Axel smiled to himself. Another day of progress. Another step forward.

  "It's okay, Annabelle, you don’t need to worry." He stretched, his muscles feeling the rush of new power. "I’m starving, though... I smell food!"

  He followed the scent to the kitchen, his stomach growling in anticipation, as he checked his class group on his phone.

  The academic scores were finally out, and the class was buzzing with excitement. Storm topped the class with an impressive score of 682, a mark that would secure his place at a top university, even if he didn't apply to any war school. He was among the top three in Dune, so his future was practically locked.

  Following close behind was Cassia with a score of 643, and Drayke with 614. Drayke, who had done exceptionally well, was already bragging in the class group about how he'd be attending a prestigious school.

  Axel couldn't help but send a simple emoji to congratulate him, and within seconds, the class group exploded with messages.

  "Brother Axel is here!"

  "Don’t forget about me when you go to the four major war schools!"

  Axel had always kept to himself. His family wasn’t wealthy, and he didn’t have the time or energy for socializing. He’d always been average in everything, so he hadn’t been close to many of his classmates. But now, things had changed. His reputation had grown, and it seemed like people were finally taking an interest in him. The classmates who had once overlooked him were now actively reaching out.

  He noticed one person who had been particularly quiet—Cassia.

  "Why isn’t Cassia talking?"

  Cassia suddenly sent him a direct message:

  "I’m leaving next week. I’m heading to Langford. You should come and see me off."

  Langford? Axel raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t far from Dune, and Langford was home to one of the country’s 30 major war academies, although it was only ranked mid-tier.

  "Havoc Division in Langford?" Axel asked, curious. He waited for Cassia’s reply, but it never came. Shrugging, Axel turned his attention elsewhere. There was still a bigger question on his mind.

  Should he apply for the war academy? Although Vince had recruited him for the Whisper Syndicate, Axel wasn’t sure about it yet. Vince had mentioned that the syndicate’s trials were even more difficult than getting into the four major war schools, and Axel didn’t want to risk failing. If he didn’t make it, what then? Would he have nothing to fall back on?

  After thinking it over, he decided to call Vince.

  Vince was having dinner with a few of his team members when his phone rang. He was mildly surprised to see that Axel was the one calling.

  Vince answered. “What’s up?”

  Axel didn’t waste any time. “Can I apply?”

  Vince paused, not understanding at first. “Apply? You mean for the war academy?”

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  Axel quickly confirmed, “Yeah. I’m thinking of signing up. Should I? Or would you recommend something else?”

  He had remembered Axel as someone who was always distant, someone who kept his cards close to his chest. Even when Vince invited him to join the Whisper Syndicate, it had been a purely business conversation. Now, Axel was asking for his advice. Vince felt the shift in the younger man’s attitude.

  Axel, for his part, didn’t realize it, but ever since he’d reached the first-level lower grade, something in him had changed. His mood was lighter, his thoughts clearer.

  "Well, I say apply. It gives you more options. Do you have a specific school in mind?"

  Axel let out a breath of relief when Vince gave his approval. “Not yet. What about you, Brother Vince? What do you think of the four major war schools?”

  Vince’s expression softened with amusement. "The four major war academies?"

  Vince paused for a moment before answering. “Alright, here’s the rundown:

  - Stormwatch Academy is the strongest. Their faculty is top-tier because of all the powerful awakeners who live and teach there.

  - Eagle's Crest Command Academy has the best resources—money, facilities, you name it. If you're good enough, you'll have everything you need.

  - Cavalier's Honour Academy is the most free. Their faculty and resources are slightly weaker, but the freedom they give students is unmatched. The competition isn’t as fierce either.

  - And lastly, Bloodstone Warfare School... It’s the most dangerous, but the students who come out of there have the strongest combat skills.”

  Axel’s eyebrows shot up at that last part. He had heard rumors about Bloodstone Warfare School—it was in a remote northern area, often attacked by mutant beasts. It wasn’t exactly the school most geniuses aimed for, yet here Vince was, giving it high praise.

  Vince continued, “Bloodstone Warfare School is located in Shiverstone, known as the City of War. The place is tough—battles with mutant beasts are a daily thing. Even non-awakened people there train in martial arts."

  "Plus, the school itself isn’t even inside the city—it’s outside the walls. When the mutant beasts attack, it’s the first to get hit, and that’s exactly the point."

  "The school’s principal believes that as long as Bloodstone stands, the North will hold. The students there are hardworking, no-nonsense, and military-focused. They get tasks to fight mutant beasts as part of their training, and that brings the highest mortality rate among the four schools.”

  "Are you scared?"

  Axel was silent for a moment, taking it all in. Then he spoke up, “Sounds like the one for me.”

  Vince blinked. “Wait—what? You’re not even hesitating?”

  Axel chuckled softly. “I want Bloodstone Warfare School.”

  Vince’s surprise was evident. “You’re serious? Are you moved by the words of the first principal?"

  Bloodstone Warfare School will not fall, and the North will not be broken!

  Many young people go there for this simple but exciting school motto. But in Vince's opinion, Axel should not be such a person.

  "Why not? I can't wait to join it."

  There was only one real reason Axel chose Bloodstone Warfare School—the constant battles and the high mortality rate.

  For now, the life crystals were enough to sustain him. But what about the future? The only reason he was able to advance so quickly in his training was because of them, and more importantly, Annabelle needed them just to live a normal life.

  In Rutherford and Everton, the cities where the top two war academies were located, there were far too many powerful awakeners. If he went there, could he really keep Annabelle’s condition a secret?

  Now, everything had fallen into place.

  "Damn, I didn’t expect you to be this type of guy," Vince chuckled on the other end of the line. "By the way, how’s your training going? Have you completed your first fusion?"

  At the mention of that, Axel felt a twinge of guilt. If he told Vince the truth—that he had just awakened—would he get chewed out for it?

  He decided to be vague. "It’s going okay, Brother Vince." Then, to change the subject, he quickly asked, "For a first fusion, what’s the average force value?"

  "Between 180 and 200, usually."

  "Oh, got it. Thanks. Anyway, I gotta go—I'll talk to you later."

  Before Vince could ask anything else, Axel hung up in a hurry, using the excuse that he had something else to do.

  Vince stared at his phone, shaking his head. "This kid."

  The rest of his team had been watching him the whole time. They looked curious, but Vince didn’t bother explaining.