The hum of morning mana-tech buzzed in Kai's ears as he adjusted the academy-issued earpiece tucked behind his left lobe. It connected directly to his Academy Watch — sleek, silver, and far more powerful than it appeared. With a light pulse, the watch projected a glowing interface into the air: schedule updates, student stats, local map overlays. A marvel of modern design… and a constant surveillance device.
Kai's gaze slid over the glowing notifications without much interest.
[New Schedule: Day 5 – Squad Assignments & Cooperative Survival Exercise]
"Of course," he muttered.
Another test. Another layer in the academy's elaborate system of ranking, watching, judging. And this one would force him into a group.
He didn't like groups.
Especially not in a world that had once been fiction, where the wrong conversation or accidental flex of power could put a target on his back.
Kai reached for the standard-issue uniform jacket draped over the dorm chair, sliding it on with practiced precision. He made sure his movements were unremarkable — just another student preparing for another day.
Just another background character.
---
The training fields had been transformed.
No longer the neat, flat rows from the first evaluation, the grounds now resembled a miniaturized forest zone — trees summoned by high-grade earth mages, vines creeping over conjured stone, small magical beasts caged in holding fields, ready to be "released" at scheduled intervals.
It was part of the academy's famed Cooperative Survival Exercise. An all-day trial to evaluate teamwork, decision-making, and composure under pressure. All eyes would be on the students.
But Kai already knew the trick behind the test.
It wasn't about survival. It was about observation.
He stood quietly at the far end of the field as names were called out, each forming a five-member team. His came late.
"Team Seventeen: Kai Drenhaven, Luc Varin, Deina Rell, Oren Feld, and Silfa Elwan."
Kai raised an eyebrow.
Luc — he recognized the name. A confident swordsman from Class C, always too loud in training.
Deina — top of the healing track, quiet but competent.
Oren — some mid-tier brawler who loved showing off.
And Silfa — a girl who seemed like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
A nice mix. All strong enough to make him seem weaker by comparison.
Good.
Luc greeted the team with a dramatic twirl of his sword. "Alright! Let's see who dies first."
"Hopefully you," Deina muttered.
Kai gave them a thin, polite smile. "Let's just survive and get our credits."
Luc glanced at him. "You were the guy who stumbled through the axe duel, right?"
Kai shrugged. "Didn't train much before coming here."
Luc laughed. "Great. We've got a liability."
Perfect.
---
They were dropped into the simulation zone by teleport gate — a shimmering blue tunnel that spat them into a dense woodland. The timer started the moment their boots hit the ground.
[Survive 6 Hours. Minimum 1 Magical Beast Subjugation Required.]
[Each member must contribute to team points. Stealth, combat, and strategy are valid.]
A quiet chime followed, and the system faded from view.
Oren took the lead immediately. "I say we find a clearing, take out a beast, and then hide until time's up."
Luc rolled his eyes. "Coward."
"You got a better idea?"
Deina sat on a rock and pulled out a map, enchanted with limited mana tracking. "The patrol zones shift. We need to keep moving."
Silfa barely glanced at any of them. She had a dagger and a wand strapped to her hips but looked like she'd rather be back in her dorm.
Kai spoke last. "There's a cave system northeast from here. Narrow entrance, easy to defend. If we're avoiding conflict, it's the best bet."
Luc snorted. "You sure? Or are you trying to hide again?"
Kai didn't answer.
They moved anyway.
---
An hour passed.
Beasts roamed in the periphery — horned jackals, vine-covered wolves, even one slime creature with a disturbingly human face. Most avoided confrontation if not provoked. The instructors were somewhere far above, likely watching through scrying mirrors.
Kai watched too — not the beasts, but his teammates.
Luc fought like he wanted applause. Every move was exaggerated.
Deina was composed, precise. Healer spells, low mana use. Efficient.
Oren was too reactive, nearly got bitten twice.
Silfa… was interesting. She hadn't used magic once. Her movements were light. Trained. But too careful.
They reached the cave around the third hour mark.
That's when the first beast attacked.
A goblin-like crawler, covered in green carapace, launched itself from a tree, shrieking with claws raised.
Oren screamed.
Kai watched time freeze.
Not because he willed it. Not yet.
It froze because Deina had activated a wide-area shield spell — unusual for a healer. The beast bounced off the barrier and hissed, trying to circle.
Luc charged it like a showman. Too loud, too slow.
Kai stepped back, stayed out of frame from the scrying mirrors, and quietly triggered time-stop.
In the frozen world, the creature was mid-lunge again, claws aimed for Luc's throat.
Kai moved behind it and sliced once. Not a clean strike. Not even deep.
Then he stepped away.
Time resumed.
The beast fell — not dead, but slowed. Luc finished it off with a flourish, yelling, "That's how it's done!"
Kai nodded like a background extra.
Only Silfa looked at him a little too long.
---
They stayed in the cave for the last two hours. Just enough food. Mana reserves recharged. No major injuries.
At the end, when the recall pulse yanked them back to the academy, all five stood unharmed.
Team Seventeen had average scores. No highlights.
No complaints.
And yet…
That evening, as Kai exited the shower hall and pulled his towel tighter around his shoulders, he found Silfa waiting just outside.
She leaned against the hallway wall, arms crossed, hair still damp.
"You don't flinch," she said.
Kai didn't answer.
"I've seen a lot of scared students this week," she continued. "You're not one of them."
Kai blinked, expression neutral. "Lucky genes."
She tilted her head. "You moved before the goblin turned."
"I got good instincts."
"You also didn't react when Luc missed his parry."
Kai shrugged.
"Your heart rate never spikes," she said finally. "Even in combat."
He smiled faintly. "You watching me closely?"
Silfa's eyes narrowed. "Should I be?"
He didn't answer.
She pushed off the wall and walked away.
But Kai knew — it had begun again.
Another student.
Another watcher.
---
And somewhere above, in the surveillance archive tower, Instructor Liora reviewed the full simulation feed in silence.
She paused on a single frame — Kai standing at the edge of a clearing, body angled to avoid the camera. A goblin mid-fall behind him, sword glinting unnaturally clean.
Her fingers tapped the edge of her mug.
No expression. No comment.
Just her eyes, narrowing.