Morning came quietly.
Soft light filtered through the tall windows of the academy dormitory, falling across stone floors and neatly arranged beds. Phael opened his eyes before the bell rang. His body moved before his thoughts, a habit shaped by years of training.
He sat up and took a slow breath.
Around him, other students stirred.
Some groaned.
Some turned over.
Some stared at the ceiling as if questioning their life choices.
This was his first morning as an academy student.
And the world already felt different.
After a quick meal in the hall, the new students were gathered once more in the central courtyard. The air buzzed with quiet talk. Everyone had seen the evaluation yesterday. Everyone now knew who was strong… and who was not.
Instructor Vale stood before them again.
"Today," she said, "you will be assigned into combat groups. You will train, fight, and survive together. Your group will become your foundation in this academy."
A murmur ran through the crowd.
"Groups of six," she continued. "Balanced in offense, defense, support, and control."
She lifted a small crystal tablet. Names began appearing in glowing letters.
"Listen carefully."
Phael stood calmly, hands behind his back.
He did not care who his teammates were.
Only that he would not be weak among them.
"Group Seventeen."
Phael focused.
"Phael."
That was him.
"Ryn Kael.""Soren Vaal.""Rielle Nyx.""Aeris Lume.""Darian Noct.""Myra Chronis."
Six names.
Six strangers.
Instructor Vale gestured toward a training platform on the far side of the courtyard.
"Group Seventeen, step forward."
Phael moved.
Five others did as well.
They gathered on the platform, facing one another for the first time.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Ryn Kael broke the silence.
Ryn was tall, broad-shouldered, and built like a warrior who had been training since childhood. His hair was a dark silver, his eyes sharp and confident.
He crossed his arms and looked around.
"So… this is the team."
His gaze moved from one face to another, measuring.
Next to him stood Soren Vaal.
Lean. Calm. His expression was unreadable. A long weapon case was strapped across his back. He did not speak, but his posture was relaxed, like someone who trusted his own ability completely.
Then there was the girl with long dark hair and violet eyes.
Rielle Nyx.
She stood slightly apart, hands folded in front of her. There was something quiet about her—not weak, but observant. Like she was always watching more than she showed.
Beside her was Aeris Lume.
Soft golden hair, gentle eyes. She smiled politely at everyone, though there was a tired look behind it. A healer, without question.
Darian Noct leaned against the edge of the platform, hood partially shadowing his face. His presence was… difficult to notice. Even standing in front of them, he seemed half-absent.
Finally, Myra Chronis.
She was the smallest among them, with pale hair and calm, distant eyes. Something about her felt strange—like the air around her was slightly delayed.
And then there was Phael.
Quiet.
Still.
Watching.
Ryn cracked his knuckles.
"Well," he said, "since we're stuck together, we might as well introduce ourselves. I'll go first."
He placed a fist over his chest.
"Ryn Kael. Power: Mythical Beast Transformation. I specialize in frontline combat."
His voice was confident, but not arrogant.
Soren spoke next.
"Soren Vaal. Weapon Master. I adapt to whatever weapon I use."
Simple. Direct.
Rielle hesitated, then lifted her head.
"I'm Rielle Nyx," she said softly. "My power is summoning. I can call beasts and spirits to fight for me."
Her eyes flicked briefly toward Phael, then away again.
Aeris smiled.
"Aeris Lume. Healer. I support and keep everyone alive."
Darian's voice came low and quiet.
"Darian Noct. Shadow manipulation."
No elaboration.
Myra spoke last.
"Myra Chronis. Time Fragment."
There was a pause.
"Time…?" Ryn blinked.
She nodded. "I can slow, pause, or rewind small moments."
Ryn let out a low whistle.
"Okay. That's… not normal."
She did not react.
Then they all turned to Phael.
He met their gazes calmly.
"Phael," he said. "I have two powers. One strengthens my body. One controls magic."
No boasting.
No drama.
Just truth.
Ryn stared at him for a moment.
"…Two?"
Soren's eyes narrowed slightly.
Rielle looked surprised.
Aeris tilted her head.
Darian said nothing.
Myra studied him with a strange intensity.
Instructor Vale's voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Group Seventeen. Your first exercise begins now."
The platform beneath them shimmered.
The world changed.
They were no longer in the courtyard.
Instead, they stood inside a wide stone arena surrounded by high walls. At the far end, gates slowly opened.
A deep growl echoed.
Three beasts stepped forward.
Large. Armored. Eyes burning with aggression.
"Combat simulation," Vale's voice rang out. "Work as a unit. Or fail."
The beasts charged.
Ryn moved instantly.
His body surged forward, muscles expanding as golden markings spread across his arms. His fists struck like hammers, colliding with the first beast in a burst of force.
Soren followed, drawing a long blade from his case. The weapon seemed to flow with his movements, cutting cleanly through the second beast's defenses.
But the third beast leapt past them—straight toward Rielle and Aeris.
Phael reacted.
He stepped forward.
The red koi within him flared.
Power flooded his limbs.
He struck.
The beast was sent crashing into the stone wall.
It did not rise again.
Silence fell.
Then—
The beasts dissolved into light.
The simulation ended.
They stood there, breathing lightly.
Ryn stared at Phael.
"That was… fast."
Soren sheathed his weapon slowly.
"Your movement," he said. "You're trained."
Phael nodded.
Rielle looked at him.
Her eyes held something different.
Not fear.
Not admiration.
Curiosity.
After the exercise, they were given time to rest.
They sat beneath the shade of a large tree at the edge of the grounds.
No one spoke at first.
Then Aeris broke the silence.
"Well… at least we're alive."
Ryn chuckled.
"Barely. If those beasts were real, we'd have lost someone without Phael stepping in."
Phael said nothing.
Rielle shifted closer to him slightly.
"You didn't hesitate," she said. "You saw the danger and moved."
"It was natural," he replied.
She studied him for a moment.
"You don't fight like someone our age."
He met her gaze calmly.
"I don't want to die."
She blinked… then smiled faintly.
"Fair."
Something about that moment lingered.
A small, quiet connection.
Unspoken.
Unfinished.
They continued talking.
Learning about each other.
Ryn spoke of his clan and his desire to become the strongest frontline warrior in the academy.
Soren explained that he had trained with weapons since childhood, but did not belong to any major clan.
Aeris revealed that her family had been healers for generations, and she wanted to prove that support was just as important as strength.
Darian spoke little, but when he did, his words were sharp and careful.
Myra watched them all, eyes distant, as if seeing something beyond the present.
And Rielle…
She listened more than she spoke.
When she did speak, it was about her summons. About how she had always felt more comfortable around beasts than people. About how her power made her feel connected to something larger.
Phael found himself listening.
Not because he was interested in power.
But because he was interested in her.
Not romantically.
Not yet.
But… something about her presence felt calm.
Steady.
Like standing near quiet water.
As the sun lowered, Instructor Vale returned.
"Group Seventeen," she said. "You performed well for your first exercise. But do not mistake that for success. Power grows quickly here. So does danger."
Her eyes lingered on each of them.
"Your group has… potential."
Then she turned and walked away.
Ryn exhaled.
"So… we're officially a team."
Soren nodded.
"For better or worse."
Aeris smiled.
"I think… we'll be okay."
Darian said quietly, "If we survive."
Myra looked at Phael.
"Your future is… strange."
He met her gaze.
"So is everyone's."
She studied him for a long moment… then looked away.
Rielle stood.
"We should train more tomorrow," she said. "As a group."
Ryn grinned.
"I like the sound of that."
Soren nodded.
Aeris agreed.
Darian gave a short hum.
Myra said nothing—but did not refuse.
Phael stood as well.
"Then we grow together," he said.
Rielle looked at him again.
This time, her smile was warmer.
"Together."
That night, Phael stood alone on the balcony outside his dorm.
The academy stretched endlessly beneath the stars.
For the first time since leaving home… he did not feel alone.
He thought of Delyra.
Of his parents.
Of the world waiting above.
Then he thought of the five people who now stood beside him.
Not allies by fate.
Not bound by blood.
But walking the same path.
This is only the beginning, he thought.
Behind him, footsteps approached.
Rielle's voice was soft.
"Can't sleep either?"
He turned.
"No."
She stepped beside him.
The night wind moved gently between them.
For a moment, neither spoke.
But the silence was not uncomfortable.
Not empty.
Just… quiet.
Two people standing at the edge of a future neither could yet see.