Emelio: "—Teams of four," he said, smiling as if the words weren't about to shatter the fragile alliances of his class.
The students had immediately erupted into chaos, some whispering and scheming like politicians in a backroom deal.
Emelio: "But you aren't bound by students just in this class. Your team can be made up of anyone who's a 3rd year."
Shinatsu: "Final exam in teams of four? That's asking for trouble. They might as well hand us the ropes to hang ourselves with."
Dakota: "We just had midterms a few chapters ago. Let me guess, finals are much worse."
Shinatsu: "You guessed it."
Erika: "Then let's form a team! You, me, Sylvie, and Shinatsu!"
Dakota: "No."
The sharpness in Dakota's tone cut through the noise. Erika blinked: "No?"
Dakota: If we team up, I'll just end up relying on you. I don't want that. Not for this."
Erika frowned, but there was a trace of understanding behind her gentle eyes: "…Then who are you teaming with?" she asked quietly.
Dakota: "Let me ask Remi." He waved her down and she quickly came over.
Remi: "What's up?"
Dakota: "You and Austin are good friends, so you're probably forming a team together, right?"
Remi: "Yeah. I also want my friend to join us, so that would make us a team of 3 for now. You can be our 4th if you want."
Dakota: "Thanks, but there's someone else I want to be with. Sucks we can't be a team of 5."
Remi: "For sure. Maybe next time then." She waves as she walks away."
Dakota: "Yeah!…" He turns back to Erika, "So I'll ask Yuji and Marlon, for now."
Erika: "Is Sota the person you want to be with?"
Dakota: "Yeah."
Erika exhaled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear: "Alright. Then I'll ask Sylvie, Shinatsu, and Esmarie."
Sylvie bounced over, overhearing her: "My answer is yes."
Erika: "Really? Hurray!"
Sylvie laughed: "Why are you surprised?"
Shinatsu: "Fine by me. Just don't expect me to babysit anyone."
After class, they met up with Esmarie who readily agreed.
Esmarie: "Oh, this will be fun~! A girls' team! We'll crush the boys."
Dakota: "Don't get cocky."
Esmarie: "Oh, I wasn't being cocky," she said sweetly. "Just prophetic."
***
Over the weekend, Dakota's team gathered at the empty courtyard. The setting sun cast long shadows across the training field, turning the dirt red like spilled blood.
Marlon cracked his neck: "So, any clue what kind of exam this'll be?"
Yuji: "No idea, but it'll definitely be tougher than the last 2 years."
Marlon: "That's for sure."
They all shared a look of silent agreement. As for Sota, he was intimidated by the two tough-looking guys.
The sound of wooden swords echoed nearby, students still practicing. The whole academy was buzzing with energy, the kind that came before a storm.
But beneath it all, there was something else.
Something… off.
The air felt colder than usual. The night birds had gone quiet. And every once in a while, Dakota thought he heard footsteps that weren't theirs.
Yuji: "Hey, you guys feel that?"
Marlon: "Feel what?"
Yuji: "That chill."
Dakota's eyes flicked toward the far end of the courtyard. For a brief moment, he swore he saw a silhouette standing by the old statue near the wall.
But when he blinked, it was gone.
Across campus in the history building, Erika's team was discussing strategy.
Shinatsu stood near the window, Sylvie was sketching ideas for formations, Esmarie humming a quiet tune, and Erika sat cross-legged on a desk.
Shinatsu: "I think our strength lies in coordination. We're balanced, speed, precision, technique, and support. I can't speak on Esmarie's behalf though."
Esmarie: "I've made it this far, I'm strong too!"
Sylvie: "The main thing is we don't know what we're walking into yet."
Shinatsu: "Doesn't matter. We'll adapt."
There was a moment of silence. Only the distant ticking of the clock filled the air. Then—
A faint clang.
Like a wooden sword brushing against the floor somewhere down the hall.
Esmarie: "Uh, what's that?"
The others looked toward the door. The sound came again. Slow. deliberate. Wood scraping against stone.
The hallway outside was dimly lit. The sound grew louder now, echoing through the corridor—clink… clink… clink.
Then it stopped.
Erika peered around the corner. The hallway was empty.
But the light at the far end flickered one last time, revealing for a split second a faint mark on the wall.
It looked like a slash. Deep and deliberate. The wall had cracked from the force. But they didn't hear a strike.
Erika: "…This wasn't here before."
They said nothing more. The hallway stayed silent.
Shinatsu had a thought. Someone striking with impeccable precision and speed that was able to leave a mark without making any noise.
***
Monday morning, Hunter Academy was unusually quiet. The announcement board listed the name of the final exam for the semester.
Final Examination — Group Trials.
Teams of four will make their way to the Shadow Arena at dusk.
No one knew what the Shadow Arena was.
Austin, who was leaning against the wall chuckled dryly: "Shadow Arena. Sounds like the kind of thing where people die."
Remi nudged him with her elbow: "Don't joke like that."
Austin: "Who's joking?"
Dakota glanced at them from nearby, arms crossed. He was trying to ignore the gnawing unease in his chest. The air around the academy had changed overnight, it was heavier. Like the school itself was holding its breath.
He looked toward Remi, she caught his gaze for just a moment, smiling faintly.
He looked away.
Sota: "You sure you're not regretting splitting up?"
Dakota: "Huh?"
Sota: "With Erika?"
Dakota: "Oh, yeah I'm sure. If I can't pass this without depending on others, I don't deserve to."
Marlon raised an eyebrow: "You sound confident."
Dakota gave a wry smile: "I have to step up."
Erika was speaking to Esmarie. Someone passed by them, and Esmarie met his eyes. That instant, she felt fear. He smirked menacingly and his countenance was daunting. Her knees even buckled on her causing her to fall down. His gaze on her was only for a second, because the man passed by to size up Erika, who stared at him in return.
Marlon: "Hey, you see him?"
Dakota: "Who?"
Marlon: "The guy who just passed by Erika."
Dakota turned sharply.
Marlon: "That's Drake. The strongest 3rd year."
Even from this distance, Dakota could feel his presence. The air warped faintly around him, like the world bent under invisible pressure.
Obviously he was a student, but he didn't feel like one. Drake gave Dakota a look too, but looked away with a condescending face. Students who noticed him started gossiping. Erika however never took her eyes off him. He's had his eyes on her, and she could tell. As he disappears into the crowd, she gets on her knee and helps Esmarie up.
Erika: "Are you okay?"
Esmarie: "Yeah, I don't know what came over me."
Erika looked back into the spot in the crowd where she last saw him. The final exam this semester will come to be known as the craziest one ever.