The announcement came way too early in the morning.
I had barely tied my boots—still half-asleep, still stretching my arms—when a blaring horn echoed across the academy. A horn that wasn't for training, or morning drills, or assemblies.
It was the emergency horn.
The entire dorm shook as every student scrambled to their windows.
"…What now?" I muttered, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Varein swung his door open at the same time I did. His hair was a mess, eyes half-lidded, but he was fully geared already.
"We're being summoned," he said stiffly.
No kidding.
We rushed down the halls, Class 1-S gathering one by one—Seraphyne tightening her pink-bladed daggers, Kazen yawning with dark circles under his eyes, Theon adjusting the strap of his greatsword, Liam nervously brushing his hair into place, Kai cracking his knuckles, Aelira silently sheathing her rapier, Liraeth stretching her arms, sparks of purple flickering around her skin, and Arion… stumbling out last with leaves stuck in his hair.
"Why are there leaves?" I asked.
"I—I fell into a bush," he mumbled.
Of course he did.
We ran together into the main courtyard.
And froze.
Because standing there… were Director Luneran, Instructor Aldred, Instructor Rodomous, Instructor Minea—and behind them, nearly three hundred second-years laid out on stretchers.
Bandaged. Bruised. Unconscious.
My chest tightened.
Second-years weren't weak. If they got wrecked this badly…
This mission wasn't normal.
Director Luneran raised a hand, silencing the whispers.
"Class 1-S," he said, voice low and grave. "You are the only active combat-ready unit available."
Seraphyne stepped up first.
"What happened to the second-years?"
Aldred answered, fists clenched.
"A scouting mission in the Dratonian Forest went bad. The second-years encountered a beast—classified at minimum S-Class Threat. They attempted to retreat. It pursued."
My brows furrowed.
A S-Tier beast?
"But why us?" Liam asked, voice shaky. "We're first years."
Director Luneran turned his gaze toward the injured students.
"Because the second-years cannot move. And the third- and fourth-years are off-campus due to their written examinations. Time is… not on our side."
He looked straight at me.
"Class 1-S stands at the top of the hierarchy. You are the strongest available force."
That pressure—the kind that once felt suffocating—rose in my chest.
But this time…
It didn't crush me.
I took a step forward.
"What's the mission?"
Aldred nodded as if he expected me to ask.
"The beast retreated deeper into the forest after its confrontation. But it left behind… traces." He paused. "A strange mist. Unlike anything documented."
Mist.
My eyes flicked toward Kazen.
Who shrugged. "Don't look at me, I didn't do anything."
Aldred continued.
"We need you to investigate the mist, locate the beast, and determine if it is a threat to the academy. You are to avoid direct confrontation unless absolutely necessary."
Arion raised his hand timidly. "Um… what if absolutely necessary happens immediately?"
Rodomous scowled. "Then you stand your ground and survive."
Kazen muttered, "Great. Inspiring."
Aelira stepped closer, icy aura faintly swirling. "Are we retrieving anything?"
Minea shook her head. "No. Only information. The academy needs to know what wounded an entire second-year battalion."
Then Varein spoke, tone firmer than usual.
"We accept."
Everyone turned to him.
He looked calm. Determined.
A quiet wind flickered around him.
Then I stepped forward beside him.
"So do I."
The others followed—one after another, without hesitation.
Even Arion, though his legs shook.
We were Class 1-S.
We moved together.
"Good," Director Luneran said. "Then prepare your gear. You depart within the hour."
As we turned to leave, Aldred stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.
"Rain."
I paused.
His eyes were serious—more serious than I'd ever seen.
"This mission is your first real encounter with the unknown," he said quietly. "Do not rely solely on your awakened will. There are things in this world that resist even the strongest resolve."
My breath caught.
He looked almost… worried.
"Stay cautious. And keep your squad safe."
I nodded.
"We will."
And for the first time…
I believed it.
We gathered our gear. Checked our weapons. Adjusted armor straps. Ate quickly. Focused our minds.
And when we stood at the academy gates—ten first-years, ten prodigies, ten rivals united under one mission—the tension was thick enough to choke on.
Kazen yawned dramatically.
"So, uh… who votes we don't die?"
Liraeth raised her mace. "If anyone dies, it better not be me."
Seraphyne rolled her eyes. "No one is dying."
Theon raised his fist, voice loud and determined as always—but not annoyingly so. "Let's show everyone why 1-S is the best!"
Varein smirked. "Try to keep up."
Kai twirled his katana. "As if I'd fall behind."
Aelira brushed her hair back gracefully. "Stay sharp."
Liam gulped, then exhaled. "We've got this."
Arion whispered, "Please…"
And I…
I looked toward the road ahead, feeling the faint hum of my sword at my hip.
This was different.
Not a duel.
Not academy training.
Not a ritual or examination.
A mission.
A real one.
Something dangerous, unpredictable, and bigger than anything we'd ever done.
"Let's move," I said.
Into the forest.
Into the unknown.
And toward the beast that even most second-years couldn't withstand.