The sword and rune have found their place in my Aetherplate storage room before sleep takes over as I sink into darkness. Sleep comes fast, heavy and dreamless.
Morning hits like a hammer.
The sudden sharp ping pierces through my sleep before a light starts blinking on my Aetherplate. I try to see the notification through bleary eyes and my heart begins to race as I make out the words:
[Mission Deployment: Team Assignment Finalized.]
I move to a seated position as I rub away the sleep from my eyes. I walk out of the room after brushing my teeth and washing my face. Looking in the mirror, my dark eyes and pale skin reflect my tiredness, and I can spot some grey hair that are pretty obvious since they stand out from the black.
I then open Zach's door, and I hear Zach's groan from his room as he inspects his plate while putting on his shirt. The residence hall comes to life as doors slam shut while voices echo throughout the hall and people rush to put on clothes before heading to the designated gathering spot.
As I scroll through the message from the Aetherplate, my chest begins to tighten.
Team:
– Julius Valendestine (Paragon)
– Chris Clark (Vanguard)
– Kevin Xie (Wizard)
– Liam Farell (Wizard)
– Julian Cunningham (Vanguard – 4th Year Leader)
A flicker of disbelief crosses my face. Julian... of all people.
Zach turns toward me to notice my expression. "You good?"
I nod slowly. "Yeah. Just... Julian's my squad leader."
He shows mild surprise but moves on to put on his boots. "Lucky. I asked yesterday, he's one of the best fourth-years. Keep sharp."
I extend my arms wide while standing and remember the sword and rune's weight. "Yeah. Guess it's time."
Together we leave the dorm under the same tense excitement from before while my heartbeat now remains stable. That inner state of preparedness? My readiness now surpasses any level I experienced since my first day at Velmara.
Will and Claude seem to be gone. I guess they have already left to join their groups.
Zach and I exit our quarters into the fresh morning with our boots echoing down our path while students rush toward the central area. Through the heavy gray mist of the sky energy buzzes through the academy grounds like a piercing static. Each person advances with purposeful strides—some silently focused while others chatter nervously—but everyone shares the same profound realization in their eyes that what they face is now real.
The assembly point becomes the scene where instructors deliver commands and students gather into their designated teams. I check my Aetherplate again to verify my team's details and then navigate through the gathering crowd.
Zach gives my shoulder a quick clap and then moves away to join his squad.
I acknowledge his departure by nodding before I start to examine my surroundings. A small group catches my attention from the side because their confident posture sets them apart from the first-years, who awkwardly handle their equipment.
I walk up to them slowly.
The first person who grabs my attention is Chris Clark because of his towering muscular build and unmistakable vanguard presence along with his firm and confident stance. His black hair stands back smoothly while his brown eyes project a calm yet intense determination that suggests he's always analyzing his next move. The Aetherplate shines brightly on his chest as it remains fully prepared.
Kevin Xie stands beside him possessing a skinny build while his dark brown eyes move rapidly across his small spellbook which he grasps as if it were an extension of his hand. His untidy hair falls across his forehead while his casual attire marks him as different from the others yet he exudes a powerful magic that lies just beneath his surface; however, out of nowhere he gives me an unlikeable feeling.
Liam Farell stands out the least because he is shorter than Kevin and has tiny shoulders while sporting sandy blond hair and light brown eyes that reflect a nonchalant expression. The thick wand strapped to his thigh combined with his quiet confidence in posture.
And then there's Julian Cunningham.
Julian Cunningham stands several feet removed from his peers as he watches the surroundings with hawk-like intensity while his arms remain folded. Julian Cunningham has a sharp jawline that shows his intense focus with his brown hair cut to a perfect length. Beyond his fourth-year position exists a deeper gravity within him. The polished yet battle-damaged appearance of his Aetherplate indicates a significant amount of experience. Our eye contact reveals mutual recognition but lacks any warmth as he offers me a solid nod.
"What a coincidence it is," he says, voice cool but not unfriendly. "Glad you're on my squad. We've got a tough assignment."
As I expected, Julian Cunningham was the student who brought us to our residence hall.
Chris looks at me and gives me a nod, followed by a fist bump. "Welcome to the team, man. Let's make it count."
Kevin and Liam nod together while Kevin begins placing his book into his pouch. Liam says with a half-smile, "We'll keep you alive, so called Paragon."
Damn I really wonder what they are placed in the rankings. They'll keep me alive? Yeah right.
I return the nod and smile. "Looking forward to working with you all."
Julian glances around, eyes narrowing slightly. "Alright, since everyone's here, please look at our mission description."
The Aetherplates buzz softly, casting a faint blue glow as the briefing appears:
Mission: Perimeter Breach Control – Sector D12
Objective: Investigate a surge of mana distortion outside of Altinium grounds. Recent readings indicate potential breaches caused by unidentified entities. The sector is dense woodland with limited visibility and is known for residual Aether anomalies.
Primary Goals:
Confirm the source of the distortion.Neutralize any hostile presence
Special Notes:
– Scouts previously sent have not reported back.
– Expect irregular terrain and potential ambushes.
– Team leader: Julian Cunningham (4th Year, Vanguard). Authority to abort the mission if the threat level exceeds the team's capacity.
Julian lowers his plate, voice level but firm. "This isn't a practice run. We move out in twenty minutes. Gear up."
Within moments, we formed a team of five, and previously unknown individuals united by a common mission and an uncertain path.