The academy felt different that morning.
It wasn't louder—though the corridors were filled with more footsteps than usual.
It wasn't brighter—though sunlight streamed through the tall windows in long, pale bands.
It felt tighter.
Cain noticed it the moment he stepped into the main corridor of the first-year wing. Students were already moving in clusters, their robes brushing against stone walls polished smooth by centuries of passage. Conversations sparked and died quickly, never lingering long enough to settle. No one stood still. No one wasted time.
Everyone was moving with purpose.
Today was not a normal day.
Cain adjusted his pace and merged into the flow of students heading toward the training halls. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes moved constantly, tracking the subtle changes in posture and behavior around him.
Some students walked with quiet confidence, their shoulders squared and steps measured. Others carried tension openly—hands clenched, breaths shallow, eyes darting toward instructors stationed along the corridors. A few tried to mask their unease with forced laughter, but the sound rang hollow.
This was not excitement.
It was anticipation.
---
# A Hall Full of Possibilities
Whispers traveled faster than footsteps.
"They said it's a joint evaluation…"
"Class 1A and 1B together, right?"
"I heard they're not holding back this time."
"At least mana reinforcement is restricted."
Cain heard it all without turning his head.
Speculation meant nothing. Rumors only mattered to those who needed reassurance. Cain had learned long ago that imagining outcomes wasted energy better spent preparing for reality.
Ahead of him, a familiar figure slowed his pace.
Rei.
The boy walked with his hands loosely tucked into the sleeves of his academy robe, posture relaxed but alert. His wind-elemental familiar was nowhere in sight, as regulations dictated. Rei glanced sideways, spotted Cain, and slowed until they were walking together.
"Well," Rei muttered, glancing around at the crowd, "this is… festive."
Cain's eyes flicked briefly to the surrounding students. "You sound enthusiastic."
Rei scoffed softly. "I'm not. Curious, maybe. That's different."
"About what?" Cain asked.
Rei shrugged. "Who I'll end up fighting. Could be someone reasonable. Could be a monster in human skin."
Cain nodded once, acknowledging the thought.
Rei tilted his head slightly. "You nervous?"
Cain considered the question seriously. He searched his body for tension, his mind for hesitation.
"No," he answered.
Rei stared at him for a moment, then laughed quietly. "Of course not."
They walked in silence for a few steps, the sound of their boots blending into the rhythm of the corridor.
"You think they're using rankings?" Rei asked.
"No," Cain replied without hesitation. "Too predictable."
Rei smiled faintly. "Yeah. Wouldn't suit the academy."
---
# The Training Hall
The training hall rose before them like a fortress within the academy—wide stone doors already open, instructors stationed at either side. Beyond the entrance stretched a massive space reinforced with thick pillars and marked floors designed to withstand repeated impact.
The ceiling arched high overhead, beams crossing like ribs. Light filtered in through narrow upper windows, casting long shadows across the polished stone floor.
Students were guided inside and separated quickly.
Class 1A gathered on the eastern side.
Class 1B on the western.
The division was subtle but unmistakable.
Cain took his place among his classmates, posture relaxed, hands resting naturally at his sides. Across the hall, Class 1A stood straighter, their movements sharper, expressions controlled.
They looked prepared.
Cain recognized a few faces from previous assessments.
And then—
Liora Valcrest.
She stood near the front of Class 1A, hands folded behind her back, gaze fixed forward. She did not scan the room. She did not whisper to those beside her. Her presence was calm, disciplined, and self-contained.
She looked exactly like someone who expected to be tested.
---
# Rules Before Steel
An instructor stepped forward onto the raised platform separating the two classes. His robe bore the insignia of the academy, trimmed in silver, and his presence commanded attention without effort.
"Today's session is a joint sword evaluation," he said.
The hall quieted immediately.
"This is not a lesson," the instructor continued. "And it is not a duel meant to establish dominance."
Several students shifted at that, disappointment flickering briefly across a few faces.
"It is an assessment," he said. "Your performance today will inform future training allocations, sparring permissions, and advancement opportunities."
That captured everyone's focus.
"Rules are simple."
He raised one finger.
"Wooden blades only."
A second finger followed.
"Mana reinforcement is limited to basic physical enhancement. No spellcasting. No elemental projection."
A third finger rose.
"Excessive force, reckless aggression, or disregard for safety will result in immediate disqualification."
His gaze swept the hall slowly.
"Victory is not the sole metric," he added. "Control, awareness, adaptability, and restraint will be evaluated equally."
Cain absorbed every word.
This was not about overpowering an opponent.
It was about how one fought.
---
# Numbers Without Names
Two instructors stepped forward carrying sealed wooden boxes.
One was placed before Class 1A.
The other before Class 1B.
"These boxes contain numbered tokens," the lead instructor said. "Each class will draw separately."
A low murmur rippled through the students.
"Matching numbers determine matchups," the instructor continued. "Once drawn, numbers cannot be exchanged."
No exceptions. No favoritism.
Class 1A drew first.
Students stepped forward one by one. Some reacted immediately—tight smiles, narrowed eyes, brief nods to themselves. Others concealed their reactions entirely, returning to their places without a change in expression.
Then Class 1B followed.
Rei stepped forward when his name was called, reached into the box, and withdrew a token. He glanced at it for less than a second before closing his fist around it.
Cain watched without comment.
Then—
"Cain Arkwright."
Cain stepped forward. The wooden box felt solid beneath his fingertips as he reached inside. His hand brushed against smooth surfaces before closing around a single token.
He withdrew it and did not look.
The weight meant nothing.
He returned to his place.
---
# Waiting
The instructors collected the boxes and stepped back onto the platform.
"Matches will begin shortly," the lead instructor announced. "Remain where you are."
Students adjusted their stances. Some rolled their shoulders. Others tested their grip on their practice swords.
Rei leaned slightly toward Cain. "You look calm for someone about to fight a stranger."
Cain kept his gaze forward. "So do you."
Rei chuckled under his breath. "Guess we're both pretending."
Across the hall, Class 1A remained motionless.
Liora stood exactly where she had been before, posture unchanged, attention forward.
Cain felt nothing unusual. No disturbance. No warning. No pull.
Just anticipation.
The kind that settled deep and waited.
---