As the echoes of celebration slowly faded after the declaration of the Echelon Knights, the Council gathered once again — this time not to test, but to reveal what had been built in secret.
King Farhan stood before his people, voice steady and full of pride.
> "These Bases you've heard of… are not scattered without thought. Their locations were chosen with great care, purpose, and study."
He looked toward the glowing horizon and began to explain.
1. Zenith Base
Located near the Royal Capital
Positioned close to the center of power, near the throne itself.
A place reserved for those with unmatched skill and mastery, built where the King and Council could keep close watch.
2. Mythic Base
Built near the Bound Threshold
Isolated and distant from the city, positioned near the most mysterious and dangerous of the ancient gates.
Reserved for those with unpredictable, unique, or unstable powers — close to the unknown, where secrets still stir.
3. Omega Base
Placed in the heart of the city
Surrounded by citizen districts, public gardens, and gathering halls.
A base meant to connect its members closely with the people, the culture, and day-to-day life of Lumisgrave.
4. Alpha Base
Also built in the heart of the city, not far from the Omega Base.
Positioned near training parks, awakening grounds, and the early awakening memorial sites.
Intended for those just beginning to harness their power — surrounded by community and history.
5. Apex Base
Constructed along the outer border of the city
A strategic location that marks the edge of known civilization.
Placed there for its tactical importance — the first line should a threat ever rise from outside.
King Farhan turned to the Council and nodded. Julious stepped forward and addressed the crowd.
> "These bases are not just buildings. They are the result of everything we've learned — and feared — since the first awakening."
He continued:
> "We did not rely on bricks and stone alone. Our researchers studied the early waves of awakening — powers that surged during the first unexplained events. Darkness. Light. Elemental shifts. Energy reactions. From those first flickers of chaos, we found patterns."
The early awakeners, though few in number, were observed closely. Their abilities became blueprints — not just for combat, but for construction. From controlled pulses of heat and pressure, to floating magnetic fields and stabilizing shadows — the very energy of awakening had become part of the foundations.
> "The bases — and Aerith's Spine itself — were created using the combined research and breakthroughs of those first awakened," Julious said.
"And none of it would have been possible without our scholars… the ones who listened, recorded, tested, and risked."
King Farhan raised a hand one final time that evening.
> "Honor them — not just the warriors, but the minds that built the stage. Our scholars have done what none before dared:
Turn chaos into a foundation. Turn darkness into defense."
And the people of Lumisgrave cheered again, not only for the Knights they could see — but for the unseen hands that shaped the future from shadows.
As the final light of day withdrew behind the distant hills of Lumisgrave, a gentle breeze swept across the towering arches of Aerith's Spine. The torches dimmed. The crowd, once electric with excitement, now moved in hushed awe — as if the weight of what had been set in motion had finally settled upon them.
King Farhan stepped forward one last time, his voice calm but commanding.
> "Today, we witnessed not just strength, but purpose," he said. "The awakening of a new order. The birth of our Echelon Knights."
He paused, his eyes sweeping across every face — ranked or not, young or old.
> "Let today be remembered, not for how it ended... but for what it begins."
A solemn stillness followed. And in that silence, something sacred was felt — not by sound, but by heart. Hope. Fear. Unity. Destiny.
The ceremonial horns echoed gently across the sky — not loud, but long, a signal that the day's chapter had been written. From the Royal Capital to the Bound Threshold, from the hearts of the city to its distant edges, a new era had truly dawned.
> "Go home," the King said. "Rest. Reflect. And prepare… for tomorrow, you carry the name of this city on your shoulders."
And with those words, the crowd slowly dispersed beneath the fading stars. Lanterns rose into the air like soft, glowing wishes. The arena emptied. The bases awaited.
The city slept — not in peace, but in preparation.
For what rises next will test them all.