Kenzo had only two months. Just two months to prepare for the test. Two months to learn, to understand, to plan. By now, he knew how everything would unfold: the rules, the procedures. All of it was etched into his mind with cold concentration.
Once he felt he understood enough, he left the room where he had spent hours reading and rereading. His footsteps echoed softly across the polished marble floor of the royal suite. Every corridor breathed luxury, but to him, that splendor was nothing more than a veil hiding the harsh reality waiting for them. His eyes eventually stopped in front of a door—Yareth's room.
Without hesitation, he opened it.
Inside, Yareth lay stretched across his bed, dressed in casual clothes. He looked peaceful, almost carefree, as if in two months the two of them would not be thrown into a survival trial whose cruelty was already legendary.
Kenzo frowned slightly.
– « Yareth… I just finished your entire book. You're going to have to explain your plan now. »
Yareth lifted his head. His golden eyes, sharp and confident, settled on him.
– « Ah, you finished it. Listen, it's pretty simple. Most of the students in this academy will launch their test using Fragments they already know. And don't worry , I've already enrolled in Fragment exploration. I'll go with Lord Karim. That way we'll gather as much information as possible, and when we start the test, we'll finish it as quickly as we can. »
Kenzo narrowed his eyes, skeptical.
– « And how exactly are we going to form the team? » he asked, still unconvinced.
Yareth gave a calm smile.
– « I'll ask two or three students to join us. They'll be more than happy to be part of a team that includes a member of the royal family. I don't intend to join the Phoenix's team, even if my father probably sent me here for that. I don't want to waste time. I want to become Transfigured as quickly as possible, even if the test is simple and we return with poor artifacts. »
His words were firm, but his eyes shone with a golden impatience , something restless, almost consuming.
Kenzo stayed silent for a moment, studying that almost unreal determination. Finally, he spoke again.
– « And you? Have you figured out how you're going to prepare? »
Kenzo had already reviewed the different classes that might help him. A memory surfaced immediately in his mind: William.
William—the man who had surprised Kenzo with his knowledge of the wild. Thanks to him, Kenzo had survived in brutal conditions. But survival alone wasn't enough. He knew that now. He also needed to improve in combat. Until now, he had never faced a Void Creature or even another human alone, without tricks.
A shadow of concern crossed his gaze.
The problem was simple: to improve, he needed resources. And resources were something he didn't have. During his research, he had discovered that the class « Combat Training » required students to bring their own weapons… or pay to use those provided by the Royal Academy. But Yareth's father had been clear from the start—he would only cover the enrollment. Everything else had to come from Kenzo's own pocket.
And his pocket… was empty.
Completely empty.
Kenzo clenched his fists at the bitter thought. Still, he lifted his head and answered:
– « I enrolled in Survival in Hostile Environments. »
Yareth nodded without surprise.
– « Good. Once we complete the test and become Transfigured, I'll find someone who can help manage your Deviant condition. And I'll tell you how you can repay your debt. »
– « Yeah. That way we'll be even, » Kenzo replied neutrally.
Yareth turned his golden gaze away, as if the matter carried no more weight than a minor formality.
Kenzo let his thoughts drift.
It's true… he's helping me so that I help him later. That's our arrangement.
But another thought slipped into his mind, cold and sharp:
I'm starting to see him as a friend… but is that really the case for him?
The doubt remained. Kenzo chose to keep it in his memory, like a scar that should not heal too quickly.
And so began two months of silent effort.
Day after day, Kenzo attended the class Survival in Hostile Environments. Each lesson hardened him further. The instructor forced them into situations resembling the wilderness—building shelters from nothing, lighting fires in the rain, distinguishing poisonous plants from medicinal ones. His hands became rough and calloused. His movements more precise. His gaze sharper.
Yareth, meanwhile, ventured into a Fragment. His goal was simple: understand how to finish it as quickly as possible. He spent entire days exploring, mapping, analyzing. His obsession with efficiency slowly consumed him, yet he seemed to thrive on it, driven by relentless determination.
During those two months, the two boys rarely saw each other. Their paths seemed to drift apart, only to meet again when the moment came. Both were absorbed in their own preparations, each trapped within his own world.
Kenzo didn't even know who would join Yareth's team for the test. That uncertainty hovered above him like a grey cloud. But he couldn't afford to worry about it—his own survival had to come first.
The weeks passed relentlessly.
And before he realized it, the two months were gone.
The day had finally arrived.
The sun had barely begun to rise through the tall windows of his room when Kenzo opened his eyes. His body had hardened, his mind sharpened—but his heart still beat with a quiet anxiety.
He remained lying there, staring at the ceiling, which suddenly seemed farther away than usual.
A whisper slipped from his lips.
– « Today's the day. »