Whoosh...
A wave of wind carrying the heat of the surroundings hit the students.
They stood silently, staring at the barren land stretching endlessly before them, its surface dry and cracked beneath.
The heat was so intense that even with clothes covering them, they felt their skin burning.
The sky, dancing between orange and crimson, didn't help them, making them feel worse.
The only relief was the air.
As it was evening, the heat was suppressed to a degree.
With an expression of uncertainty and restrained tension, the students of the fourth phase stood in rows, enduring the heat.
They had all been brought here without much explanation, they were only told that their final test would be conducted in a "different location" this time.
For most, the unease came from the unknown.
This was not how things were supposed to go. The test had always been a battle—one final clash to prove their worth against those who had walked the path before them.
But now, everything was shrouded in mystery.
Among them, however, some were not entirely caught off guard.
The team leaders—those who had gathered around Raven earlier that afternoon—occasionally stole glances at him, his words ringing in their heads.
At first, many had brushed off his claims as absurd speculation. But now, standing in an unfamiliar wasteland, with the air thick with tension, they couldn't deny it anymore.
Raven had been right.
Jessy, among the crowd, felt an uncomfortable chill despite the heat.
She wasn't one to trust easily, but what she was witnessing sent shivers down her spine.
"How…?" She muttered, watching Raven closely.
But he, ever so calm, simply stood there with his arms crossed, his golden eyes reflecting the darkening sky, unbothered by the weight of their stares.
As the students silently wrestled with their thoughts, the sound of approaching footsteps snapped them back to attention.
A figure stepped forward.
It was Instructor Gale.
The same man who had conducted their very first test, the one who rarely smiled, who always carried an air of strict discipline.
He stopped before the gathered students, his piercing gaze sweeping over them.
For a brief moment, there was only silence. Then, he spoke.
"Children of the Cradle," his steady and commanding voice moved effortlessly through the heavy air, "you have walked this path with discipline, endured hardships with unwavering resolve, and have pushed past your limits to stand where you are today."
There was a pause before Gale's lips curved into a slight smile.
"I am proud."
The air grew even heavier.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Instead, all eyes subtly shifted—toward Raven.
Because he had said this too.
During lunch, Raven had casually mentioned that Instructor Gale, a man whose expression rarely wavered, would smile today. It had seemed like an impossibility. Yet, here they were, witnessing it firsthand.
The reality of it sent an uncomfortable pulse through those who had doubted him.
The leaders were the most shaken. Their thoughts were chaotic, a mess of conflicting emotions.
'How does he know this?'
'Who told him?'
'Does he have a secret backer?'
Many of them had dismissed the idea before, but now...
Now, it was becoming harder to ignore.
Meanwhile, Gale, unaware of the silent turmoil among the students, continued his speech.
"I have witnessed countless batches of students pass through these gates," he said, "but this one... This one has surpassed expectations in ways I did not anticipate. You all deserve praise for that."
Another pause.
Then, his eyes darkened slightly.
"And because of that…" His voice dropped, slow and deliberate. "The final test will be different this time."
A wave of reactions swept through the students like a ripple in still water.
Gale and the other instructors nodded as if expecting this level of shock. They knew this was unprecedented.
When the new test was proposed by Damien, even they were surprised, many protested against it. The Patriarch's agreement, however, marked an end to the protests.
Therefore, the students' surprise was justifiable.
But what they didn't realize—what they couldn't discover—was that not all of the students were shocked for the same reason.
The leaders, especially, were barely breathing at this point.
It wasn't just that the test was different.
It was that Raven had predicted it down to the smallest detail.
"Silence."
Gale's voice cut through their thoughts, pulling them back to the present.
"I know this is unexpected," he continued, "but understand this: you will not be fighting each other today. Instead, you will be facing something far more real."
His eyes flickered toward the horizon.
"You will be fighting against low-level corrupted beasts."
Dead silence.
And then—shock.
The students, despite their training, stiffened visibly. The murmurs that had been held back up until now threatened to break loose.
'Corrupted beasts...'
This wasn't a mere test against fellow students anymore—it was a battle against creatures that had terrorized the kingdom, even if they were only low-level threats.
Gale stepped aside, revealing what lay beyond.
The horizon stretched endlessly, but now they could see.
Blackened ground. Jagged terrain. A faint but unmistakable crimson mist swirling in the distance.
The realization sank in like a stone.
They were standing in the Ashen Expanse.
"This is the part of the Ashen Expanse that had been conquered by our family, and to show some of our royal friends present among us, we are conducting the final test of our future warriors here."
Gale's voice pulled them back again, their shock growing as the topic continued.
Gale didn't point at the 'Royal Friends' he spoke of, but the students realized someone from the Royal family was there.
This wasn't a test anymore.
It was something far graver.
The students had been taught enough for them to understand that the ongoing situation was a way to show those 'Royal Friends' that even they, the younger generation of the Vaise family, could fearlessly have their test conducted here.
It was probably a part of the test for them to understand that objective.
The family was showing their might by letting their children, the best batch ever, pioneer the first normal function hosted in the Ashen Expanse.
The students realized they were being granted an honor.
Jessy, among the students who realized all this, turned toward Raven, her eyes wide.
Raven hadn't said it clearly, but his vague words echoed in her head.
"Something new is going to happen today. Something that would change many things."
Raven, as if feeling her gaze, glanced back at her, and—
—Smirked.
That same, knowing smirk.
The weight of her realization came crashing down in an instant.
She had lost the bet.
..............................
Earlier that afternoon—during lunch.
The dining hall had been filled with the usual chatter of students, the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread hanging in the air.
Raven had leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his golden eyes gleaming mischievously as he looked at Jessy.
"So, you think I'm wrong?" He had asked, voice light with amusement.
Jessy had narrowed her eyes, her lips pursed. "I think you're getting ahead of yourself if you think I'll accept everything you say."
Hearing her words, Alex had choked on his drink, while Clara had snickered, and even Jake, who never showed much reaction, had his eyes widened by a fraction.
They all knew that among the students in Cradle, Jessy was one of the few who could proudly say she wasn't scared of Raven, but wasn't she being too direct?
Their eyes turned to Raven, but the guy simply smirked, unfazed.
"Fine," he had said. "Let's make a bet."
Jessy had arched a brow. "What kind of bet?"
"If my words about the test turn out to be true," Raven had said lazily, "then you follow my orders, like the others."
She had scoffed. "And if you're wrong?"
Raven had shrugged. "Then I'll owe you a favor."
It had sounded fair at the time. She had been sure he was bluffing.
But now...
Now, standing in the middle of the Ashen Expanse, watching everything unfold as he had predicted—
She gritted her teeth.
'Damn it.'
She had lost.
..............................
"Ow!"
Raven flinched as he felt a sharp pinch on his arm.
Turning, he met Clara's frowning face.
"What was that for?" He asked, rubbing the sore spot.
Clara huffed, crossing her arms. "Why are you flirting with other girls when I, the most beautiful one, am standing right next to you?"
Raven opened his mouth—then closed it.
He had no idea what to say to that.
He wanted to form a harem, but he wasn't the real Raven who was a lady killer. He was a guy who never had any experience with any girl.
Above all, although Clara wasn't his sister, he wasn't sure if he wanted to go forward with her.
After all, she was a bit... crazy.
Thankfully, salvation arrived in the form of Alex.
"Wait, wait, wait," the tall brute frowned, scratching his head. "How do you know all of this, anyway?"
Unlike the others, Alex, Clara, and Jake knew Raven had no secret backer. They were the ones who, unlike others, knew where Raven went, and what he did.
If he had some secret backer or informant, they would've seen them at least once.
They had always been curious about how Raven got all this information. They just couldn't find the right time to ask.
But now, Alex did and all eyes turned to Raven.
Raven sighed inwardly, grateful for the distraction.
Then, leaning forward slightly, he gave a slow, deliberate smirk.
"Want to know the truth?"
Alex nodded eagerly.
Raven paused—building up anticipation.
Then—
"It's a secret."
"—YOU LITTLE—!"
Before Alex could finish, Clara smacked him upside the head.
She growled inwardly. 'Not only was the opportunity wasted, but we still didn't get anything out of it!'
Raven just chuckled, his focus returning to the surroundings.
The test was going to start soon, and Raven was going to own it.