Daphne led Zaeryn through a maze of shiny corridors, until they reached a huge transport bay.

There, Annalise waited by a sleek Vitae-Glide, a futuristic vehicle that looked like a pod with a smooth, black hull that shone with glowing blue streaks, its inside lit up with a cool amber light and comfy gel seats that hugged you just right.

Her hazel eyes lit up with a warm smile the second she saw him.

"He's all yours, Annalise," Daphne said, her voice back to its usual no-nonsense tone. "Keep him out of trouble, okay?"

"I'm right here, you know," Zaeryn mumbled, mock offended.

Daphne's lips twitched into a quick smirk. "Yep, I see you." She gave him a long, warm look before turning and walking off, her heels clicking sharply.

A quiet vibe settled between Zaeryn and Annalise, the air filled with the faint buzz of the pod's energy. "Ready to go?" she asked quietly.

"Sure, lead on."

They stepped into the VitaeGlide, the doors hissing shut with a muted whoosh, locking them in.

As it started moving, a gentle purr filled the space, the pod flying smoothly through a wide tunnel.

Due to how fast the pod was going, the walls outside blurred past. The pulsing blue lights looked like tiny rivers, casting a pale luminescence inside.

The air felt cool against Zaeryn's skin, carrying a faint metallic whiff mixed with a warm scent.

He leaned back and the seat adjusted to his body, a slight pressure on his back and thighs, while a low vibration tickled his feet, syncing with the pod's quiet glide.

Every now and then, a brief whoosh of air brushed his face as they passed unseen openings, the ride feeling like floating through a living vein of the Citadel.

"So… how big is this Citadel?" Zaeryn asked, breaking the silence, his voice echoing slightly. "Feels like a city."

"Pretty much," Annalise said, relaxing somewhat. "It's the main hub here, labs, command centers, and the academy. Most people who work here, live here full-time."

"And the academy… just me as the only guy?" His tone had a mix of dread and a cheeky edge, knowing his Vitae powers came from sleeping with women and now he was in a place where only women were allowed.

The thought made Annalise's cheeks flush pink, her breath catching.

"Yeah, it's always been for Warlady trainees. You're the first. People will stare." Her voice wobbled, the blush deepening.

Zaeryn sighed. "Great. Back to being seen as weird."

"Why would they see you as weird? I think it just means they're curious," she said quickly, her eyes warm. "But the training's the best. Lysara and… Athea… want you to have it."

He nodded.

And quiet took over again, the vehicles hum and gentle whooshes filling the air.

The Vitae-Glide lowed down, the light inside turning a golden hue as they arrived at the academy, where there was sunlight.

"We're here," Annalise said, her gentle smile back. "Welcome to the Aureth Vitae Academy. But it's usually called the Lyceum Academy,"

The doors slid open on both sides, showing off the Aureth Vitae Academy tall, crystal-like buildings with luminous lines.

Zaeryn stepped out of the VitaeGlide, the cool gold light washing over him.

"Well, damn," he muttered, thoroughly impressed, "This place is even better than my old school."

Annalise stepped out of the pod, her boots clicking quietly on the platform as she moved towards him. She looked at Zaeryn, who was still captivated, his eyes wide as he tried to take in the sheer scale of it all. He had a look of pure, unadulterated awe.

A small, amused smile touched her lips. "Did I say 'welcome' already?"

Zaeryn, his gaze still sweeping over the nearest tower, nodded absently.

He finally cleared his throat, his cool demeanor snapping back into place as he stepped out beside her. "Yeah, something like that."

Heads turned instantly.

The concourse was dotted with students. And, true to this world's baffling standard, every single one was attractive.

They knew he was coming and Lysara's directive would have ensured that. But knowing an anomaly was arriving and seeing him were two different things.

Near a fountain a trio of women in sleek, black-and-red uniforms stopped their conversations. They didn't whisper as they spoke about him. Actually they sneered.

"That's him?" one said, her voice carrying easily. "He's… bad looking, as always."

"He's a male," another scoffed, openly raking him with a look of pure disdain. "Why is he even allowed on sacred ground?"

Zaeryn's jaw tightened. He could shrug off the whispers about him not belonging here, the pointed stares, even the occasional 'security!'

But being called 'ugly'? That was where he drew the line. His perfectly sculpted features which he'd checked in three different mirrors this morning practically vibrated with indignation.

The audacity! He was a walking work of art, a masterpiece of genetic lottery winnings. Handsome? Obviously. Devastatingly attractive? Without question. So gorgeous that small children pointed and their mothers had to look away? Well, that last one might have been his imagination, but still.

'Who cares what they think," he muttered in his heart, running a hand through hair that definitely didn't need fixing but somehow looked even better afterward. 'Ysmeine thinks I'm cute... and that's literally the only opinion that matters in this entire realm of existence.'

'Though obviously, Zaeryn was much more than just 'cute.' Cute is what you call puppies. And he was more... devastatingly, ruinously handsome.

They continued walking, and further on, sitting on a bench beneath a crystal leafed tree, two students in more academic-looking outfits, plaid skirts that showed off their toned thighs, with stockings and tops cut to flatter every curve were whispering furiously.

"By the Goddess, he's... actually handsome," one murmured, her cheeks flushing crimson.

"Shira, shut UP!" her friend hissed, practically vibrating with scandal.

"But he's a male. It's probably a genetic mutation or something. Don't look at him!" The friend frantically grabbed Shira's head like she was trying to redirect a stubborn cat away from a laser pointer.

"Hey! What are you…..let me GO!" Shira batted at her friend's hands.

"No! You're... you're looking at him like you want to eat him, and it's deeply disturbing!"

Zaeryn, catching fragments of this exchange, felt his ego inflate like a parade balloon.

Annalise let out a laugh. "See? Seems like they find you devastatingly handsome. Even when they were trying, not, to find you attractive, they are failing spectacularly."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.