Half a year had passed since Kaelen first stepped into the halls of House Ignis.
The academic rhythm of high-density learning, nutrient rich meals, and the steady martial arts practice. Result in Kaelen level to rise to Intermediate Fiber Realm Mage.
To celebrate the completion of the first semester, the Academy organized the first space voyage.
For the first time, the thousands of five year olds would leave the safety of the Core's defence fortress to witness the true scale of the world.
The students were transported via frigates to the UCC Mothership, The Gilded Weaver.
Kaelen stood at the viewport of the massive ship, his black eyes wide.
The Gilded Weaver was a colossal city of metal and light, kilometers long.
Surrounding it was a defensive formation of Destroyers, their jagged, black hulls looking like obsidian sharks patrolling a sea of stars.
Mina stood beside him, her silver fiber vibrating with nervous excitement.
"Kael, look at the size of that hull. How does something that big even move?"
Kaelen looked at her and said "Is your family not in fortress formation business. How can a small ship excite you."
Mina looked at him and said "Idiot, do you think five year old will be taken to see the fortress."
Kaelen realised he was five year old and said "I am sorry."
Mina nodded and said "It's okay."
After some time fleet begin to move. As the fleet entered the warp mode, the stars around didn't blur into lines of light. Instead, the space around them seemed to fold.
Suddenly, after some days, they were at there location.
Before them sat one of the weak Nodes of there galaxy. A swirling, gargantuan vortex of chaotic mana energy.
Placed upon it was a giant fortress, created by Mina's family to help in stabelizing this specific node.
Beyond the Node was a void dotted with vary far away stars. This is the end of the milky way galaxy.
But Everyone present could see something far off that was not clearly visible, but it was undeniably there.
Kaelen turned to Spacer First Class Officer Hanes, the disciplined man responsible for the Ignis section's logistics.
"Officer," Kaelen asked.
"How did we get here in such short time? We shouldn't be able to reach the edge of the galaxy this fast."
Hanes looked down at the five-year-old.
"We aren't travelling through space at all," Hanes explained.
"The fibers are connecting the two nodes. The Fabric Realm Mage on the mothership is responsible for this, working together with the engine of the mothership."
"Think of the universe as a piece of paper. We fold it so the two points touch, then step across."
Kaelen looked back at the vortex. "So fibers are also used like this."
As they stood by the reinforced viewing window of the Gilded Weaver and begin to discuss various things visible in the vacuum, Officer Hanes gestured toward the massive fortress anchored on the week node.
"That fortress is the reason this sector remains stable." Hanes explained.
Then he showed them the horizon of the dark vacuum, where rows upon rows of battleship legions stretched into the distance taking fortress as center.
There were just so many of them that they could not be counted by eyes.
"Think about how these large number of battleships are coordinated."
"It was the Aetherion family who, in our time of greatest need, came forward," Hanes continued, his voice filled with awe.
"They created what now covers our entire human universe: the modern AI which handles all these complicated coordinations."
Before the age of automated systems, the Aetherion family was personally responsible for all logistics handling.
With their super fast brains due to there special type of dna, they were known as monsters when it came to calculation.
They could process variables so quickly it was beyond human imagination, but eventually, they distilled that genius into the AI network we use today.
"The most important of these systems, the leader of all AI is stationed on Core." Hanes whispered.
"She is known as Q.U.E.E.N., the Quantum Units Emission & Evolutionary Neuron."
Q.U.E.E.N. is the supreme administrator of every other AI unit in human existence.
She manages the fold space calculations, the resource distribution, and the defense grids of every sector.
"And don't think she's left to her own devices." Hanes added.
"The Aetherion family still maintains total surveillance over her. They are the ones who take care to ensure the Queen never goes out of control. They are the final fail-safe for the mind of the human galaxy."
Kaelen listened to hanes explanations also asked the question he has in his mind.
"Officer... do you have seen anyone above Garment Level?"
Hanes stopped. He looked at the five year old with an expression that was part pity and part profound respect.
"Above Garment Realm" Hanes said as if they were holy word.
"Most common people believe the realm end at Garment Realm."
"They say the human soul and the magic fibers can't hold more complexity than that."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"But there are legends. In the records of the UCC, there are mentions of the Higher Realm."
"These beings if exsist are not even a human begin any more. They are fundamentally different from us."
"They could see everything about us as if we are 2D characters."
Then hanes straightened his uniform, his face returning to its professional mask.
"But that are just rumours. No one has ever seen them."
"Student Kaelen your task is to reach Garment Realm first. Now you should go and enjoy your time here. It is not everyday you get to be on defence fortress."
Kaelen thanked hanes for his teaching and went to his friend to talk about everything they have seen for the first time. All of them were excited.
The trip was not about to end. To truly instill a sense of awe and loyalty toward the UCC Federation, the students were taken on the Space Fortress.
After docking battleship on the fortress, the students entered it through a air tight chamber, fortress was in itself a planet.
It's name was Aegis-7, a massive, self-sustaining city-fortress that functioned as a military post.
It was perfectly safe, protected by layers of Garment Realm Mage covers that shimmered like a diamond skin against the dark.
Inside, the fortress was a marvel of engineering.
The students were led through high-ceilinged residential zones where the air tasted of grass and rain.
They saw markets selling exotic goods and parks where the grass grew in patterns of golden light.
"The Federation provides this," Officer Hanes said, gesturing to the sprawling city within the metal.
"This is what possible by management theory for mages."
"This peace is created by using resources optimally in our galaxy."
Mina looked around in wonder. "Kael, people actually live here? Right next to the end of the galaxy?"
"It's the safest place to be," Kaelen replied, sensing the massive mana and chaotic energy stabilizers beneath the floor.
"If the Core is the heart, the Fortress is the shield."
"The Federation isn't just a government; it's a life support system."
"If the shield is gone, how the thing protected by the shield will be safe?"
Next as part of their stay, the UCC had arranged for a Mecha battalion to inspect the students' progress.
These were Expert Yarn Realm Mages in there humanoid machines that stood fifteen meters tall.
Their armor was plated in white chrome marked with Roman numerals from I to X.
The pilots stepped out of their cockpits, their Expert Yarn Realm mana visible to the naked eyes.
They moved among the five-year-olds, checking there fibers with haptic scanners.
"Your progress is acceptable, House Ignis," one of the pilots said, his voice amplified by his magic armour.
Kaelen stood before one of the dormant mechas, staring at the Interface Port.
"Sir?" Kaelen called out to a pilot named Lieutenant Roran.
"Is the mecha an extension of your body?"
Roran looked impressed by this question"Yes it is. When you reach yarn realm and add your yarns in the mecha it begin to feel like a extension of your body."
"So the mecha isn't a external machine. it's a new set of body skin with larger nerves. If the machine feels pain, I feel pain."
"If I think move, it moves faster than my own muscles could."
"And does the machine help you in increasing your yarn realm?" Kaelen asked, touching the cold metal. "Does your realm grow faster when you're synced with mecha?"
"It is to some extent" Roran replied. "The machine demands more from you."
"It forces your yarn to become stronger."
After the inspection by the mecha battalion on there fiber growth and discussion about mechas the night appeared inside the fortress which handle its own environment.
That night, the students stayed in the Fortress guest quarters.
Through the transparent floor, Kaelen could see the swirling vortex of the Node and the dark silhouettes of the Garment Realm Mages inspecting it.
He knew these were people from his family lineage.
He could feel a faint resonance in his red fibers.
He can feel the awe the Federation wanted to instil in them for federation goals has worked.