BEEP.
BEEP.
BEEP.
Kael groaned and rolled over.
The glow of his cracked wristband read: 04:00
Right on time.
"Wake up."
Nathan's voice echoed in his skull — sharper now, more present.
"Training protocol active. Move."
Kael sat up slowly, rubbing sleep from his eyes. His body still ached from yesterday's combat class — not from injury, just fatigue.
He muttered, "You really don't sleep, do you?"
"Sleep is for those not carrying a code."
Kael pulled on his training clothes and stepped into the hallway. The dorm was dark. Silent. Everyone else was still in bed.
He was always the only one out here at this hour.
The training yard was barely lit by the dim perimeter lights, casting long shadows across the frost-bitten track. His breath clouded in the cold air as he began the routine.
• 10 push-ups
• 10 sit-ups
• 2-mile run
Estimated Matter Yield: +1 | Neural Sync Boost: +2%
Each movement felt heavier than the last. Not because he was weak — but because the system made him slow down. Perfect form. Maximum control. Minimum waste.
By the time he finished his second mile, his shirt clung to his skin and his legs burned.
[Routine Complete]
Physical Sync: +3%
Matter Restored: +2
Health Regen: +1
Kael leaned against the cold outer wall, panting.
"You enjoying this?" he asked out loud.
"You're still alive. That's enough for now."
"Besides, the body doesn't lie. You're stronger today than yesterday."
Kael looked at his arms. They did feel tighter. His breath came easier. He didn't feel like a fragile shell anymore.
"Build the vessel," Nathan said. "Then we fill it."
After a quick rinse, Kael changed into his academy uniform and made his way to the Lecture Dome.
Class: Rift Beast Biology – Basic Patterns
Kael took his usual seat — back row, by the pillar. He kept his eyes down, notebook open.
The instructor, a former Beast Scout named Arvan, spoke in a low drawl.
"Beasts are drawn to resonance. Movement. Heat. Power. Think of them like sharks — smell a pulse, they find you. Fast."
Diagrams appeared on the wall. Kael copied them down. Sharp teeth. Crystalline tails. Pheromone channels.
He wasn't sure why… but for the first time, he wanted to know more.
Nathan's voice returned quietly.
"You learn to hunt what you once feared. That's good."
Kael didn't reply.
But he kept writing.