Three days passed since the dungeon incident.
Lyle sat quietly in the corner of the infirmary, arms wrapped in bandages, though the pain had mostly faded. Ari and Dex were still recovering in nearby beds. The instructors hadn't let them leave—officially for "observation." Unofficially? Lyle could feel the suspicion every time a medic glanced his way.
> They're watching me. Every move. Every breath.
He'd been smart, though. Played the overwhelmed rookie card. When asked how he survived the rogue, he'd muttered something about "a flash of light" and "sudden heat" and "I think I panicked."
The theory they settled on?
A minor, latent affinity awakening under extreme stress.
They classified it as "unrefined arcane burst" – rare, but not unheard of.
> Perfect cover, he thought. And if I'm careful, it might last long enough.
Still, he wasn't safe.
That became obvious when Commander Sorrell visited the next morning.
---
"Greenbottle," the commander said, standing at the foot of Lyle's cot like a statue carved from rage and formality.
"Yes, sir."
Sorrell handed him a rolled parchment.
REASSIGNMENT ORDER
Cadet: Lyle Greenbottle
New Class: ALPHA MIXED DIVISION
Effective Immediately.
Lyle blinked.
"Mixed... division?"
Sorrell's gaze sharpened.
"You've shown enough 'potential' to warrant evaluation beyond basic Null-class. You'll train alongside ability users. Real ones."
The pause was deliberate.
"And if you really did awaken something... we'll find out."
He left without another word.
---
Alpha Division Grounds
Two days later, Lyle stood in a new training yard—this one built like a battlefield.
Cratered stone. Collapsed towers. Targets shaped like monstrous beasts and armored soldiers. Students—older, stronger, faster—were already training under harsh instructors.
And they were nothing like the mages.
One boy punched a training dummy clean in half—his fists coated in steel-like aura. Another hovered several feet in the air, throwing lances of light with her fingertips. A group of summoners stood in a circle, whispering incantations to beast familiars half their size.
Lyle felt like a rabbit among wolves.
And he was.
"New blood!" someone called from behind.
He turned.
A girl with buzz-cut hair and armored gauntlets grinned at him. "You the one who flared in the dungeon? Looked more like a panic-fart than an awakening."
Lyle shrugged, forcing a sheepish smile. "Probably was. I passed out right after."
She laughed. "You'll fit right in."
Her name was Rika—a weapon-based enhancement user. She wasn't the strongest, but she was the loudest.
He met the others too:
Kerrick, a silent telekinetic with a bad attitude.
Ola, a barrier specialist who liked throwing daggers more than talking.
And Thane, a brute with stone-skin abilities who sized up Lyle like a chew toy.
---
Their first test came quickly.
Simulated Combat Drill – Mixed Class Engagement
Objective: Survive 10 minutes against simulated dungeon beasts and defend your assigned zone.
Lyle's team was shoved into a ruined tower.
"You're backline, greenie," Rika said, handing him a short wand. "Try not to pee your pants."
He gripped it awkwardly.
> A fake focus tool. These things can barely amplify a weak spell. Which is perfect for looking average.
The monsters came fast—mutated wolves and shadow spiders. The others leapt into action, powers flaring.
Lyle aimed the wand and fired an intentionally weakened Arcane Bolt, barely hitting a spider's leg. It sparked but didn't kill.
Perfect.
"Nice shot, sorta!" Rika shouted as she crushed another one with her gauntlet.
Ten minutes felt like an hour, but they held their ground.
When the test ended, Rika patted him on the back. "You're not useless. Just undercooked."
Lyle nodded, smiling faintly.
But inside?
> They think I'm weak. Good.
> Let them.
That night, he returned to his bunk. The others snored. Outside, lightning crackled across the false sky dome of the training complex.
He sat by the window, opening the ancient book under the moonlight.
> "They're strong," he whispered. "But I'll catch up."
The system pulsed softly.
> [Arcane Threads: +3]
[Spellcraft Capacity Expanded]
[New Feature Unlocked: Passive Imbuement Slot – Tier I]
He smiled faintly.
> Let them think I'm nothing. I'll build everything in silence.