The morning sun rose bleakly on the academy grounds. Lupin stood at the reception of the Special Students’ Dormitory, ready to chant the early-morning cry.
“Rise and suffer, yo— Cinder Twig? What are you doing here?”
Lupin froze when he saw Raven already standing in front of him.
“Ready for the morning drills, sir,” Raven replied.
Lupin blinked twice, then scoffed.
“I sure hope your squishy ears aren’t sensitive, eh?”
“GET UP, YOU SOCIALLY DERANGED WORMS! GRAVITY’S TIRED OF DOING ALL THE WORK! GET YOUR REPROBATED, GODFORSAKEN SELVES DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT! I AIN’T REPEATING MYSELF!!!”
Lupin’s voice boomed, echoing through the building and the surrounding area. Ignoring it was impossible. Students began pouring out, clutching their ears.
The most unfortunate among them was Raven.
Despite covering his ears with his hands and mana, blood seeped through his fingers. It felt like his brain would liquefy if he heard another word.
“Oh, you’re still standing,” Lupin remarked. “Good for you.”
“Move it, you slouches! You know the drills! Double time!”
…
As usual, everyone except James and Saeyeon lay sprawled across the field, gasping for breath. Because abilities and mana were forbidden during morning drills, exhaustion always claimed them by the end, along with pain and mental strain.
Still, they could feel it every time: their bodies improving. Strength, vitality, even speed steadily increased. Each session hurt less than the last.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“You despondent gremlins have work today,” Lupin announced. “No individual training.”
“We’re heading to the Northern Colony to back up and rescue an isolated squad.”
“So haul your skunk-ridden carcasses to the baths and wash the death-provoking stench off your lackadaisical vessels!”
Raven stiffened.
He wasn’t certain, but his gut told him the squad in question was his sister’s.
They had been stationed in the frozen lands for weeks, clearing a dungeon.
In his past life, Dinah and her entire squad had died there. Only their belongings were recovered.
Raven clenched his fists, jaw set.
Last time, he’d been powerless. Clueless.
This time was different.
He would save her.
Minutes later, all ten students, along with Lupin, stood before the Warp Gate. The operator activated it, liquid light spiraling into existence. They stepped through.
Cold slammed into them on the other side.
The air bit at their skin as wind howled past their ears. Snow drifted down onto the wet cobblestone streets of a city square. Stone-and-wood houses lined the area, most no taller than a single storey.
They were in the Northern Colony.
Specifically, Ampton City, the capital city of the Northern colony, located in Ampton region, where winter reigned nearly year-round.
Steam poured from their mouths with every breath. The cold stung at first, then slowly faded as their bodies adapted.
“Woo,” Edric muttered, rubbing his hands. “Living in eternal winter sounds miserable.”
“Winter already sucks back home,” he added. “Must be worse here. No offense, James. Camila.”
“None taken,” Camila said with a shrug. “I hate snow too.”
Most of the students were still shivering, except James, Saeyeon, and Raven.
Lupin observed them and sighed.
“Seems I’ve failed as an instructor. Most of you haven’t even reached the Aura Stage, and you call yourselves special students.”
“Tch. Guess I’ll teach you knuckleheads on the move.”
They started toward an inn.
“Sergeant Major,” Jin began hesitantly, “why were we assigned this rescue? Aren’t there more experienced champions? And… aren't we too much for such mission?
“An astute question from a despondent gremlin,” Lupin replied. “I wondered the same, but who am I to question orders?”
“Probably the Academy’s way of throwing you worms into real combat.”
Lupin’s eyes narrowed, fist clenching.
'Or that old bastard’s way of making me suffer.'
James glanced at him sideways, silent.
They eventually settled into an inn.
“You gremlins stay here,” Lupin said. “James and I will visit the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“Cinder Twig, run them through mana refinement. Push them toward the Aura Stage. You’re one of the few champions I’ve seen who doesn’t rely solely on special abilities.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
James and Lupin left. The remaining students turned to Raven.
“So,” Edric snickered, “what are you teaching us, Edgelord Lite?”
“Edgelord Lite?” Raven echoed.
“That’s your nickname,” Lysandra said.
“James is Edgelord Alpha, he's aloof, silent, terrifying. I’ve never even heard his voice. Ever.”
She shuddered.
“Saeyeon’s Edgelord Luna. Always reading. Gothic hair. Scary aura, but approachable, if you say something interesting.”
“Do you think James and Saeyeon are dating?” Aurelia asked, eyes sparkling.
“You think so too?” Camila grinned. “Jaeyeon!”
“And imagine their kids!”
"…"
They all paused.
“I don’t want to imagine that anymore.”
“That kid’s doomed.”
“He’d be worse than both parents.”
“Tch. Anyway,” Lysandra continued, “there’s Edgelord Omega, Fenrir Lockewood. Shy type. Lives in shadows.”
“And then there’s you,” she said, smirking at Raven.
“The friendliest Edgelord of them all.”
