The next day had arrived, and it was the weekend for the students.
Just like any other school, classes were suspended, giving students a chance to relax and do as they wished. As long as they stayed within thirty miles of the academy, they were free to roam. That range included the nearby city, which many students often visited.
The curfew, however, still existed. All students were required to return to their dorms before nine in the evening, and leaving the city limits was strictly forbidden.
But while the students enjoyed their freedom, the leaders of the academy did not share the same luxury.
A meeting had been called.
Inside the academy, on the top floor, the leaders gathered in a fairly large meeting hall.
A long table sat centered in the room, its surface polished and cold. The table was divided into two sections. At the head were four seats in total, one of them noticeably larger than the rest.
These seats belonged to the four leaders of the academy and the head of the military.
At the moment, the seat meant for the head of the military remained empty.
Seated near the leaders' side of the table were the Generals of the academy.
Henry, the head of the second-year students, sat upright in his chair. He wore thin-framed glasses, his muscular build making him look more like a frontline officer than an academic leader.
Across from him sat Glen, the head of the first-year students. He was smaller in stature and looked almost relaxed despite the importance of the meeting, his posture casual compared to Henry's rigid form.
The third General, the head of staff and overseer of the academy's privates and instructors, was absent. His seat remained empty.
The two present Generals sat in silence, waiting.
Moments later, the doors to the meeting hall opened.
Eight figures entered, all wearing standard military uniforms. Each of them bore the rank of sergeant clearly displayed. Among them was Ray, the combat weapons instructor, and Noelle, the academy's doctor.
The eight sergeants took their seats opposite the Generals.
With everyone present, the room finally settled.
After a moment of silence the meeting began.
"Cancel the portal outing."
The words cut through the room before anyone else could speak.
Henry didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. He sat back in his chair, fingers interlaced atop the table, eyes fixed forward like the decision had already been made.
For a moment, no one responded.
The faint hum of the room's lighting filled the silence.
At the head of the table, Evelynn Hart slowly lifted her gaze. Her expression didn't change, but the shift in her attention alone carried weight.
"That's not your call to make," she said calmly.
Henry adjusted his glasses. "It should be," he replied. "You've seen the reports. First-years are not ready. We're pushing them too fast."
Knox leaned back in his seat, arms crossed.
His sharp eyes flicked briefly toward Henry before settling on Evelynn. "Too fast compared to what?" he asked. "Last year's standards?"
Henry's jaw tightened. "Compared to survival."
Marcus Hale finally spoke, his voice low. "We're not talking about throwing them into red or dark purple portals," he said. "The proposal is a green-tier outing."
"Green doesn't mean harmless," Henry shot back. "It means less lethal. There's a difference."
Julian Cross, who had remained silent until now, tapped his finger once against the table. The sound was soft, but deliberate.
"Last year's second-years didn't enter their first portal until three weeks into the term," he said. "That was during peacetime projections."
Evelynn nodded slightly. "And this isn't peacetime."
She then leaned forward just enough for everyone to notice.
"Planets are being destroyed," Evelynn continued. "Not over years. Over days. In some cases, hours." Her eyes moved from Henry to the sergeants seated opposite. "We don't have the comfort of easing students into reality anymore."
Henry exhaled through his nose. "And what happens when one of them dies during next week's portal outing? What message does that send?"
"That survival is learned early," Knox said bluntly. "Or not at all."
Ray shifted in his seat but didn't speak.
Marcus folded his hands. "The green portals we're considering only contain low-tier beasts," he said. "Basic, with intermediate at most."
"And if something goes wrong?" Henry pressed.
Julian met his gaze. "Then it goes wrong now," he said, "instead of inside a collapsing world where no one can pull them out."
Evelynn straightened.
"We have fourteen months," she said. "That's the time we have left to shape these students into something capable of standing in a real fight. Delaying their exposure doesn't protect them. It weakens them."
Henry looked away for the first time.
"…You're gambling with lives," he said quietly.
Evelynn's reply was immediate.
"We already are," she said. "The difference is whether they're ready when the gamble reaches them."
Somewhere outside the meeting room, laughter echoed down the academy corridors.
Students moved in loose groups, voices overlapping as they walked. Most of them were talking about weekend plans—heading to the nearby city, hitting the arcade, or meeting up with family members they hadn't seen in a while.
A lot of them still thought about home. Especially since none of them were here by choice. The world had simply run out of alternatives.
Inside the dorm, Raze sat at the edge of his bed, one arm resting against the mattress. A system panel hovered in front of him as he scrolled through different tabs. Status. Skills. Locked skills. Things he still couldn't touch.
"It's finally the weekend, guys!" Felix said loudly, stretching his arms out like he'd just been freed from prison.
Liam was sprawled across his bed, chewing on the last of his protein bar. "Nothing beats this," he said through a mouthful. "I swear people fight over these things."
Felix laughed. "There is no way people are throwing hands over protein snacks."
"It's true. I'm not joking," Liam replied seriously.
A pillow suddenly flew across the room and smacked Felix directly in the face.
"Quiet down," Beatrix said, her voice flat. She looked half-awake, half-annoyed, like she'd thrown the pillow purely to make the noise stop. "Some of us are still trying to sleep."
Felix groaned dramatically. "That's the second time you've thrown a pillow at me."
Raze glanced up from his system screen and chuckled quietly at the scene unfolding in front of him.
Beatrix pointed a finger at the door. "Get out. You're too loud."
Felix groaned. "Come on…"
Liam tried to hold it in. He really did. His shoulders shook once, twice—then he laughed anyway.
Beatrix's finger shifted slightly. "You too, Liam," she added. "It's like Raze is the only quiet one here."
All eyes turned to Raze.
He looked up from the system panel, blinking once. "…I'm just existing."
Felix snorted. "See? Even when he talks, it's quiet."
"That's because he doesn't waste energy,"
Beatrix said. She dropped her hand and turned back toward her bed. "Unlike you two."
Liam wiped his eyes, still smiling. "So what, we're all just supposed to sit in silence now?"
"Yes," Beatrix replied immediately.
Felix stared at her. "That's cruel."
Raze continued flipping through tab after tab, mostly out of boredom, until a message suddenly appeared in front of him.
It almost made him flinch.
[Secret input has been detected.]
[New Tab Unlocked.]
He stared at the notification for a second longer than necessary.