Thursday morning arrived with the same predawn routine.
Kaelen completed his daily quest, his movements were automatic. Push-ups, pull-ups, running. His body responded efficiently, his mind already focused on the day ahead.
[Daily Quest Complete: Physical Conditioning]
[Rewards: +30 XP (Base & System) | +1 Stat Point]
[Base Level: 8] (900/1900 XP)
[System Level: 6] (1500/1800 XP)
[Stat Points: 9]
Three hundred more experience until System Level 7. So close.
Tonight was the mission briefing. Saturday was the actual reconnaissance mission in the Scourged Zones.
His first time outside the Enclave's protective barriers his whole life.
The thought carried weight, both exciting and unsettling.
Classes passed quickly. Kaelen's focus was sharp, his earlier anxiety about the Pyrell meeting temporarily set aside in favor of immediate concerns.
By 4:00 PM, he was standing in the Unique Combat Division's practice hall for the second time that week.
All thirty-two first-years were present again. The atmosphere was different today, less casual curiosity and more focused anticipation. Everyone knew what was coming.
Instructor Mira stood at the center, her amber eyes tracking students as they settled into position. When the last person arrived, she clapped her hands once.
"Standard warm-up," she said simply. "Then sparring rotations."
They fell into the routine. Aether control drills, endurance exercises, basic technique refinement. After thirty minutes, Mira called for sparring pairs.
Kaelen checked the holographic roster.
[Kaelen Burn & Nyxara]
He glanced across the hall. The Sylth girl was already walking toward him, her blue-gray skin catching the overhead lights, her solid black eyes unreadable.
"Kaelen," she greeted, her voice carrying that strange harmonic quality unique to her race.
"Nyxara." He nodded. "Resonance Manipulation, right?"
"Correct." She settled into a ready stance. "And you manipulate time and space. This should be educational."
Mira's voice carried across the hall. "First to three hits. Begin when ready."
Kaelen and Nyxara circled each other slowly.
She moved with fluid grace, her steps silent despite the hard floor. Her hands were relaxed but ready, and Kaelen noticed she kept them slightly forward, prepared to touch something.
Right. Her ability required contact or close proximity.
He'd have to maintain distance.
Nyxara moved first, closing the gap with surprising speed. Her hand reached for his arm.
Kaelen activated Flash Step.
[–19 A.E.]
He appeared three meters to her left. She turned smoothly, already adjusting.
"Fast," she said simply.
Kaelen formed an aether barrier with Aether Manipulation, a simple shield between them.
[–8 A.E.]
Nyxara's hand touched it.
The construct shattered instantly.
Not broken by force. It simply... fell apart. The harmonic vibration disrupted the aether's cohesion at a fundamental level, unmaking the barrier from within.
Kaelen's eyes widened. That was terrifying.
He created another barrier, this time farther from her reach, and used it as cover to reposition with Spatial Warp.
[–24 A.E.]
The space between them distorted. He appeared behind her, hand already moving for a clean strike.
Nyxara spun, faster than he expected, and her fingers grazed his wrist.
Nothing happened immediately. Then a strange sensation spread through his arm. Vibration. Not painful, but deeply uncomfortable, like his bones were humming.
He pulled back quickly, shaking off the effect.
"One," Nyxara said quietly.
...
[First Hit: Nyxara (1-0)]
Kaelen adjusted his strategy. No constructs she could destabilize. No close contact. Keep moving, use spatial displacement.
He activated Temporal Drag on the area around her.
[–15 A.E./sec]
Her movements slowed by twenty-five percent, the air thickening visibly. She noticed immediately, her black eyes tracking the shimmer.
But she didn't panic. Instead, she moved deliberately, adapting to the reduced speed, using it to her advantage by making her actions more controlled.
Smart.
Kaelen circled outside the drag zone, looking for an opening. She turned with him, always facing, always ready.
He feinted left with Flash Step, then appeared right, striking clean.
[First Hit: Kaelen (1-1)]
...
They separated, both breathing slightly harder.
"Your spatial manipulation is difficult to counter," Nyxara said. "You don't stay in one place long enough."
"Your resonance would destroy most physical defenses," Kaelen replied. "Scary ability."
She smiled slightly. "Thank you."
They continued. Kaelen managed one more hit through spatial misdirection. Nyxara landed another by predicting his Flash Step exit point and being there when he arrived, her touch sending harmonic vibrations through his shoulder that made his entire arm go numb for several seconds.
When time was called, the score was tied. 2-2.
They bowed slightly to each other, mutual respect clear.
"You are skilled," Nyxara said.
"So are you."
Mira's voice cut through the ambient noise. "Good matches. Now gather. Mission briefing."
The students formed a loose semi-circle around her, anticipation thick in the air.
Mira gestured, and a massive holographic map materialized above the floor. It showed Veyra Enclave as a bright cluster of light at the center, surrounded by increasingly dark zones representing the Scourged territories.
Three points glowed red on the map, each one outside the main barriers but within what looked like a secured perimeter.
"Saturday's mission," Mira began, her tone serious. "Reconnaissance and resource survey in the outer Scourged Zones."
She zoomed the map in, showing more detail. The three marked locations became visible as geographical features, aether crystal deposit sites marked with pulsing indicators.
"Objective is simple," Mira continued. "Survey three aether crystal deposit sites. Verify purity levels, collect samples, report any anomalies. Each team takes one site."
She pulled up additional data.
>Mission Parameters:
- Type: Reconnaissance & Resource Survey
- Date: Saturday, 8:00 AM departure
- Duration: Estimated 6 hours (return by 2:00 PM)
- Location: Aether-Scourged Zone, Outer Ring
- Danger Level: F-D rank.
- RP Reward: +200 RP per student upon successful completion
"The outer ring is technically secured," Mira said. "Patrol routes run regularly. But 'secured' doesn't mean safe. Beasts migrate. Storms shift. Terrain changes."
She let that sink in.
"Expected encounters are F to E rank Beasts. Common in outer zones, manageable for Novice-rank students. D-rank encounters are possible but rare." Her amber eyes swept across the group. "If you encounter anything above E-rank, you do not engage. You retreat and call for backup immediately."
A student raised their hand. "What about environmental hazards?"
"Good question." Mira zoomed the map to show topographical details. "Aether storms are possible but minor in the outer ring. Unstable terrain, residual energy pockets, and spatial distortions are all documented. Stay alert, trust your instincts, and don't wander off designated paths."
She dismissed the map and pulled up team rosters instead.
"You'll be divided into four teams of eight. Three survey teams, one backup team that remains at base camp for emergency response."
Names began appearing in organized lists.
[Team 1 - Northern Deposit Site]
[Leader: Roan Carver]
- Roan Carver
- Liora Vex
- Kieran Solis
- Elias Kaine
- Pedro Silva
- Liam O'Connell
- Omer Ben
- Lucia Fanandéz
[Team 2 - Western Deposit Site]
[Leader: Seraphine Lys]
- Seraphine Lys
- Nyxara
- Maria Abdi
- Nomura Haddad
- Jonas Becker
- Zara Khan
- Anya Petrov
- Samuel Okoye
[Team 3 - Eastern Deposit Site]
[Leader: Kaelen Burn]
- Kaelen Burn
- Vyne Kayla
- Davrin Hale
- Mira Sellen
- Oren Valis
- Kenji Nakamura
- Sofia Alvarez
- Mateo Rìos
[Team 4 - Base Camp / Backup]
- [Leader: Ibukun Ebunoluwa]
- Ibukun Ebunoluwa
- Prita Malhorta
- Lucas Moreau
- Wei Zhang
- Ethan Miller
- Astrid Johansen
-Mei Li Chen
- Claire Dubois
Kaelen stared at his name under "Leader."
Around him, students were already moving toward their assigned teams, clustering into groups.
Three people approached Kaelen immediately.
The first was a muscular boy with short brown hair and a serious expression. He extended a hand. "Davrin Hale. Kinetic Absorption."
Kaelen shook it. The grip was firm, professional. "Kaelen Burn."
"I know." Davrin's tone was matter-of-fact. "Seen your fights. Looking forward to working with you."
The second was a girl with long red hair pulled into a practical braid, athletic build, and bright confident eyes. "Mira Sellen! Environmental Mimicry!" Her energy was infectious. "Finally, a real mission! This is going to be great!"
The third was a lean boy with calculating black eyes and an analytical expression. "Oren Valis. Sensory Amplification." He adjusted his stance slightly. "Eastern deposit site is farthest from patrol routes. We should discuss contingency plans."
"Sensor amplification," Kaelen thought."isn't that Sera's ability but they don't share the same last name. Or his ability is a variant to hers. And it's considered unique. But Sera is in the Mutation class or does it involve her family."
Before Kaelen could respond, Vyne materialized beside him and looped her arm through his.
"Team bonding time!" she announced cheerfully.
Davrin raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Mira grinned. Oren's expression remained neutral, though his eyes tracked Vyne with clear curiosity.
Three other students joined the cluster, introducing themselves briefly. Their names blurred together in Kaelen's mind, background members whose capabilities he'd need to learn quickly.
Eight total. His team.
His responsibility.
Instructor Mira's voice carried across the hall, drawing everyone's attention back.
"Logistics," she said. "Transportation is academy hover-transport to drop-off point. One hour travel time. You'll be provided with standard survey equipment, communication devices linked to me and other teams, emergency beacons that summon backup immediately, and one emergency F-rank aether crystal per student."
She pulled up an equipment list on the holographic display.
"Rules are simple," Mira continued. "Stay within designated survey zones. Three-kilometer radius from your deposit site. Do not engage Beasts above E-rank without requesting backup first. Report anomalies immediately. Teams operate independently but can coordinate via comms."
Her expression grew more serious. "Leaders have final tactical authority in the field. That means you," she looked at Roan, Seraphine, Kaelen and Ibukun directly, "are responsible for your team's safety and mission success. Make smart decisions."
A student raised their hand. "What if we get separated?"
"Use your emergency beacon immediately. Do not wander alone." Mira's tone was firm. "The Scourged Zones are not training grounds. They're active wilderness where thousands died before we learned to respect them."
Another question: "What constitutes an anomaly worth reporting?"
"Anything that feels wrong," Mira said. "Unusual aether readings, unexpected Beast activity, environmental instability, spatial distortions. Trust your instincts."
Oren raised his hand. "What's typical Beast density in the eastern zone?"
"Low. Mostly F-rank stragglers. E-rank encounters are uncommon. D-rank sightings are rare but documented." Mira met his gaze. "Which is why if you see one, you retreat."
Kaelen spoke up. "If we encounter a D-rank, how long until backup arrives?"
Mira's expression showed approval at the question. "Five to seven minutes if you use the beacon immediately. Your job is to survive those minutes, not win the fight."
She let that sink in, then continued. "Departure is Saturday, 8:00 AM sharp. Western transport hub. Bring only essential personal gear. Everything else is provided."
Mira's amber eyes swept across all thirty-two students. "This is real fieldwork. Real danger. Real consequences. Prepare accordingly."
She dismissed them with a wave.
The hall filled with conversation immediately, excitement mixed with nerves. Students clustered with their teams, already discussing strategies.
Kaelen's team gathered around him naturally.
Davrin spoke first. "We should meet tomorrow evening. Go over approach strategies, familiarize ourselves with capabilities."
"Agreed," Oren said. "Understanding each other's abilities before field deployment is critical."
Mira Sellen bounced slightly. "Team dinner and planning session? I'm in!"
Kenji, Sofia, and Mateo, nodded in agreement.
"Friday, 6:00 PM?" Kaelen suggested. "Cafeteria, then find a practice room for planning?"
"Works," Davrin confirmed.
They exchanged wristband contacts, setting up a group communication channel. Within minutes, Team 3 had a basic coordination network established.
Vyne still hadn't released Kaelen's arm. "This is going to be so much fun," she said, her violet eyes gleaming.
Kaelen wasn't sure "fun" was the right word. But he was committed now.
The team dispersed gradually, conversations trailing off as students headed back to dorms or other activities.
Kaelen walked slowly, his mind already running through preparation lists. Equipment, skills, team coordination, contingency plans.
Saturday was a day away.
His first mission outside the Enclave's barriers. His first time leading a team in actual field conditions. His first encounter with real Aetheric Beasts since awakening.
He reached his dorm and collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The System chimed softly.
[New Quest Available: First Club Mission]
[Type: Optional Quest]
[Requirements: Complete reconnaissance mission successfully]
[Rewards: +300 XP (Base & System) | +5 Stat Points | +50 SP | Random E-Rank Item]
[Penalty: None (Optional Quest)]
[Accept?]
Kaelen accepted without hesitation.
Three hundred experience would bring him close to Base Level 9 and likely push him past System Level 7. Five stat points and fifty Shop Points were substantial. And an E-rank item could be genuinely useful.
The rewards were significant. Which meant the System expected the mission to be challenging.
Kaelen pulled up his current status.
[Base Level: 8] (900/1900 XP)
[System Level: 6] (1500/1800 XP)
[HP: 380/380]
[A.E.: 425/425]
[Stat Points: 9]
He reviewed his equipment mentally.
Aether Chain (E-rank): 100 A.E. storage, fully charged.
Guardian's Band (F-rank): +5 Defense stat.
Emergency F-rank crystal from mission supplies: 30 A.E.
Total emergency reserves: 130 A.E. backup, plus his base 425 A.E. Combined: 555 A.E. if he used everything.
Enough for eight to ten full combat engagements, or fifteen to twenty if he managed resources carefully.
It would have to be enough.
Kaelen closed the interface and lay back, letting exhaustion finally catch up.
Outside his window, the academy's towers glowed softly against the darkening sky. Beyond them, far in the distance, the faint shimmer of the Enclave's barriers was barely visible.
And beyond those barriers, the Aether-Scourged Zones waited.
Tomorrow was Friday. Team planning session. Final preparations.
Saturday morning, they'd step into territory that had killed thousands before humanity learned to survive it.
Kaelen's thoughts drifted as fatigue pulled at him.
He was leading a team into an Aether-Scourged Zone, preparing to meet with an Ascendant-level cultivator, and carrying an S-rank ability that most people would never possess in their lifetime.
The weight of it all pressed down on him, not crushing but heavy. Responsibility. Expectation. Danger.
He turned on his side, staring at the wall.
Five days until the Pyrell meeting. A day until the mission.
"I can't slow down," he murmured into the empty room. "If I do, I'll get left behind."
Or crushed.
Sleep came slowly, his mind refusing to settle. When it finally did, his dreams were fragmented. Flashes of crimson fire and amber eyes. The shimmer of Scourged Zone storms. Vyne's violet gaze and her cryptic smile.
...
Friday Evening - 6:00 PM
The cafeteria was crowded with the usual dinner rush, students clustered at tables across the massive hall. Kaelen navigated through the noise and found his team already gathered near the windows.
Davrin sat with his tray, eating while while reviewing something on his wristband. Mira was chatting animatedly with one of the team members, her energy infectious. Oren sat slightly apart, his expression thoughtful as he observed the room.
Vyne was there too, naturally, perched on the edge of the table despite several empty chairs being available.
Kaelen approached and set his tray down. "Everyone here?"
"Almost." Davrin glanced up. "Two are running late. Class held over."
Kaelen nodded and started eating. The food was standard academy fare, nutritionally optimized but bland. He barely tasted it, his mind was already on the planning session ahead.
The last two team members arrived ten minutes later, apologizing for the delay. With everyone present, they ate quickly and efficiently, conversations light but focused.
By 6:45 PM, they'd relocated to a practice room in the training wing.
The space was smaller than the main hall, designed for team coordination exercises. A holographic projector occupied the center, currently inactive. Padded benches lined the walls.
Kaelen stood near the projector, his team arranged in a loose semi-circle around him.
"Alright," he began, feeling oddly self-conscious. He'd never led anything before. "Let's start with introductions. Abilities, specializations, what you're good at and what you're not."
Davrin went first. "Davrin Hale. Kinetic Absorption." He demonstrated briefly, slamming his palm against the wall. The impact made no sound. "I absorb kinetic energy from impacts and store it temporarily. Can release it as concussive blasts." He showed his hands, which glowed faintly with orange light. "Good for frontline defense and counterattacks. Bad at ranged combat and sustained fights."
Mira went next. "Mira Sellen. Environmental Mimicry." She touched the padded wall, and her skin took on the same texture and color, becoming soft and cushioned. She released it, returning to normal. "I temporarily copy properties of materials I touch. Stone skin, metal hardness, flexibility, whatever. Lasts about thirty seconds per activation. Great for adaptability, terrible for planning ahead since I need to find materials in the field."
Oren adjusted his stance. "Oren Valis. Sensory Amplification." He closed his eyes briefly. "I can enhance or suppress any of my five senses to extreme levels. See in near-darkness, hear whispers from fifty meters away, detect minute chemical traces. Also means I can be overwhelmed by sensory overload if I'm not careful. Best used for scouting and threat detection."
Vyne raised her hand cheerfully. "Vyne Kayla. My ability is a secret, but I'm very lucky." Her smile was entirely too innocent.
Several team members exchanged glances. Kaelen decided not to push it.
Mateo continued" my ability is pulsebreak. I can release controlled shockwaves through solid surfaces by striking or stepping on them. Walls crack, floors ripple, enemies lose balance. All i need is precision. Too much force and i might level the room. Too little and nothing happens. I'm at my best in close quarters and urban terrain. My stamina drops fast if i overuses it."
Kenji went on to explain his," my ability is Shadow Partition. I can split my shadow into independent fragments that move and act separately. Each fragment can restrain, scout, or distract, but none can attack directly. The more shadows i split, the harder it becomes to maintain control. Bright light weakens the effect. Complete darkness gives me maximum reach, but also messes with my perception."
It was Sofia's turn.
"My ability is called Resonant Voice," she said. "My voice carries a subtle vibrational force that can influence emotions and physical states. Calm crowds, sharpen focus, induce fear, or disrupt concentration. When pushed, i can shatter glass or stun opponents with a single sustained note." The downside is obvious. Silence neutralizes her, and emotional instability will most make her ability backfire.
These three would be terrifying together.
Finally, Kaelen. "Kaelen Burn. Chrononaut. Time and space manipulation." He paused, considering how much to share. "I can slow time in localized areas, create spatial distortions, and teleport short distances. Versatile applications. Good for tactical flexibility and repositioning. Bad for sustained engagements."
Davrin nodded slowly. "So we've got frontline defense, adaptable defense, scout capabilities, and tactical control. That's actually pretty balanced."
"What about Vyne?" Mateo asked.
"I'm support," Vyne said brightly. "Things just work out when I'm around."
Nobody seemed satisfied with that answer, but nobody pressed either.
Kaelen activated the holographic projector. A map of the eastern deposit site materialized above the floor, showing topography, patrol routes, and the designated survey zone.
"This is our target," Kaelen said. "Three-kilometer radius, mostly flat terrain with scattered rock formations. The deposit site is here." He highlighted a location near the center. "Academy patrols run along this route every four hours. Last patrol before our arrival will be at 7:00 AM. Next one at 11:00 AM."
Oren leaned forward, studying the map. "That gives us a four-hour window with no immediate backup from patrols. If something goes wrong, we're relying entirely on our beacon and Instructor Mira's response time."
"Five to seven minutes," Kaelen confirmed. "So our priority is avoiding situations that need backup in the first place."
Davrin pointed to the rock formations. "Beasts could use these for ambush points. We should approach cautiously, have Oren scout ahead with enhanced senses and Kenji for tracking."
"Agreed," Oren said. "I can detect movement and heat signatures from about a hundred meters with full amplification. Should give us advance warning."
Mira studied the terrain. "If we encounter Beasts, what's our engagement protocol?"
Kaelen thought about it. "F-rank, we handle ourselves. E-rank, we assess the situation. If it's a single E-rank, we can probably handle it. Multiple E-ranks or anything D-rank, we retreat and call backup immediately."
"What about the survey work itself?" one of the unnamed students asked. "How long does it take?"
"According to the briefing documentation," Oren pulled up information on his wristband, "sample collection and purity analysis takes approximately thirty minutes per site. We have one site, so that's our minimum mission duration."
"Plus travel time from drop-off point to site," Davrin added. "Probably another thirty minutes each way. Call it two hours total, minimum."
"Which leaves us two hours of buffer for unexpected delays or complications," Kaelen concluded. "We should plan for three-hour operation, aim to finish in two."
They spent the next hour discussing contingencies. What if someone got injured? What if they encountered environmental hazards? What if Beast density was higher than expected?
Kaelen found himself settling into the role more naturally than he'd expected. He asked questions, listened to suggestions, made decisions when consensus wasn't reached. The team responded well, contributing ideas without challenging his authority unnecessarily.
By 8:00 PM, they had a solid operational plan.
"One last thing," Kaelen said. "Emergency protocols. If something goes catastrophically wrong and we get separated, what's the rally point?"
Oren pointed to a location on the map. "This rock formation, two hundred meters southwest of the deposit site. High ground, good visibility, defensible position."
"Agreed." Kaelen marked it mentally. "If we're separated, everyone heads there. Don't wander looking for each other."
The team nodded understanding.
"Alright." Kaelen dismissed the holographic map. "Get rest tonight. Tomorrow, morning, 7:30 AM, we meet at the transport hub. Any questions?"
Mira raised her hand. "Are we allowed to bring personal gear?"
"As you heard from instructor Mira, Mira. Essential items only," Kaelen said. "The briefing mentioned everything else is provided, but if you have personal aether crystals, defensive artifacts, things like that, bring them."
No other questions came.
"Dismissed," Kaelen said, feeling strange using the word. "See you tomorrow."
The team dispersed gradually, some lingering to chat, others heading straight for the exits.
Vyne, predictably, stayed beside Kaelen as he gathered his things.
"You did good," she said.
"Thanks."
"Nervous about Saturday?"
"I'm just cautiously preparing," Kaelen corrected.
Vyne laughed. "That's the same thing, just with more words."
They walked out together, the corridor quieter now that evening had settled in. Most students were in their dorms or common areas, winding down for the night.
"Can I ask you something?" Kaelen said.
"Sure."
"Why are you always around? Not complaining, just... curious."
Vyne tilted her head, considering. "Because you're interesting. Most people at this academy are predictable. Rich kids playing at being powerful, or talented kids who think power makes them special." She glanced at him. "You're different. You actually worked for what you have. It shows."
Kaelen wasn't sure how to respond to that. He didn't exactly work for the system. It was more of a divine gift to him, somewhat a salvation.
They reached the junction where their paths diverged, dorms in opposite directions.
"Get rest, celebrity," Vyne said. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
Kaelen sighed at what she just called him, "You too."
She walked away, humming something cheerful and off-key, her silver-white hair catching the corridor lights as she disappeared around the corner.
Kaelen headed back to his dorm, exhaustion finally catching up properly.
Inside his room, he collapsed onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
Tomorrow was Saturday.
Saturday morning, they'd step outside the Enclave's barriers for the first time.
And Tuesday... Tuesday he'd sit across from Lord Cassian Pyrell and try to convince an Ascendant-level cultivator that he was worth leaving alone.
"One thing at a time," Kaelen muttered.
First, survive the Scourged Zones.
Then worry about surviving politics.
He closed his eyes, and this time, sleep came quickly.