The night sky loomed heavy with clouds, casting a silvery glow over the vast training fields that bordered the academy grounds. The cold wind whispered warnings through the trees, rustling the leaves like secrets trying to be heard. A silence hung in the air—too quiet for comfort.
Ellee stood at the edge of the open field, eyes narrowed. Her instincts screamed. Something was coming.
Suddenly, the alarms wailed.
A crimson hue bathed the school grounds, the emergency sirens echoing through the academy walls. Students scrambled for safety, instructors barking orders. The calm of the day was shattered by a tension that chilled even the bravest.
"Enemy breach, North Zone!" Kayla's voice blared over the intercom. "All combat units to formation!"
Ellee rushed toward the northern field, her uniform flowing like waves in the wind. Her fingers flexed as her energy surged, eyes glowing with light—only for a moment. Her steps echoed power, her aura pulsing with the elemental mix she had mastered.
"Kate! Kayla! Position the barrier squads! I'll take the front!"
Her voice was sharp, commanding. The twins nodded and took flight, the wind swirling around their heels.
And then—they arrived.
Two cloaked figures descended from the shadows like ghosts born of nightmares. Their movements were eerily synchronized. They were silent, fluid, deadly.
A0015. A0016.
Assassins. Not just any—experiments.
"S001," one of them hissed. His mask was white, cracked down the middle, a cruel smile painted across it. "We've waited too long."
Ellee's hand moved to her sword. Her blood began to hum.
"You're late," she muttered. "And I'm not in the mood."
They charged. She blocked.
Steel clashed against corrupted alloy. Sparks lit the air. A0016 twisted mid-air, blades flying toward her. She parried, flipped back, and launched a wave of light. But A0015 vanished into the shadows and appeared behind her. She turned just in time to block—but he landed a blow to her side.
Pain flared.
"You're fast," she hissed, staggering back. Her vision blurred slightly. The cut on her side glowed green.
"Poison," A0016 chuckled darkly. "Not enough to kill. Just to weaken."
Ellee gritted her teeth. Her breath was ragged. She could feel the venom creeping through her veins.
"Not. Today."
She drew deep from her elements—Light burst from her in a dome, pushing both assassins back. Her sword glowed, fire licking its edge. Ice encased her boots as she launched forward like a missile. Her attack was fierce, elegant, relentless.
The fight drew on.
And then the monsters came.
Black hounds with glowing eyes erupted from the trees. Twisted abominations of fur and fang. Behind them, flying beasts circled like vultures.
"So you brought friends," Ellee growled.
She called on Life. The ground responded—vines exploded upward, wrapping the beasts. Flames lit the sky. Frost caught their wings.
But her breath was getting shorter. Her limbs slower.
The poison.
"You can't fight forever," A0015 whispered in her ear as he reappeared behind her.
She gasped, falling to one knee.
And then—
A roar split the air.
A monstrous hound flew across the field, struck by a burst of dark energy.
The four transfer students landed in formation.
Zion. Xion. Maya. Viola.
"Back up's here," Zion smirked.
"Took you long enough," Ellee coughed.
Maya knelt beside her, assessing the wound. "You've been poisoned. It's strong. Sit still."
Viola and Xion blocked the next wave of enemies.
"We'll cover you!" Xion shouted. "Don't push yourself!"
"No!" Ellee growled, struggling to stand. "I have to fight... I—"
Zion placed a firm hand on her shoulder. His voice was low.
"You're not alone anymore."
Her heart clenched.
That voice. That presence.
Something about it… felt familiar.
Her vision blurred, not from pain—but confusion. Why did her chest ache when he said that? Why did it sound like someone she had lost?
But there was no time to think.
Ellee rose again, sword in hand. Behind her, her new roommates—the mysterious students—fought as if they had trained together all their lives.
The battlefield was chaos.
But it felt like home.
The fight ended with a blast of light and darkness intertwined, sending the assassins fleeing into the night.
Ellee collapsed.
And just before she blacked out, she whispered the name that haunted her dreams.
"Kael..."
But he wasn't there.
Or was he?