The Return of Chaos… and the Beginning of the Test
Two months passed.
Two full months in which Suho returned to a version of himself he had almost forgotten.
He stopped chasing heavy questions,
cast madness aside,
as if something inside him whispered: not now.
The past period passed strangely.
No battles.
No gates. No tower.
Only training. Tens of thousands of sword swings.
Breathing. Mana circulation. Endurance.
His body changed quietly, in ways invisible to a casual eye.
He did not grow bulky.
He did not flaunt defined muscles.
But beneath his clothes…
something was different.
Condensed strength.
A balanced body.
The frame of a man in his mid-twenties,
not a teenager.
His endurance had clearly increased. His strength had grown. And his mana…
It was calmer. Fuller.
He felt no pride. Not even satisfaction.
Only… stability.
They were ordinary days.
Very ordinary.
His mischief returned during lectures,
sitting in the back rows with "the monkey," Kevin,
exchanging stupid notes instead of writing explanations.
Suppressed laughter.
A lecturer clearing his throat in warning.
During training,
the pure stupidity returned with Reinhardt.
Harmless, innocent bullying of Kevin,
who took hits like a training wall.
— Straighten your back, hero!
— That's straightening? That's attempted murder!
— Shut up. Monkeys don't complain.
Even the two girls…
something changed.
It was no longer cautious or reserved.
There was ease now—brief glances,
casual conversations that suddenly turned into laughter.
Everything felt… normal.
Midterm Theoretical Exam
Suho sat in the lecture hall minutes before the exam began,
staring at the blank paper in front of him,
thinking of nothing.
Suddenly—
"Fire" sat down on his right.
Without a word.
Without even a glance.
Seconds later,
"Ice" sat down on his left.
Also… without speaking.
He froze.
…Is this a trap?
He quickly looked straight ahead,
as if turning right or left would trigger a disaster.
One minute passed.
Two.
No one spoke.
Damn it… why do I feel like I'm on trial?
The exam began.
Theoretical questions on mana flow,
synchronization patterns,
summoning principles,
and aura applications.
He answered calmly.
Focused.
Nothing happened.
The day ended… as it began.
With strange peace.
The Practical Exam
It was different.
An open training field,
divided into several zones.
Instructors. Supervisors.
Monitoring screens.
One supervisor stepped forward and raised his voice:
— The practical exam evaluates three points:
control,
tactics,
and behavior under pressure.
— We are not looking for the strongest…
but for the most capable.
Students were divided into small teams of four.
By coincidence—or maybe not—
Suho's team was the same as always.
Reinhardt clapped his hands.
— Great! The dream team is back.
Kevin clenched his fists.
— I hope the exam isn't "think before you punch."
Fire smiled confidently.
— Don't worry… I think after I punch.
Ice added calmly:
— And I fix the mistakes.
Suho exhaled.
— Alright… let's just survive.
Exam Scenario
Simulation mission:
A zone contaminated with mid-level monsters.
Objectives:
— Protect a central point.
— Evacuate a dummy representing a "civilian."
— Eliminate two waves within a time limit.
The simulation began.
First wave:
Fast monsters, large numbers.
— Kevin! Right side!
— Got it!
Kevin charged forward—his strikes heavy and steady.
Reinhardt moved behind him,
a faint healing aura, unseen yet felt.
Fire released precise blades of flame,
not burning indiscriminately—
but cutting.
Ice sealed pathways,
controlled angles.
Suho did not advance.
He observed.
— Suho?
— Wait… let them gather.
Then he moved.
Measured steps.
A single strike at the right point.
The formation collapsed.
The wave ended quickly.
Second wave:
A leader-type monster—slower… but stronger.
— This one's yours, team leader.
Reinhardt said with a smile.
Suho stepped forward.
He did not rush.
He used no flashy techniques.
A light aura.
Precise control.
A sword that moved without display.
One strike.
A deflection.
A second strike.
The monster fell.
Silence followed for several seconds.
Then one instructor wrote a note,
and another nodded with quiet admiration.
After the Exam
— It's over!
— I think we… passed?
Kevin sat on the ground.
— I'm hungry.
Reinhardt laughed.
— Always.
Fire looked at Suho.
— You haven't changed… but you're different.
Ice added softly:
— You've become calmer.
Suho scratched his head.
— Maybe… I just stopped thinking.
They looked at him.
Then smiled.
It was an ordinary day.
An ordinary exam.
Maybe life would be a little quieter now?