"Tomorrow marks a new day. A new challenge. Analise Martini will begin teaching you basic combat skills. She'll be visiting tomorrow to lead the physical combat training." That was the final announcement before all trainees were dismissed to their permanent cabins, alongside their assigned teams.
"Stuck with these losers, huh? Great," Hilda Priestley scoffed, sarcasm thick in her voice.
"Come on, Hilda. Give this team a shot," Addie urged, trying to ease the tension.
"Nah. I'd rather work alone," Hilda replied coldly before walking away toward the cabins.
Eleonor wave goodbye to Eleora an Naomi before parting ways.
"Here, Cabin five," Addie said, holding an oil lamp. She grab the keys on he pocket and insert it excitedly on the keyhole. Due to exhaustion, they all tiredly sat on the chair and on the floor. Eleonor enter a room and place her bag on the lower deck on the bunk bed, near the window. They took a bath and rest, while getting to know everyone.
"What awaits us after three years?," Marcel asked while drying his hair with his towel.
"Be soldier, serve Athena," Gye answered, boredly.
"Are we gonna fight the beasts?They lurk outside Athena, right?,"
"You're so outdated Marcel. The beasts arre already long gone. No more threat to Athena,"
"They are extinct, duh," Hilda interfere, strentching her body, the ache she onvce again felt.
"What if there are more of them,"
"Dont wish for more, Marcel. Its better this way. Peaceful," Hilda sai getting annoyed, gripping her hands tightly.
"The Wall of Athena is protected by our ancestral goddess. No magical creatures can enter here,"Lorelie explained.
"True, we should not bother with this topic. Tomorrow is morre important,"
Once again the loud and sharp bang of the bell woke them all.
"Today, I will be your trainer!" ani Analise Martine. "I may look sweet, but don't expect me to play favorites. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!" sigaw ng mga trainee.
"Good. One lap, before breakfast. Your bones need stretching!"
Though small in stature, Analise commanded authority. She jogged alongside the group—very different from the commanders yesterday who only barked orders from the side.
Their joints were nearly giving out, but no one complained. This was part of the training, and they had chosen
"Suzy! Are you okay?" Eleonor called out when she saw her teammate sit down in the dirt, pale and breathless.
"I'm okay... just need water," she whispered, though she knew there was none on the field.
A few boys rushed to help her up.
"Thank you," Suzy said softly.
"Get moving!" Ma'am Analise suddenly shouted—she had already reached the front.
"Congratulations! One round completed. Breakfast is ready—combat training starts at 9 AM."
At nine o'clock, the sun blazed overhead. One by one, the trainees stepped out of their cabins. From the door of Ma'am Analise's room, she appeared—upright posture, piercing gaze, and the aura of cold steel.
They stood in front of the small stage in the center of the field. Silence. No sound except birdsong and the rustling of shoes in the grass. Analise climbed the platform and spoke.
"Today, we focus on combat form—stances, punches, and proper energy release. Remember, the battlefield doesn't accept sloppy movements."
Her voice was sharp. Everyone nodded quietly, listening closely.
"Let's go, guys!" Addie cheered, full of energy and determination. "We have to master everything Ma'am Analise teaches. Tomorrow's the one-on-one fight—we'll be up against the other group!"
From the side of the field, aides rolled out equipment—punching bags, wooden targets, and sacks filled with sand. Each group received their share.
Some trainees were clearly experienced. They could land vertical kicks and move with speed—clearly martial arts backgrounds. But not everyone was like that.
"You there! What are you doing!?" Ma'am Analise shouted, pointing at Eleonor. "This is a basic technique! Why can't you do it right!?"
Eleonor froze in place. The stares of the group were suffocating. She wanted to vanish.
'I'm just copying Suzy...' she thought. But copying wasn't enough.
"Levisa! What is that move!?" Analise shouted again, now at Aria. "No energy! Give it some energy!"
"Sorry, ma'am," Aria replied, adjusting her stance and punching with more strength.
After several drills, 160 sandbags were laid out, neatly aligned on the side of the field.
"We have exactly one hundred and sixty sacks of sand here," Analise announced. "Punch it until the sand comes out. If you manage to do it in one punch—it is the highest score. Three punches is the maximum. If you can't break it by the third punch... you will be at the bottom of this batch."
Silence. The air felt charged—tension gripped everyone.
"Easy!" a girl from the other group shouted, cracking her knuckles. Clearly unfazed.
"Out of everyone here, why does it feel like I'm the only one who doesn't know what they're doing?" Eleonor thought to herself as she stared at her fist. She looked around—everyone else was busy, focused. But she still felt frozen. "I can't let this continue," she told herself, clenching her hand in an attempt to summon strength she couldn't feel.
"Hey! Let's go sit at our spot," Addie whispered behind her. Eleonor was startled to see her already beside her, still smiling.
"Aren't you nervous?" Eleonor asked as they walked together to the open field, sitting down cross-legged.
"I'm nervous... what if I can't break it even in three punches?" Addie admitted with a grin.
"You can do it. You did well yesterday. No pain, no gain, right?" Eleonor replied.
"Don't be nervous, Eleonor," Suzy chimed in, already seated and squeezing her fists. "Just punch hard. That's what I plan to do—even if my hand bleeds."
She even kissed her knuckles. Determined.
"The first sixteen persons are the leaders. Make it quick," utos ni Ma'am Analise.
The first batch are the leaders of the team, Addie, Eleora and Naomi are included. Everyone from the team cheerre for Addie. Her hands tremble in nervousness. She was confident, yes—but being the first made her shoulders tense.
"First punch!" Ma'am Analise commanded.
Eleonor watch the scene, her boy is shaking but at the same time---she feel calm and nostalgic. Her heart is racing from the sight in front of here, she really feel she belong here.
The first punch idnt work for most of them. The sack is still in intact. Abigail Moser and Asher Lozano are the only one who successfully manage to o it on first blow. Abigail stood there, calm, like she expected it. She was prepared for this, she did it secretly.
"Abi, you did great," the quiet Ermine Sai exclaimed as Abigail finished. He was so proud, even handing Abigail his handkerchief.
"That hurt," Addie groan while checking the condition of her hand.
"Good job, Moser and Lozano," Analise, congratulate the two as she listed something on her paper.
The second punch commence and all of them manage to di the task. They all cheered an immediately celebrate.
"It really hurt," Addie sai, nearly crying.
"Gavi Levona, Avi Marros, Esther Adino, Sacha Teresi, Eleonor Celeste, Aria Levisa, Yvonne Leos, Monique Jian, Galliana Cope, Polly Falade, Faricia Okoro, Nella Gallio, Lourder Konoshi, Kaia Rodin, and Piper Ismael." The last batch was then called.
Eleonor walked with the others. Silent. Her steps were heavy. Nervous. And the feeling that someone was watching her, lingers. A strong energy is around her, it was not her energy, it doesnt belong to her. She look at the cabins, searching for someone, she saw no one there, but she's sure someone was there.
A sharp whistle commenced.
They all punched at the same time, she still preoccupied and her punch was late.
Eleonor's fist hit the sack. She felt the pain immediately. The impact nearly brought tears to her eyes. It didn't break.
Other's sack? Torn to shreds.
Eleonor held her fist, gently squeezing it. There was no wound, but the pain seeped deep. She moved it around while trying to calm herself. It hurt. But she wasn't alone. Her team was still cheering her on.
In the end, each one managed to break the remaining sacks by their second or third punch. No one gave up. No one backed down.
After the training, Ma'am Analise didn't announce the scores.
"Your scores will be announced at the end of the year." That's all she said. But before she left, she smiled slightly.
"Good job."
There was a hint of admiration in her voice.
That afternoon, they had no more training, so Eleonor's plan? Take a bath and sleep. And maybe... calm down, even just for a while.
The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the training grounds, but an eerie stillness had settled in the air. The grass rustled faintly, and even the usual chirping of birds seemed muted. We were all gathered around the mess table, eating quietly, still exhausted from the morning's brutal training. A strange tension hung around us—like a storm waiting to break.
"But... is it true that a crack formed in the Wall near Rockhold Village?" Marcel asked, breaking the silence. They all stopped eating and looked at him—especially at me—as if waiting for confirmation.
"Yes. Hundreds died," Someone answered.The details are unclear, It was just rumors.Eleonor leaving in Rockhold wasnt even aware of the crack, she bare saw anyone there though.
"How could a crack form? The Wall is protected by our ancestor—Athena," said Addie, clearly in disbelief. Her brows were furrowed, and her hand unconsciously clenched into a fist.
"Who really knows the complete history of Athena?" Armani Rossi interjected, as if daring someone to challenge him.
"I think Leonardo does," said Giselle Furi, pointing at Leonardo Desai, who was quietly spinning his spoon in his rice. All eyes turned to him.
"Tell us the story, Leo!" Addie said, nearly jumping out of her seat in excitement. The others joined in. Only Elijah and I remained silent. He kept his head down, not caring about what was happening around him. Typical Elijah.
Leonardo finally looked up. His eyes were calm but unreadable, like a pond hiding something deep beneath. "Correct me if I'm wrong..." he began, not looking at anyone in particular.
"The Goddess of Velaris, Catalina, created Khisfire so mythical and hybrid creatures could live peacefully. It is divided into five cities: Perpetua, Joselia, Delia, Vertia, and Athena."
The surroundings fell silent, as if even the wind stopped blowing. Thet didn't even move their plates.
"The Vampire Royalties live in Delia, the center of Khisfire. The wolves, as stated, live in Perpetua. The other creatures are scattered across the remaining cities. Our ancestor, Athena—the founder of this place—pleaded with the Goddess to build a Wall that would shield her people from the dangerous beings roaming Khisfire."
"I think I've heard that before," Addie interrupted, but Marcel quickly hushed her. "Hold on, Addie. Let's let Leo finish." Addie nodded, apologized, and sat back down.
Leonardo continued, his voice even but firm. "Athena's plea was answered. Goddess Catalina created a Wall—but not of brick or magic alone. She became the Wall. Athena is the Wall. Her essence surrounds us, cages us, protects us from the chaos outside. Her power shields us from external magic."
"Athena is the Wall? I never knew that," Suzy exclaimed, clutching her spoon like the weight of that truth had just dropped on her.
"But... how did the crack happen?" Gye asked, her eyes wide with unease.
Leonardo paused. His spoon finally stilled. "That... is not written in any history book here in Athena. I believe the answer lies beyond the Wall. That's why I joined this training—to get out and find the book that holds the truth."
The table erupted in murmurs.
"The answer is outside the Wall? That's absurd," Giselle said, unable to hide her disbelief.
"I agree," Lorraine Luna added, almost in unison.
"That's another mystery," Leonardo replied with a shrug, as if it were nothing. But the gleam in his eyes said otherwise. He was hiding something—or he knew more than he was letting on.
As they eat, the silence returned, but Elonor's mind couldn't rest. What if Leonardo is right? What if the mystery of the Wall goes beyond what our mentors tell us? she clutched my chest.Her heart thudded hard against her ribs.
"Seems like my words got stuck in your mind, huh?"
Eleonor flinched—Leonardo's voice was suddenly at her ear. She hadn't heard him move. His presence had slipped into the space beside her like a shadow, unseen, unfelt... until now.
"I just think you have a point," Eleonor replied, her voice lower than she expected, honest but unsure.
"I know I have a point." He let out a soft, almost amused laugh—but it held no real humor. "I have this theory... that we're being watched. Not just from beyond the Wall. From within it. Athena itself... is not what it seems. It breathes. It listens."
And just like that, her thoughts shattered into a storm of questions. The Wall... watching us? The very thing that was meant to protect them—alive?
Leonardo leaned closer, his voice a whisper now, almost conspiratorial.
"Oh, and one more thing. They say other creatures can't enter Athena, right? That the Wall keeps them out." He paused, eyes narrowing. "I don't believe that. If history is to be trusted... then why are they here, inside these walls?"
Eleonor's blood ran cold. "What are you talking about?" she asked, the question barely escaping her throat.
Leonardo didn't answer right away. Instead, he smiled faintly—something between a warning and a riddle.
"Tell me, Eleonor... how much do you trust these people? Your mentors, your leaders?" He tilted his head. "How much do you trust me? And more importantly..." his gaze pierced through her like a blade, "how much do you trust yourself? Your identity?"
Her breath caught. Her chest tightened as if something invisible had gripped her heart. The air grew heavier. His words didn't just provoke doubt—they awakened something deeper. A buried crack, now splintering.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
At the break of dawn, Addie's loud voice pierced the silence of the cabin.
"Get up, you lazy potatoes! We've got a field to conquer and a reputation to protect!" she bellowed, pulling back the curtains and tossing a pillow at the nearest lump of blankets.
Groans filled the room.
"Addie, it's still dark out," Eleora mumbled, her voice muffled against her pillow.
"That's why it's called dawn, genius!" Addie snapped, throwing another pillow. "Line-up's at five sharp. If you're late, I'll personally drag your sorry butts out there."
The girls reluctantly rolled out of bed. Sleepy and disheveled, they shuffled to the washroom, brushing their teeth in silence. The cabin buzzed with low complaints and yawns.
"Is that coffee I smell?" one of them whispered hopefully as they spotted thermoses on the table.
"Not until after the briefing," Addie warned, pointing a finger. "Analise will have all our heads if we touch those before she talks."
Still groggy, the trainees suited up in their standard black-and-grey training uniforms and made their way to the field under the pale morning sky.
The mood on the field was thick with nerves. Some girls whispered about wanting to skip the match, while others fidgeted, visibly jittery.
"Deep breaths, people," Addie said, clapping once. "This is just to show what you've got. No pressure—unless you're planning to lose, in which case, yes, a lot of pressure."
Miss Analise arrived, clipboard in hand. Her voice was calm but commanding. "I know I haven't taught you all extensively yet," she began, eyes scanning the nervous group, "but this morning's matches will assess your raw combat instincts. You'll fight one-on-one. Medical staff from the Capital are on standby—so don't hold back."
Asher and Jedi were first. Asher dashed into the fight with sharp, high-speed aerial kicks, overwhelming Jedi in seconds. Applause erupted from the watching trainees.
Next up were Addie and Eleora. Addie grinned confidently, but Eleora moved with speed and precision, scoring the winning point in under a minute.
Then came the most anticipated match: Eleonor versus Gavi.
A hush fell over the field.
"You ready to lose in front of your friends?" Gavi sneered, cracking her knuckles as she stepped into the center of the ring. Her presence was imposing—tall, broad, and filled with barely-contained energy.
Eleonor swallowed hard but walked steadily into position.
"I didn't come here to back down," she said quietly, eyes fixed on Gavi.
The whistle blew.
Gavi wasted no time—her first punch landed square on Eleonor's nose with a sickening thud. Blood gushed instantly.
"Damn!" someone gasped from the sidelines.
Eleonor staggered back, pain flaring, but she stayed upright.
Gavi smirked. "Still standing? Cute."
She rushed forward, tackling Eleonor with wild force. The impact knocked them both to the ground, and before Eleonor could react, Gavi had her in a tight chokehold.
"Tap out!" Gavi growled. "You're done."
Eleonor clawed at her arms, panic rising in her chest.
"Come on, El!" Addie shouted. "You're not out yet!"
With a desperate cry, Eleonor jammed her elbow into Gavi's ribs. Gavi grunted, loosened her grip, and Eleonor tumbled free, gasping for breath.
"Atta girl!" someone yelled.
Spurred on by the encouragement, Eleonor pushed through the pain and went on the offensive, landing a clean hit to Gavi's jaw. Gavi reeled, surprised.
"You wanna play rough?" Gavi snarled.
Eleonor's gaze sharpened. She sprinted, leapt—aiming a flying kick just like Asher had earlier.
But Gavi was ready.
She caught Eleonor mid-air, twisted, and slammed her down. A sickening crunch followed as Eleonor screamed—her leg bent unnaturally.
"Medic!" Addie shouted.
Eleonor clutched her leg, tears streaming down her face, the pain overwhelming. But even as the medics rushed in, she didn't look away from Gavi.
Meanwhile, in the Capital...
"Why is the approval for the expedition being rejected?"Commander Chaim nearly smudged his signature as the door slammed open, rattling the dusty glass panes. Captain Levi barged in without so much as a knock, the fury in his stride louder than his voice. Chaim looked up and sighed heavily, setting down his pen. He faced the man he once mentored—a soldier whose passion had grown dangerously close to rebellion.
The commander's office was suffocating under the weight of war: maps pinned with red markings bled across the walls, documents spilled like fallen leaves across the floor, and smoke from a half-burnt candle curled into the stale air. But no weight was heavier than the silence between two war-worn men—once allies, now estranged by politics.
"I don't know..." Chaim muttered, already weary of the coming argument. His voice was low, almost drowned by the hum of tension. "Governor Alva won't allow it."
Levi's jaw tensed. He didn't need to hear the answer; he had predicted it. He always did. Sometimes, he wished the beasts beyond the Wall were still at large—at least then, he could escape the suffocating lies of the government. At least then, his fight would make sense.
"Why is it so damn hard to approve our proposal?" he snapped, voice laced with quiet fury. "It's been years, Chaim. Years! Why are only the farmers allowed outside? We should be out there—patrolling, guarding, protecting—not hiding behind her orders."
Before Chaim could answer, the door burst open again. A blur of panic stormed in.
"Commander!" Paris Cameron yelled, panting, soaked in sweat and urgency. "There's a new crack—reported at the Command Center!" He struggled for breath. "The Wall near Hennan—it's fallen. Hundreds of casualties, sir."
Time froze.
Just months ago, Rockhold had fallen to the same fate. And now, Hennan. Chaim's hand trembled around his pen, knuckles pale, lips parted but silent. The air was suddenly colder.
"Report this to Governor Alva immediately," he ordered, standing abruptly. "We're leaving for Hennan now."
"The public needs to know," Levi growled, eyes darkening.
"She doees hide everyting. Do they think fear disappears in silence?" His voice cracked with fury, rage restrained for far too long.
Paris fell silent. He knew Levi's history—his long-standing vendetta against the government. Against the Moser family. Especially Governor Alva.
"We can't do that, Levi. You know she won't be glad—"
"Are we here to please her?!" Levi barked, eyes burning. "We trained for three years in Gleason. We've served as cadets for two more. For what? To stroke the ego of a woman who only knows how to kill and cover the truth?"
"This isn't the time to rant."
"I doubt this will stay secret anyway." Levi's voice dropped, low and bitter. "The victims will talk. Fear has a voice—even when the government tries to silence it."
Chaim hesitated, glancing at the cracked leather map on his desk. "I agree. But the Governor controls the gates."
His thoughts turned inward.What the hell is happening to the Wall?The truth clawed at his mind, dark and unspeakable.
They reached the courtyard in haste. Horses and carriages were being prepared, boots crunching on gravel, clanking armor echoing off stone walls. The urgency was palpable.
"Commander, is this like Rockhold?" a young cadet asked, wide-eyed.
"Sadly, yes. But with more casualties," Chaim responded grimly.
"We'll get to the bottom of this," said Commander Adena beside him, mounting her horse with steady resolve.
"Maybe we're under attack," Captain Iman muttered, brow furrowed.
"By who?" another asked. "Athena's Wall is indestructible."
Levi gave a bitter laugh. "Indestructible? We've had two disasters in a year." His sarcasm was a blade, slicing through denial.
Silence settled.
"What if..." Annalise Martini broke it with a smirk, "this happened because of magic?"
Chuckles followed, but the unease remained.
"Then should we conclude that it's the magical power inside Athena that's breaking it?"
Levi's eyes narrowed. There was no amusement in him.
He turned away from the group, gripping the reins of his horse with white-knuckled fists. He didn't believe in coincidences. Not anymore.
There was something he hadn't told anyone.Something he couldn't. And no one should know about what or who he was hiding inside this introvert place. He will just welcome the complete downfall of this wall, it will mean a lot. More than anything---it is freedom.