The morning came with a chill in the air. Billy, Elena, and Max stood side by side in the southern yard where Sergeant Marek waited, arms folded, eyes like cold steel.
"You three," he said, pacing before them. "It's time to see what you've really learned. No weapons today — only your bodies, your instincts, and your control. Winner stays on. Understood?"
They nodded silently. The training ground was marked with dust and sweat from earlier drills, the faint smell of sand and blood still hanging in the air.
Marek gave a single nod. "Billy and Elena. You're first."
The two stepped into the ring. Elena's breath came slow and steady; she'd trained for this, but the unease in her stomach refused to settle. Billy just stared at her, emotionless, waiting.
"Begin!"
Elena moved first — quick, sharp strikes aimed at Billy's midsection. He blocked each one with terrifying precision, countering with a shoulder shove that sent her stumbling back. She reset, tried again, faster, feinting left before swinging with her right.
Billy caught her wrist mid-strike, twisting just enough to force her off balance. She spun, broke free, landed a kick that barely grazed his ribs — but it was enough to earn a flicker of surprise.
"Hmmm," he grunted, Brushing it off with his hand, stepping in close.
Elena tried another combination, but he ducked under her guard and drove a knee gently — almost lazily — into her stomach. The air left her lungs in a gasp.
"Come on," Billy said quietly, voice low. "You can do better than this."
She hesitated, looking up at him — at the boy she used to know — and in that pause, he swept her legs from under her. She hit the dirt hard.
Marek's voice carried across the yard. "Enough. Winner — Billy."
Elena sat up, clutching her side. Billy stared at her, then turned away, as struggled to stand on her own.
"Next," Marek barked. "Max, you're up."
Max stepped forward, wiping the sweat from his brow. "You've been waiting for this, haven't you?"
Billy tilted his head slightly. "You've got no idea."
"Begin!"
Max came in fast, fists flying, boosted slightly by a telekinetic push that gave his strikes extra speed. Billy blocked one, two — then slipped under a third and countered with a savage hook to the ribs. Max staggered, but didn't fall.
He grabbed Billy with a telekinetic grip, throwing him back a few feet — but Billy rolled through it, springing up immediately.
"Getting angry?" Billy taunted.
Max lunged again, catching Billy across the jaw with a clean shot — but Billy didn't even flinch. He slammed a fist into Max's stomach, then another into his chest, driving him backwards until he hit the dirt.
Before Max could rise, Billy stepped forward and brought his knee down — stopping him from lifting his arm then billy continued to pound into Maxs face, blood sprayed every were as max's nose had broken.
"Enough!" Marek's roar cut through the yard. In an instant, he was between them, shoving Billy back. "What part of control didn't you understand, cadet?"
Billy glared, breathing hard. "I was in control." he smirked
"Maybe," Marek said, voice low with warning, "but you enjoyed it."
The words hung in the air like smoke.
"Get out of my ring, Billy. You're done training with me."
For a moment, Billy said nothing — just stared at him with something dark flickering in his eyes — then turned and walked off without a word.
Marek exhaled, rubbing his temple. "That boy's going to be real trouble," he muttered.
---
At the same time as Elena's session, Scarlett trained with Sergeant Smith's unit. Her teleportation had improved, flickering six feet now before she had to stop for breath. As she caught her balance, a sudden blur zipped past her, stirring dust.
"Sorry!" called a voice.
She turned to see a tall boy with a playful grin standing a few metres away.
"Fin," he said quickly. "Super-speed. Still getting used to braking."
Scarlett smirked. "Scarlett. Teleportation. Still getting used to not crashing into things."
They both laughed — the easy kind that hinted at an instant connection.
---
Under the dim glow of the command office lights, Billy stood before Major Grant.
Grant leaned back in his chair, the faintest smile curling his lips. "You handled yourself well today, lad. Brutal and savage, I like it — raw strength always finds its way to the top."
Billy said nothing.
Grant poured himself a glass of whisky, swirling it once. "Don't mistake hesitation for kindness. Those who hesitate DIE. You've got what it takes — you just need the right guidance."
Billy's eyes flicked up. "And that's you?"
Grant's grin widened. "Call it… investment."
Billy turned to leave. Grant's voice followed him like smoke.
"Keep that edge sharp, son. The world doesn't need mercy — it needs monsters that can be controlled."
Billy didn't reply. He walked out into the night, the faint glow of the training grounds burning in his eyes.
The midday bell rang, echoing through the training grounds like a call for peace after the storm. Elena wiped the sweat from her brow and made her way toward the canteen, still feeling the dull ache in her ribs from her bout with Billy. The hall was buzzing with the usual noise — clattering trays, shouted jokes, the smell of something pretending to be stew.
Her eyes scanned the crowded room until she spotted Scarlett sitting near the far wall. She was deep in conversation with a small framed boy, who looked halfway between amused and flustered, his hair still ruffled from training. Scarlett laughed at something he said, flicking a crumb at him with mock offence.
Elena smiled faintly — it was good to see her friend relaxed for once. She slid into the seat opposite them.
"Busy morning?" she asked, picking up a fork.
"You could say that," Scarlett replied with a smirk. "This is Fin he nearly flattened Sergeant Smith when he misjudged a stop. Again."
"Only because he stepped in front of me!" Fin protested, holding up his hands. "Man's got no sense of personal space."
They all chuckled, the tension from the morning easing slightly.
Then, a shadow fell over their table.
"Mind if I join you lot?"
It was Max — his face was black and blue, bruised all over. his usual cocky smirk gone, replaced with something closer to weariness.
Scarlett looked up, arching a brow. "WOW! What happened to your face? And i Thought you had your own fan club."
"Yeah," Max muttered, sliding onto the bench, "After the beating Billy gave me, he and the rest, Cast me out. Seems no one likes losing to a psycho."
Elena followed his gaze across the canteen. Billy sat with Blob, Ned, and Skinny — Max's old crew — all of them laughing loudly about something. For a brief moment, Billy looked up and caught her eye. His expression was unreadable before he turned away.
"He's changed," Scarlett said quietly.
Elena nodded. "Too much, too fast."
Max stabbed at his food with a fork. "My father has been sniffing around him. Can't say I'm surprised. He likes broken things — easier to control."
"Maybe he's not completely gone," Elena said, though even as she spoke, she didn't sound convinced.
"Maybe," Max replied flatly, "but if he is, you'd better start getting ready to face him again — because whatever's brewing in there, it's coming for all of us."
They ate in uneasy silence after that.
the session drew to an end, Sergeant Smith called for silence.
"One final announcement," he said, hands clasped behind his back. "In one week's time, you'll have your first real outing beyond academy walls. You'll be hunting level one beasts in the outer forest. Nothing too deadly, but enough to test your skill — and your teamwork."
A ripple of excitement — and fear — ran through the students.
Elena glanced at Scarlett, who grinned nervously. Max just folded his arms, while Billy's expression remained cold, unreadable.
The sound of the wind picked up, carrying the faint echo of the bell that signalled the day's end. But as they left the yard, Elena couldn't shake the feeling that the next week would change everything — for all of them.