Chapter 18

My body stood rigid, without a single unnecessary movement. I stood among the trainees—or rather, the soldiers. It was the initiation ceremony for the sixteen of us who had succeeded.

​"You pledge your lives to humanity. Your elimination of the monsters is a defense of human survival in..." A long, sharp speech was delivered to us by a Colonel.

​Behind the Colonel sat Darian, joined by the four Generals and his deputy standing behind him.

​Darian... did he notice me?

​I cast a glance at my companions. Arinas looked exhausted from standing, while Mirai’s gaze was fixed directly on Darian.

​Why was she focusing on him? Her look was strange—not resolute as usual. Had something happened between them? I don't know why my chest tightened at the thought.

​"I will now call your names to receive your medals," the Colonel announced.

​"First, Mirai."

​Upon hearing her name, Mirai stepped toward the platform with graceful yet steady strides. The Colonel handed the medal to Darian, who in turn pinned it to Mirai’s chest.

​"Will the Commander be the one to deliver the medals to all of us? This is exciting," Arinas whispered in a voice barely audible, but I didn't respond.

​"Next, Revan." Revan ascended the platform with confident steps.

​After the medals were presented to Revan and Aden, it was finally my turn.

​"Iris."

​I moved the moment I heard my name, my footsteps creating a rhythmic sound in the hall. I climbed the steps of the platform and walked to where Darian stood. I felt as if every eye in the room was on me.

​I stood before Darian, who had worn a different expression throughout the ceremony—a serious one befitting his rank. He took the medal and reached out to pin it, causing my body to stiffen. I looked at his face; was it my imagination, or did he smile for a brief second?

​I descended the platform and returned to my place. The presentation continued in the same manner until it was finished. 

​"Now that the presentation has concluded..." the Colonel continued in the same stern tone, "the sixteen of you will be divided into teams of four. Your teammates will be your companions on missions, and you must cooperate with them."

​A team? I gripped the edge of my skirt. Who would I be with?

​"Team One: Mirai, Revan, Iris, Axel."

​My body froze, and I swallowed hard. A team with them…

​I glanced at Revan and Axel. As expected, they were grumbling. Mirai, on the other hand, was glaring at me sharply. I didn't know how to face her intensity, so I avoided her gaze.

​Revan turned his head toward me, his eyes filled with wariness. Throughout the year of training, he had maintained a cautious and neutral stance toward me. Would everything be alright?

​"Team Two: Aden, Narin, Arinas, Rio."

​Arinas looked satisfied with her team; unlike ours, theirs was peaceful.

​"Team Three: May, Amara, Nex, Robert."

​"Team Four: Rina, Milo, Horan, Sai."

​"Each team is requested to go to the examination office in succession."

​Upon hearing this, we—Team One—walked out of the hall and toward the examination room. Axel was shooting sharp glares at Revan.

​"Stop glaring at me like that. It's not like I want to be on the same team as you either," Revan addressed him coldly.

​"I'll do whatever I want," Axel snapped, not breaking his gaze. "What is with this team? Tsk."

​"Don't act like you're the only one who's dissatisfied, but we have no choice but to get used to each other," Mirai rebuked him.

​"Yes, yes, Miss Serious," Axel mocked.​"Can you stop this?"

​They fell silent the moment we entered the examination office. My eyes wandered over the machines and equipment.

​"Welcome. Please change into suits in the locker rooms and then enter the machines," the military doctor told us. The machines he pointed to were similar to the ones we had entered during the abilities test.

​Mirai and I headed to our locker room and put on the suits. As the fabric of the suit rubbed against my skin while I changed, I could feel it... she was still staring at me.

​We left the locker room, and I headed to the machine I was supposed to enter. What was the difference between this and the machine at the Academy?

​The moment I stepped inside, the door closed, and I was submerged in a refreshing sensation similar to the feeling of the pool. The wet sensation surrounded me for a while before stopping. The door opened, and I stepped out, as did the others.

​"Yes, just as I expected. All of you are already at Level 3."

​"Level 3?"

​"Your power level. Power levels are divided into five levels," the doctor said while looking at his screen. "Level 1 is unfit for combat. Level 2 is the level of most trainees and beginner soldiers."

​He glanced at us. "As for you, you already possess the level of a soldier. You have been classified as a major force. The trainees this year are truly strong."

​"That's expected," Axel smiled arrogantly.

​"I expect the same results from Narin and Aden from Team Two."

​Narin and Aden—they are indeed strong.

​"Examinations are held every six months, so you won't be called back for a while" he said, adding, "A suit will be delivered to your rooms to be worn under your military uniform during missions. You may leave now."

​We left the office and returned to the hall.

​After all the teams finished the examination process, we were informed that we would go on a training mission tomorrow under the supervision of a Colonel.

​Before I left, I turned to Arinas, who was already looking at me with her usual smile.

​"Iris! Unfortunately, we aren't on the same team," she said, walking beside me.

​"Yes."

​"But you've certainly ended up in a team that no one would envy," she said, laughing.

​"I agree."

​After that, I spent my day as usual. Aside from receiving the package, nothing special happened. I just hoped I would perform well in tomorrow's mission.