It was now the next day.
After getting themselves some breakfast from the academy cafeteria—which, unlike most buildings on the main grounds, was actually open—the group returned to training. It hadn't been open yesterday, which made Harkel wonder how they were even supposed to eat in the first place.
According to the Clinton Games rules, they weren't allowed to accept any of the monthly units the academy provided. If Harkel hadn't secretly used his worm to sneak some in, they would've starved the entire day.
He pushed the thought aside.
All six boys stood in the same positions as yesterday.
This time, Harkel felt like they were finally making progress.
"So, where were we?" Harkel asked, raising his index finger as mana formed into a perfect number one.
He wasn't worried about interruptions this time. After what happened with Axle, no one would dare interfere again.
"How I said I love them like my brothers," Luka replied casually.
"Well, we didn't hear the 'like my brothers' part, did we?" Harkel shot back.
Without hesitation, Luka raised another finger—this time his middle one.
"Eat one."
Harkel ignored it.
"How would you describe Jordan?"
Luka paused, thinking for a moment before answering.
"I'd say Jordan's the one who keeps us in line before things get messy," he said. "He's more of a quiet type. He's got a lot of talent—way more than me—but he doesn't show it unless it's really necessary."
Harkel glanced over at Jordan.
Then something clicked.
Looking at Riven and Joey, he noticed the same thing.
"…what the—"
His thoughts spiraled, and his mana spiked.
The Ironshade reacted instantly, delivering a punch straight to Harkel's face. He staggered but caught himself, standing upright again.
"You really need to control that mana," Luka joked.
Harkel blinked.
All of them—including Luka—had perfectly formed ones now.
And none of them looked like they were close to burning out.
This fast…? Harkel thought.
It had taken him a full week to reach this level.
Leo took eight days.
But these guys… three days.
His eyes landed on Luka, who looked confused at why Harkel had gone silent.
"All of them…" Harkel muttered under his breath.
What he didn't know was that Luka's rapid growth wasn't just talent. The system was adapting to mana, accelerating his control beyond normal limits. Even then, Jordan didn't have a system—and he was still keeping up.
And they used to call me a natural talent…
Harkel sat back down.
"Alright," he said, regaining focus. "How would you describe Joey?"
Luka let out a small laugh before answering.
"He's scared," Luka said simply. "That's the best way I can put it."
The others went quiet.
"You don't know his past," Luka continued. "And honestly, it's not my place to tell. If you want to know, ask him yourself. But just know this—his ability is way stronger than mine, Riven's, or Jordan's."
Harkel stored that away.
"Now… Riven."
The moment he said his name, everything shifted.
Luka's mana flickered.
So did Riven's.
Jordan's.
Joey's.
The Ironshade didn't hesitate.
It struck all four of them at once, sending them crashing back.
Harkel didn't move.
He just watched.
Waiting.
Luka pushed himself back up, rubbing his face as he sat down again.
"So they're all around the same level when it comes to how long they can hold it…" Harkel thought.
"Where were we?" Luka muttered.
"Riven," Harkel repeated. "From what I've seen… he's the closest person to you."
Luka blinked, a bit surprised.
But he couldn't deny it.
Out of everyone, he had been getting closest to Riven—especially after finding out the truth about themselves. Being something other than human should've shaken him.
But Riven didn't care.
And somehow, because of that, Luka didn't either.
Even if he still hadn't fully accepted the whole vampire thing.
Especially the part about drinking blood.
Even if it… tasted good.
"If I'm being honest," Luka said, "Riven's got two modes."
Harkel raised an eyebrow.
"One, he acts like a kid—gets mad over small things, jokes around at the worst times, just… does whatever he wants."
Harkel almost said something but stopped himself.
Luka wasn't exactly different.
"But the other one…" Luka continued, his tone shifting slightly. "He's like a big brother. Calm. Mature. Makes you feel like no matter what you are, you're still you—and that's enough."
Luka exhaled.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say he's got two personalities."
A loud clap echoed.
The Ironshade.
"Well," Harkel said, standing up, "that's an hour. Joey—you're next."
⸻
Far away…
In a dark castle, dim lights flickered against stone walls.
Five figures stood in silence.
Despite their calm appearances, tension filled the room.
They looked… uneasy.
Like they were about to meet someone who could kill them without consequence.
And no one would question it.
"All kneel."
A man stepped forward from the shadows.
He wore dark black clothing, his blond hair the only feature clearly visible in the low light. To a normal human, he would've been impossible to see.
But none of them were human.
The five immediately dropped to their knees.
By any standard, they were beautiful.
Pale skin stretched flawlessly across their faces, almost glowing under the faint light. Their blond hair flowed naturally, untouched, perfect.
Two males.
Three females.
Despite their youthful appearances—looking no older than their twenties—they were far older.
Decades older.
Except for one.
A girl with her hair styled into two buns sat among them.
She looked the youngest.
Around the age of someone who should've been in high school… maybe just about to start college.
The pressure in the room suddenly intensified.
Their knees pressed deeper into the ground, cracks forming beneath them as if they were about to sink into the floor itself.
Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Heavy.
A man stepped forward, stopping in front of them.
He carried himself with a calm, suffocating presence. A long, dark red coat flowed behind him, dragging slightly across the ground as he walked.
"Rise."
The man in black spoke.
They didn't dare stand fully.
Only their heads lifted.
"You are now in the presence of your king," he continued. "I advise you to savor this moment for the rest of your lives."
Their eyes slowly lifted.
And then—
They saw him.
A man stood before them, his face partially burned. The scars stretched across one side, rough and unforgiving, as if something had tried to erase him and failed.
His short blonde hair rested neatly above cold, unreadable eyes.
Eyes that looked down on them as if they were nothing.
All five of them froze.
This was the first time they had ever seen their king.
After the war, he had disappeared from public view. He rarely showed himself. Some had even begun to question if he was still alive.
But now…
There was no doubt.
"Stand."
The king's voice cut through the silence.
This time, they obeyed fully, rising to their feet.
"You have all been chosen by your respective leaders for this mission," he said calmly. "You already have your assignments, so I have no need to brief you further."
His gaze shifted.
It landed on the young girl.
"You," he said, pointing. "Your name. Your station."
Her body tensed instantly.
"My name is Skye Isher," she said, her voice steady despite the pressure. "I am from the Fifth Castle, my king. My station is Sigil Gate Academy, Third Division."
"The Fifth Castle…" one of the others muttered under their breath.
They instantly went silent when the king's eyes flicked toward them.
"The Fifth Castle," the king repeated. "What interest do they have in the academy?"
Skye swallowed.
This wasn't just a question.
It was a test.
"This is not for the castle, my king," she said carefully. "This is for you. Lord Rohin believes we have focused too heavily on the adults—the powerful. He suggests we begin observing the younger generation as well."
She steadied herself.
"There are others being sent to different factions, but the information will overlap. This… is meant to expand what we already know."
She didn't know her lord's plan yet.
Her father never explained it—only that it was important. Important enough that she wasn't allowed to question it.
All he told her was this:
Her lord wanted her in the human world.
Before she left, he had handed her a small, sealed note. She remembered the way his expression changed when he gave it to her—serious, almost… cautious.
"Do not open it yet," nyx had said. "Wait until you arrive."
So she listened.
Now, standing on the edge of a new world, she could feel the note resting inside her storage ring.
"…Hmm."
The king snapped his fingers.
Five figures rushed into the room, placing small devices—identical to the one Nyx had used—on the ground in front of them before quickly retreating.
"Enter your coordinates," the man in black instructed. "Your leaders should have already prepared your destinations."
The five moved immediately, activating the devices.
"Now," the man in black continued, "state the rules."
Without hesitation, they all spoke in unison while inputting their data.
"We are not to interfere with human affairs."
"We are not to form any relationships with humans."
"We are not to reveal our full abilities."
"And we are not to use our blood abilities… only our family crests."
"Good."
The man in black turned slightly and bowed.
"My king?"
The king didn't move for a moment.
Then—
"Acceptable."
He turned away from them.
"Go," he said. "Learn what you can about the human world. Gather information. Report back every month."
A pause.
"And do not fail."
Five red portals tore open in the air.
Without another word, they stepped forward—
And jumped in.
One by one.
Some without hesitation.
Others… just a second too slow.
Then they were gone.