As the first threads of dawn emerged, the Academy was not submerged in its usual silence; instead, smart devices groaned under the weight of a message that shook the students to their core. Alex woke up to that persistent ringing. She sat up in bed, sleep still tugging at her eyelids, but the glow of the screen awakened her senses completely.
"Is it truly time?" she whispered to herself, wonder mingling with her natural enthusiasm.
She dressed with lightning speed and dashed toward the Headmistress's office, only to encounter Amani at the door, who looked as if she had been waiting for an eternity.
"Good morning, Amani... it seems insomnia didn't leave you alone either."
Amani replied with a calm gaze:
"Good morning, Alex... the Headmistress asked me to wait. It seems this meeting won't be an ordinary one."
Moments later, the group was complete. Yuya appeared with steady, sober strides, followed by Rion and Mira. An air of anticipation, tinged with light humor to break the tension, filled the hallway. Before Rion could even open his mouth, Amani preempted him:
"Before you speak, the Headmistress asked us to wait."
Rion laughed, casually ruffling his hair:
"Well, you just saved me from asking a redundant question for the third time!"
Alex turned toward Yuya, surprised by his uncharacteristic silence toward Rion:
"Strange, Yuya... where is your biting tongue? Did fighting that insect monster drain your anger and turn you this peaceful?"
Yuya offered a faint smile, his mind seemingly elsewhere:
"Perhaps... anyway, if anything new comes up, let me know, Alex." He left the area with steps heavy with thought.
The door finally opened, and Iris appeared with her usual poise:
"Please, come in... Madam Dalia is waiting for you."
They entered the office, where Dalia sat with her customary aura of authority. She didn't wait long before dropping the bombshell:
"Based on the information we extracted from 'Shaltra,' it has been decided to send you on an official expedition to the heart of Valdoris. This won't be a random scouting trip, but an organized mission; every five students will form a team, led by a teacher for field support, and a captain chosen based on competence and composure."
Amani raised her eyebrows:
"And how will the distribution work?"
Dalia answered firmly:
"According to balance. Strength, intellect, and defense... we are sending four fully integrated teams."
Mira asked eagerly, standing beside Rion:
"Are Rion, Misaki, and I on the list?"
"Of course," Dalia replied, her eyes piercing through Rion, "In fact, Rion is the element around which we will build our strategies."
In the meantime, Max—always the savior of the moment—entered to greet everyone. Dalia continued with clinical seriousness:
"Shaltra confirmed to us that there are living humans in Valdoris... and remarkably, they possess 'Armor' abilities exactly like ours."
A stunned silence filled the room. Max said sharply:
"This changes everything! We aren't just going to fight; we're going to rescue a civilization we thought had vanished."
Dalia nodded:
"Exactly. That is why I chose to risk sending you. The final evaluations will be the deciding factor. If anyone feels hesitant, withdrawal is an option... the choice is yours."
The students left the office, questions gnawing at their minds. Rion muttered in a low voice:
"Living humans? Or are they traps set for us?"
Mira looked at him:
"What do you think, Rion? Will you really go?"
Rion answered, his eyes burning with a frightening resolve:
"I'll go. Not because I'm following orders, but because I swore to crush every monster that threatens this world until my very last breath."
Alex laughed, trying to break the tension:
"Strange to hear that from a monster like you! But I know that behind those claws lies a heart purer than most."
Rion smiled:
"Thank you, Alex."
She added with her usual playfulness:
"Rion thanked me! What a glorious day... can we consider this the start of a legendary romance?"
Rion smirked, responding with his signature cold wit:
"I don't think so, Alex... perhaps you need to visit a veterinarian to check your mental state before the trip."
Alex gasped in mock outrage, waving her fist:
"Rion! You're so rude! I was only joking!"
Max laughed as he pulled Alex aside:
"No time for romantic squabbles now; tell me every detail I missed."
Alex sighed and began recounting the plan to him, while Rion gazed at the far horizon, where Valdoris awaited them with its bloody secrets.
The four teams began to form in the shadows, and the suicide mission toward Valdoris drew near...
Yesterday
After the dust of battle had settled and their epic victory over the insect monster was won, the twins Kim and Ken walked down the long corridor leading to the heart of the Academy. Their steps were heavy with exhaustion, yet their spirits felt light, almost soaring.
Kim turned toward his brother, a smile never leaving his face:
"Didn't I tell you, Ken? You possess a dormant power beyond imagination. Always remember, greatness doesn't mean being the best at everything; it means realizing what sets you apart from the rest and honing it."
A faint smile appeared on Ken's lips, carrying a tacit acknowledgment of gratitude:
"Maybe you were right this time... thanks for saving me. If you hadn't intervened at the right moment, it might have been the end for me."
Kim laughed heartily and clapped him on the shoulder:
"Don't ever thank me; this is my destiny and my duty. In the end... you're my brother, and we are two sides of the same coin."
"Yeah... I suppose so," Ken whispered, feeling the warmth of the words melt the ice of doubt in his chest.
Then a spark of playful mischief lit up Kim's eyes:
"How about we challenge the insomnia tonight and stay up together?"
Ken replied, his smile widening:
"Why not? My room is your room."
They settled into Ken's room, and Kim pulled out an ornate box with childish excitement:
"Let's play Shadow of the Cards! I want my title back."
Ken laughed as he dealt the cards skillfully:
"Be careful, brother... you're playing against the pro here."
Kim replied defiantly:
"We'll see who laughs last."
As cards flew and laughter filled the room, Kim asked with serious curiosity:
"Tell me, genius... how did you know that suicide plan against the monster would actually work?"
Ken raised his eyebrows as he played a winning card:
"Which part exactly?"
"I mean the thermal contrast idea... how were you so sure it would kill it?"
Ken sighed and leaned back against the bed:
"It's simple in my mind... I figured the Mana inside that creature's body was already unstable. When you raised the heat to boiling point and I dropped it to freezing in seconds, a chemical collapse occurred in its vital structure. The body couldn't handle the speed of the expansion and contraction."
Kim contemplated the explanation with awe:
"You based all that on just a hypothesis?"
Ken smiled intelligently:
"Not quite... I spent nights studying the thermal properties of Mana in the library. Sometimes I have to think with my head to make up for your recklessness."
Kim laughed in admiration:
"It seems I've been underestimating your cunning."
Time passed quickly until sleepiness overcame them. Kim yawned lazily: "Time stole away from us... let's surrender to sleep."
Ken nodded exhaustedly:
"Finally, a brilliant idea."
With the first rays of daylight filtering through the curtains, the twins were in a deep slumber. Kim woke up slowly, and when his eyes fell on his phone, he found that it was nearly noon, and an urgent message was flashing red.
"Ken! Wake up! The ground is collapsing beneath us!"
Ken muttered sleepily:
"Five more minutes... my Mana needs to recharge."
Kim shouted, throwing the phone at him:
"Get up, you lazy bones! Look at what the Headmistress sent!"
The phone hit Ken's face, making him jump. As soon as he read the lines, the blood froze in his veins:
"What?! Why do these life-altering decisions always come at the worst possible time?!"
Minutes later, they were sprinting through the corridors toward the Headmistress's office. Instructor Manata greeted them with a calm smile that failed to hide the prevailing tension:
"Good morning, Kim, Ken... you've come for the message, haven't you?"
Kim replied eagerly:
"Yes, we want to know our fate regarding this expedition."
Manata gestured inside:
"The Headmistress is waiting for you. Please, go in."
They entered the room, where Dalia greeted them with calculated coldness and a brief smile:
"I know what is going through your minds. The teams are being formed, and there is a high probability that you will go on different paths. Your presence together is a strength, but distributing you across teams is a strategic necessity. Now... leave, for we have much to arrange."
They left the office, silence enveloping them like a shroud. In the outer hallway, Ken asked in a low voice full of concern:
"Are we really going to be separated this time, brother?"
Kim placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, trying to instill reassurance in his heart despite his own shaking confidence:
"No matter the distance or the teams... we will remain one soul in two bodies. We will survive and meet again."
But deep inside Kim, a hidden voice whispered that the "Valdoris" expedition might be unlike anything they had ever faced, and that the separation might be longer than they could imagine.