The room exploded into chatter the moment Aria finished speaking.
Chairs scraped across the floor and students rushed between desks, scrambling to form their teams as fast as possible like their lives depended on it, because in a way it did.
"Teams of five, hurry up!" a boy shouted.
"Do NOT get stuck with the deadweight!" Another yelled back.
It felt less like a class but rather a frantic marketplace where everyone was desperately trying to buy their safety.
Raze scanned the classroom, wondering who should be the fifth and last member of his team. He glanced at level twos, level threes, and level fours. He didn't bother looking for someone at his level.
Felix noticed immediately. He leaned closer, his arms were crossed with a knowing expression like he could read Raze's thoughts.
"You're thinking about who should be the last member of our team, right?" he asked.
Raze nodded his head and glanced toward Felix and Liam.
"If we don't find a fifth soon, we won't be able to attend the portal outing."
Liam glanced around anxiously. His eyes darted from the strong-looking students to the unfamiliar faces across the room. He then looked at Raze, worried.
He didn't say it, but his thoughts were written all over him.
'What if our new teammate is unreliable? What if they drag us down? What if they get us killed?'
Before Raze could say anything else, a soft, shaky voice could be heard behind them.
"Um… excuse me… c-can I join your team?"
The three of them turned around.
There stood a girl with black shoulder-length hair. Her uniform sleeves were slightly too long, and she kept her eyes lowered.
Her name was Noa Gray.
Raze glanced at her wristwatch and noticed the number 1. She was the only other level one besides him.
His glance didn't go unnoticed.
The girl swallowed hard, her voice slightly shaky as if she was trying to gather the confidence to speak.
"I-I know I'm not strong, but… I listen well. I won't slow your team down. I just… I don't want to be left out. Please."
A few nearby students snickered, watching the scene unfold.
"Two level 1s on the same team? They're screwed."
"Why would anyone take her?"
"She'll just get them killed on the outing."
Liam glanced at her, then at Raze, worry flickering in his eyes. Raze stared at the girl. He saw the fear, the loneliness… and he recognized it.
It reminded him of himself before everything changed.
But before Raze could answer, a heavy step echoed beside them.
A tall student approached them, three other students following behind with arrogant smirks. It looked like they were friends with the tall student.
His name was Victor Hale, one of the top students in the class. His wristwatch glowed a level 4.
He smirked at the four of them.
"Well, this is pathetic," Victor said, smirking at them. "A level 1 and… another level 1? You're really scraping the bottom now, Felix?"
Felix's expression darkened. "What do you want?"
Victor's smirk widened. "I'm giving you an opportunity to join my team. A level 7+ like you would make a fine addition to my team. We could become one of the strongest teams and get a good grade." he said.
The first assessment and future assessments of the portal outing would determine their final grade. For those who are in powerful bloodlines to get back to, it didn't really matter much to them but to the rest it determined their future.
The grade they got when they left the academy would decide whether they could join a strong faction or strong private company.
It could also determine whether they'll end up joining the bottom of the barrel where those who are weak would be treated worse than they are now. But that was when the world didn't have to worry about unknown beings destroying planets.
"I don't care about the grades. These things would be useless, we have more important things to worry about rather than ridiculing the weak." Felix replied.
Victor scoffed. "Tch, you're really choosing them over me? Fine. Have fun with these deadweights."
He walked off, his friends following right behind him.
Raze sighed internally and turned to face Noa again.
"Don't worry, we'll accept you into our team." Raze said.
Noa's eyes widened with disbelief. Before she approached them, she thought she'd be denied almost immediately but this? This felt almost surreal for her.
"Are you sure..? Really?"
Raze smiled and gave her a thumbs up. "Welcome to the team."
Beatrix appeared behind the four of them, her brow lifting slightly when she noticed the unfamiliar girl standing close to Raze.
"Sorry I didn't come sooner," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "There were a lot of people begging me to join their teams."
Her eyes finally settled on Noa.
"…Who's this?"
Noa stiffened immediately, instinctively shrinking half a step behind Raze, like his presence alone made her feel safer.
Felix answered before Raze or Liam could. "Our fifth member."
Beatrix blinked. "Her?"
Noa nodded timidly. "I-I asked if I could join."
Beatrix took a moment to look Noa over not judging, but calculating. She then nodded, accepting it without further comment.
"Well… let's submit our team then."
Raze turned slightly, noticing Noa was still half-hidden behind him.
"…You don't have to stand like that," he said quietly.
Noa startled, stepping back just a bit, cheeks noticeably pink.
"S-sorry. I wasn't trying to, I just—"
Raze shook his head lightly. "It's fine."
Something flickered across Noa's expression. Relief… and something softer she quickly hid.
Felix clapped his hands. "Alright, let's go before someone tries to poach me again."
They began walking toward Aria's desk at the front of the classroom.
Liam glanced over at her wristwatch. "Level One, huh… same as Raze."
Beatrix, ever direct, asked, "Do you have an awakening?"
Noa hesitated, but then nodded quickly. "Y-yes."
All four of them turned toward her.
Felix raised a brow. "Really? What is it?"
Noa held her wrist with her other hand, fidgeting slightly. "It's… called Arrow Burst."
"Arrow Burst?" Liam repeated.
She nodded. "I can generate arrows made of energy. Ice energy."
Beatrix hummed, impressed. "So you're a ranged type. That's useful."
Felix grinned. "See? We're already lucky. Fifth member secured and she's actually got an awakening."
Noa smiled faintly, pride flickering in her eyes before quickly fading under her shyness.
When they reached Aria's desk, the teacher glanced at the five of them with raised brows.
"Team submission?" she asked.
Felix nodded proudly. "Yep. Team Felix. Or Team Supreme. Or Team—"
"Team Zaden," Raze said before Felix could finish.
Felix whipped around. "Bro. Seriously?"
Beatrix smirked. "Actually, that sounds better."
Liam nodded. "Yeah. It fits."
Noa glanced up at Raze just a tiny smile, barely noticeable.
"…Team Zaden…"
Aria stamped their form with an approving tap.
"Team of five confirmed," she said. "Team Zaden, you're officially registered for the portal outing."
The stamp echoed louder than it should have.
Felix pumped his fist. "Hell yeah!"
As they walked back to their seats, Raze caught Noa watching him out of the corner of her eye.
Not out of fear but something else.
Something he couldn't name yet.