"Exams are like final bosses. You either defeat them, or they haunt your dreams forever."

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  Chapter 4: The Storm before the Calm

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  The Chaos of the Exam Week

  The final week of exams was nothing short of a battlefield. Students dragged themselves through the hallways, their energy completely drained. Some had dark circles deep enough to be mistaken for war paint. Others clutched notes with a desperation that suggested they believed last-minute cramming could work miracles.

  Ryu sat hunched over his desk, fingers tight around his pen. His mind raced, squeezing out every ounce of knowledge before the invigilator announced, "Time's up."

  Across the room, Aiden was slouched in his chair, his posture far too relaxed for someone taking an exam. Every few minutes, he'd tap his fingers against the desk before lazily jotting something down, like he was doing the test as a personal favor to the teacher.

  Meanwhile, Karl had completely given up, leaning back with a resigned expression, staring at the ceiling as though contemplating his life choices.

  Lena and Alina whispered back and forth until the invigilator shot them a glare that promised detention if they continued.

  At the far end, Ren was muttering complex equations under his breath, his fingers twitching as if trying to summon divine intervention.

  The final minutes arrived. Ryu’s heart pounded as he glanced at the clock. Not enough time. His hand moved frantically, scribbling down his last answer—

  A shadow loomed over him. The invigilator reached out and snatched the paper from his grasp.

  Ryu exhaled sharply, slumping in his chair. Survived.

  Post Exam Exhaustion and the Gathering

  The moment they stepped out of the exam hall, the air felt lighter.

  Ryu rolled his shoulders, stretching out the stiffness from sitting too long. His first instinct? Check on Aiden.

  He found him near their usual spot, staring out of the window like someone contemplating the meaning of life.

  “Yo, buddy. How was the exam?” Ryu asked, nudging him.

  Aiden sighed. “Guess it was fine. Looks like I won’t fail anything this time.”

  Ryu's eyebrows shot up. “WOAH! That’s a great response coming from you!”

  Aiden gave him a bored look. “It’s not that shocking.”

  “Wanna celebrate your great achievement?” Ryu teased.

  Aiden rubbed the back of his head. “I don’t really feel like it… but I don’t have a reason to say no either.”

  Before they could continue, their group—Lena, Alina, Ren, and Karl—gathered in classroom 2-D.

  “Hey, Kenji, how was the exam?” Lena asked.

  Ryu shrugged. “Almost ran out of time, but all good.”

  Alina smirked. “As expected of a scholar. Anyway, we’re planning to hit up some cafés, maybe do karaoke. You in?”

  Ryu grinned. “Oh, perfect! Aiden and I were just talking about celebrating.”

  Before anyone could respond, Karl dramatically threw his hands up. “Finally! The storm before the calm is over, and peace has returned.”

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  Alina pinched the bridge of her nose with an exasperated sigh. “Ugh, Karl, can you not with the terrible jokes? They’re not funny—also, you’re interrupting our plans. Shoo! Shoo!” She waved him away like an annoying fly.

  Karl smirked. “Says the person who laughed at my joke just last week.”

  A vein twitched on Alina’s forehead, but she took a deep breath and chose to ignore him.

  Turning her attention to Aiden, she crossed her arms. “You don’t seem very interested, but trust me, it’ll be fun if you come.”

  Aiden sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll tag along.”

  Ryu smirked, barely hiding his amusement behind his hand. “Ehh? That’s rare. Usually, you just shoot us down without a second thought."

  

  “Just shut up already.” Aiden’s deadpan reply earned a few chuckles from the group.

  Magic, Ambitions and Guidance

  Before heading to the café, the group found themselves lingering in the academy's open training grounds. The golden glow of the setting sun cast long shadows across the field, where a few students were still practicing magic.

  A small crowd had gathered around their combat instructor, Master Ravel. His sharp gaze swept over the students as he observed one struggling to conjure a flame.

  “Magic isn’t just about strength,” Ravel said, his voice cutting through the murmurs. “It’s about control, about discipline.” With a flick of his wrist, a small ember flared to life above his palm before vanishing. “Without control, you’re just another reckless fool playing with fire.”

  The group watched, intrigued, as the student tried again.

  “Man, I wish we had more time to practice before the expedition,” Ren muttered. “I barely get to test my Lightning Arc outside of class.”

  Lena nodded, summoning a small gust of wind between her fingers. “Same. I finally stabilized my Wind Affinity in combat, and now we’re jumping straight into a field trip.”

  Karl, leaning against the railing, crossed his arms. “Must be nice to have affinities.”

  Ryu tensed slightly before forcing a chuckle. “Yeah… tell me about it.”

  A silence settled between them.

  Ryu exhaled. “I always wanted to get into a magic academy… But, well, you know how that went.” He tried to sound casual, but his voice carried an edge of frustration.

  Master Ravel turned to him. “A person without magic can still become powerful. You just have to carve your own path.”

  Ryu met his gaze, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

  Breaking the tension, Alina stretched and grinned. “Well, if we’re talking future plans, I’m aiming for the Lunar Magic Corps. Elite unit, prestigious, and they get the best uniforms.”

  Lena smirked. “No surprise there.”

  Karl snorted. “I just want a stable job. Maybe research—away from explosions and combat maniacs.”

  Ren grinned. “You say that, but you’d make a killer strategist.”

  Aiden, as expected, only muttered, “Haven’t thought about it.”

  "Of course you haven’t," Ryu said, shaking his head.

  The conversation drifted into teasing and laughter as they made their way toward the café.

  The Café and A Glimpse of Elite

  The café was warm, buzzing with chatter and the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

  As they settled in, the holo-screen above the counter flickered to life.

  "Breaking News! The Five Great Generals of the Major Magic Academies have gathered for an emergency summit today. Though the details remain undisclosed, sources suggest a major shift in the magical world is upon us."

  The screen showed five figures, their presences imposing even through the display.

  For a moment, the entire café seemed to pause.

  Ren leaned forward. “Wait… All five? That never happens.”

  Lena whispered, “It must be serious…”

  Karl frowned. “Or dangerous.”

  Alina, however, had a different reaction. “Forget the crisis—look at them. I mean, that one right there? Handsome as hell.”

  The tension shattered as the group groaned.

  “You are unbelievable,” Ryu muttered.

  Before the broadcast could continue, the screen cut to an advertisement, snapping them back to reality.

  The Calm before the Storm

  As they stepped out of the café, the first raindrops began to fall.

  At first, it was a gentle drizzle. Then, it turned into a steady downpour.

  Ryu pulled up his hood. “Guess we’re running home.”

  Alina groaned. “Ugh, my hair!”

  Aiden, as usual, remained unbothered. “Should’ve checked the forecast.”

  As they rushed through the rain, their laughter mixed with the sound of water hitting the pavement.

  For a moment, everything felt… normal.

  But deep down, something gnawed at Ryu.

  The image of the generals, the cryptic news, the unease settling in his chest.

  Something about this trip felt different.

  Something about it felt... different.

  Chapter End

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  End-of-Chapter Note

  If you enjoyed this chapter or have any thoughts, I’d love to hear them! Whether it’s something you liked, something that felt off, or any suggestions, feel free to share. I’m always open to feedback, criticism, and discussions to make the story even better.

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  If you're enjoying the journey so far, please consider leaving a review and rating—it helps a ton and keeps this story going strong. Your feedback and encouragement mean the world to me!

  Thanks for reading, and see you in the next one! ????

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