3:40 P.M.

Classes were nearly over.

The restless energy in the room was obvious. Glances darted toward the clock, waiting for the bell to ring.

Then—

CRACK.

Thunder roared overhead.

A girl near the window yelped, half-screaming as the sound rattled the glass. Everyone turned instinctively.

Rain poured down all at once—heavy, relentless sheets lashing against the windows.

A collective groan swept the room.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

Zen leaned back in his chair, unfazed. Finn exhaled with a long sigh. Cassie simply stared out the window, expression unreadable.

By the time the final bell rang, the rain showed no sign of letting up.

Students arrived at the building gate, some opening their umbrellas and others waiting for the rain to stop.

Zen, Cassie, Finn, and Madoka stood beneath the building’s overhang near the exit, watching water cascade down the steps.

Cassie sighed. “I didn’t even think to check the weather report.”

Finn snorted. “You and half the damn academy.”

Footsteps approached from behind.

Julianna stopped beside them, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Good afternoon.”

Finn raised an eyebrow. “Really? Good afternoon? With this weather?”

Julianna chuckled softly. “Old habit, I guess. I say it every time I see someone—rain or shine.”

She glanced at the downpour. “I’m heading back to the dorms early. No more work left for today.”

Her gaze shifted to Cassie. “I overheard you saying you didn’t bring an umbrella. You can walk with me—mine’s a bit more spacious.”

Cassie smiled. “Thanks.”

Zen, Finn, and Madoka opened their umbrellas. Julianna and Cassie stepped out first, followed by the others, and together they started toward the student residential zone.

After a moment, Julianna spoke again. “How is Elysia now?”

Cassie paused slightly. “She’s recovering. Probably a few more days before she returns.”

The worry in her eyes hadn’t faded.

Julianna glanced at her. “You don’t seem as shaken, though.”

“I’ve faced danger a few times before,” Cassie replied quietly. “I can tolerate it better.”

Then, softer, “Vi hasn’t.”

Julianna nodded once.

“And you?” Cassie asked.

“I’m also quite familiar with danger,” Julianna replied simply.

 

As they continued walking, Finn checked emails on his phone.

“Rank reassessment exams,” he read aloud. “What’s that?”

“Think of it as a midterm,” Julianna replied. “First, everyone goes through written exams—combat theory, elemental energy output measurements, etc.”

“And then…” Julianna continued, “They select forty to eighty students for a tournament system. That determines the higher A and S ranks.”

Finn tilted his head. “What about people like me? I’m not an Elemental.”

“For non-elementals, they focus on various physical evaluations,” Julianna said smoothly. “Elemental energy isn’t the only metric.”

Madoka smirked. “Good luck with maintaining your apex spot, President. I’m definitely coming for it.”

Julianna laughed softly. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t try.”

Her gaze shifted to Zen. “And you?”

Zen shook his head. “Not required to participate. I won’t.”

“Ah. Bummer,” Julianna said—unsurprised, but faintly disappointed. “I was curious to see where you’d place.”

As they passed a crossroads, Madoka slowed her pace.

“I need to buy some notebooks.” She glanced at Zen. “And I might need help carrying them. One person should be enough.”

Zen met her gaze for a moment, then turned back to the others. “You guys can head back.”

“Alright,” Finn said.

“See you tomorrow,” Cassie added, giving a small wave.

The three of them continued as the rain hammered down, their figures gradually fading into the distance.

 

 

Zen and Madoka watched as the others slowly disappeared into the rain’s fog.

Then Madoka turned right.

“Walk with me.”

Zen followed as she led him toward a nearby park, empty now because of the downpour. They walked side by side, and for a while none of them spoke. Rain pattered against the pavement; their footsteps broke shallow puddles, the only sounds in the open space.

Madoka’s eyes swept the area, sharp and deliberate, making sure they were alone.

“I’m having a bad feeling about this,” Zen said at last.

“You should,” Madoka replied, never slowing.

“I only have one question,” she continued. “What happened?”

Zen didn’t answer.

Madoka’s grip tightened around her umbrella.

Zen exhaled slowly. “You’re too sharp for your own good.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Answer the question.”

“It’s not important,” he said.

She stopped and turned to face him.

Her voice dropped. “Do you really think your pain isn’t important to me?”

Zen looked away, avoiding her gaze.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you,” she said, anger cutting through the rain.

“I’m running out of ways to keep you alive without betraying you, Zen.”

That made him turn back.

“So,” Madoka continued, steady and unforgiving, “either you tell me everything—”

She paused.

“—or I’ll ask Sayuri to deal with you.”

Zen knew then the argument was over. Bringing up Sayuri wasn’t a threat—it was leverage. Madoka always knew exactly where to press.

He stared at her for a long moment before finally surrendering.

“Jeez, I can never hide anything from you.”

His shoulders eased as he forced himself to calm down. “I hope you’re not planning to tell her, though.”

“That depends,” Madoka replied. “On what you’re about to say.”

He took a deep breath and began. “It was last night. I was out for some… fresh air, as always.”

The rain blurred, the smell of wet pavement fading. The city sounds dulled. All that remained was the memory, sharp and cold.

 

 

Zen’s eyes snapped open, lying on his bed, his hand clutching his abdomen. The nightmare had hit him again. It always did, and it always felt real.

He looked up at the digital clock on the bedside table. It was a minute past midnight.

He got up and went to the bathroom. Washed his face to calm his heart, braced himself, expecting the familiar sting along his left arm and the inevitable heave in his stomach.

The pain flared—sharp, but lower than usual. And the nausea… didn’t come. Not tonight.

He let out a slow breath, counting the small mercies. If it hit every night, he’d bleed out far too quickly.

Then—a shower. A change into his spare tracksuit. Head out.

It was routine.

He had been in this city for almost a week now, and by this time, he already had a specific route in mind to cover a small perimeter. Vanguard would cover the rest.

He never considered these late night patrols an act of heroism. To him, it was his duty as a soldier. And as a special unit of elemental warriors with autonomy, it was his way of studying the criminal network.

So, when real danger struck, he knew exactly what and where to investigate.

But running the same route every night bred predictability. If he could watch others, the experienced ones could watch him—avoiding him entirely.

And the cost of being predictable, even in the smallest details, was something he was about to pay.

After scouting for nearly two hours, he finally arrived at the tallest building around—his usual spot, where he would come to rest and sometimes take a nap before heading back.

As Zen walked silently along the railing, keeping watch over the city, when his comms pinged.

Ansar’s voice came through. “Surveillance network just went down approximately twelve hundred meters south of your location.”

“Copy. I’ll check,” Zen replied, and the signal cut off.

He paused, scanning the streets below one last time. Then, just as he was about to move, his senses flared.

Something was coming.

Fast—too fast.

A projectile, tearing through the air at hypersonic speed.

Then—

CRACK.