The dormitories had been unnervingly silent the night before. No hurried whispers, no idle chatter, no last-minute strategies exchanged between students. The week of relentless battles had left them drained, minds dulled by exhaustion, bodies heavy with fatigue.
Yet, by the time the first rays of dawn painted the academy in hues of gold and silver, the transformation was undeniable.
The one night of rest—deemed far too little at first—had worked miracles. It was as if exhaustion had been peeled away in layers, revealing something sharper, more refined beneath. Students woke to find themselves lighter, their steps no longer burdened by soreness, their minds strangely clear.
Some credited the celestial energies saturating the academy, theorizing that the very air had worked to hasten their recovery. Others attributed it to sheer necessity—their bodies adapting, evolving to keep up with the academy's brutal pace.
Dawn didn't concern himself with the reason. He simply felt it.
His body, though still carrying the lingering stiffness of battle, was no longer worn down. His mind, previously clouded by the sheer grind of constant combat, had settled into an unnatural clarity.
It was as if something within him had aligned.
---
Dawn stood at the riverbank, the cool night breeze carrying the scent of damp earth and the rhythmic sound of flowing water. The moon's reflection shimmered on the surface, scattered slightly by the ripples.
Across from him, Luna Ashborne sat on a large, smooth stone, her silver hair cascading over her shoulder as she gazed at the sky.
"Excellent." Her voice was soft, carrying an undertone of amusement. "That was your final ranking, wasn't it?"
Dawn shrugged, skipping a small pebble across the water. "It was just a number."
Luna smiled faintly. "But a well-earned one."
Silence settled between them, comfortable and unhurried. It wasn't often that they found moments like these—away from the weight of expectations, from the demands of constant growth.
Luna studied him for a moment, her keen Lunar Affinity allowing her to sense the subtle shifts in others. And Dawn…
Something about him was different.
It wasn't just the way he held himself or the way his gaze seemed more focused. It was deeper, more intrinsic.
"You've.... changed.
It wasn't a question. Dawn knew, as he could tell from her tone that although she wasn't sure what about him had changed exactly, she definitely 0icked a hint of change.
Dawn turned his head slightly, meeting her gaze. There was no immediate denial, no attempt to brush off her words. He simply considered them.
"I suppose I have."
Luna hummed in response, but said nothing more. There was no need to pry—not yet.
Instead, she pulled a small flask from the folds of her robe and held it out.
"Here."
Dawn raised an eyebrow. "AWine?"
She scoffed. "It's fruit wine—barely strong enough to call a drink. Not forbidden, you could find some even in the cafeteria."
Dawn took the flask, taking a small sip. The taste was crisp, slightly sweet with a faint sourness at the end.
Luna took it back and drank as well, sighing contentedly. "Consider this a moment of celebration. After all, the next trial starts tomorrow."
Dawn chuckled. "Not even a full day to breathe, huh?"
"Did you really expect one?"
---
The morning sun cast long shadows across the academy grounds as the students gathered once again. Despite their renewed vigor, the air buzzed with a quiet anticipation.
At the front, standing with an imposing presence, was Instructor Solene, his black robes blending seamlessly with the dark stone behind him. His expression, as always, was unreadable.
Beside him stood Instructor Eleanor and Instructor Valeris, both poised and formal, yet subtly different in their manner.
It was Solene who spoke first.
"Your battles have concluded. Some of you stand proud. Others find themselves unsatisfied. It does not matter. The competition was merely the beginning."
His gaze swept across the gathered students, lingering only for a fraction of a second longer on those who had performed exceptionally well.
Then, he continued.
"Today, we begin the next trial: Mission Week."
A shift in the crowd—murmurs, exchanged glances.
"For the next seven days, you will undertake as many missions as you are capable of completing." Instructor Eleanor took over, her voice steady and precise. "Each mission will test a different set of skills. Some will demand physical strength. Others will require intelligence, resourcefulness, or teamwork."
Instructor Valeris stepped forward next. "Missions will take place across various terrains—the forests, the rivers, and even within the academy itself. Every mission completed successfully will be rewarded. However, failing too many… will have consequences."
Dawn narrowed his eyes slightly at the wording.
Consequences.
The instructors were deliberately vague, but the message was clear.
This wasn't just about proving one's strength. There was a price for failure.
Instructor Solene gave a small nod to the other two before addressing the students once more.
"Choose wisely. Plan accordingly. The trial begins at dawn."
With that, the briefing was over.
The crowd remained still for a moment before breaking into hushed discussions, theories already forming, strategies being devised.
Dawn simply exhaled.
Another trial. Another step forward.
The competition had been a battlefield. But this?
This was survival.
And for the first time, he found himself anticipating the challenge ahead.
---
As the students dispersed from the briefing, a large noticeboard was erected at the center of the academy courtyard. Written in bold celestial script were the different categories of missions, each carrying its own risks and rewards.
Dawn, along with several others, stepped closer to examine the details.
1. Routine Missions – Minimal Risk, Minimal Reward
These missions were the safest and most straightforward. They included tasks like herb gathering, water purification, or scouting known paths in the academy forest. While they required effort, they were not dangerous.
Completion Reward: Minor contribution points (less than 100)
Failure Consequence: None, other than wasted effort.
2. Combat Missions – Moderate Risk, Moderate Reward
Missions under this category involved controlled sparring matches, capturing simulated opponents, or subduing specific targets. The difficulty varied based on the opponent assigned.
Completion Reward: Decent contribution points(100-1000), with higher rewards for taking on stronger foes.
Failure Consequence: Physical exhaustion, loss of ranking in combat evaluation.
3. Exploration Missions – High Risk, High Reward
These required venturing into unknown regions of the academy's surrounding forests, rivers, and underground caverns. Success demanded knowledge, intuition, and sometimes, luck.
Completion Reward: High contribution points(1000-10,000>, access to academy archives.
Failure Consequence: Potential injuries, mandatory recovery period before taking on another mission.
4. Special Assignments – Extreme Risk, Unparalleled Reward
Rare and unpredictable, these missions were handpicked by the instructors. They often involved high-stakes situations, either within the academy or beyond its borders. Only those with exceptional performance in prior trials were even eligible to attempt them.
Completion Reward: Direct recognition from academy heads, exclusive artifacts, and techniques. Contribution points ( More than 100,000)
Failure Consequence: Severe injury, forced withdrawal from Mission Week.
A hush settled over the students as they took in the classifications.
Some eyed the Routine Missions with a sigh of relief. Others immediately sought the high-reward challenges, their competitive instincts burning.
Dawn scanned the board, his fingers tracing over the list of Special Assignments.
Extreme risk. Unparalleled reward.
A quiet smirk ghosted his lips.
For him, there was only one choice.