The quiet hum of the dorm lights greeted Hyunwoo as he pushed the door open. The weight of the conversation with Ruby lingered far heavier in his mind.
Inside, the others looked up. Jaemin was lounging on his bed, balancing an apple on his finger like it was a coin, while Jiwon sat cross-legged on the floor, idly twirling his collapsible staff. Jisoo leaned against the wall near the window, absently spinning a chakram on the tip of her finger.
Jaemin's grin spread the moment Hyunwoo stepped in.
"Well? Did you manage to cheer up Beacon's tiniest leader?"
Hyunwoo set his spear against the wall, not bothering to look up. "She's fine now."
Jiwon tilted his head, the staff clicking as he locked it back into place. "So... mission accomplished?"
Hyunwoo gave a short nod. "Let's just say... she'll be walking into class tomorrow with her head a little higher."
Jisoo arched a brow. "You gave her one of those long speeches, didn't you?"
He finally looked at them, his voice steady. "Not really. I just told her the truth. She's a good leader — even if she doesn't always believe it herself."
Jiwon leaned forward, smirking. "Uh-huh. And you just happened to be the one reminding her? Not because you like her or anything?"
Hyunwoo let the silence hang for a second, then shot him a sideways glance.
"If I did, do you think I'd tell you ?"
Jiwon blinked, caught off guard, while Jaemin nearly dropped his apple laughing.
"Man," Jaemin grinned, "you've gotten sharper lately."
Hyunwoo just shrugged, leaning back in his chair. Outside the window, Beacon's night air shimmered faintly under the moonlight. Tomorrow, there would be more training, more fights, and more chances to prove themselves.
For now, it was enough that their leader had come back with that calm, quiet confidence in his eyes — and that his team was still the same loud, irritating, and dependable bunch he knew.
___
The next morning, Beacon Academy stirred to life under a clear sky, its halls buzzing with the usual chatter and footsteps. Classes proceeded as scheduled, but Hyunwoo noticed something different in Ruby's demeanor—she moved with a newfound lightness, a genuine smile gracing her face whenever their eyes met across the crowded corridors.
Their brief eye contact was enough—a small, confident nod exchanged between them spoke volumes. Ruby's quiet thanks was unmistakable, and Hyunwoo's smirk held the unspoken promise of support.
Later, as the team gathered in the common area, the comfortable murmur of conversation filled the space. Jaemin, ever the pragmatic one, leaned forward with a grin.
"So, leader, what's the game plan now? There's a lot of downtime between classes, and I'm guessing we don't want to waste it."
Jisoo and Jiwon, the twin siblings, shifted in their seats, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Yeah, Hyunwoo, what do you suggest? Training, strategizing?"
Hyunwoo considered them, a glint of excitement sparking in his eyes. "Since we're already tight as a team of four, I think we should shake things up. Split into pairs—two versus two duels. It'll push us to adapt, learning how to coordinate in smaller units and make split-second decisions. Variable teamwork."
Jaemin chuckled. "Sounds smart. It's like training for when we're not all together, right?"
"Exactly," Hyunwoo nodded. "We can't always count on the whole team being side by side. Learning to trust and support a partner in the heat of battle—that's crucial."
Jisoo spun one of her chakrams thoughtfully, while Jiwon flexed his fingers around his staff. "I'm in," Jisoo said with a determined smile. "Let's see how well we can sync up."
Jiwon added with a smirk, "Prepare to be impressed."
____
The sun hung low in the sky as the team gathered in an open training field just outside the dorms. The grass swayed gently in the breeze, but tension crackled in the air like static before a storm.
Hyunwoo stood at the center, spear in hand, scanning his teammates—Jaemin with his collapsible bladed tonfas, Jisoo spinning her chakrams with a practiced grace, and Jiwon gripping his versatile staff tightly.
"Alright," Hyunwoo began, voice steady and commanding, "we'll split into pairs. Jaemin and I will take one side, Jisoo and Jiwon the other."
Jaemin cracked his knuckles, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Let's see what you got, twins."
Jisoo smirked. "Try to keep up."
Hyunwoo raised his spear slightly, signaling the start. "Remember, this is about communication and adapting. Don't just attack blindly—read your partner's moves, find openings."
The training field stretched wide under the late afternoon sun, the wind tugging at loose strands of hair and clothes. Hyunwoo tightened his grip on his spear, eyes flicking between his teammates and the twins.
Jisoo spun her chakrams, a flicker of determination in her eyes. She took a sudden Burst Step, her semblance allowing her to teleport short distances almost instantaneously, shifting across the field to maintain perfect spacing. Every movement seemed calculated, keeping Hyunwoo and Jaemin just on the edge of her reach.
Jiwon, gripping his dual-mode blade, tapped into his Echo Sense. He could feel vibrations and subtle shifts in the terrain, giving him uncanny awareness of his opponents' positions even when they tried to hide their intentions. Mid-range attacks became lethal; Hyunwoo had to carefully choose when and how to approach, knowing Jiwon could sense missteps.
Jaemin, wielding his collapsible tonfas, relied on his semblance to Shift Momentum. Every strike, every push, could be redirected with his ability, turning the force of an opponent's attack into an advantage. Hyunwoo watched him redirect one of Jisoo's chakrams just as it came spinning toward him, throwing the weapon slightly off course without losing rhythm.
Hyunwoo himself moved with precise calculation, his copy semblance allowing him to replicate movements he could physically perform. He mirrored Jisoo's Burst Step timing when close enough, but carefully avoided overextending, knowing his body had limits. He analyzed Jiwon's mid-range control, noting how his Echo Sense allowed him to predict Jaemin's attacks, and adjusted his spear strikes to exploit the gaps.
"Jaemin, pressure her left!" Hyunwoo called, pointing at the space Jisoo had just blinked from.
Jaemin grinned, using his Momentum Shift to fling himself forward, forcing Jisoo to react instantly. She teleported back, Burst Step allowing her to maintain spacing, but Hyunwoo had already anticipated it, adjusting his spear to cut off her most likely escape path.
Jiwon's staff lashed out in a wide sweep, sensing their movement with Echo Sense, but Hyunwoo countered deftly, planting his spear into the ground and pivoting away, letting Jaemin's redirected momentum carry the pressure forward.
The duel became a complex dance of cause and effect: Jisoo controlling space with her teleportation, Jiwon punishing missteps from mid-range with heightened awareness, Jaemin turning every strike into an opportunity, and Hyunwoo silently weaving it all together—observing, analyzing, and deciding the most efficient responses.
Sweat dripped down brows, muscles burned, but the team's understanding deepened. Each attack and counter honed not just their skills, but their awareness of each other.
Hyunwoo finally stepped back, lowering his spear, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Good work. We can read each other better now. Remember—spacing, momentum, sensing, and adaptability. That's how we win together."
Jisoo's chakrams rested at her sides, a small smile on her lips. "You're studying us, aren't you?"
Hyunwoo smirked. "Of course. Understanding your strengths makes the team stronger."
Jiwon nodded, staff held lightly. "Then let's see if you can keep up next round."
Jaemin laughed, twirling his tonfas. "I like this team already."
Hyunwoo allowed himself a quiet smile. This is only the beginning.
The field had grown quiet for a moment, the air tense as the four readied themselves again. Hyunwoo's eyes flicked from Jisoo's spinning chakrams to Jiwon's poised staff, analyzing the rhythm and spacing.
Then, with a subtle nod to Jaemin, he shifted. The moment Jisoo lunged with a Burst Step, and Jiwon tried to predict their advance with Echo Sense, Hyunwoo struck. Using his spear to redirect momentum and timing his movements based on Jaemin's Momentum Shift, the attack hit with precision neither twin had anticipated. They stumbled, barely avoiding the tip of the spear that seemed to anticipate every motion.
Jisoo stumbled back, spinning her chakram defensively, eyes wide. "How the hell did you counter that perfectly? Even if you copy us, how can you understand exactly our moves?"
Hyunwoo's lips curved into a small, confident smirk as he lowered his spear slightly, catching his breath. "Well... my imagination is a weapon as well."
He paused, letting the words hang in the air, and for a fleeting moment, his mind drifted back to his old life—sitting by a desk in a quiet room, scribbling meticulously, observing everything, weaving stories that felt alive. He remembered how he could predict the outcome of a scene before writing a single word, anticipate character choices, and plan strategies that no one else could see.
"Being a writer isn't just about words," he said quietly, almost to himself. Then louder, "I noticed the patterns. I analyzed every twitch, every hesitation. And I trusted Jaemin to shift momentum at exactly the right moment."
Jisoo blinked, lowering her chakram slightly, still stunned. Jiwon's staff tilted defensively, eyes narrowing, calculating the new problem.
Hyunwoo's gaze swept over them, calm and unshakable. "You think copying is enough. But understanding... anticipating... imagining the possibilities—that's the difference."
Jaemin grinned behind him. "Told you. You'd like him, Jisoo. The guy's scary smart."
Hyunwoo smirked again, a faint glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Remember, we're not here to prove who's stronger individually. We're here to learn each other's strengths... and mine happens to be seeing the moves no one else notices."
Jisoo's eyes softened, admiration mingled with the frustration of being outsmarted. Jiwon tilted his head, an approving nod barely perceptible. The training had shifted from a duel to a lesson in strategy, observation, and trust.
Hyunwoo stepped back, spear lowered but ready. "Now... let's see how well you can adapt to this."
And with that, the rhythm of the duel resumed, sharper, smarter, and more synchronized than ever before. Team NOVA was learning—not just how to fight, but how to think as one.
The air on the training field was thick with tension, dust rising from each pivot and step. Jisoo's chakrams spun faster than before, her Burst Step sending her darting unpredictably from left to right. At the same time, Jiwon's staff lashed out with precise, mid-range strikes, every move informed by his Echo Sense, sensing even the smallest shifts in Hyunwoo and Jaemin's positions.
For the first time, the twins coordinated—a seamless combination of spacing and pressure. Jisoo teleported behind Hyunwoo, forcing him to pivot, while Jiwon's staff swung in a wide arc, catching Jaemin just as he tried to shift momentum. The pair's synergy was uncanny; Hyunwoo and Jaemin found themselves struggling to keep up.
"Not bad," Hyunwoo muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as he analyzed the flow. They're using spacing and timing to corner us. If I miscalculate one step...
Jaemin gritted his teeth, tonfas spinning. "We can't let them get the upper hand!"
Hyunwoo took a deep breath, recalling every observation, every movement pattern he had noted. He let Jaemin's Momentum Shift do the heavy lifting—redirecting one of Jiwon's strikes into open space while Hyunwoo used his spear to block Jisoo's chakram mid-spin. Then, with a precise feint and a step back timed perfectly, he created a small opening.
"Now, Jaemin!" Hyunwoo called.
With a flick of his wrists, Jaemin shifted the force of Jisoo's chakram against her own trajectory, disorienting her mid-motion. Hyunwoo spun his spear, intercepting Jiwon's staff and using his copy semblance to predict the next swing—one he physically could perform, exploiting the smallest gap in their combo.
The twins faltered for the first time, eyes wide as Hyunwoo pressed the advantage. With coordinated timing, he and Jaemin executed a series of strikes and counters, forcing the twins back step by step.
Finally, with one synchronized push, Hyunwoo's spear tip touched the ground in front of Jisoo, while Jaemin's tonfas shifted momentum behind Jiwon, effectively pinning them in place. Both twins froze, realizing their combo had been matched—and just surpassed.
Hyunwoo stepped back, lowering his spear, chest heaving lightly, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Good combo," he said, genuinely impressed. "But predictability... even in synergy, can be exploited."
Jisoo blinked, lowering her chakrams with a mix of frustration and admiration. "I... we... okay, that was... not bad."
Jiwon relaxed slightly, giving a short nod. "You... really studied us."
Hyunwoo chuckled softly. "Studying is only the beginning. Understanding, anticipating, adapting—that's how a team wins."
Jaemin leaned against his tonfas, laughing. "I'll admit it, leader—you're scary smart."
Dust settled around the four of them, the sun casting long shadows over the field. Team NOVA had just faced one of the tightest combos they'd seen so far, and yet, they had emerged stronger, sharper, and more in sync.
Hyunwoo glanced at them, then back at his spear. "Good combo today. You pushed us harder than I expected. Keep that up, and we'll be unstoppable as a team."
Jisoo grinned, shakily but genuinely. "You too not bad... for a leader."
Jiwon smirked, echoing her tone. "Yeah... we'll have to step up our game next time."
Hyunwoo's eyes scanned all of them, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "This is only the start. If we keep learning like this, there won't be a challenge we can't handle together."
Jaemin laughed again. "Alright, alright, enough talking. Let's rest before we start plotting the next strategy."
The four of them shared a quiet, satisfied pause, the dust settling around them. Team NOVA had survived their first real test—and it had brought them closer than ever.