Chapter 10
It was still dark outside.
The sky above Shin Tamasek had barely begun to lighten as buses and transport carriers arrived one after another outside the gates of the Synarc Suppression and Subjugation Academy.
It was 13 August; almost a month had passed since the entrance examination.
Two hundred cadets stood in formation outside the academy entrance, each carrying only a small amount of luggage as instructed.
A voice echoed from overhead speakers. "Please remain in your designated waiting zones until further instruction."
Bumi adjusted the strap on his bag slightly.
Just a few hours ago, he had hugged his mother goodbye before leaving home. The thought still lingered in his mind. Two years. He would be staying within academy grounds for almost the entire duration of training. He didn't even know how often he would be allowed to return home.
Around him, families were sending their children off; some parents gave long emotional speeches while others reminded their children not to embarrass the family name.
Bumi quietly looked around the crowd.
Not far away, Yuko was speaking to someone dressed in an SSS uniform. Judging by the way she stood at attention while still somehow looking overly expressive, the person was probably someone important to her.
Bumi looked away before he accidentally eavesdropped.
Instead, he moved toward one of the nearby benches.
That was when he noticed Aurora. She stood alone beneath one of the overhead lights, checking through her belongings one final time. Unlike her usual composed self, there was the slightest trace of nervousness on her face.
Aurora Ling had already secured one of the highest entrance scores in the academy. However, even then, SSSA was only the beginning. If she wanted to enter specialist training after graduation, she still needed to remain at the top.
For someone like Aurora, failure wasn't an option.
As if sensing his gaze, Aurora suddenly looked up.
The moment their eyes met, the slight concern in her expression vanished.
Her face hardened into an annoyed glare.
Bumi awkwardly looked away.
A few days after Bumi received his acceptance letter, his mother had visited Aurora's house during her usual cleaning shift.
At first, Aurora thought it was just another normal day. Until Emily Tiang suddenly bowed her head.
"Auntie… what are you doing?" Aurora panicked.
Emily carefully slid an envelope across the table. "Please look after Bumi for me."
Aurora froze. "Auntie… I can't accept this."
"Is it not enough?" Emily asked quietly. "I can get more…"
"No!" Aurora pushed the envelope back. "Please don't."
Seeing Bumi's mother bowing her head like that made Aurora feel deeply uncomfortable. She wanted to reject the request entirely. She wanted to tell Emily to convince Bumi to leave the academy before he got himself hurt. But the moment Aurora saw the smile on Emily's face while talking about how Bumi had finally found something he genuinely wanted to pursue…
…the words got stuck in her throat.
Aurora slowly looked away. "I'll… make sure he doesn't get into trouble."
Back in the present, Aurora glanced toward Bumi again.
"…Extra baggage," she sighed.
"Attention all cadets." The amplified voice silenced the entire entrance area. "You are to proceed into the main auditorium and follow the instructions displayed on the signs. Move quickly and maintain order."
The crowd began moving.
Bumi picked up his bag. He had packed lightly as instructed, mostly essentials: phone charger, spare clothes, toiletries, and sleepwear, but among his belongings was one extra item, his army knife. The same one that helped him survive the entrance examination.
Following the signs inside the massive academy building, Bumi eventually arrived at the registration area.
One by one, cadets were issued academy supplies: uniforms, sportswear, training shoes, toiletries, identification tags, and a large duffel bag to carry everything.
Finally, a staff member handed Bumi a small card.
"Group Four?" Bumi looked up.
Four massive monitor screens hung above the auditorium, each displaying a platoon number from one to four. Without thinking much about it, he headed toward the section marked Four.
The moment he sat down, several cadets glanced toward him. Some looked annoyed while others looked frustrated. One outright clicked his tongue.
Bumi blinked. "…What did I do?"
Not long after, more cadets began filling the section when a familiar voice suddenly called out. "Bumi!"
Yuko waved enthusiastically while lugging her oversized duffel bag behind her. "You're Group Four too?!"
Bumi nodded. "Looks like it."
"Yes! Same platoon!" Yuko grinned before leaning closer dramatically. "Maybe we'll even become dorm roommates."
Bumi stared at her for a moment. "The male and female dorms are separated."
"…They are? Tsk." Yuko pouted dramatically. "Awww, I wanted to have some fun…"
Bumi looked away, pretending not to know her.
Meanwhile, Aurora had already taken her seat in Group One.
"Can the last person hear me?" The booming voice instantly silenced the auditorium. Standing at the front was the same chief examiner from the entrance examination.
"I am Yusof," he declared. "You will address me as chief. Not chief instructor. Not an instructor. Not CI. Just chief. Are we clear?"
Nobody dared respond.
"Do you guys have comprehension issues?" the chief reprimanded. "When I asked a question, I expect an answer!"
"Yes, Chief." The cadets responded in unison.
Yusof slowly scanned the auditorium. "For the next two years, I, your assigned instructors, and the academy's commanding officer, Sir Lucian, will oversee your training."
Bumi's eyes widened slightly. "Lucian… I swear I heard his name before…"
Then it came back to him: the SSS officer who had saved him in the alley and the one that took out the Synarc psycho in the mall. "He's an instructor here?"
"We will now explain platoon assignments." Yusof gestured toward the four sections. "The people around you will be your platoon mates."
"You will eat together, train together, study together, and suffer together for the next two years." A few cadets exchanged nervous glances.
"Some of you are already aware that platoon ranking affects future benefits." The atmosphere grew noticeably more serious. "Your platoon affects your performance bonuses, assignment priority, specialist recommendations, and eligibility for SSS Officer School."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"However," Yusof continued, "your current platoon is not permanent."
"Platoon rankings may rise or fall depending on your platoon's behavior, examination results, field performance, and overall evaluations." The chief added. "The end-of-year assessments carry the greatest weight."
Just then, Bumi understood why his platoon mates were glaring at him earlier. He could feel the intense hatred from them; he was dead weight, someone who would drag their platoon down; he was zero.
Yuko, meanwhile, seemed completely unbothered.
"We'll just climb to the top anyway," she whispered confidently, flexing her arm with a smile.
Bumi could only let out a small laugh in that tense atmosphere.
After the briefing ended, the cadets were brought around the academy grounds: training halls, combat arenas, medical facilities, lecture theaters, and simulation rooms.
The moment they passed the arena, Bumi slowed slightly. His eyes lingered on the massive battlefield simulator as the memory of the entrance examination flashed in his mind: the Synbeast, the gravel terrain, the feeling of barely surviving. This would become a daily struggle for him.
Eventually, the tours ended, and the cadets were directed toward their dormitories, as they were given the rest of the day to rest and explore.
Bumi unlocked the door to his assigned room before stepping inside. The room was simple and clean. It had two beds, two tables, and two wardrobes, the bare minimum.
Bumi opened the window, the evening light spilling softly through it. For the first time that entire day, everything became quiet. Bumi slowly sat down on the bed. It's been a while since Bumi was left to himself; there were no crowds, no announcements, and no pressure.
Just silence as Bumi stared out of the window, looking over the running track. "…I'm really here."
He was taking it in when he noticed another building on the opposite side of the track. Written across it were the words: "Synarc Subjugation and Suppression Academy"
Beneath it was the academy motto: "Non nobis solum nati sumus."
The silence was short-lived, however, as he heard the dorm door creak open.
Bumi looked up instinctively, expecting to see his assigned roommate. He was already preparing a polite smile.
Then his expression froze. Standing at the doorway was a familiar face.
One of Jake's lackeys, the only one from their group who had managed to pass through the first two tests.
The moment their eyes met, the atmosphere in the room immediately turned awkward.
"…You've got to be kidding me," the guy muttered.