Morning light slipped through the narrow dormitory window, cutting a pale stripe across the floor.
The High Academy dorm rooms were small but efficient.
One desk.
Two wardrobes.
And a single bunk bed pressed against the wall.
Shin occupied the upper bunk.
Rei the lower.
Shin had already been awake for nearly an hour.
He sat on the edge of the top bunk, one hand resting against the metal frame while faint arcs of electricity crawled across his fingers. The lightning mark on the side of his neck glowed faintly as he practiced small controlled discharges.
Lightning demanded precision.
Too little control and the spell scattered.
Too much force and the target stopped breathing.
Below him, Rei slept like a corpse.
Shin leaned over the side of the bunk and looked down.
"You're going to miss training."
No response.
Rei hadn't moved since sunrise.
Shin waited.
Still nothing.
He dropped lightly from the upper bunk and landed beside the bed.
"Rei."
Silence.
Shin nudged his shoulder.
Nothing.
Shin frowned slightly.
"You slept through the academy bell."
No reaction.
For a moment Shin simply stared at him.
Then a small spark appeared between his fingers.
Just enough lightning to jolt someone awake.
He tapped Rei's shoulder.
Crack.
A thin arc of electricity jumped from Shin's fingers.
Rei's arm twitched.
His breathing changed slightly.
But his eyes remained closed.
Shin blinked.
"…That should have worked."
He tried again.
This time the lightning pulse was slightly stronger.
Crack.
Rei shifted.
Turned his head.
And continued sleeping.
Shin stared at him.
"Seriously?"
Another spark formed between his fingers.
Shin pressed two fingers against Rei's shoulder again.
Crack.
Rei finally opened one eye.
"…Why are you electrocuting me?"
Shin folded his arms.
"I've been trying to wake you for five minutes."
Rei sat up slowly.
"You could have just said that."
"I did."
Rei rubbed his face and looked at Shin.
"You used lightning."
"Light lightning."
Rei considered this.
"That still counts as electrocution."
Shin studied him carefully.
"Most people wake up immediately when lightning hits them."
Rei shrugged slightly.
"I'm a heavy sleeper."
Shin didn't answer.
For a brief moment the lightning mark on his neck flickered again.
Then he turned toward the door.
"Physical training starts in ten minutes."
Rei stood up from the lower bunk.
"That explains the violence."
Shin grabbed his academy jacket.
"You could also wake up like a normal person."
Rei stretched slightly.
"I'll add it to the list."
The two of them stepped into the hallway.
Students moved quickly through the hallways, most of them heading toward the outer training grounds where the morning lessons were usually held.
Today the instructors would be measuring something far less comfortable.
Endurance.
Shin and Rei stepped out into the courtyard path leading toward the High Academy complex.
A familiar voice stopped them.
"You two are late."
Valen Drayke stood near the walkway railing, arms crossed as he watched them approach.
Beside him stood Cassian Virel.
Cassian looked mildly annoyed.
"Some of us woke up on time."
Shin ignored the comment.
"We're still within the ten-minute window."
Cassian scoffed.
"That's not the point."
Rei glanced at Valen.
"You've been waiting long?"
"Two minutes," Valen replied.
Cassian rolled his eyes.
"Five."
Rei nodded once.
"Then we should probably keep walking."
None of them argued with that.
The four students moved along the stone path leading toward the High Academy training buildings.
Morning sunlight reflected off the pale walls of the academy towers while students crossed the courtyards between lectures and training halls.
As they approached the outer arena courtyard, two figures were already waiting near the entrance.
Mira Solenn leaned against one of the stone pillars.
Elira Voss stood beside her, hands folded quietly in front of her.
Mira straightened when she saw them.
"There you are."
Her eyes moved across the group.
She counted quickly.
Then shook her head.
"You boys being late is pretty normal."
She pointed at the academy clock tower visible above the courtyard wall.
"But this is impressive even by your standards."
Shin glanced up at the tower.
"We're not late yet."
"Give it thirty seconds."
Mira pushed herself away from the pillar.
Elira gave a small nod in greeting.
Cassian walked past them without speaking.
Mira watched him go.
Then leaned slightly toward Shin.
"I was hoping the three of you would show up."
Shin raised an eyebrow.
Mira smiled innocently.
"What?"
Valen hid a small smirk.
Rei said nothing.
The group moved toward the entrance together.
Inside, the training hall was already active.
Large reinforced pillars lined the circular chamber, and the polished stone floor bore the faint scars of previous exercises.
At the center of the hall stood Professor Hale.
He was already waiting.
Which meant one thing.
They were, in fact, late.
Hale looked up as the six students entered.
His expression did not change.
"Good."
The single word echoed lightly through the chamber.
"You're all here."
The doors behind them closed with a dull stone thud.
"Today," Hale said calmly,
"we begin physical conditioning."
"Because the body," the professor continued,
"is the first structure that must survive before magic becomes useful."
He looked across the six of them.
"And most young mages forget that."
Professor Hale walked slowly across the training hall as the six students gathered near the center of the arena floor.
"Most academy initiates believe magic begins with the Divine Mark."
He stopped in front of them.
"They are wrong."
Several students exchanged glances.
Hale continued.
"The mark does not create mana."
"It only filters atmospheric mana."
He raised two fingers.
"There are two sources of mana available to a human body."
The first finger lowered.
"Atmospheric mana."
"The energy surrounding the world."
The second finger lowered.
"And personal mana."
Mira frowned slightly.
"You mean internal reserves?"
"Yes."
"Every human body produces a small amount of mana naturally."
Valen crossed his arms.
"But we're told using personal mana is dangerous."
"Correct."
Hale nodded once.
"Which is why modern mages rely almost entirely on atmospheric mana filtered through their marks."
He gestured toward the training floor.
"However, personal mana is directly tied to the body."
"Endurance."
"Vitality."
"Physical conditioning."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"You're saying exercise improves mana capacity?"
"In a limited way."
Hale's gaze moved across the group.
"A stronger body can sustain greater internal mana flow."
Shin glanced at his hands.
"So physical conditioning increases the body's tolerance."
"Exactly."
Elira spoke softly.
"Is that why soldiers train so heavily even when they have marks?"
"Yes."
Hale folded his hands behind his back.
"Because if the body collapses…"
"…the mark becomes useless."
He let the silence linger.
Then added calmly:
"And because certain rare individuals rely on personal mana far more than atmospheric mana."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Mira slowly looked sideways.
At Rei.
Cassian noticed too.
Valen's expression sharpened slightly.
Rei stood quietly.
Hale continued as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Which is why today's training will focus on physical conditioning."
He gestured toward the far side of the arena.
A massive obstacle structure filled nearly half the hall.
Ropes.
Stone walls.
Weighted bars.
Balance beams.
"And why your marks will remain inactive during the exercise."
Cassian frowned.
"You're disabling magic?"
"Yes."
Hale nodded.
"Because a mage who cannot function without their mark…"
"…is not a mage."
Professor Hale stepped aside and gestured toward the massive structure occupying half the training hall.
The obstacle course rose nearly three stories high.
Stone walls.
Suspended ropes.
Narrow beams.
Weighted bars mounted between pillars.
The entire structure was built from reinforced stone and iron.
"This is the Ascendant physical evaluation course," Hale said calmly.
"Marks are not to be used."
Students looked up at the towering structure.
Mira let out a slow breath.
"That looks excessive."
"It is designed that way," Hale replied.
He pointed toward the starting line carved into the floor.
"You will cross the course individually."
"The goal is simple."
"Reach the far platform."
Cassian smirked.
"And if someone falls?"
Hale didn't blink.
"They climb back up."
Shin looked at the structure again.
"How long do we have?"
"There is no time limit."
Hale paused.
"But I will be measuring efficiency."
He turned slightly.
"Rei."
Six pairs of eyes shifted toward him.
"You will begin."
Cassian snorted quietly.
"Perfect."
Rei stepped forward without comment.
He walked to the starting line and looked up at the course.
Three walls.
Two rope sections.
A balance beam suspended over the lower pit.
And a final climb to the platform above.
Rei moved.
He ran forward and leapt onto the first wall.
His hands caught the stone ledge smoothly and he pulled himself upward without hesitation.
No wasted movement.
No pause.
He crossed the top and dropped onto the rope section.
His grip adjusted instantly.
Instead of slowly swinging across like most initiates would, Rei moved hand over hand in a fast controlled rhythm.
Below, Mira blinked.
"…He's fast."
Shin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Rei reached the next platform.
He didn't slow down.
The balance beam barely shook as he crossed it.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Then he jumped the final gap and grabbed the climbing bars.
Within seconds he pulled himself onto the top platform.
Silence filled the hall.
Rei looked down.
"That was the end?"
Professor Hale nodded once.
"Yes."
Rei climbed down the side ladder.
Shin was staring at the course.
"You've done this kind of training before."
Rei shrugged.
"Something similar."
Cassian folded his arms.
"It's an obstacle course, not a miracle."
Hale gestured again.
"Shin."
Shin stepped forward.
Lightning mages were known for speed, but without his mark active he had to rely entirely on physical movement.
He sprinted toward the first wall.
His climb was faster than most initiates.
But not faster than Rei.
The rope crossing slowed him slightly as he adjusted his grip.
Still, he cleared the beam with impressive balance and reached the top platform shortly after.
Shin dropped down beside Rei.
"…You're annoyingly good at that."
Rei didn't answer.
"Valen."
The fire mage approached the line.
Valen relied on strength more than speed.
His climb up the first wall was powerful but less efficient.
He cleared the ropes with controlled swings and crossed the beam with steady steps.
By the time he reached the final platform, sweat had begun forming along his hairline.
He landed beside the others.
"Not bad," he said.
Cassian smirked.
"Let's see if that holds."
"Mira."
Mira stretched her shoulders once before starting.
Her movements were fluid.
Not as fast as Shin.
Not as strong as Valen.
But balanced.
She crossed each obstacle without hesitation and reached the platform in a steady rhythm.
When she landed beside them she grinned.
"Okay, that was actually fun."
Cassian stepped forward next.
He approached the course with visible confidence.
His climb up the first wall was powerful.
But halfway through the rope section he slipped slightly and had to readjust his grip.
Valen smirked.
Cassian glared back while finishing the crossing.
He cleared the rest of the course aggressively and reached the platform with a sharp exhale.
"Still faster than most of the academy."
"Probably," Mira said.
"Last."
Hale looked toward the remaining student.
"Elira."
Elira stepped forward quietly.
She stared up at the course.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Shin spoke softly.
"Take your time."
Elira nodded once.
She started carefully.
Her movements were slower than the others.
But incredibly precise.
Every step on the beam was perfectly balanced.
Every grip on the rope placed exactly where it needed to be.
By the time she reached the final platform she looked exhausted.
But she had not slipped once.
Mira clapped softly.
"Nice."
Elira smiled weakly.
Professor Hale observed the six students for several seconds.
Then he spoke.
"As expected."
He looked toward Rei briefly.
"Physical conditioning varies widely among mages."
His gaze returned to the group.
"Which is why we train the body before expanding magical capacity."
Cassian wiped sweat from his forehead.
"So this was just a warm-up."
Hale nodded.
"Yes."
The professor pointed toward the far side of the hall.
Where another training structure waited.
"Now we begin the real exercise."
Mira groaned.
Shin cracked his knuckles.
Cassian smirked.
Valen rolled his shoulders.
Elira tried to steady her breathing.
Rei simply looked at the next course.
The iron harness racks stood along the wall like a row of quiet threats.
Professor Hale gestured toward them.
"Choose one."
The six students approached.
Each harness was a web of thick leather straps lined with metal plates. When lifted, the metal shifted with a heavy clink.
Valen picked one up and tested the weight.
"Twenty kilograms?"
Hale nodded.
"Correct."
Cassian swung one over his shoulder.
"Manageable."
Mira lifted hers and nearly dropped it again.
"…You people call this manageable?"
Elira struggled slightly while tightening the straps around her torso.
Shin adjusted his harness silently.
Rei lifted his without comment.
Hale watched him for a moment.
Then he walked over.
"Hold."
Rei paused.
Hale took two additional metal plates from the rack and secured them to the back of Rei's harness.
The added weight clicked firmly into place.
Cassian noticed immediately.
"Oh, that's interesting."
Valen raised an eyebrow.
"Extra weight?"
Hale's tone remained neutral.
"Rei's previous performance suggests he will require a slightly greater challenge."
Rei tested the harness briefly.
The weight shifted.
He adjusted the straps.
"That's fine."
Cassian smirked.
"Don't collapse too quickly."
Rei said nothing.
Hale stepped toward the circular running track carved into the stone floor.
"You will run the circuit continuously."
"No spells."
"No stopping."
"The exercise ends when your bodies decide it ends."
Mira frowned.
"That doesn't sound encouraging."
Hale raised a hand.
"Begin."
Cassian and Valen launched forward instantly.
Of course they did.
Proving themselves was practically their religion.
Their boots struck the stone floor in powerful strides as they accelerated around the track.
A moment later Shin moved.
His steps were lighter but faster.
Rei followed shortly behind him.
Within seconds the four of them had already pulled ahead.
Behind them Mira groaned.
"Oh come on—"
She started running anyway.
"These people are monsters."
Elira was already breathing heavily before the first turn.
Cassian and Valen kept pushing each other.
Neither willing to slow first.
Shin steadily closed the gap.
Rei moved with a calm, even rhythm behind him.
No wasted motion.
No sudden bursts.
Just consistent speed.
By the end of the first lap the four of them had already reached the back of the track again.
Where Elira was still struggling through the first circuit.
Rei passed her first.
Then Shin.
Then Valen.
Then Cassian.
Elira tried to keep going.
Her legs trembled.
She collapsed near the end of the first lap.
The pace didn't slow.
Rei gradually moved ahead of the group.
Not by much.
But enough to notice.
Behind him Shin and Valen ran nearly side by side.
Cassian followed just a few steps behind them.
Mira trailed further back.
By the third lap Mira's breathing became uneven.
She stumbled slightly.
"Okay…"
She slowed.
"…that's enough."
She dropped to the side of the track and sat down heavily.
Four runners remained.
Rei.
Shin.
Valen.
Cassian.
Sweat began forming along their hairlines.
Valen's breathing grew heavier.
Shin's pace stayed fast but his shoulders tightened with fatigue.
Cassian kept forcing himself forward.
Each step heavier than the last.
Rei continued running with the same steady rhythm.
Fourth lap.
Fifth lap.
Sixth lap.
Shin finally staggered.
He slowed suddenly, taking several unsteady steps before collapsing near the edge of the track.
Valen lasted only a few strides longer.
He pushed forward stubbornly.
Then fell forward onto one knee.
The track fell quiet.
Only two sets of footsteps remained.
Cassian and Rei.
Cassian's breathing had become ragged.
Every step looked painful.
But he refused to stop.
His eyes stayed locked on Rei's back.
Rei continued moving at the same pace he had started with.
Sweat ran down his neck now.
But his breathing remained steady.
Cassian tried to accelerate.
His legs responded with a weak stumble.
He forced another step.
Another.
Then his vision blurred.
Cassian collapsed onto the track.
The sound echoed through the hall.
Rei slowed.
Then stopped.
He turned around.
Cassian lay on the stone floor staring upward, chest rising and falling in uneven breaths.
Rei walked back a few steps and looked down at him.
Cassian noticed.
He wanted to say something.
Probably an insult.
But he didn't have enough air left to speak.
So he just lay there.
Breathing.
Rei stood there quietly, watching him.
Then he turned away.
The extra weight on his harness shifted as he walked toward the edge of the track.
He sat down beside the others.
Shin was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, breathing slowly through his nose.
Valen lay flat on the ground beside him, staring upward.
Mira had collapsed against one of the stone pillars.
Elira still hadn't fully recovered from the first lap.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Only the sound of breathing filled the hall.
Rei loosened the straps of the harness slightly and rolled his shoulders.
Sweat clung to his hair, but his breathing had already begun to slow.
Mira noticed.
"…You're recovering way too fast."
Rei glanced at her.
"I stopped running."
"That's not the point."
Valen turned his head slightly.
"How many laps did we even do?"
"Six," Shin answered quietly.
Cassian finally pushed himself up into a sitting position.
He didn't look at Rei.
But the irritation on his face was obvious.
For a few moments the group remained where they were, gathering what little strength they could.
Then a pair of calm footsteps approached.
Professor Hale stopped in front of them.
"Good."
No one answered.
Mostly because breathing still seemed like a higher priority.
Hale looked across the exhausted group.
"Physical endurance is the first foundation of combat capability."
Cassian muttered something that sounded vaguely insulting.
Hale ignored it.
"Which means you are now properly prepared for the next stage of training."
Mira groaned without opening her eyes.
"Please tell me that was the next stage."
"It was the warm-up."
Shin slowly lifted his head.
Valen closed his eyes again.
Elira looked mildly horrified.
Cassian let out a quiet laugh that sounded closer to suffering.
Rei simply sat there.
Hale gestured toward the center of the arena.
"Stand."
No one moved.
Hale waited.
Eventually, one by one, the students forced themselves upright.
Cassian last.
"Excellent," Hale said calmly.
"Now we begin combat training."
Mira stared at him.
"We can barely stand."
"Yes."
"That is the point."
Cassian wiped sweat from his face.
"Against who?"
Hale's gaze moved across the group.
"Each other."
For the first time since the run began, Shin actually smiled.
Valen cracked his neck.
Mira groaned again.
Elira looked terrified.
Cassian glanced at Rei.
Rei stood quietly.
Still catching his breath.
But his posture had already steadied.
Cassian noticed.
Of course he did.
And somehow that made the exhaustion even more irritating.