The clock on the wall ticked softly in the background. A low hum filled the instructor’s briefing room as Raphael leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest.

  Around the table sat the remaining five instructors—Kael, Akane, Haruto, Lena, and Finn. The glow of the ceiling lights cast long shadows on the table, their faces half-lit in the quiet of late night.

  “Well,” Raphael began. “Week two’s over. I want evaluations. Kael?”

  Kael nodded, resting his chin on his knuckles. “Zane’s improving faster than expected. Whatever hesitation he had in week one is gone. He’s sharpening the way he channels his grace. More precise, more efficient.”

  “And Lysander?” Raphael asked.

  “He’s unpredictable,” Kael admitted. “Still clowning around, but there’s something dangerous under the surface. His fighting style’s starting to form. Unrefined, but it’s coming together.”

  Raphael looked to Haruto next.

  Haruto exhaled. “Tessa’s still in the middle of figuring herself out. She’s trying to force her growth by pushing herself, but you already know that’s not how it works.”

  “She asked you about Gale Force.”

  “I gave her what she needed. Whether she uses it or not is on her.”

  “Good.” Raphael turned. “Akane?”

  Akane leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed under her long sleeves. “Elisa’s getting serious. I told her to watch Violet’s footage and it clearly lit something in her. She hasn’t left her dorm for days, obsessing maybe. But it’s part of the process. She’ll break through soon.”

  “And the others?”

  “Stacy’s quick on her feet. Luna’s support work is improving. Daisy? She’s adapting. Getting used to the field mindset. Iris has steady aim but needs more grit. They’re all picking up momentum.”

  Lena tapped her pen on her notepad. “I’ve got less physical feedback, but Oliver, Andrei, and Casper haven’t left the workshop since they got here. I’d say they’re more invested in tech development than fieldwork.”

  “They’ll get their time,” Raphael said.

  There was a moment of quiet before he sat forward.

  “Which is why we’re changing things up.”

  All five instructors glanced his way.

  “Finn’s been idle. No more,” Raphael continued. “He’s getting Stacy, Daisy, Caleb, and Iris. Let’s build some synergy and weapon control into them. If they’re going to fight, they’ll need more coordination.”

  Finn cracked his knuckles and smirked. “Finally. Thought you forgot I was here.”

  Raphael ignored him. “Lysander, Oliver, Jian, and Zane. Akane, they’re yours.”

  Akane raised a brow but said nothing.

  “Elisa stays with you too.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Akane gave a nod.

  “Luna’s with Lena now. Put her with Andrei and Casper. Let the tech-side grow.”

  “And Tessa?” Haruto asked.

  “She trains with me. Same room as Rei. Let’s see what the two can learn from each other.”

  The instructors processed the reshuffling in silence. The change was abrupt, but not unwelcome.

  Finally, Kael spoke.

  “Do you think a month is enough for them? For the raid?”

  Raphael’s gaze narrowed, eyes firm and unwavering.

  “They’ll be ready.”

  The clock ticked louder as the room fell into silence once more.

  ---

  Next Morning – Camp Courtyard

  The announcement came in like a thunderclap.

  Everyone gathered in front of the dorms, eyes flicking between each other as they were given their new assignments.

  Rei listened quietly, still waking up from a restless sleep.

  Some grumbled at the changes. Others looked intrigued. Finn’s squad groaned audibly.

  A few minutes later, everyone dispersed, heading off to their new instructors.

  ---

  Training Ground 4 – Finn’s Zone

  The moment Stacy, Iris, Daisy, and Caleb stepped onto the dirt clearing, they didn’t even have a chance to blink.

  A massive shadow leapt from behind the trees, landing right in front of them with a thunderous crash.

  Finn stood tall, resting his heavy rocket-boosted axe, Storm Cleaver on his shoulder. His grin was far too wide for comfort.

  “No warm-ups today,” he announced. “Survive.”

  The four barely had time to react.

  Caleb raised his shield, barking a command as Iris rolled to the side. Stacy called for vines to bloom underfoot, and Daisy tried to reinforce the group with her healing aura.

  Didn’t matter.

  Finn moved like a storm. Fast, brutal, and relentless. One by one, he knocked them down, disarmed them, and shoved them back with wild swings and well-timed thrusts of his weapon.

  Ten minutes in, all four were on the ground, panting.

  Finn chuckled. “Alright. Now that we’re acquainted...”

  He let the blade rest in the dirt.

  “From this point on, forget solo drills. We’re focusing on team synergy. Weapon mastery. You’ll learn to move as one or fall as many.”

  Daisy muttered, “This guy’s insane...”

  Finn just winked.

  ---

  Training Ground 1 – Akane’s Range

  Zane dove left, barely dodging the incoming missile.

  “YOU’RE INSANE!”

  Akane’s voice carried over the whistling of arrows.

  “You want to learn? Then keep up.”

  She fired again, her longbow Kagutsuchi humming with energy as another missile-arrow launched.

  Lysander spun mid-air, using a concrete pillar as cover before flipping to the ground. Jian was already moving to flank. Oliver crouched low, launching a Volt Core round to scatter the arrow mid-air.

  “Good,” Akane muttered, nocking her next shot. “Keep reacting. Move. Think.”

  Even with the chaos, her expression remained composed. Tactical. Graceful. Ruthless.

  Elisa, from the backline, took it all in. She wasn’t dodging like the others. Not yet.

  She was watching. Studying. The footage she’d spent hours poring over played in her head. Violet Willow’s grace. Her timing. Her stance.

  Something was clicking.

  ---

  Training Room B – Raphael’s Arena

  The sound of wooden blades echoed once more. Rei ducked under Tessa’s swing, spinning out of range.

  “Too slow,” Raphael called. “You leaned left when you should’ve dropped your stance. Try again.”

  Tessa nodded, sweat beading on her forehead.

  Rei stood nearby, adjusting his posture. The drills were the same, but something felt different now. The air was heavier.

  He wasn’t alone anymore.

  He glanced at Tessa sharp eyes, confident grip, unwavering footwork.

  She was improving.

  Everyone was.

  He’d heard the talk. Zane’s control. Lysander’s development. Even Oliver and Andrei had made something incredible.

  And him?

  He felt stuck.

  Like no matter how hard he pushed, something inside kept dragging him back.

  The dummy lunged again. Rei reacted too late. It clipped his shoulder, sending a jolt through him.

  Raphael stepped in, stopping the fight. “Reset.”

  Rei grit his teeth. His breath was ragged. He took a step back. Reset. Again.

  “Don’t overthink,” Raphael said gently. “What is it you’re afraid of?”

  Rei didn’t answer.

  He couldn’t.

  Instead, he tightened his grip and stepped back in.

  Strike. Parry. Step. Block.

  Time blurred as the cycle repeated. Tessa was behind him now, working on her own set of movements while Raphael gave her direction. She was improving. Bit by bit.

  And Rei felt like he was just… staying still.

  Images started to flicker behind his eyes. Ghosts of memories.

  The feeling of not being enough. A missed opportunity. A burden.

  And a promise he failed to keep.

  He blinked. His hand slipped. The blade clattered to the floor.

  “Rei.”

  He looked up.

  Raphael didn’t scold him. Didn’t lecture.

  Just said, “Take a break. Come back with a clear head.”

  Rei nodded slowly and stepped out of the ring.

  ---

  Camp Edge – Dusk

  The sunset painted the forest in warm golds and soft reds. The wind rustled the leaves.

  Rei sat alone beneath a tall pine, his wooden sword resting on his lap.

  He stared down at his hands.

  Calloused. Bruised. Shaking.

  Everyone was getting stronger. Smarter. Sharper.

  And he...

  He wasn’t sure.

  Rei exhaled.

  The weight in his chest—he thought he left it behind.

  But it had followed him here.

  He remembered what Raphael told him. That he had potential. That he just had to trust the process.

  But how could he?

  When every step forward felt like dragging his past with him?

  The vision from Fort Goliath echoed again.

  "Aiden’s a murderer."

  And the figure in the woods.

  The doubts that clung to him like shadows.

  Rei clenched his fists.

  No.

  Not now.

  Not again.

  He had people he wanted to protect.

  He had something to prove.

  He couldn’t fall behind. Not now. Not ever.

  [End of Chapter]