The sun barely crested over the academy walls when the first years were called to the training field. There were no morning lectures, no leisurely breakfast—just a simple message delivered to every dorm.
"Report to the field. No exceptions."
Aiden and Riko stood among the crowd, dressed in their training gear. The air was thick with anticipation. Their classmates whispered nervously to one another, speculating about what was coming next. After the previous night's attack, there was an unspoken understanding: everyone knew that being strong was a matter of survival. If they couldn't defend the city, then they would be useless in the fight to come.
The head combat instructor, Master Kellan, stood at the front of the training field. His presence alone commanded respect—his arms crossed, his face hard as stone. His reputation preceded him: cold, merciless, and completely unyielding. Every one of his students knew that if you failed, you didn't get a second chance.
"You are weak," Master Kellan's deep voice rang out, cutting through the chatter. "Every single one of you. That was proven last night."
Aiden couldn't argue. He was still haunted by the memory of the creatures' monstrous appearance, their otherworldly eyes that gleamed like molten metal. If he didn't get stronger, he didn't know how long he could keep surviving, let alone protect the people he cared about.
Master Kellan's voice cut through his thoughts. "But weakness is not an excuse. You have two weeks to prepare for the decision that will shape the rest of your lives. By the end of those two weeks, you will have learned to fight. You will be stronger, faster, and more lethal than any of you thought possible. No more sitting around. From this point forward, you train to survive. If you can't handle that, leave now."
No one moved. Everyone stood a little straighter.
"Good," Kellan nodded. "Now, line up! You're going to run ten laps around the field."
The order sent ripples through the first-years. Some groaned, others sighed in exhaustion already. But everyone knew better than to complain.
Aiden shared a glance with Riko. "Ten laps?"
"Seems like a warm-up," Riko muttered.
But neither of them were prepared for the brutal pace Kellan set. The instructor blew his whistle and the first years were off.
They started strong, but by the third lap, the field seemed to stretch endlessly before them. Students slowed down, their breath coming in ragged gasps, but the instructor didn't allow them to rest. Every time someone lagged behind, Kellan's voice boomed through the air, forcing them to keep up.
Aiden kept his pace steady, his legs burning, but he wouldn't stop. Riko was ahead, pushing himself even harder. Aiden gritted his teeth and pushed on, but the sun above seemed relentless. Sweat stung his eyes, his muscles screamed in protest, but he refused to let up.
By the time they completed the laps, Aiden's legs felt like jelly, his lungs burning with every breath. The students collapsed onto the grass, some coughing, others catching their breath.
But there was no time to rest. Kellan blew his whistle again.
"Combat training starts now!"
Combat Basics
"Pair up!" Kellan shouted, and the students scrambled to find a partner.
Aiden turned to Riko. "You ready?"
Riko nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "As ready as I'll ever be."
The instructor gave them a long, cold stare. "Combat is where it matters. You can choose whatever powers you want. But if you can't hold your own in a fight, you won't survive when the creatures attack again."
Aiden clenched his fists. He wasn't just doing this to survive. He was doing this to protect. He couldn't afford to fail, not now.
"Start!" Kellan shouted, signaling them to begin.
Riko moved first, a series of rapid jabs aimed at Aiden's midsection. Aiden stepped back, dodging, but Riko was fast. He closed the distance with a quick, spinning kick aimed at Aiden's chest. Aiden blocked it just in time, but the force of the strike knocked him off balance.
"You're too predictable!" Kellan barked from the sidelines. "You're both going too easy on each other! Fight like your life depends on it!"
Aiden grimaced, then focused. He couldn't keep dancing around Riko forever. He needed to take control.
He darted forward, landing a low swipe with his leg to Riko's feet, knocking him off balance. In that split second, Aiden surged forward, using his momentum to flip Riko onto his back. The impact made the ground shake beneath them, and Riko's breath left him in a loud whoosh.
Kellan didn't let up. "Don't just throw your opponent down! Make them feel it!"
They went at it again, their movements becoming faster, sharper. The fight became less about sparring and more about instinct, responding to the other's every move. Aiden's muscles screamed, but he pushed through.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kellan blew his whistle once more.
"Enough!"
Aiden's chest heaved as he stepped back, sweat dripping from his forehead. Riko stood, shaking his head, his expression a mixture of frustration and admiration.
"Not bad," Riko panted, wiping the sweat from his face.
Aiden gave a small, exhausted smile. "You too."
Kellan stared at them for a moment before he nodded. "Good. But that's just the beginning. You've got potential, but potential means nothing if you don't refine it."
Power Selection Pressure
Later that evening, after dinner, Aiden and Riko found themselves in the academy's library, scanning the list of available powers they could choose from.
The room was quiet, but the pressure was palpable. Every student was expected to select their three powers soon, and no one wanted to make a mistake.
"Absolutely Reflective Field, Teleportation, Black Hole Creation…" Aiden muttered, tracing his fingers over the list.
Riko did the same. "Phase Locking, Absolute Reflection, Gravitational Manipulation."
Aiden looked up, his brow furrowed. "We picked the same defensive power."
"Yeah, but Absolute Reflection is more about reflecting the attack back," Riko explained, tapping the description. "It's one-on-one. Absolutely Reflective Field, on the other hand, could be used on a larger scale. It reflects everything in the area."
Aiden nodded. "I don't know...what if someone picks the same powers? What happens then?"
Riko shrugged. "It's not about the powers themselves. It's about how we use them. And how we train them."
Just then, a third-year student strolled into the library. He was tall, with a relaxed demeanor that suggested he didn't take things too seriously.
"First years," the student grinned. "Still studying? You'd do better to focus on your training."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"
"Call me Kade," the third-year said with a playful smirk. "I saw you two in the combat field earlier. Nice moves, but you're not even close to the best. Trust me, I've seen what you'll be up against."
Aiden's muscles tensed at the mention of what happened the previous night. "And what do you suggest we do?"
Kade leaned casually against a bookshelf, crossing his arms. "You need to understand one thing, first-years. Powers don't make the fighter. Your training makes you strong. But there's more than just strength—there's strategy. You need to thinkabout your powers. Not just pick what sounds cool. You've got two weeks before your selection. Use that time wisely."
Riko shifted uncomfortably. "What do you mean by strategy?"
Kade raised an eyebrow. "Well, for example, if you're thinking about combining your powers, think about how they'll work together. What makes the perfect combination? If you can control gravity, you could enhance your agility powers, making it harder for enemies to land a hit. But you have to train those combinations until they're second nature. If you don't, you'll be stuck with what you're good at—and that's never enough."
Aiden looked at Riko, their silent agreement clear. "We'll figure it out."
Kade grinned. "Good luck, then. You'll need it."
With that, he walked out of the library, leaving Aiden and Riko to stare at the power list in front of them, the weight of their decisions heavier than ever.
They had two weeks. Two weeks to refine their training, their decisions, and their resolve.
And two weeks to ensure they weren't just survivors.
They had to be warriors.