The academy grounds had never felt this suffocating.
Nick stood near the courtyard railing, staring blankly at the endless stretch of stone pathways below. Students passed by in groups—laughing, arguing, strategizing—but none of those sounds reached him properly. They blurred together into distant noise, like echoes from a world he wasn't part of.
Beside him, Kael leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his usual confidence replaced by quiet frustration. Lloyd, on the other hand, paced back and forth like a caged animal, muttering under his breath.
"We've asked *everyone*," Lloyd snapped, stopping abruptly. "Everyone! How is this even possible?" Nick didn't respond immediately. His eyes remained distant.
"Because…" Kael exhaled slowly, "…no one wants to risk their rank by teaming up with people they don't fully trust." Lloyd scoffed. "Or they think we're weak."
That word lingered. Weak. Nick's fingers tightened slightly against the railing. It wasn't entirely wrong. Despite his victory over Rehmon, people still looked at him with doubt. Like it had been luck. A fluke. Something temporary. And now, with team formation underway, reality was clear—no one was willing to bet their future on uncertainty.
"We only need two more members," Lloyd said, running a hand through his hair. "Just two." "Not anymore," Kael corrected quietly. "At this rate, even getting one seems impossible." The sun slowly dipped lower, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Hours had passed, and rejection after rejection had worn them down.
Eventually, the three of them sat on a bench in silence. For once, Lloyd wasn't complaining. For once, Kael had nothing to say. And Nick… Nick simply stared ahead. "…We're running out of time," Lloyd murmured.
Kael glanced at the sky, then back at them. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of resolve behind it. "Then we stop for today." Lloyd frowned. "What?" "We're exhausted. Thinking like this won't help." Kael pushed himself off the bench. "Tomorrow, we leave the academy."
Nick finally looked at him. "Leave?" "We go to the town," Kael said. "Clear our heads. Think properly. Maybe… find another way." Lloyd hesitated, then sighed. "…Fine. Staying here isn't helping anyway." Nick didn't object. But deep down, he wasn't sure anything would.
That night felt heavier than usual.Nick quietly stepped into his home, the familiar warmth greeting him. The soft glow of the lights, the faint aroma of food—it should've been comforting. But his mind was elsewhere. "Nick?" his mother's voice called gently from the other room. "You're back early."
"…Yeah."
He walked in slowly, seeing both his parents seated at the table. They looked at him with concern—the kind that only parents carried, the kind that saw through silence.
"You look tired," his father said. Nick forced a faint smile. "Just… a long day."
His mother stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Something happened, didn't it?" Nick hesitated. For a moment, he considered brushing it off. But then…
"…We might get expelled."
The words came out quieter than he expected. Both of them froze. Nick looked down, his voice steady but heavy. "We need a team of five. And… no one wants to join us." Silence filled the room.
His father leaned back slightly, studying him. "And what do *you* think?" Nick blinked. "What do I think?" "Do you believe you're not worth teaming with?" his father asked calmly. Nick didn't answer. Because the truth was… he didn't know.
His mother gently squeezed his shoulder. "You've always been different, Nick. Even as a child." "…Different doesn't help here."
"It does," she said softly. "Maybe not in the way you expect. But it does." Nick clenched his fists slightly. "There's something I don't understand," his father continued. "If no one chooses you… then why don't you choose differently?"
Nick frowned. "What do you mean?" "Stop looking for people who want strength," his father said. "Look for people who need it." Those words lingered. Nick slowly raised his head. Need… strength?
"…Get some rest," his mother said gently. "You'll figure it out." Nick nodded faintly.
But as he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling…The voice echoed again.
"Return."
His eyes shut tightly. "…To what?" he whispered. But there was no answer.
The next day, the town was alive with energy. Unlike the rigid atmosphere of the academy, the outside world felt… free. Vendors shouted from stalls, children ran through the streets, and the air carried a sense of life that the academy lacked.
Lloyd stretched his arms. "Finally! A place that doesn't feel like a prison." Kael glanced around. "Don't get too comfortable. We're not here to relax."
Nick walked silently beside them, observing everything. "…Let's start somewhere quiet," he said. Kael nodded. "The museum." Lloyd groaned. "Seriously?"
But they went anyway. The museum stood tall and ancient, its structure carved with symbols of a forgotten past. At its entrance were the words:
"Memories of Earth."
Nick paused. Something about those words… felt heavy. Inside, the atmosphere changed instantly. It was quieter. Almost sacred. Artifacts lined the walls—remnants of a world that no longer existed. Images, recordings, broken technology… fragments of humanity.
Nick walked slowly, his eyes scanning everything. A photograph caught his attention. A blue sky. Endless oceans.
Cities filled with life. Earth. His breath hitched slightly. More images followed—families, laughter, ordinary moments.
Things that… didn't exist anymore. Nick's hand trembled slightly as he reached out toward one of the displays.
"…Why does this feel…" he whispered.
Familiar. Too familiar. His chest tightened. His vision blurred. "…Nick?" Kael's voice sounded distant. The noise around him faded. The world spun.
And for a moment—He saw something else. Flashes. A different sky. A different life.
"Return."
Nick staggered back. "…Hey!" Lloyd grabbed his shoulder. "What's wrong with you?!" Nick blinked rapidly, the vision shattering. "I… I'm fine." But he wasn't.
Not even close. "…Let's leave," he said quietly. Kael didn't argue.
Outside, the sunlight felt harsher than before. Nick took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. But then—"Help!!" A sharp scream cut through the air. All three of them turned instantly. Down the street, chaos erupted. People scattered as a group of rough-looking men chased a girl with bright yellow hair.
"Move!" one of them shouted, shoving civilians aside. The girl ran desperately, panic clear in her eyes. "They're going to catch her," Lloyd muttered. Nick didn't hesitate.
"Let's go."
They sprinted forward. The chase led into a narrow alley—one that ended in a dead end. The girl stumbled, turning around just as the men surrounded her. "Nowhere left to run," one of them sneered. She backed up, trembling. "…Stay away!" But they only laughed. "Sorry, kid. Your father should've known better."
That was when—"Then maybe you should've known better too." Nick's voice cut through the alley. All heads turned.
Kael and Lloyd stepped forward beside him. The men frowned. "Who the hell are you?" "Doesn't matter," Lloyd cracked his knuckles. "You picked the wrong target."
The fight was quick.
Kael moved like lightning, striking with precision. Lloyd overwhelmed them with raw force. And Nick…Nick stood at the center. Calm. Focused. Unshaken. Within moments, the men were on the ground, groaning. Silence returned. The girl stared at them, stunned.
"…You're safe now," Nick said.
She hesitated, then nodded quickly. "T-thank you…" Kael studied her for a moment. Then his eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait."
She flinched. "You're Rem, aren't you?"
She blinked. "…You know me?" "You're in our class," Kael said. "We fought yesterday." Recognition hit her. "…Oh."
Kael crossed his arms. "You were a brilliant fighter." Rem's eyes widened in surprise.
"…I still lost."
"That doesn't matter," Kael replied. "Skill isn't just about winning." Lloyd stepped forward. "Where's your team? They could've protected you in this situation." Her expression fell instantly. "I… don't have one." Nick's gaze sharpened slightly.
"No one agreed to team with me," she said quietly. "They said I'm too weak."
Silence. Nick thought back to his father's words.
Look for people who need it. He stepped forward. "Then join us." Rem froze.
"…What?" "We need teammates," Nick said simply. "And you need one too."
She looked between them, disbelief in her eyes. "You're serious?" Lloyd shrugged. "Better than getting expelled." Kael nodded. "And you're not weak." Rem's hands trembled slightly.
"…Okay."
A small smile formed on her face. "Okay." Four members. But one was still missing.
And time… was almost up. The final day arrived. Students gathered in the grand hall, teams fully formed. Nick, Kael, Lloyd, and Rem stood together. Waiting. Hoping.
But no one came. The instructor stepped forward. "Any incomplete teams… will be dismissed."
Lloyd clenched his fists. "This is it…" Rem looked down. Kael remained silent. Nick closed his eyes briefly. So this was the end. "…Guess we tried," Lloyd muttered.
They turned to leave. But then—
"Hey."
A voice echoed from behind them. Calm.
Confident. "Looks like you're missing one." They froze. Slowly, they turned around. A figure stood there, smirking slightly.
"Mind if I join?"