Raze kept his gaze down as they finished breakfast, trying to shake off the lingering haze from the dream. Every time the sun hit him at the wrong angle, he swore he could see faint coils of black and white mist flicker at the corners of his eyes. It didn't make sense. None of it did, and pretending it wasn't happening didn't help.
Once the four of them had finished eating, it was time for them to head back to their homeroom together.
"C'mon," Felix said, standing up and sliding his tray aside. "We'll be late for class if we don't move."
Raze nodded and followed him out of the canteen.
When they made it to their class, Raze, Liam, and Felix sat in the back of the class as usual, meanwhile Beatrix headed to the front. The students waited patiently until Aria had finally arrived.
The door slid open and Aria walked in.
"Good morning, students. I have an important announcement to make. The preparations for your first portal outing have been completed. Soon, you'll be able to explore the universe a bit more."
When the class heard this announcement, they began to whisper. Some were nervous while others were clearly excited.
"Looks like we're going to travel to another planet," Felix said under his breath. "I wonder what it'll feel like fighting a beast for the first time."
Aria clapped her hands lightly, bringing everyone to silence
Before she could explain the details of the outing, she would need to teach them how portals functioned. After all, for most of them, this would be their first time using one.
Portals were advanced machines that allowed humans to travel to and back from locations linked to their coordinations, usually other planets. Humanity had obtained this technology during the war with the Xin, after destroying one of their aircrafts and discovering a portal hidden inside.
Dissecting something so advanced should've taken years, but a scientist named Theon Crestfall had done it in a matter of months. Rumors claimed that he had an awakening that let him analyze and process technology at an impossible speed, though no one ever confirmed it. Regardless, he shared the replicated technology openly with the military, corporations, and even private groups so no single power could monopolize it.
In the present day, portals belong to three main groups: the military, private companies backed by strong originals or bloodlines, and the independent factions known as Travellers. Elite teams dedicated to exploring other worlds.
Aria continued, "There are four portal types, each identified by their own color."
Green portals led to planets explored 90-100%. These worlds had safe zones, bases, farms, and sometimes even small towns. People could live there if they wanted to.
Orange portals were 50-89% explored. These worlds had only a few bases and limited stable zones.
Red portals were the most dangerous widely-used ones, which are 10-49% explored with very few shelters and unpredictable threats.
"And finally," Aria said, pausing as the class leaned forward, "Dark Purple. Also called Abyssal Purple. These lead to planets barely explored at all, 0.1-9%. No bases, and no shelters. Frequent gravity anomalies and spatial distortions. Only Travellers, elite factions, or military units attempt them. These expeditions are extremely dangerous."
"Now," Aria said, folding her hands behind her back, "that's all the information you need to know about portals."
Then a student raised her hand, she was seated at the corner of the class.
"Yes?" Aria asked.
"Will we learn about the different kinds of beasts and the beast tiers that were discovered on those planets?" The student asked.
"For now, that's all you need to know about the portals, but don't feel disappointed, I'll tell you this. Those beasts that were killed on these planets are what we use to create our beast weapons. You'll be told more about the type of beasts and their tiers, once you begin your first portal outing."
Aria glanced at her wristwatch to check the time, then looked back at her class.
"Since, I haven't been asked any other questions, today I want you to form a team of five, and report your teams next Wednesday. You're free to talk among yourselves."
Felix turned to the others.
"Hey Raze, Liam, you guys want to team up?"
Liam was a little shocked to hear his name. Even though he was friends with Felix and Felix did indeed help him out with his wind awakening, he hadn't fully expected him to ask him to team up, after all he was only a level 2.
"O-of course! Let's team up then," Liam said, then looked toward Raze.
"Yeah, I'm in. We share the same dorm anyway," Raze said. "Now we just need Beatrix."
When the three of them looked toward the front row, they stopped.
Beatrix was surrounded. Several students were already gathered around her desk, asking her to join their teams.
Felix let out a low whistle and grinned. "Looks like she's getting popular lately."
Beatrix stayed in her seat while the class broke into chatter. The second Aria mentioned forming teams, everyone started moving around, pulling chairs, calling out names, trying to secure strong teammates.
She didn't move. She didn't need to.
Students came to her instead.
A girl from the left leaned in first. "Beatrix, you're level seven, right? Want to join our group?"
Before Beatrix could answer, a boy to her right spoke over her. "Our team needs one more. You'd be perfect."
Another group stepped closer. More voices followed. They didn't even wait for her response. All she heard were the same words repeated in different tones:
"You'd make our team balanced."
"We could definitely pass if you join us."
"You're one of the strongest here."
None of them asked how she felt about it. They only cared about her level. Beatrix kept her expression flat, eyes forward, letting them talk. She wasn't overwhelmed, just tired of hearing the same thing.
From the back of the room, she felt eyes on her. She glanced up briefly. Raze, Felix, and Liam were watching. Felix looked like he was trying not to laugh. Raze seemed unsure of what to make of the crowd. Liam looked like he wanted to disappear.
Beatrix sighed.
'Of course they'll stare right at me when this happens.'
She stood up, making the group around her go silent.
"I already have a team in mind," she said simply.
A wave of disappointment went through the students. A few tried to persuade her, but she was already walking past them.
She headed toward the back.
Felix grinned the moment she reached their row. "Looks like someone's getting popular."
Beatrix shot him a flat look. "Felix. Don't start."
Felix raised both hands in surrender. Liam gave her a small, awkward smile. Raze just nodded, quiet as usual.
Beatrix pulled out a chair and sat with them.
A level 7 and a level 7+ teaming together made perfect sense. They were both from strong bloodlines, both reliable, both known for their potential. Most students expected Beatrix and Felix to pair up from the start.
What they didn't expect was the rest of the team.
A level 1.
A level 2.
Raze and Liam didn't fit the picture everyone had in their heads. Not even close.
Whispers started spreading immediately.
"Why them?"
"She could've joined any team, why pick those two?"
"A level one? Seriously?"
Beatrix ignored every voice, taking her seat next to the boys like she didn't hear a thing. Felix stretched his arms behind his head, clearly amused by the reaction. Liam tried to make himself smaller in his chair. Raze kept his eyes forward, pretending not to notice the stares he could feel crawling up his back.
"Let's just ignore the stares for now… anyways, who should we add next to the team? There's still four of us," Raze asked.
Felix shrugged. "Great question, but I have no idea."
Liam shifted in his seat, eyes glued to the desk. "C-can we just look for another teammate tomorrow? The stares are really getting to me."
Felix let out a short laugh. "You really can't handle attention, huh?"
Liam's face turned bright red, his shoulders tensing like he wanted to disappear into his chair.
"Alright, Felix, knock it off," Beatrix said, nudging him with her elbow. "You're embarrassing him."
Felix raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine."
Liam exhaled in relief.
Raze glanced around the room, ignoring the lingering looks from other students.
"Tomorrow it is, then."
Before any of them could stand, a shadow fell over their table.
A girl with a sharp jawline and a cold expression stopped in front of them. Her uniform was spotless, her posture stiff. Raze didn't recognize her, but the glowing level 6 on her wristwatch made it clear why the room suddenly grew quieter.
Her eyes didn't go to Felix or Beatrix first.
They went straight to Raze and Liam—flat, unimpressed, almost annoyed.
"So this is the team you're forming?" she asked, her tone icy. "A level seven, a level seven-plus… and then these two?"
Raze felt her eyes drag across him like he wasn't worth a second of her time. Liam looked down immediately.
Felix frowned. "Is there a problem?"
She crossed her arms. "Yeah. There is. How exactly are you planning to survive a portal outing with a level one and a level two?
They'll hold you back. They'll slow the team down. And they'll be deadweight the moment anything gets dangerous."
Her gaze sharpened on Raze.
"You especially. Level one? You're basically asking to die out there."
Raze didn't answer. He looked down at his wristwatch instead.
Level 1.
The number felt louder now. Harder to ignore.
'Two weeks until the portal outing, Raze thought. Two weeks until we're sent to another planet. If I go in like this… she's right. I'll be deadweight.'