The roar of victory still echoed across the field. Yuki and Haru were surrounded by teammates, shouting in joy, but Luka did not become part of that crowd. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his shirt sleeve and left the football right there on the grass. There was no arrogance of victory in his blue eyes, only a strange sense of contentment that had deepened along with the new, firmer contours of his face.
He didn't look back once at the scoreboard or the girls clapping for him. His heavy boots now crushed the grass as he headed toward the main building. There was no longer any childhood left in his stride; every step was measured and strong, like a predator moving toward its next destination.
The sun was now beginning to set, casting Luka's shadow long across the field. As he crossed the boundary of the grounds, the cool shadows of the academy walls fell over him. The noise gradually faded, replaced by the silence of the corridors.
Luka's white shirt was now slightly soiled with dust and sweat, but his chest remained broad and steady. He slicked his messy hair back once more and turned straight toward the stairs leading to his class. These stone walls of the academy had been his witness for the past five years, and today, that same Luka, with the echoing footsteps of a teenage warrior, was moving toward his next challenge.
The echo of Luka's boots was clearly audible in the high-ceilinged corridors of the academy. The faint blue light of evening filtered through the windows onto the floor, making the hallway seem even quieter. Luka pushed open the heavy door of his classroom.
The scene inside was no longer what it used to be. Where there had been children's noise and toy-like things five years ago, there were now sturdy desks, weapon blueprints, and large screens. A few students were already in their seats, their faces a mix of exhaustion and seriousness.
As Luka entered, a momentary silence fell over the room. The gazes of several classmates lingered on his dust-covered shirt and sweat-slicked hair. Luka didn't look at anyone. He walked toward his old spot, which now felt slightly small for his increased height.
He placed his bag near the desk and began staring at the redness of the setting sun through the window. His breathing was now slowly returning to normal. Other teenage students in the class were whispering about him, but Luka was miles away in his own world, far from those voices. On the desk before him lay a new document, with large letters reading— 'Advanced Combat Level: Final Selection'.
Luka's fingers rested on the corner of that paper. Those fingers no longer held any innocence; they had become tough and experienced, now ready for a major and real battle.
The silence of the academy was shattered by a heavy, rhythmic thud. The 'clack-clack' of heavy boots striking the stone surface of the corridor was clearly audible. The sound was moving past one classroom after another, gradually drawing closer to Luka's class. The whispering of the students inside ceased. Luka's gaze shifted from the window to the closed door, from where the echo now sounded even deeper and stronger.
Suddenly, the sliding door set into the wall glided aside without a sound. A tall man with a rigid stature stood in the doorway. The metal insignias on his uniform glinted in the evening light, and his face bore deep lines of discipline. His presence seemed to drop the room's temperature by several degrees.
He strode to the center of the classroom with heavy steps. The sound of his boots now resonated throughout the room. He cast a stern, icy gaze over each student, one by one.
"Those students who have filled out this time's 'Final Selection' form..." the man's voice echoed like the clanging of heavy metal. He paused for a moment and then, looking directly toward Luka and his peers, commanded, "Stand up."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Luka looked at the document on his desk. Some of the classmates around him were hesitating, but there wasn't a single crease of doubt on Luka's face. Without any delay, Luka's chair scraped back, and he stood up to his full height. Along with him, a few other courageous students in the class also rose from their places with firm resolve.
The man seemed slightly impressed by Luka's calm and steady expression, though he did not let his sternness soften. "Follow me," he said simply, turning back toward the corridor.
Six or seven other students followed the man along with Luka. The collective echo of their boots sliced through the silence of the corridor. Within this small group, one boy appeared distinct and somewhat peculiar. While the other students were competing to move ahead with excitement, this boy walked completely detached from the rest. There was a strange silence and mystery in his gait.
Luka was at the very back, so his gaze remained fixed on the boy's back. He watched him intently, as if trying to read a hidden story in his posture. The boy maintained a distance between the group and Luka, as if he were imprisoned in a world of his own.
Suddenly, the harsh voice of the stern man leading them rang out, shattering the silence in an instant.
"I didn't expect so many faces to step forward from this class this time," he said without looking back. His voice held more of a challenge than actual surprise. "It will be interesting to see how many of those who dared to fill out the 'Final Selection' form will lose their nerve along the way."
Hearing his words, some students' footsteps faltered, but Luka's eyes were still locked on that strange boy, who hadn't shown any reaction to the trainer's remark. They were now heading toward the academy's main elevator, which was to take them deep into the earth to the secret armory.
The metallic doors of the elevator slid open, and one by one, all the students stepped inside. Once everyone had taken their place, the instructor entered last. On the panel inside the elevator, numbers for every floor were glowing, but at the very bottom sat a button with no digit—only a deep 'X' mark. Without hesitation, the instructor's finger pressed that mark. With a heavy mechanical hum, the doors shut, and the lift began its descent into the depths of the earth.
The light inside was dim, yet Luka's gaze remained fixed. He stood in one corner of the elevator, while directly across from him in the other corner stood that mysterious boy. The boy kept his head bowed, as if reading his own shadow.
A cycle of thoughts began to churn in Luka's mind. 'This boy... he has only been here a short while,' Luka thought, watching him intently. 'No introductions, no words. And he filled out the Final Selection form immediately upon arrival?' In his recent months at the academy, Luka had never seen the boy speak to anyone or even smile. He simply appeared in the corridors like a silent puzzle and vanished just as quickly.
After a few moments of heavy silence, the elevator came to a halt with a slight jolt. As the doors opened, the instructor was the first to step out. Following him, the other students moved toward the unknown, chilly air. At the very end, Luka and that silent boy emerged. Even the sound of the boy's footsteps was so faint that it didn't even echo on the stones. He still hadn't opened his mouth, as if his silence was his greatest armor.