A Whisper of the Past
The training grounds are quiet after the day's exercises. Students rest in their shelters, but Kaen notices Lyra sitting alone by the edge of the river, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes.
Riku encourages him to check on her, and reluctantly, Kaen approaches.
At first, Lyra brushes him off with her usual cold tone:
Lyra: "You don't need to bother with me. Focus on your own survival."
But Kaen sits nearby silently, waiting. Finally, she speaks.
Her voice cracks as she recalls her past: her parents were once hunters, respected in their village. But during a raid, a giant carnivorous dinosaur tore through their home. She watched them fight bravely, only to be crushed before her eyes. Unlike Kaen, who froze in his trauma, Lyra swore never to cry again — only to sharpen herself into a weapon.
Lyra (whisper): "If I hesitate… people die. That's why I can't stand weakness."
Kaen listens in silence, feeling her pain echoing his own. But instead of bitterness, he answers softly:
Kaen: "Strength without a heart is just another kind of weakness. If you fight only for revenge… you'll lose yourself."
Lyra doesn't reply. But her eyes soften — the first crack in her cold mask.
Fin's Warmth
The next morning, Fin gathers the group around the campfire. Unlike Lyra, he's always cheerful, cracking jokes and keeping morale alive. But when Riku asks him why he never loses his smile, Fin falls quiet.
He explains how his little sister once looked up to him. When the dinosaurs attacked, he tried to protect her, but he wasn't strong enough. She was taken before his eyes.
Fin (with a forced grin): "I smile because… if I don't, I'll remember that moment. And if I remember it too clearly, I'll break."
Everyone sits in silence. Even Lyra lowers her gaze.
Kaen clenches his fist. These weren't just comrades. Each of them carried scars, invisible but heavy. For the first time, he feels they aren't just rivals — they're all fighting the same pain.
The Challenge Declared
Later that day, the squad leader — the stern yet wise Commander Arven — gathers the trainees. His presence alone silences the air.
Arven: "Listen well. Survival is not earned by training alone. To join the Special Squad, you must pass the Trial of Strength and Resolve. It is no simple test. Many fail. Some… never return."
The air thickens. Students murmur nervously. Kaen feels his heartbeat race — this is the wall between dream and despair.
Arven's eyes sweep over them.
Arven: "You will be tested not just in body, but in spirit. Alone, you are weak. Together, you may survive. Choose your bonds carefully."
The words carve into Kaen's mind. He thinks of Riku, Fin, Lyra… and his mother's last words echo: Protect the lost.
The Duel
To prepare them, Arven announces sparring matches. Students cheer and groan as names are called. When he declares Kaen vs Lyra, a hush falls.
The two stand in the center of the training ground, wooden practice weapons in hand.
Lyra glares coldly.
Lyra: "Show me, Kaen. Are you still the boy who trembles in fear… or can you stand as my equal?"
Kaen grips his practice spear tightly. His hands shake, but this time — it's not from fear, but from determination.
The fight begins.
Lyra is fast, her sword whistling through the air with precision. Kaen blocks clumsily at first, nearly stumbling, but remembers his kill — the blood, the fear, and the resolve that came after.
His eyes sharpen. He parries, thrusts, pushes forward.
The duel becomes a clash of wills. Lyra's strikes are merciless, driven by vengeance. Kaen's defense grows steadier, fueled by the desire to protect. Each blow feels cinematic: sparks from wood clashing, sweat glistening, breaths sharp and ragged.
Finally, Kaen disarms her with a desperate, powerful strike, pinning her sword to the ground.
Silence.
Lyra stares up at him, stunned. For the first time, Kaen stands tall — not as a boy of tragedy, but as a fighter with purpose.
He lowers the spear instead of finishing.
Kaen (panting): "I don't want to defeat you, Lyra. I want to stand beside you."
The crowd murmurs. Lyra's lips twitch, almost like she wants to smile — but she turns away, hiding it.
Bonds Before the Storm
That night, Kaen, Riku, Fin, and Lyra sit together quietly by the campfire. No jokes, no rivalry — just a shared silence of respect.
Fin finally breaks it with a grin:
Fin: "Guess Kaen's not so hopeless after all."
Riku smiles softly, relieved. Lyra doesn't reply, but the way she sits closer to the group says everything.
Above them, the stars shine brightly, but the air is heavy with what's coming. The exam looms, a shadow over their fragile peace.
Kaen clenches his fist and whispers to himself:
Kaen: "This time… I won't lose anyone."
The screen fades to black.