A garden in a cage

Lyra's fingers brushed the faintly glowing — 07 — on the back of her neck. It pulsed softly, like a heartbeat she didn't control. Around her, the murmurs of fear had quieted into a tense hush. Lex's jaw was tight, his fists the number — 34 — glowing faintly on the inside of his forearm. Lyra's eyes darted nervously, but even in the pale glow of the numbers, he could see the calculation behind them.

They were all being watched. Everything here was a test, and already, the rules were clear: survive, obey, or be erased.

Nova felt the sting just above his lower back near his hips as the device etched his number — 72 — beneath his skin. His gaze immediately swept across the assembly hall, searching.

Then he saw her. His sister. Standing a few rows away, her expression unreadable, the faint pulse of her own number glowing against her neck. A wave of relief washed over him, hot and sudden, but he didn't dare call her name. Not yet. Not here.

He simply let his eyes meet hers for a brief second, a silent promise passing between them: *We survive. Together*.

Once every student had been assigned their numbers, the man in white stepped forward, his presence commanding the room. The hum of the hall fell to complete silence.

"I am Arcturus," he began, his voice sharp, commanding, and cold. "Senior operative of Vespera. I was once like you—uncertain, exposed, powerless. I accepted what I was, accepted what I would become, and embraced the path laid before me. That path made me Vespera's instrument. Now, I see you as I once was—vulnerable, untested… waiting to break or endure. Every thought, every impulse, every hesitation of yours is visible to me. There is no privacy. There is no escape. There is only observation, control, and consequence."

He paused, letting the weight of his words press down, as if they could sink through their ears and burn themselves into the minds of every student.

"My name—Arcturus—is the brightest star of the northern sky. A guardian. A guide. I am distant, untouchable, and ever-watchful. Your survival is not my concern; your compliance is. You exist within the system, and the system sees all."

"You will be divided into your Houses, each House serves a purpose within Vespera and there are five houses in total."

The first is Umbra — The house of Shadows, students here are trained in stealth, disguise, and infiltration. Those chosen for Umbra carry a darkness inside them, the kind of edge that makes them dangerous when unseen. Their symbol is two crossed white daggers.

The second is Ignis — The house of Strength, those chosen for Ignis will undergo brutal training: hand-to-hand combat, weapons, and endurance. Ignis is for those with physical power and the will to use it. Its symbol is a red flame with iron at its center.

The third is Aether — The house of the Mind. Students here are used in experiments—genetic enhancements, chemical weapon testing, and the study of toxins. Their symbol is a serpent coiled around a vial. Aether is for those with sharper minds, intellects that can be deadlier than a poisoned blade.

The fourth is Nexus — The house of the Future. This House trains hackers, coders, engineers, and inventors. Their symbol is an eye marked with circuits, always watching. Nexus is for those who build and erase, who make sure Vespera cannot be traced. They are the hidden support that keeps us untouchable.

The last is Terra — The house of Order. Terra trains handlers, strategists, and leaders—those who bend people to their will and keep control when others break. Their symbol is the iron chain—because once Terra binds you, you don't break free.

He raised a hand, signaling for the figures in ash–coloured suits to come forward.

They moved swiftly, handing out uniforms. They were nothing elaborate—just simple, tight-fitted jumpsuits—but each carried the number, color and symbol of the student's assigned House. Stamped on the top right collar, small yet impossible to miss, was the emblem of Vespera. No matter the House, no matter the number—they were all under one banner now.

The students accepted them in silence. Some clutched the fabric as though it burned their hands, their faces pale with dread. Others slipped them on quickly, eager to cover themselves, but the jumpsuits fit snugly, leaving no room to hide. They weren't clothes—they were marks of ownership.

Nova's fingers trembled as he pulled his on, the weight of the number on his back pressing harder with every second. Lex forced his into place with sharp, jerking motions, jaw clenched as though the fabric itself was an insult. Lyra, however, didn't hesitate. Her movements were precise, controlled. She studied the uniforms, the symbols, the colors—not with fear, but calculation. If this was the skin Vespera demanded they wear, then she would learn to use it.

From the front of the hall, Arcturus watched. His expression didn't change, but his eyes moved from face to face, lingering on each reaction. He noted the tremors, the clenched fists, the defiant stares that were quickly hidden. To him, every hesitation was a weakness, every act of compliance a quiet surrender. And yet, he smiled faintly—not with kindness, but with the satisfaction of someone who had seen this countless times before.

"Good," he murmured, almost to himself. "You wear Vespera now. Whether you realize it or not, it already fits you."

Arcturus continued "Your assignments will determine your training, your responsibilities, and your path within Vespera. Learn. Adapt. Survive. Resistance… will not be tolerated."

The hall remained tense, every student processing the weight of his words. For Lyra, Nova, and Lex, the first threads of their new reality had been pulled tight — and the grip of Vespera was only beginning.

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