“Wolfton? You waited for me? You shouldn’t have,” Raven said dryly.

  “I find your reaction very amusing,” Wolfton chuckled. “But seriously, I would’ve left. They said we're required to travel in pairs, transporting one person at a time to the same location is ‘cost-inefficient,’ blah blah blah.”

  The two walked toward the portal operator with their luggage, presenting badges featuring a circular emblem with a mask-like face, angular eyes, a pointed visor piece, three upright feathers, and a diamond symbol like a third eye. Curved lines framed the face like stylized markings.

  “Cadet Academy students! Oh, you two are next,” the operator announced respectfully.

  Passengers who had been waiting earlier immediately protested. Why should two teenagers cut the line?

  The operator snapped at them, reminding them sharply that these two were from the Cadet Academy. At that phrase, the crowd fell silent. Everyone knew the Academy's influence.

  For the past two weeks, Raven had been travelling to Clockton City solely to use the Warp Gate, the fastest route to the Cadet Academy in the central colony. Normally, the journey would take a month and a half.

  They were heading to the academy earlier than planned because the Silverware incident didn’t just expose other races, it exposed Raven and Wolfton’s abilities to Captain Dunn, who, under military penal code, had the authority to seize gifted individuals and place them under army custody.

  The common populace knew little about awakened individuals because the army quietly took them away the moment they manifested.

  Even within the military, they were spoken of like rumors. Rare elites that only appeared when normal soldiers were outmatched, which was exactly why Raven originally learned about them.

  He was honestly shocked he hadn’t been dragged into military hands already. Until now.

  The Warp Gate ignited, swirling like liquid light begging to consume sight. The two stepped through, their bodies twisting with the magic current.

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  Seconds later, they emerged on the other side, staggered and nauseous.

  “Damn… the magic department needs to fix this. I can’t keep getting motion-sick every time we use one,” Wolfton grumbled.

  They lifted their heads and froze. Majestic towers, ornate halls, sprawling plazas, enough land to be its own city.

  The Cadet Academy. Buzzing with life. Forges roared, merchants shouted, arcane shops gleamed. Even Raven, who had seen this place before, felt momentarily awed.

  “You two putrid worms are late! What were you doing, hosting a bridal party?!”

  They turned. A yellow stickman glared at them, arms crossed. Raven recognized him immediately.

  “General Lupin…” Raven whispered, eyes widening. Lupin heard it instantly.

  “Huh?! General? Is that a prophecy, cinder twig?!” Lupin barked.

  “N-not quite, sir.” Raven stiffened.

  Lupin's eyes gazed down at him like they were peering right into his soul, Raven had to take his eyes away from the piercing gaze.

  Lupin’s golden aura flared, condensing into two glowing arms that grabbed their skulls and lifted them effortlessly. They winced in pain.

  “I am Sergeant-Major Lupin, the instructor who will discipline you incorrigible low-life maggots from now on,” he bellowed, dragging them through the academy like a pair of dead chickens.

  Spectators watched with pity.

  “Unfortunate kids… Sergeant-Major Lupin? I hope they survive his mouth and his drills…” one woman whispered.

  Lupin marched them around a small section of campus on a “tour.” Raven and Wolfton accepted their fate, they didn’t even resist anymore. Survival instincts told them to stay submissive.

  Later, he dumped them in front of a palace-like dormitory.

  “This will be your resting place. You slugs sleep today, tomorrow will break you. Any questions?”

  Raven raised a hand.

  “Uh, sir… since we’re already here, does that mean we’re officially enrolled?”

  “Hah! No, cinder twig. You’re only here so we can keep an eye on you ‘champions.’ If you pathetic gremlins were left out in the wild, you’d go rogue and be a public menace. You are not students. You’ll be allowed to take the entrance exam. Any other questions?!”

  “So… what are we doing here, then?” Wolfton asked.

  “Training, mangled lilac.”

  Wolfton’s brows twitched. He got the worse insult.

  “Now get inside, shower, and sleep, you stinking skunks! UNDERSTOOD?!”

  “Yes, sir!”

  They scrambled inside. Lupin watched them go, a faint smirk on his face.

  ' General Lupin is exactly the same as in the future… his insults always hit the soul', Raven mused as he walked the hallway.

  'But if he’s only a Sergeant-Major right now… how did he reach the top in just five years?'