That morning, Dominion Elite Academy felt different—like something awaited them beyond the daily routine. Rael could feel the tension in the air; the Inferus students, especially those who had undertaken the mission in the Green Zone, were whispering amongst themselves. They didn't know what was coming, but they all sensed the weight of the discussions circulating around them, fuelling both anxiety and anticipation.
In the Umbra training hall, Master Elyon Nacht stood waiting. With his rigid stance and arms crossed, his expression conveyed his usual seriousness, though there was something more profound in his gaze. Rael and his fellow students gathered in silence, none wishing to break the growing stillness.
Elyon began the session with his characteristic calm. He didn't start with orders or instructions as he usually would. Instead, he let them wait in tense silence, his eyes scanning each student, studying their expressions and body language. At last, he spoke, his voice low yet resolute, resonating across the room.
"Starting today, your training will take on a deeper form," Elyon said. "Field assignments are serious, and mental resilience is as vital as physical skill. Many of you think that completing the first mission is an accomplishment, but it's only the beginning of a long journey filled with choices that will test your integrity."
His gaze swept across the students, pausing briefly on Rael. That look sent a faint tremor through Rael's core—a subtle yet unmistakable recognition. "Umbra does not seek followers. Umbra creates shadows that can stand alone."
A chill travelled down Rael's spine. He grasped the meaning behind Elyon's words. Being a part of Umbra was more than moving unseen; they were Dominion's silent guardians, watchers who waited for the right moment to act, even if it meant walking a solitary path.
. . .
Across the training hall, Mira Kasari stood tall among the other Auctoritas students, her gaze never straying far from Rael. Her recent promotion to Medius had brought her more access and greater responsibilities, along with the pressure to uphold the reputation she bore. She was now under constant scrutiny, both watched and evaluated by other students.
Each time her eyes fell on Rael, memories of their first mission in the Green Zone resurfaced—how Rael had acted calmly in the face of the Vilehound, as if such skill came to him naturally. "Rael is a significant talent," Mira murmured to herself, her eyes fixed on Rael from a distance. "But he's a threat if allowed to progress unchecked."
Though arrogance and ambition had long been Mira's defining traits, something about Rael sparked a curiosity she had never felt toward any other student. To Mira, Rael was more than just a comrade on the field; he was a mystery slowly revealing itself. As a potential leader of Auctoritas, Mira knew she would either have to control the threat Rael posed—or eliminate it—to achieve her greater ambitions.
. . .
The training Rael and his peers underwent changed drastically. No longer limited to stealth and silent movement, they were now faced with scenarios that tested their mental fortitude. In each scenario, they were confronted with difficult choices, each with its own set of harsh consequences.
One of these scenarios placed them in a simulation of a sudden attack in a dangerous zone. They had to choose between saving an injured comrade or completing an essential mission. With his heart pounding, Rael felt as if he were truly out there in the field, where lives and missions hung by a thread.
"What will you do?" a cold voice asked from the training device, quickening the ticking clock as time slipped away. The image of his injured comrade lay before him, while on the other side, the mission loomed with mounting urgency.
Rael felt a battle raging within him. Finally, he made a quick decision to aid his wounded teammate, allowing the mission to falter. When the scenario ended, Master Elyon approached him, his gaze unflinching.
"Do you understand that a decision like that could mean the failure of an actual mission?" he asked, his tone icy.
Rael held his breath, but he met Elyon's gaze firmly. "Yes, Master. But I don't want to sacrifice my comrade's life for a single mission."
Elyon showed no reaction, only offering a slight nod. "That choice is yours. But remember, out there, loyalty must balance with the greater mission. Not everyone is worth saving."
Elyon's words struck Rael like a cold blade, forcing him to confront a far more brutal reality than he had imagined. Every decision had a cost, and the outside world showed no mercy to weakness or error. Yet, in his heart, Rael remained convinced that his values were something he couldn't afford to sacrifice so easily.
After the exhausting training, Rael walked into the canteen, his gaze sweeping across the room in search of a quiet spot. In the far corner, he spotted Kian Serel, a student from Ingenium known for his sharp analytical mind, sitting alone and staring pensively into his drink.
Rael approached the table, and Kian, noticing him, gave a small wave. "Rael, take a seat," he said, his voice gentle but attentive.
Rael sat down, exhaling to release some of the day's tension. Without delay, Kian began the conversation. "I've noticed something different about you," he said, observing Rael with a faint, mysterious smile.
Rael raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Different? In what way?"
Kian leaned back, scrutinising Rael as if he were a puzzle waiting to be solved. "You're often lost in thought, aren't you? About the Academy… about Dominion. I like analysing people, and you're one of the intriguing ones. Unlike most others here, you're not just obsessed with ranks or popularity."
Rael chuckled lightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable under Kian's perceptive gaze. "I'm just trying to get by, like everyone else."
Kian shook his head, smiling. "No, you're not like them. You're searching for something more than just rank or honour. You want to understand the true purpose of all this, don't you?"
Rael pondered for a moment, feeling that Kian's words had touched something deep within him. "Perhaps," he answered slowly. "Sometimes, it feels like there's something we're not being told. As if we're just a small part of something much larger."
Kian leaned forward, his voice dropping. "I feel the same. I even tried tracing some data in the Academy's systems… and what I found was strange."
Rael's interest piqued. "What did you find?"
Kian lowered his gaze, his expression growing serious. "Just fragments. Parts of history that have been erased, information on the Holy Council that's been blocked—as if there's a major secret they're hiding from us all."
Rael's heart began to race. "So, what do you make of it?"
Kian sighed deeply. "I don't think we're just being trained to fight the Gloomspawn. I believe the Holy Council has far bigger plans, and perhaps… we're nothing more than pawns in their game."
Rael sat in silence, Kian's words echoing in his mind, stirring up a new layer of suspicion he hadn't fully acknowledged before. He had sensed there was more to their training than mere ranks and missions, but so far, the truth had felt like an unreachable shadow.
Their conversation ended, but Rael couldn't shake the curiosity that gnawed at him. Kian's words had planted a seed within him—a new urge to uncover the answers, whatever the cost.
That night, Rael decided not to go to the library. Instead, he headed to an open field outside the Academy building, where the cool night air flowed and stars gleamed brightly above him. The place offered a different kind of peace, far removed from the Academy's bustle.
There, under the open sky, Rael saw a familiar figure—Luca Valen, standing alone and staring at the dark horizon beyond the Aegis Wall. Luca carried an aura of resilience and mystery, as if he had a purpose that went beyond mere survival.
"Luca," Rael called, approaching him slowly.
Luca turned, a faint smile on his face. "Rael. Not many people come here this late."
Rael gave a small smile, standing beside him and joining him in looking out toward the towering Aegis Wall. "Sometimes, I wonder if the world outside these walls is really as dangerous as they say. Or maybe… there's more freedom out there than here."
Luca laughed softly, though his smile was bitter. "I feel the same, Rael. Sometimes I think living outside these walls might be freer than life under the Holy Council's control."
Rael studied Luca, noticing the deep resentment in his gaze. He knew that beneath Luca's calm demeanour, there lay a smouldering anger toward the Holy Council, something he never fully revealed.
"What is it you're truly seeking here, Luca?" Rael finally asked, wanting to understand what drove his first mission partner.
Luca was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh. "My brother… he disappeared. The Holy Council said it was an accident on a mission, but I know there's more to it than that. Something's wrong, something they're hiding. I didn't come to this Academy to learn to fight. I came here to find the truth."
Rael felt the pain and determination behind Luca's words. He understood that loss never truly left someone's life, but for Luca, it seemed to fuel his desire for answers.
"Do you think… finding that truth will bring you peace?" Rael murmured, more to himself than Luca.
Luca looked at him deeply, his eyes filled with something beyond anger. "Truth doesn't have to bring peace, Rael. Sometimes, truth only reveals how dark the world is. But at least we'll know what we're up against."
Rael fell silent, those words resonating within him. The world he knew, Dominion, which he had long regarded as their protector, now felt like a prison full of secrets. He was beginning to understand that the greatest battle wasn't just against ferocious creatures like the Gloomspawn, but against the very system governing them all.