2073 year.

“Get up, get up,” opening my eyes, I saw that my little sister was trying to wake me up, “today is an important day!” Have you forgotten?

She kicked off her shoes, stood on the free edge of the bed and began to jump. Seismic waves generated by a relative killed all hope for another five minutes of healthy sleep. Spatya loved, and my sister liked to imagine that she was ten years old again. Only it was already over twenty, and it came out rather clumsily.

"Octavia, stop it, you know I'm awake!" I said to my sister, who made me jump fifteen centimeters on the mattress.

My sister was smart, and she knew that if I enter into resonance with the bed, then I can easily fly off her window.

“Do you want to feel the power of heavenly wrath again?” - "heavenly wrath" meant a pike from the highest point of her jump and an accurate elbow strike on the ribs.

- No need! I instantly shifted into a sitting position, dangling my legs off the bed.

“Yes, I just decided to cheer you up, otherwise it’s too quiet in this room,” smiled my sister, who cheered up only herself. - It would be faster to see you off and rush home to Styopa. Anagi is the most boring place I've ever been.

— What did you want? Here people are trained to become soldiers. There are only training grounds, weapon shops, the Academy and the General Headquarters.

Octavia was a good person. But, unfortunately, we are not relatives ...

And I am at a military facility for only one reason. In 2060, the Gates opened in London, from which the Gods emerged. We called this day simply: "Apocalypse". The gods spread across the Earth like locusts, destroying everything and leaving smoking cities behind them. Bringing with them the laws of their world, they began to cleanse the Earth of people with the help of forces hitherto unknown to anyone. We called them "magic", there was simply no better word.

The principle was simple: if at 11:00 the Gods came to the city, then at 11:03 you are sitting in a bunker, no longer knowing who to pray to, and at 11:15, still sticking your head out, you find yourself in the middle of the desert. Nuclear retaliation? For them, he was like a firecracker, just someone's prank. A day after the Apocalypse, satellites rained down from the sky in a fiery rain, and on that day humanity was blinded.

On the third day, the states announced their unification against a common threat, but the United Earth Union lasted only a week. When the Gods destroyed every capital, every million-plus city, society crumbled into small fragments. Anarchy reigned, and every man was for himself. They spat on us, believing that the remnants of people would disappear on their own. I don’t know how it is in the stars, but in this world, garbage can’t stand itself. While the Gods were building their empire - the Pantheon, we, like a phoenix, were reborn from the ashes. People hid in their small settlements, away from the new masters of this world. We then deceived them well. The gods believed that people are adapted to live only in a mild climate on the shores of the oceans, so small pieces of humanity scattered across the deserts: sandy and icy. One of these shelters was the city of Novosibirsk, where I live to this day.

But there is no evil without good. Albertine, Goddess of Wisdom, has come to help us. She had the power to feel the suffering of living beings, and the other Gods required her to use this to find all the remaining people. She refused and was expelled from the Pantheon. A goddess who understands suffering and the bitterness of loss ... not like everyone else, an outcast.

In 2063, the Goddess found us and told us that after the opening of the Gates, the world was filled with pure magic, curbing which, you can fight with God on an equal footing. We did not want to believe, but there was no choice.

By 2065, the city was divided into two parts: Kendro - a residential area, whose population consisted of civilians, and Anagi - a dilapidated part, there were training not for life, but for death. I had to fight with the gods from the retinue of Albertina, but they did not restrain themselves. On the border of the districts was the Academy, where the magicians, the future Killers of the Gods, lived and studied.

Albertina also found associates who responded to her request for help. One of them was Illarion, the god of the sun. He enveloped the city with a huge barrier so that no one, even the Gods, could get through to the people and complete what they had begun.

After talking with my sister, I went into the kitchen, where a pensive middle-aged man with a lush gray beard was sitting. He was dressed as if he were going to an awards ceremony: a white formal shirt and black trousers with polished shoes.

"Good morning, father," I said, walking over to the table.

- Good, Alester. Get dressed, it's time.

I wasted no time putting on my uniform. It felt like an electric current had hit my fingertips. I'm worried what else to say. Octavia got ready faster than me, breaking the stereotype of girls.

We quickly left the building. It's a sunny day outside, not the slightest hint of bad weather. A small detachment of soldiers passed by us. Faces, as always, serious, look askance at us. Ignoring them, we headed towards the black car that was waiting for us. Every student has one. We are still civilians and cannot move freely around Anagi. Law is law.

We sat down and the door slammed shut. That's it, there's no turning back. But... I'm ready. I've been waiting for this day! My emotional throwing was noticed by my father. He always noticed them, and always knew how to support me.

“Son, are you sure of your decision?” You can still refuse. No one is forcing you to follow this path,” said the father in a serious tone.

- Yes, dad. I have already told you a hundred times,” I wearily continued the old argument, “at the age of ten I had a chance to see how the Gods kill and destroy people ... exterminate us. I made my choice a long time ago.

“Your choice is your path,” the man shrugged his shoulders, realizing that it was useless to argue with me, as always.

We rushed in just fifteen minutes, the roads here are smooth. But during this time, my sister managed to get me so much with her stupid questions that I began to worry even more.

When we pulled up to the Academy, from the front seat, I got a good look at the gray building of the Central Branch. It conducts a set of candidates and houses the reception. Behind him are three hefty educational buildings with training grounds inside. There is also a small hostel. In the center there should be a large tower, on the very top of which Illarion is located, which supports the barrier of the city. I read a lot about the Academy.