The train came to a gentle stop at the Salem station. Elysian stepped off with his suitcase, still a bit groggy from the trip but alert to every detail of the city. The air smelled of sea salt mixed with the scent of freshly baked bread coming from small nearby bakeries. Most of the streets were cobblestoned, and old buildings made of red brick and dark wood gave it an air of living history.
A young man with dark hair, dressed in a simple but impeccable suit, was waiting for him by the station. He carried a clipboard and a professional smile.
"Elysian?" he said in a calm voice. "I am Adrian, your designated guide from Maravilla Academy. Welcome to Salem."
"Hello," Elysian replied, his eyes still scanning every corner of the city.
Adrian nodded and began walking beside him, pointing out the highlights:
"Here you have the historic port of Salem, famous for its trade and legends from centuries ago." A sea breeze ruffled his hair as he pointed to moored boats. "And over there, the Old Burying Point, one of the oldest cemeteries in the United States, with history dating back to the 17th century. Salem combines history and modernity; here you will see everything from old museums and bookstores to modern shops and cafes that stay open late."
Elysian nodded, observing how the city seemed quiet, yet every corner felt mysterious, as if it were hiding secrets waiting to be discovered.
They reached an elegant black car waiting parked in front of a small park. Adrian opened the back door and motioned for him to get in. The interior of the vehicle was spotless, with leather seats and a panoramic view of the city. As they moved forward, Adrian continued speaking:
"It won't take long to get to the Academy. But first, I want you to observe Salem from here. Every street, every building, is carefully preserved. The city is not only famous for its history but also for being home to prestigious schools, laboratories, and libraries."
Elysian looked out the window, impressed, but his mind couldn't stop imagining what awaited him.
After a few minutes of travel, the landscape changed: the low buildings and narrow streets gave way to an open esplanade, bordered by ancient trees and perfectly manicured gardens. There, before them, stood Maravilla Academy.
It was larger than Elysian had imagined. Its gray stone towers rose majestically, topped by green copper domes that reflected the light of the setting sun. High, arched windows framed by golden details shimmered like mirrors. The main garden was filled with fountains and statues representing historical figures and concepts of knowledge and strength.
"Welcome," Adrian said as the car stopped in front of the main entrance. "This is Maravilla. From today on, your life will change."
Elysian got out of the car, feeling a mixture of awe, fear, and excitement. The academy's door seemed gigantic, almost as if it guarded secrets that only the chosen ones could discover. His whole world was about to transform, and he knew it.
The Maravilla Academy uniform fit him better than he expected.
The black suit was made of a heavy, elegant fabric, perfectly tailored to his body. The white shirt was spotless, and the red tie hung straight on his chest like a badge of authority. On the left side of the jacket, the academy's golden shield gleamed discreetly under the hallway lights.
Elysian walked through the massive stone corridors with a mix of curiosity and caution. His first classes had been... strange.
Strategic History.
Psychology of Leadership.
Advanced Physical Training.
Nothing was normal, but it didn't seem like an ordinary school either.
The students surrounding him walked with confidence, as if they all knew something he didn't yet understand.
"Strength is the most important thing..." he recalled Director William's words.
As he turned down one of the side hallways, a noise stopped him.
A struggle.
On the other side of the corridor, a huge guy had a girl pinned by the neck against the wall. Her feet barely touched the ground as she struggled to breathe.
The aggressor was impossible to ignore.
He was gigantic.
Broad back, arms thick as tree trunks. He wore a mohawk and clothes completely different from the uniform: torn black pants, heavy boots, and a studded leather jacket. His style was clearly punk, as if he weren't even trying to fit into the academy.
Elysian frowned.
It wasn't his problem.
He took a step to keep walking... but then the girl began to grow desperate.
Her hands clawed at the man's arm, trying to break free.
Her breathing was becoming weaker and weaker.
Elysian sighed.
"Great..."
Without warning, he moved forward.
His leg moved with speed.
BAM!
A brutal kick slammed into the giant's side.
The subject released the girl, who fell to the floor coughing as she regained her breath.
But something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The guy... didn't fall.
Elysian blinked, surprised.
Normally, anyone who received one of his blows ended up on the ground.
The giant slowly turned his head toward him.
"You... you kicked me?"
His voice was deep and rasping.
Blood began to trickle from his lip, but instead of getting angry... he smiled.
"Do you know who I am?"
Elysian slightly raised his eyebrows.
Then he smiled too.
"I'm not interested."
And he lunged.
His first punch landed squarely on the giant's face.
Then another.
And another one.
Knee to the stomach.
Kick to the ribs.
Blow to the chin.
Elysian's attacks were fast and brutal, executed with the precision of someone used to street fighting.
But the subject barely retreated.
When Elysian finished his sequence of blows, the giant was still standing.
The blood on his lip slid down slowly.
The guy wiped it away with his thumb.
And he smiled even more.
"Is that all?"
BOOM!
A single punch.
The impact on Elysian's face was like being hit by a hammer.
His body was sent flying several meters backward and slammed against the hallway floor.
The blow echoed throughout the corridor.
For a second, everything went silent.
Elysian stood up quickly.
He touched his lip.
When he withdrew his hand, he saw the blood.
His eyes widened a bit.
He didn't remember the last time someone had made him bleed.
The giant cracked his neck.
"Now... let's have some fun."
Both prepared to lunge again.
But then—
"Enough, Kener."
The voice came from the other end of the hallway.
Everyone looked over there.
A tall man walked slowly toward them.
He was taller than most students, with a calm but dangerous presence. He had short, well-groomed hair and a scar that crossed his left eye.
He wore a uniform... but it wasn't the same as the academy's.
His jacket was different, more elegant, as if he belonged to another rank.
And the strangest thing...
He was smoking a cigar.
The smoke rose slowly toward the hallway ceiling.
Elysian frowned.
"I thought this school had rules..."
The man ignored the comment.
He stopped in front of the giant.
"You know that those who haven't started their 'baptism' yet cannot be touched."
The atmosphere became tense.
"Do you want trouble?"
Kener clicked his tongue.
"Tch..."
He looked at Elysian with a smile full of violent promises.
"I'll see you at the baptism... brat."
Then he turned around and began to walk away.
A few meters behind the man with the cigar, there were two other boys watching the scene.
One wore a brown hoodie, old and dirty, with his hands shoved in his pockets. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy.
The other was completely different.
Silver-gray hair.
Elegant black jacket.
White shirt.
Black jeans and white sneakers.
He had a quiet presence, but his eyes analyzed everything.
When Elysian looked at him, the boy smiled slightly.
"Good moves."
Then he turned around and began to leave.
The man with the cigar sighed.
He turned to follow them.
But before leaving, he looked at Elysian.
"Try not to get into trouble."
He exhaled smoke.
"At least... until the baptism."
And he walked off after the other three.
The hallway fell silent.
Elysian wiped the blood from his lip.
In his mind, only one word resonated.
Baptism.
And for some reason...
he felt it wasn't going to be pleasant.
The girl was still catching her breath, leaning against the wall. Her breathing gradually stabilized as she straightened her hair, still trembling a bit from what had just happened.
Elysian wiped his lip one last time and remained silent.
The girl finally approached.
"Thank you..." she said, her voice still somewhat weak. "Seriously... thank you for helping me."
Elysian shrugged slightly.
"It was nothing."
Then he frowned, remembering something.
"Why was he attacking you?"
The girl hesitated for a second.
"Because... I disrespected him."
Elysian blinked.
"What?"
"Here..." she said, looking around carefully, "there are students who think they are untouchable. If you don't greet them the way they want... or don't speak to them with the right tone... they take it as an offense."
Elysian looked down the hallway, incredulous.
"Are you telling me he almost choked you for that?"
The girl nodded nervously.
Around them, some students who had witnessed the scene continued to whisper among themselves.
"Did you see that?"
"He hit Kener..."
"That kid is crazy..."
"The baptism is going to kill him..."
Elysian pretended not to hear.
Then a new voice appeared behind him.
"That was incredible."
Elysian turned.
A thin boy was there. He wore round glasses, a uniform a bit too large for his body, and a backpack loaded with books.
He raised his hand timidly.
"I'm Roy. Second year."
Elysian looked at him.
Roy seemed excited.
"Seriously, that was impressive. I haven't seen anyone attack Kener without fear."
Elysian shrugged.
"I've always seen guys like him."
Roy looked at him, surprised.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Big, loud... they think they can crush anyone."
Roy let out a small nervous laugh.
"Well... here, normally they can."
The three walked through the hallway for a while as they spoke.
Roy explained some basic things about the academy, though he seemed to avoid certain topics. Every time they mentioned anything related to the baptism, he simply changed the subject.
After a few minutes, they said their goodbyes.
"We'll see you around," Roy said, adjusting his glasses.
Elysian nodded.
And so ended his first day at Maravilla Academy.
⸻
That afternoon, Elysian decided to go out for a bit to explore Salem.
The streets had a strange mix of history and modernity. Old wooden houses blended with modern cafes and small bookstores. The ocean breeze made the air feel fresh, and the city had a curious calm.
After walking for a while, he entered a small cafe.
He ordered a coffee and sat near the window.
He took out his phone.
The video call took a few seconds to connect.
Then Luna's face appeared.
"Ely!"
Her smile lit up the screen.
Elysian smiled too.
"Hello, little one."
"I want to see everything!" she said excitedly. "What's the school like? Is it giant? Are the students weird?"
Elysian turned the phone to show her a bit of the city from the window.
"It's big... and yeah, the students are a bit weird."
Luna laughed.
"Did you make friends?"
Elysian thought for a moment.
"Maybe."
They talked for several minutes. Luna told him about her day, about how boring the hospital was, and how she was waiting for him to return with many stories.
Before hanging up, Luna looked at him with a soft smile.
"I'm proud of you, Ely."
Those words stayed with him even after finishing the call.
⸻
When he finished his coffee, Elysian got up to pay.
He walked to the counter, paid the bill, and returned to his table.
But something was wrong.
There was an envelope on the table.
Elysian frowned.
He was sure it wasn't there before.
He picked it up.
The paper was thick, elegant, with the same golden seal he had seen on the academy letter.
He opened it.
Inside was a single sheet.
A short message.
"Present yourself at Maravilla Academy at 12:00 midnight.
Main Stage.
Don't be late."
There was no signature.
Just the academy's shield.
Elysian looked out the window.
The sun was already starting to set.
"Great..." he murmured.
Something told him that tonight...
he was going to find out what the baptism really was.
Night had fallen completely over Salem when Elysian crossed the huge gates of Maravilla Academy again.
The campus was much quieter than during the day. The hallway lights illuminated the old stone of the building, and shadows stretched across the floor.
Elysian walked to the main stage, the same auditorium where the director had given the welcome speech.
When he entered, he stopped.
The place was full.
Dozens of students were gathered there... all first-years.
Many spoke to each other nervously, others looked around trying to understand what was happening.
Elysian slightly frowned.
"What the hell...?"
While he observed the place, a girl approached.
She was striking. Hair dyed with pink and black tones, heavy makeup, and a confident smile. Her uniform was slightly personalized: her red tie was loose and her jacket sleeves were rolled up.
"I guess you got the envelope too," she said.
Elysian looked at her.
"I guess."
The girl extended her hand.
"Nicol."
"Elysian."
They leaned against one of the auditorium railings as more students continued to arrive.
"Do you know what this is about?" Elysian asked.
Nicol shook her head.
"No. But everyone says the same thing." She pointed to the other students. "Everyone got a letter telling them to come here at midnight."
A couple of boys near them began to talk as well.
"I thought it was a joke..."
"My envelope had the academy seal..."
"Is it some kind of test?"
The murmur grew as more students shared the same story.
Then a firm voice was heard behind them.
"Good evening, everyone."
The murmuring stopped.
A boy was standing on the stage.
He had brown hair and wore a black cap. His clothes were simple: a white t-shirt, gray pants, and white sneakers. But his posture showed a confidence that immediately commanded respect.
"My name is Connor," he said. "Third year... and third-year captain."
The students exchanged glances.
One raised their hand.
"Captain?"
Another spoke.
"Why were we called at this hour?"
Connor didn't lose his calm.
"It is a direct order from the director."
He made a gesture with his hand toward the stage.
"So please... follow me."
Some students hesitated.
But finally, they began to move.
Elysian and Nicol walked along with the rest.
When everyone was on the main stage...
CLANK
A metallic sound echoed.
The floor vibrated.
Then the stage began to descend slowly.
Some students let out nervous exclamations.
The stage worked like a huge elevator.
They went down...
Further down...
And further down...
The auditorium lights disappeared as they descended into the depths of the building.
Finally, the mechanism stopped with a heavy thud.
The doors in front of them swung open.
Connor walked out first.
"Follow that path."
He pointed toward a long, dark hallway illuminated by dim lights.
The students began to move forward with caution.
The hallway seemed endless.
The echo of their footsteps resonated against the walls.
And then...
The tunnel ended.
When they stepped out onto the other side, everyone stopped.
In front of them lay a gigantic arena.
The ground was covered in thick sand.
Enormous torches surrounded the place, their flames lighting up the space with a wild, orange glow.
But the most shocking part was the stands.
They were full.
Dozens... maybe hundreds of people were shouting, whistling, and clapping with excitement.
The noise was deafening.
"Let's go!"
"Let it begin!"
"Blood!"
The arena was imposing.
Brutal.
And all the first-year students were now standing right in the center of it.
Elysian looked around.
His instinct screamed at him that something was very wrong.
Very, very wrong.
He slightly clenched his fists.
And then, he understood.
This...
wasn't a welcome.
It was the baptism.