"Next group!" the officer shouted. "Raze Zaden, Felix Blaze, Liam Ward, and… Beatrix Emberfall."
Raze stepped forward without hesitation.
Felix was already there, that familiar smug grin plastered on his face like he'd expected it.
A moment later, Liam followed. His messy brown hair stuck out in every direction, like he really had rolled straight out of bed. His dark eyes flicked nervously from side to side, and his smaller frame made him look out of place among the others.
His hands kept moving—gripping his straps, then letting go—like he didn't know what to do with them.
Beatrix joined last.
She walked forward with quiet confidence, her steps measured. Her eyes swept briefly over the group, taking them in, before she stopped without saying a word.
"All right," the officer said. "That's your group of four. Stay together."
Felix leaned over and nudged Raze with his elbow. "Looks like luck's on our side. Same group." His grin widened, like he'd just won something.
Raze shook his head slightly but didn't respond. At least the group wasn't terrible.
His gaze lingered for a second on Liam, who looked like he might collapse from nerves at any moment.
The officer moved on, calling out names until all eighty students had been assigned. What had once been a packed, chaotic crowd slowly reorganized into neat clusters of four.
"Good," the officer said. "Stay with your groups and follow me. I'll be taking you to your homeroom teachers. They'll be responsible for your training, discipline, and survival. Pay attention during the tour. You'll need to know this place if you don't want to get left behind."
He turned sharply and started walking, boots crunching against the gravel.
As they followed, Raze glanced around.
There were massive machines that hovered overhead—towering mechs hauling materials across the sky, others reinforcing structures already in place. Humanity had come a long way since the Xin War. Much of this technology had been pulled straight from what the Xin had left behind.
This level of advancement…
Even the house his parents had left him couldn't compare.
Felix noticed his expression and smiled faintly. "Impressive, right?"
Raze nodded. "Yeah. It really is."
A sudden shadow swept over them.
An enormous ship roared overhead, its engines drowning out every other sound as it passed, blotting out the sun for several seconds.
Students instinctively looked up, eyes wide.
For many of them, this was the first time seeing something like this up close.
The officer glanced back. "Don't get distracted," he said, though the faintest hint of a smile crossed his face. "You'll get used to it."
They finally reached the academy.
Raze stopped without even realizing it.
The building towered over them, easily the tallest structure in the entire military district.
Glass walls stretched skyward, reflecting the fading daylight, almost like the academy itself was watching them.
Felix let out a low whistle. "Now that's something. Living here for years doesn't sound so bad."
Raze didn't answer right away.
Beside him, Liam shifted uneasily. "How are we supposed to survive here?" he muttered. "It feels like standing at the base of a mountain we can't even climb."
Several instructors waited near the entrance, spaced apart. Their sharp gazes swept over the students, judging them before a single word was spoken.
The officer stopped and gestured toward one of them. "Group Three. This will be your homeroom teacher. Instructor Aria Veyne."
Aria stepped forward.
She was tall, her long jet-black hair braided neatly down her back. A fitted military coat hugged her frame, medals lining her chest.
"I'll be blunt," she said. "From this point forward, you answer to me. Your progress, your failures, and whether you survive this academy all fall under my responsibility. I don't tolerate wasted potential. Do you understand?"
They nodded quickly.
Liam's voice cracked when he answered, earning a brief glance from Aria before she moved on.
Felix crossed his arms, the grin still lingering. "Crystal clear, Instructor."
Her eyes snapped to him. "I don't do jokes."
Felix's grin vanished for half a second before he straightened. "Yes, ma'am."
Raze stayed silent, watching closely. Her presence felt heavier than the officer's. This was someone who noticed everything.
Aria turned toward the academy doors.
"Follow me," she said. "I'll show you where you'll be staying. Tomorrow, training begins. Don't expect an easy start."
The glass doors slid open.
Inside, the academy was even more overwhelming. Wide halls branched in every direction, lined with glowing monitors, digital maps, and silent security drones hovering overhead.
Liam whispered, barely containing himself, "This feels like walking into the future."
Beatrix said nothing, her eyes already memorizing every turn and corridor.
Felix leaned closer to Raze, smirking. "Looks like we got a good team."
Raze didn't reply. His eyes stayed fixed on Instructor Aria as they walked deeper into the academy.
This was the beginning.
And whatever came next, he couldn't afford to be careless anymore.