She stood in front of the mirror, fully dressed in the navy and silver-trimmed uniform of the Vanguard Division. The lightning badge rested over her heart. Raiketsu hung across her back, the blade newly named, newly bonded. She could feel the difference now, its hum was no longer distant or sporadic. It pulsed in rhythm with her mana. They had recognized each other.
She opened the window, letting the cold air brush against her cheeks as she gazed across the vast academy grounds. Her eyes fell to the training fields and coliseums beyond. Today, she wouldn’t train alone. Today, she would forge something new.
By the time the courtyard began to fill, Celeste was already at the cohort board outside the east wing, where the newly formed teams were posted. Her name was listed at the top of Cohort One. Beneath hers were five others:
- Lyra Dawnveil — Class: Scholar
- Kaito Renn — Class: Archer
- Mira Thornwell — Class: Brawler
- Elias Fen — Class: Mage
- Vayne Hollow — Class: Tactician
Each name represented a different background, a different strength. Celeste scanned the list, memorized it, then stepped back as the other five began to arrive.
Lyra appeared first, her violet eyes dancing with curiosity. "Looks like we’ll be working together after all."
Celeste offered a nod. "We will start with introductions. Then training."
One by one, the others trickled in. Kaito was sharp-eyed and quiet, his bow slung across his back in a travel worn case. Mira was tall and broad-shouldered, her gauntlets already strapped on, fists clenched and ready. Elias, the youngest of the group besides Celeste, carried a nervous smile but radiated raw magical potential. Vayne was pale and reserved, a book tucked under one arm, his gaze constantly calculating.
Celeste stepped forward.
"I’m Celeste Silver. I don’t care where you come from or what you think you know. What matters is what you can do and how well we can function as a unit. I’ve already reviewed your profiles. Each of you was placed here because you ranked in the top fifteen percent of your assessments. That means you have potential."
She let the silence hang for a moment.
"We train today at noon. Field Course B. I expect all of you to be ready."
Mira crossed her arms. "You’re not wasting any time."
"Time isn’t something we get extra of," Celeste replied. "I’ll see you on the field."
She turned and walked away.
And though none of them said it aloud, each of the five felt the same thing as they watched her go:
They were no longer just cadets.
They had a leader.
—
Field Course B was a wide, open training ground shaped like a sunken ring. Enchanted barriers surrounded the field to suppress damage and protect observers. Simulated terrain obstacles: boulders, uneven slopes, and low walls, were arranged throughout. It was designed to mimic the unpredictability of real-world skirmishes.
Celeste stood at the edge, Raiketsu sheathed across her back, as her cohort assembled before her. The noon sun hung high, casting long shadows across the field.
"Today’s objective is cohesion," she said without raising her voice. "Your individual skills got you here. Now I want to see how you work together."
She tossed a small orb into the air. It hovered, spun, and projected a glowing field across the training ring.
"Simulated hostile constructs will appear in three waves. Target dummies with randomized movement and minor elemental resistance. Vayne, you’re on overwatch, call movements and issue adjustments. Kaito, you’ll provide cover fire. Mira, front line with me. Elias, support with mid-range spell coverage. Lyra, flex between support and counter disruption."
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"So, you’re already assuming command," Vayne said coolly.
"No. I’ve been given command," Celeste answered. "There’s a difference."
Lyra chuckled under her breath. "She’s not wrong."
The orb chimed.
"Positions!" Celeste barked.
They moved. It wasn’t flawless. Kaito hesitated for a second before nocking his first arrow, and Elias stumbled slightly as he positioned behind the half-wall, but it was fast.
The constructs emerged; glowing figures of light and mana that surged forward with sudden, jerking motion. Mira bellowed and slammed into the first with a reinforced gauntlet. Lightning exploded from Raiketsu as Celeste cleaved through another.
Vayne called out, "Left flank surge, two targets high speed!"
"Kaito, pin them!" Celeste snapped. The archer loosed two arrows, one striking dead center, the other grazing wide.
"Elias, counter left with Frost!"
The young mage raised his staff, shouting his incantation as a wave of ice burst from his palm, halting the construct’s momentum.
"Lyra, shield Mira’s flank!"
A shimmer of arcane energy flared across Mira’s side just in time to block a glowing strike.
Within minutes, the wave ended.
The second wave hit harder. The constructs gained speed, began flanking in coordinated patterns. But Celeste’s voice never wavered. She adjusted positions mid-battle, identified the gaps in their response, and filled them herself when necessary.
By the end of the third wave, her cohort was moving with something close to unity.
When the orb chimed completion, the constructs vanished into fading particles.
Mira was panting, her knuckles singed. Kaito’s quiver was half-empty. Elias had sweat running down his temples, but his hands were steady.
Vayne tucked his book under one arm. "You pushed us harder than most Captains would."
Celeste wiped Raiketsu clean and re-sheathed it. "You’ll thank me later."
Lyra grinned, brushing dust off her coat. "I already am."
Celeste let her eyes pass over each of them, one by one.
"Debrief in one hour. Come prepared. Next time, we go live."
And as she walked away again, this time her cohort followed without hesitation.
—
An hour later, they sat in the cohort meeting room. It was a modest chamber lit by soft crystal sconces and a central round table. Training reports hovered in the air, projected by Lyra’s illusion spell.
"Elias, your frost surge was effective, but your mana draw was too shallow. You need a deeper incantation for reliable spread," Celeste said, tapping her finger on the floating chart.
Elias nodded quickly. "I’ll refine it tonight."
"Kaito, your aim is solid, but don’t hesitate when your angle narrows. Trust your release."
"Understood."
"Vayne," Celeste continued, "your calls were mostly precise. Work on spacing your commands, some came in too fast to act on."
"Noted."
She turned to Mira. "You overextended. Twice. You held the line, but you left Elias exposed on the second surge."
Mira exhaled. "Yeah. I felt it. I’ll rein it in."
Celeste turned last to Lyra. "You adapted faster than expected. Your illusions were clean. Keep that flexibility."
Lyra leaned back in her chair, hands folded behind her head. "High praise from our commander. I’ll treasure it."
Celeste gave a thin smile.
Then she stood. "We train again at dawn. Tomorrow, we simulate against another cohort. If we win, we earn first pick for shared resources. That means better potion rations, upgraded gear trials, and private sparring grounds."
Their eyes sharpened.
She let the weight of that settle in the room.
And then, without fanfare, she said, "Dismissed."
As the others rose and filtered out, chatting among themselves, Lyra lingered.
"You plan far ahead."
"Survival favors those who do," Celeste replied.
"You know, Celeste..." Lyra said, tilting her head, "command suits you. But I wonder, how much of it is instinct, and how much is memory?"
Celeste’s golden eyes flicked toward her.
"I don’t look back," she said simply. "Only forward."
Then she turned and walked away, the quiet hum of Raiketsu echoing in her steps.
Outside, dusk was falling across the academy. Lights flared to life across towers and bridges, and the wind whispered like a storm not yet formed.
Tomorrow, the fire would rise again.
And Celeste would meet it.