Seren Veylith

Lumen is assigned to a small, cramped room with three other boys his age. The space is sparse and utilitarian. Two simple wooden bunk beds stand against opposite walls, their shabby mattresses so thin you could likely feel the boards beneath.

A wobbly coat hook by the door already holds a few roughly folded uniform pieces. A single small window lets in gray evening light, barely enough to brighten the corners of the room.

The bathroom isn't much better: a lone sink with a worn rim, a spotted mirror, and a tiny toilet whose flush sounds as if it's on its last breath make up the entirety of the facilities.

The floor does at least have a communal shower area, which is a small consolation.

Lumen lies on the lower bunk on the left side, his head resting on crossed arms. His golden eyes stare up at the underside of the mattress above him, though his thoughts are far elsewhere.

It's a rare, quiet moment, but he feels neither relaxed nor calm. His mind circles around Kael's earlier demonstration and what lies ahead.

Above him, Ravyn, the boy sharing his bunk, is lying down. Like Lumen, Ravyn is quiet and unassuming.

He has brown hair and a demeanor that makes him seem unremarkable at first glance. However, the black cloak hanging on his bed, adorned with an intricate red design, makes him stand out despite his subdued personality.

The red pattern matches Ravyn's striking red eyes, often hidden behind sunglasses during the day. Ravyn rarely speaks; when he does, it's in short, precise sentences, a welcome change from the chaos coming from the other side of the room.

But Lumen didn't fail to notice something strange about him. He wears heavy, black armor with a design similar to his cloak. Normally, that wouldn't be that weird, thinking that he might come from some prestigious military family.

But considering that he also wears it while in bed, it must be quite comfortable.

The other two boys on the opposite side couldn't be more different from Lumen and Ravyn. Both were blond, both loud and seemingly brimming with energy, even in sleep.

Kieran, the older one, snores with a booming sound like he's scaling a mountain in his dreams.

The younger one, Finn, talks in his sleep, his words fragmented and nonsensical, as if caught mid-battle in his mind.

Lumen closes his eyes briefly and exhales slowly. Though Ravyn barely makes a sound, there's a constant sense of alertness about him.

"Awake?" Lumen asks him, trying to start a conversation with the only interesting person he has met.

"Yes," Raven says in a loud, perhaps even awkward tone, seemingly not caring about the other two sleeping directly next to him.

"I gave up on sleeping," Lumen says, propping himself up on one elbow so his face appears at the edge of the bed.

"But we should try anyway," Lumen whispers before receiving an answer.

"Quite weird," Ravyn thinks.

~~~

"So, you're the new recruits."

An officer with a sharp gaze surveys the group. He appears to be in his early thirties.

"I'm Samir. That means for you: do as I say if you want to survive."

Samir crosses his arms, his uniform immaculate, his posture rigid.

"Given the circumstances, we'll be accelerating your training. Time is short, which means I have no tolerance for nonsense."

His gaze sweeps over the nine recruits but lingers on one particular girl. Seren stands upright, her white blonde hair neatly tied back, her icy blue eyes meeting his without wavering.

"Your name is Seren Veylith," Samir says with a hint of interest.

"As in General Marcus Veylith?"

Seren nods, her tone neutral yet respectful.

"Yes, sir. He's my father."

A fleeting smile crosses Samir's face.

"I've only met him briefly. But I trust his offspring will prove just as exceptional."

He pauses, letting his words sink in before continuing.

"Veylith, from this moment on, you're the leader of this group."

A murmur of surprise ripples through the recruits.

"That means you bear the responsibility for this group," Samir states bluntly.

"You're their link to me and the other officers. When I place an order, I expect it to be delivered to you. You keep them in line, correct their mistakes, and lead them in the field."

His expression hardens.

"But always remember, if your group fails, it will reflect on you."

Seren nods slowly, her gaze steady.

"Understood, sir."

Lumen, standing off to the side, slightly raises an eyebrow.

"Of course, who else would it be? Such a cliche," he thinks.

Samir's eyes sweep over the group again.

"The rest of you," he says in a stern tone, "will follow her commands. If she tells you to jump, you don't ask, 'Why?' Instead, you ask, 'How high?'"

A brief, uncomfortable silence follows before Samir adds:

"You have one hour. Get to know each other before training begins."

With that, he turns and walks away. Seren casts a quick glance over the group.

"This role isn't just about responsibility. It's about us sticking together, whether we like it or not."

Her voice is clear and firm.

"You can count on me, and I expect to be able to count on you."

Lumen, who hasn't said a word until now, leans back against the wall.

"Sounds like you've got this all figured out," he remarks dryly.

Seren's gaze is cold but not hostile.

"I don't expect blind obedience. But I do expect us to survive, and I think someone must lead and take responsibility."

Lumen's defiant, unimpressed look slightly unsettles Seren. He doesn't argue further, but his expression speaks volumes.

"I'm annoyed by him. It's not like I asked for this, either. Maybe I should just put a slight leash on him," she thinks.

"How about showing us your Stigma, Lumen? It would be beneficial for each of us to know each other's combat powers,"

While suggesting that, Seren tries to sound as innocent as possible.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm the only one who's going to end up showing his Stigma?" Lumen muses.