cardinal owes the Pithon family a debt."

Kelvin looked slightly uncomfortable with the praise but nodded. "Just doing what needed to be done."

Then the guard’s gaze landed on Noah, and his entire demeanor changed. He actually stood at attention, not quite a salute but close enough to show serious respect.

"Noah Eclipse. Sir, it’s an honor. What you did during the Purge bombing, saving those two hundred thousand people in the outer districts..." He trailed off, seeming to realize he was gushing. "The whole city knows what you did. You’re a hero here."

Noah felt heat rising in his cheeks. "I’m just Noah. And we’re just here to visit someone."

The guard glanced at Diana, not recognizing her, but clearly deciding that if she was with this group, she belonged. "Of course. You’re all cleared for entry. Welcome back to Academy 12."

They moved through the gate and onto campus grounds. The pathways between buildings were exactly as Noah remembered them, though the sheer scale of the academy made it impossible to take in everything at once. Multiple wings spread out in different directions, each dedicated to different aspects of training and education. Somewhere in those buildings, students were attending classes, conducting experiments, training in specialized halls designed for ability development.

The military base sat adjacent to the academy, separate but connected, a constant reminder of the academy’s true purpose. Soldiers moved between the two facilities occasionally, but the academy itself maintained its own identity, its own rhythm.

"Nothing’s changed," Sophie observed quietly.

"Everything’s changed," Kelvin countered. "We have. This place is the same, but we’re completely different people than the kids who left here."

Students in various year levels passed by, most not giving them a second glance, a few doing double takes when they recognized faces. The team had decided to come in quietly, no announcements, no fanfare. They weren’t here for reunions or reminiscing.

They navigated toward the staff quarters, a section of campus where academy employees lived in modest housing provided by the institution. The buildings here were simpler than the main academy structures, functional rather than impressive, designed for people who worked behind the scenes keeping everything running.

"What time did you say she’d be home?" Diana asked.

"Should be there now," Noah replied, checking his watch. "Her shift doesn’t start until later in the afternoon. We timed it right."

They climbed stairs to the third floor of one of the residential buildings, the hallway quiet except for distant sounds of life behind closed doors. Someone’s entertainment system playing music. A conversation about dinner plans. The normal sounds of people living normal lives.

Noah stopped at a door marked 3C and took a breath before knocking.

Footsteps approached from inside, and then the door opened to reveal a woman in her mid-sixties with silver hair pulled back in a practical bun and eyes that widened in shock the moment they registered who was standing in her hallway.

"Noah?"

"Hi, Mrs. Harper."

She pulled him into a hug with strength that belied her age, and Noah felt twelve years old again, felt like the kid who’d been left at an academy by parents who chose duty over their son. Mrs. Harper had been there then, had been there every day since, working as a cleaner but making time to take care of him, to make sure he ate properly, to remind him that someone actually cared whether he lived or died.

"When did you get back?" She pulled away to look at him properly, her hands on his shoulders. "You’re too lean. Are they not feeding you properly up there in space?"

Her eyes drifted past him to Sophie, and recognition sparked. "And you brought your girlfriend. Sophie, dear, it’s good to see you again."

Sophie smiled warmly. "Hello, Mrs. Harper."

"Hello my dear, it’s nice to meet you," she said pulling Diana into a hug that left the ice queen flustered.

After that, Mrs. Harper’s attention landed on Kelvin next, and she reached out to pinch his cheek with the casual affection of someone who’d known him since he was a troublemaking first year. "Kelvin Pithon, still causing problems I’m sure."

"Always," Kelvin agreed, grinning despite the cheek pinching.

Her gaze dropped to his arms, to the cybernetic prosthetics that had replaced what he’d lost, and sadness flickered across her features before she pulled him into a hug as well. "I’m glad you’re alive, sweetheart."

Diana stood slightly apart, and Mrs. Harper looked at her with curious politeness. "And who’s this?"

"Diana Frost," Noah said. "A friend of ours."

"It’s nice to meet you, ma’am," Diana said, offering a small bow of respect.

Mrs. Harper’s expression grew more serious as she looked at Noah again. "Where’s Lucas? I saw you four together on the news when you all got recruited for that Vanguard program. Such a proud moment. The academy’s top students all serving together."

Noah felt the lie form before he could stop it, the need to protect her from complicated truths winning out over honesty. "He’s fine. Still on assignment."

"Good, good. That boy always was exceptional." Mrs. Harper stepped back, gesturing toward her apartment interior. "Come in, please. My shift starts soon but Margaret can wait a few minutes. Let me make you something to eat."

"We can’t stay long," Noah said gently. "We’ve got some things we need to take care of. But I wanted to see you, let you know I’m okay."

"Are you here on assignment?" Her tone carried hope, like maybe he was back for a while, like maybe she’d get more than just a quick visit.

"Yeah," Noah said, the lie tasting bitter but necessary. "Military business. We’re just passing through."

They talked for a few more minutes, Mrs. Harper fussing over them, asking questions about space and the station and whether they were staying safe. Noah answered with careful half-truths, giving her enough information to satisfy curiosity without revealing the complicated reality of their situation.

When they finally had to leave, she hugged each of them again, holding Noah longest.

"Promise me you’ll come back before you return to space," she said quietly. "Promise me I’ll see you again."

"I promise," Noah said, and meant it even though he knew his definition of "returning to space" and hers were very different things.

They walked back through campus in relative silence, each processing the visit in their own way. Noah understood the need for the lies, for protecting Mrs. Harper from truths that would only hurt her. She was emotional, caring, the closest thing to a real parent he’d ever had. Telling her he’d quit the military, that Lucas was trapped in a shadow dimension, that they were about to start an independent faction to fight threats the EDF wouldn’t acknowledge? That would destroy her peace.

Better she thought he was still serving, still safe under the military’s protection.

They were halfway to the main gate when someone shouted Kelvin’s name from across the courtyard.

A girl with short bobbed hair cut in a distinctly tomboyish style came sprinting toward them at full speed, her academy uniform blazer flapping behind her. She covered the distance in seconds and launched herself at Kelvin in a hug that nearly knocked him off his feet.

"You actually came!" Cora pulled back, her face lit up with genuine joy. "I got your message about meeting at the gate and I ran all the way from beast core extraction class."

She turned to Noah next, hugging him with equal enthusiasm. "Eclipse, you absolute legend. Do you know how many people ask me about you since you left? I’m basically famous by association."

Sophie got the next hug, Cora laughing as she squeezed her. "And Sophie Reign, looking gorgeous as always."

Then she stopped, her gaze landing on Diana, and her entire demeanor shifted. The smile stayed but took on an edge. "What’s the bitch from Academy 8 doing here?"

Diana’s expression went carefully neutral. "Good to see you too, Cora."

"Diana was chosen for the Vanguard program," Noah interjected quickly, stepping between potential conflict. "She’s part of our team now. Part of the friend group."

Cora’s eyes narrowed slightly, processing this information with visible skepticism. "The girl who spent the academy war trying to destroy our reputation is now your friend?"

"People change," Sophie said diplomatically. "Diana’s proven herself many times over. She’s one of us."

Cora looked like she wanted to argue, then shrugged with the kind of casual acceptance that characterized her personality. "Fine. Whatever. As long as she doesn’t try any of that heart stopping nonsense on me, we’re cool."

She turned her attention back to Kelvin, and Noah noticed how her entire body language shifted, becoming more open, more animated. "So where’s Lucas? I figured the whole team would be here."

The question hung in the air, and Noah watched his teammates struggle with how to answer. Kelvin glanced at Sophie. Sophie looked at Noah. Diana studied the ground with sudden intensity.

Cora’s smile faded. "He’s okay, right?"

"It’s a long story," Noah said finally. "And kind of complicated."

"Complicated how?"

"The kind of complicated we can’t really explain in the middle of campus," Kelvin added.

Cora’s expression grew concerned, her gaze moving between them like she was trying to read subtext in their evasions. "Guys, you’re scaring me. Is Lucas actually okay?"

Diana had been silent throughout this exchange, but Noah noticed how her eyes stayed fixed on Cora with an intensity that spoke of more than just casual observation. He remembered kelvin telling him about the conversation he had with her back on the station which Sophie had basically set up, Diana’s confession about her feelings for Kelvin, Kelvin’s admission about unfinished business with Cora back on Earth.

This situation was awkward as hell, but Diana wasn’t saying anything, wasn’t making it weird. She just watched, evaluated, stayed quiet.

"So why aren’t you guys coming to say hi to everyone?" Cora asked, apparently deciding to change the subject when the Lucas question wasn’t getting satisfying answers. "Class 2B would go absolutely nuts to see you. And the current upperclassmen, the third years, they’d lose their minds. You’re all legends here."

"We’re in kind of a hurry," Sophie said gently. "We’ll have to catch up later."

Cora’s disappointment was visible, her shoulders dropping slightly. But then typical Cora, she brightened with a new idea. "Are you guys heading back to space now?"

"Not exactly," Kelvin replied. "We’re going to be hanging around the city for a while."

Her face lit up completely. "Then I’m coming with you."

"Right now?" Noah looked at her academy uniform, the standard red and black blazer over a mini skirt. "You’re supposed to be in class."

"I can afford to miss a few points on a stupid assessment," Cora said, already moving to fall into step with them. She punched Kelvin’s shoulder with affectionate force. "You didn’t tell me you were coming to Earth. It’s been months since you left, and you couldn’t send one message saying ’hey Cora, I’m going to be in the neighborhood’?"

"Technically I was here a few weeks ago," Kelvin said, then winced. "But that doesn’t really matter."

They made their way off campus, catching a taxi from the transport hub. The flying car lifted off smoothly, joining hundreds of others in designated air lanes above the city. A Toyoda model, common and unremarkable, piloted by a driver who nodded acknowledgment but didn’t try to make conversation.

The city spread out below them, the Eastern Sector in all its sprawling complexity. Residential areas blended into commercial districts. Industrial zones marked by massive factories pumped steam into the afternoon sky. And everywhere, people going about their lives, completely unaware of cosmic threats or ancient conspiracies or teenagers trying to save the world.

They flew for about twenty minutes before the car began descending toward the outskirts, where the city gave way to hills and more expensive real estate. The houses here sat on larger plots of land, separated by distance and price from the urban density below.

The taxi touched down at the base of a hill, and Sophie transferred payment from her credit chip to the driver’s system. The car lifted off immediately, returning to the city to find its next fare.

They walked up a winding path toward a house that sat at the hill’s crest, overlooking the city like a sentinel. It was nice, not ostentatious but clearly expensive, modern architecture blending with natural surroundings in a way that suggested careful design.

Kelvin stared at the building, then at Sophie, then back at the building. "I still can’t wrap my head around how the military allowed you to keep this house when your daddy and mommy are both wanted criminals. And your father was the former Minister of Defense for the entire Eastern Cardinal."

Sophie’s expression remained calm as she approached the door, keying in a security code. "This house isn’t the one you think I and Noah used to come to. That one was bought by my father. This one is mine. I purchased it myself with money I earned before everything went to hell."

"Rich rich," Cora whistled, following them inside. "Sometimes I forget you’re that Sophie Reign."

The interior matched the exterior’s promise. Clean lines, comfortable furniture, floor to ceiling windows that offered views of the city below. Not extravagant, but clearly the home of someone with resources and taste.

Sophie moved through the space with familiarity, gesturing to various areas. "There are five bedrooms upstairs. Everyone can pick one. I arranged for some things while we were on our way so the kitchen is fully stocked. Entertainment systems in the living area. Make yourselves at home."

They spread out naturally, exploring the space, claiming rooms, settling in with the kind of easy comfort that came from knowing they were safe here.

Cora had been quiet during the house tour, just taking everything in with wide eyes. But now, standing in the living room while the others unpacked, she spoke up with the directness that reminded everyone she was Cora.

"Okay, I don’t mean to sound dumb, but the way you’re all acting... are you guys on some kind of vacation from fighting Harbingers?"

Kelvin sighed, dropping his bag and gesturing to the couch. "It’s probably time you caught up with everything."

Fifteen minutes later, Cora sat in stunned silence, her expression cycling through disbelief, shock, confusion, and back to disbelief.

"Let me get this straight," she said slowly, as if speaking carefully would help the information make more sense. "Lucas is where? In a shadow dimension?"

"Taken by the Eighth Ancestor," Noah confirmed.

"And there are original families in space? Like, actual families that have ruled for centuries? And Lucas is from one of them? His daddy is the ruler of three whole planets?"

"The entire Raiju system," Sophie clarified.

"There’s an Eighth Ancestor who nobody knew about who’s been kidnapping family heads for generations?"

"Yes."

"I’m training for the return of the Purge and Harbingers, which is bad enough, and now there’s an angry old man named Arthur who also has beef with you specifically?"

"Also yes."

"And on top of that, you all quit the EDF?"

The silence that followed was answer enough.

Cora leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling like maybe the answers to life’s mysteries were written there. "Damn. Maybe we should all just go back to space. At least the Harbingers are straightforward about wanting to kill us."

Kelvin laughed despite everything, the sound carrying genuine humor. "Welcome to our lives, Cora. It’s been a wild few months."

She looked at each of them in turn, her gaze lingering on the prosthetic arms Kelvin now wore, the way Diana held herself like someone constantly ready for combat, the exhaustion visible in Noah and Sophie’s features despite their attempts to hide it.

"You guys are serious about this Eclipse Faction thing, aren’t you?" she asked quietly.

"Completely serious," Noah replied.

Cora was quiet for a moment longer, then nodded slowly, something resolving in her expression. "Okay then. What’s the plan?"

Outside, the sun was beginning its descent toward evening, painting the city below in shades of orange and gold.

Somewhere out there, Lucas was trapped in a dimension they couldn’t reach. Arthur was plotting whatever came next in his centuries-long game. The Harbingers continued their eternal war against humanity. The Purge prepared for their return.

And in a house on a hill overlooking the Eastern Sector, a group of teenagers who’d quit the military sat together and talked about building an army to face threats the world didn’t even know existed.

The Eclipse Faction was born.

Now came the hard part.

Actually building it.