The sun had barely pierced the horizon when Iron Resolve assembled at the Variable Unit deployment hall.
No banners. No fanfare. No observers. Only silence.
Kael Draven adjusted his uniform, checking each strap, each weapon, each minute detail he could control. He didn't need Aether to know the weight of this moment. Every step they took from the academy now carried consequence. Every choice would leave a mark—on their team, the village they were assigned to, and themselves.
Lyra Selendis arrived, calm but alert, her Aether now flickering steadily around her hands like tempered fire. She didn't speak at first—just stood beside Kael. Her presence alone gave him focus.
Taren stretched quietly, cracking his knuckles. "We're not children anymore," he muttered. "Every mistake now counts."
Mira's gaze scanned the hall, sharp and calculating, while Joren adjusted his armor. The weight of Variable Unit status was heavy, but Iron Resolve carried it like it had been forged into their bones over the past months.
---
The Briefing
Instructor Vale stood at the front, his calm eyes fixed on Kael. Behind him, the mission projection flickered to life.
> Variable Unit Assignment – Southern Corridors
Situation: Civilian villages disrupted by dark Aether activity.
Objective: Contain threat, protect civilians, gather intelligence.
Rules: Flexible. No backup guaranteed. Outcome prioritized over protocol.
"Your insertion point is here," Vale said, pointing to a map. "Expect unknown variables. Enemy numbers are unconfirmed. Civilian risk is high. You must make decisions in real time."
Kael's jaw tightened. "And support?"
Vale shook his head. "None. You are the frontline. Command decisions are yours."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly. "No backup? That's… insane."
Kael glanced at her. "We'll adapt. Like always."
Eron Hale, the acting strategist, muttered under his breath, "We've trained for worse, but… this is real now."
Vale's voice cut through the tension. "Your performance here will be observed by external evaluators. Success and failure will both be recorded. Make the right choice—or live with the consequences."
Kael's hand tightened into a fist. "We will. Together."
---
Deployment
The team boarded the airship that would carry them over the southern corridors. Below them, forests stretched like dark green waves. Villages dotted the land like small islands of light. Somewhere out there, followers of Malrik Noctis were already moving.
The ride was silent. No one spoke unnecessarily. Everyone was running scenarios in their head, projecting probabilities, testing contingencies.
Finally, the landing zone appeared—a village half-consumed by shadow, smoke rising from burnt rooftops, shadows flickering unnaturally in the streets.
Kael exhaled slowly. "This is it."
Lyra's hands glowed faintly with Aether. "And it's nothing like training."
Taren smirked. "Finally, something worth hitting."
Mira surveyed the streets, calculating angles, traps, escape routes. "Stay sharp. They know we're coming."
Joren simply cracked his knuckles. "Let's show them Iron Resolve isn't a joke anymore."
---
First Contact
As they advanced, the first group of corrupted villagers—or what they had become—emerged. Their movements were jerky, unnatural, eyes glowing faintly red with twisted Aether.
Kael stepped forward. Not with Aether—but with momentum, precision, and years of training.
One figure lunged. Kael ducked, rolling, and slammed his shoulder into its chest. Bones cracked audibly. The enemy staggered.
Lyra followed immediately, weaving chains of controlled Aether to restrain the creature. "Now, Kael!"
He struck again. The first enemy fell.
But the attack was just a taste. More emerged—larger, faster, more unpredictable.
Eron raised his hand instinctively. "We need formation!"
Kael shook his head. "Formation won't save us. Adaptation will."
The team split strategically, moving like one entity despite the chaos. Lyra restrained, Mira distracted, Taren struck with calculated force, Joren intercepted, and Kael drove forward where the pressure was greatest.
Even without Aether, Kael's instincts were sharper than anyone's magic could predict.
---
The Choice
A group of corrupted villagers cornered civilians in the center of the village. Kael could push to eliminate the attackers immediately—but doing so risked civilian harm.
He froze for a heartbeat. Calculated.
"Lyra," he said, "cover the civilians. Taren, Mira, Joren—intercept the flanks. I'll draw their attention."
Lyra's Aether flared, precise and controlled, forming a barrier around the frightened villagers. The others moved as one.
Kael ran forward, dodging multiple attacks, striking with brutal efficiency. Each motion, each decision, was made under pressure. Every choice carried weight.
For the first time, the team felt what it truly meant to operate as a unit that was seen as expendable by the system, yet trusted by each other completely.
---
Aftermath
When the dust settled, the village remained standing. Casualties were minimal. The corrupted had been neutralized—or fled into the woods, leaving trails of dark Aether.
Iron Resolve was exhausted, battered, and alive.
Kael looked at his team. "We did it. Together."
Lyra's eyes softened. "And no one got hurt. That's… worth more than stars."
Taren grinned. "Worth every bruise."
Mira nodded. "But this was just the beginning."
Joren cracked his knuckles, smirking. "I like the taste of real fights."
Kael looked out toward the horizon. Somewhere, far beyond, Malrik Noctis' eyes glimmered, watching the same battle play out. And somewhere deep inside Kael, something shifted—a quiet recognition that his journey toward awakening powers no one had ever seen was inching closer.
The Variable Unit assignment had begun.
And Iron Resolve had survived their first true test.