"Next group!" the officer shouted. "Raze Zaden, Felix Blaze, Liam Ward, and… Beatrix Emberfall."
Raze stepped forward calmly. Felix was already beside him, that same smug grin
plastered on his face.
Behind them came Liam, a boy with messy brown hair that looked like he had just rolled out of bed. His dark brown eyes darted nervously from side to side. His small frame made him stand out among the others, and his hands fidgeted as if he didn't know what to do with them.
The last to join was Beatrix. She walked forward with quiet confidence, her eyes briefly scanning the others in her group before she stopped, saying nothing.
"All right," the officer said. "That's your group of four. Stay together."
Felix nudged Raze lightly. "Looks like luck's on our side. Same group." His grin widened like he'd won something.
Raze shook his head slightly and didn't respond. At least the group wasn't all bad. His gaze lingered briefly on Liam, who looked like he might collapse from nerves at any second.
The officer continued down the roster, calling out names until all eighty students had been divided. The testing grounds, once packed and chaotic, were now broken into neat clusters of four.
"Good," the officer said. "Stay with your groups and follow me. I'll be taking you to your homeroom teachers. They'll be responsible for your training, discipline, and survival. Pay attention during the tour. You'll need to know this place if you don't want to get left behind."
He turned sharply and began walking, boots crunching against the gravel.
As they followed, Raze glanced around, taking in the advanced technology spread across the grounds. Massive mechs hovered overhead, some transporting materials to construction zones while others worked on existing structures. Humanity had come a long way since the Xin War. Much of this technology had been reverse engineered from what they left behind.
This level of technology…
Even the house his parents left him couldn't compare.
Felix noticed his expression and smiled faintly. "Impressive, right?"
Raze nodded. "Yeah. It really is."
A shadow swept over them.
An enormous ship roared overhead, its engines drowning out everything else as it blocked the sun for several seconds.
Students instinctively looked up, eyes wide.
For many of them, this was the first time seeing something like this up close.
The officer glanced back. "Don't get distracted," he said, though there was the faintest hint of a smile. "You'll get used to it."
They finally reached the academy.
Raze stopped without realizing it. The building towered above them, easily the tallest structure in the entire military district. It rose like a monument, its glass exterior reflecting the fading daylight, almost alive.
Felix let out a low whistle. "Now that's something. Living here for years doesn't sound so bad."
Raze didn't answer right away. He stared at the academy, blue eyes reflecting the glass. This place felt different. Heavy. Like a line he couldn't uncross.
Beside him, Liam shifted uneasily. "How are we supposed to survive here?" he muttered. "It feels like standing at the base of a mountain we can't even climb."
Beatrix stood quietly, her posture straight, her expression calm as she looked up at the building.
Several teachers waited near the entrance, spaced apart. Their sharp gazes swept over the students, evaluating them before a word was spoken.
The officer stopped and gestured toward one of them. "Group Three. This will be your homeroom teacher. Instructor Aria Veyne."
Aria stepped forward. She was tall, with long jet black hair braided neatly down her back. A fitted military coat hugged her frame, medals lining her chest. Her gray eyes pinned the group in place with a single look.
"I'll be blunt," she said. "From this point forward, you answer to me. Your progress, your failures, and whether you survive this academy all fall under my responsibility. I don't tolerate wasted potential. Do you understand?"
The group nodded quickly. Liam's voice cracked when he answered, earning a brief glance from Aria before she moved on.
Felix crossed his arms, grin still in place.
"Crystal clear, Instructor."
Her eyes snapped to him. "I don't do jokes."
Felix's grin faltered for half a second before he straightened. "Yes, ma'am."
Raze stayed silent, watching closely. Her presence was heavier than the officer's. This was someone who noticed everything.
Aria turned toward the academy doors.
"Follow me. I'll show you where you'll be staying. Tomorrow, training begins. Don't expect an easy start."
The glass doors slid open.
Inside, the academy was just as overwhelming. Wide halls stretched out in multiple directions, lined with glowing monitors, digital maps, and silent security drones hovering above.
Liam whispered, barely able to contain himself, "This is like walking into the future."
Beatrix said nothing, her eyes memorizing every corridor.
Felix leaned closer to Raze with a smirk. "Looks like we got a good team."
Raze didn't reply. His eyes stayed fixed on Instructor Aria as they walked deeper into the academy.
This was the beginning.
And whatever came next, he couldn't afford to be careless anymore.