The courtyard was alive with quiet murmurs, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. The students gathered in clusters, some stretching, others practicing the motions of their Marks, all their minds on the same thing. Dawn had been missing for a month now—disappeared after their last conversation, leaving no trace behind.
Gary's sword gleamed in the sunlight as he swung it through the air, working through the fluid motions of his training. His Sovereign Sword Mark hummed against his skin, but his mind wasn't on the sword. It kept drifting back to Dawn, to the empty space he left behind.
Ingrid stood to the side, leaning against the stone wall with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes darting over the courtyard, watching her fellow students. But her usual grin was absent, replaced by a quiet worry. Dawn's absence was palpable, especially now that everyone else seemed to be moving forward, forging their Marks, taking their next steps. All except for Dawn.
"Still thinking about him?" Ingrid asked as she watched Gary swing his sword.
Gary hesitated before replying, his sword coming to a stop. "Can't help it. I don't know where he's gone. Or why."
Ingrid let out a soft sigh. "You think something happened? I mean, we both know he's always been… different. But even so... it's strange. He hasn't even left any sort of message. It's like he just vanished."
"I don't know," Gary murmured, more to himself than to Ingrid. "I just feel like he was supposed to be here. That something's… missing."
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of Dawn's disappearance hanging over them like an invisible cloud.
Then, across the courtyard, a shift in the atmosphere rippled through the students as instructors began to gather. The figure of the Grand Instructor, draped in his flowing robes, moved to the front of the courtyard, flanked by several other instructors. His presence alone was enough to still the murmurs.
Gary and Ingrid exchanged glances before they moved to join the rest of the students, the tension in the air thickening.
The Grand Instructor stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the students with an intensity that silenced them all. His eyes, hidden beneath the hood of his robes, seemed to pierce through each student in turn. The other instructors remained silent, watching intently, their own expressions unreadable.
"As you all know," the Grand Instructor began, his voice low but carrying across the courtyard, "your training has entered a new phase. You have forged your Marks, cultivated your strength, and honed your skills. But this is not enough. Power alone is not sufficient. Knowledge, while important, is not enough."
Gary's heart quickened as he listened. The weight of those words pressed on him.
"The time has come for you to face the ultimate test. The test of your Will, your resolve, your ability to defend not only your life, but the life of everything you hold dear. Combat is not just a matter of technique; it is about survival. It is about the choice to rise when all seems lost."
Gary's grip tightened on his sword. Ingrid, standing beside him, was uncharacteristically silent, her expression focused, as if the gravity of the words had hit her more than usual.
"The Academy has given you freedom to pursue knowledge and skills," the Grand Instructor continued, his voice growing colder, more commanding. "But now you must be ready to put them to the test. Not just in the safety of controlled environments, but in the harsh, unforgiving reality of combat. Each of you has forged at least one Mark—except one." The Grand Instructor paused, his gaze lingering for a moment longer on Gary, Ingrid, and the others.
Gary's stomach churned. He knew the words weren't just a casual remark. The Grand Instructor knew. And he wasn't just talking about anyone.
"In this phase, you will not only test your Marks but your very essence. The invaders that have plagued our world are relentless, and though the threat may not be immediate, it will always be there. For now, your trial will be the same, but know this: it will test you in ways you cannot even begin to imagine."
Gary stood taller, feeling the weight of those words sink in. This wasn't a simple training exercise anymore. This was the next step in their journey.
"You will be faced with harsh training -," the Grand Instructor said, his voice darkening, "- on the very aspects of yourself that you would rather leave hidden. Your weaknesses, your fears—manifested."
A ripple of unease passed through the students as the implications of his words began to settle in. Even before the training began students were already having nightmares imaging the harshness of the infamous combat training. Gary could already feel the tension coiling in his chest. The next trial would be one of both body and mind.
"The training begins now," the Grand Instructor said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "But one among you has already faced a trial unlike any other."
Gary stiffened at the shift in tone. He looked at Ingrid, but she had already gone rigid as well. The Grand Instructor's gaze shifted to them, a knowing gleam in his eyes. He didn't need to say more.
Gary's mind raced. Dawn.
"His path has led him to a different destination," the Grand Instructor added quietly, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "But that is a tale for another time."
A silence lingered in the air, thick and suffocating, as the instructors began to move. Then, without warning, a hand suddenly landed on Gary's shoulder, making him stiffen in surprise.
Ingrid's head snapped to the side, her posture straightening as she too felt the hand's weight. Neither of them had noticed anyone approaching.
Gary's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze as he turned slowly to face whoever had dared to sneak up on them.
The face that met them was… familiar, yet it shouldn't have been there.
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