Soren did not sleep that night.
Not because he didn't try.
Not because he wasn't exhausted.
Not because Aldric snored like a dying dragon.
But because every time he closed his eyes, he saw the Mistwraith.
Or the Titan Construct.
Or Seraphine staring at him like he was an interesting lab specimen.
By morning, he was a hollow shell of a human being.
Kael knocked on his bunk. "Wake up."
"I'm awake."
"You're lying."
"I'm awake on the inside."
Aldric threw a pillow at him. "Get up."
Lira handed him a cup of tea. "Drink."
Soren sipped. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
They walked to the Inner Division hall again, but this time the atmosphere was different.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Expectant.
Students lined the walls, whispering as they passed.
"That's the fox kid."
"He passed the first two stages."
"Barely."
"He fainted twice."
"He's still alive somehow."
"His fox is adorable."
"His fox is terrifying."
Soren covered his face. "I want to evaporate."
Kael nudged him. "You'll be fine."
"I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
"You will."
Aldric muttered, "Both of you shut up."
Lira smiled softly. "Just breathe."
"I CAN'T."
The fox nuzzled his cheek.
Soren sighed. "Okay. I'm breathing. I hate it."
Instructor Seraphine stood at the front of the hall, phoenix perched on her arm, feathers glowing like molten gold.
"Candidates," she said, "the third evaluation begins now."
Soren whispered, "I'm not ready."
Kael whispered back, "You never are."
Seraphine continued, "This evaluation will test your ability to adapt under unpredictable conditions."
Soren's stomach dropped. "Unpredictable? Why unpredictable? Why can't it be predictable? Predictable is nice. Predictable is safe."
Aldric smirked. "Predictable is boring."
"I LIKE BORING."
Seraphine raised a hand.
The floor beneath them lit up with runes.
Soren screamed. "WHY IS IT ALWAYS RUNES."
The runes flared.
The hall dissolved.
They found themselves standing in a massive arena — not floating in a void this time, but grounded, solid, surrounded by towering stone walls carved with ancient symbols.
The sky above was stormy, swirling with dark clouds.
Soren whispered, "This is worse. This is so much worse."
Kael scanned the arena. "This is a combat simulation."
Lira nodded. "But not against beasts."
Aldric grinned. "Good."
Soren stared at him. "Why are you like this."
Seraphine's voice echoed across the arena, though she was nowhere in sight.
"For the third evaluation, you will face another team."
Soren blinked. "Another team? Like… students?"
"Yes," Seraphine said. "A team from the Inner Division."
Soren screamed. "NO. NO INNER DIVISION. THEY'RE SCARY."
Kael tightened his grip on his spear. "Stay focused."
Lira's frost‑wolf growled.
Aldric cracked his knuckles. "Finally."
The fox hopped onto Soren's shoulder, tails glowing faintly.
Soren whispered, "Buddy… please don't let me die."
The fox chirped.
The opposite gate opened.
Four figures stepped out.
Soren's heart stopped.
They were older.
Taller.
Stronger.
Their beasts were massive, refined, and radiating power.
A silver‑maned thunder wolf.
A crystal‑armored stag.
A floating orb of pure flame.
A serpent made of living metal.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox chirped.
The opposing team's leader stepped forward — a tall boy with silver hair and eyes like cold steel.
He smirked. "So you're the famous fox tamer."
Soren squeaked. "I don't want to be famous."
"Too late," the boy said. "Let's see if you can survive."
Soren screamed internally.
Seraphine's voice echoed:
"Begin."
The thunder wolf charged first, lightning crackling across its fur.
Kael intercepted, spear clashing with a bolt of electricity.
Lira's frost‑wolf lunged at the metal serpent, ice forming along its coils.
Aldric's lion cub roared, flames erupting as it clashed with the crystal stag.
Soren ran in the opposite direction. "I HATE THIS PLACE."
The fox flickered, appearing in front of him.
Soren skidded to a stop. "Buddy—what—"
The fox nudged him.
Toward the fight.
Soren shook his head violently. "NO. NO. I AM SMALL. I AM FRAGILE. I AM—"
The fox nudged him harder.
Soren stumbled forward. "STOP PEER PRESSURING ME."
The thunder wolf lunged at Kael.
Soren screamed. "KAEL—LEFT—LEFT—LEFT—"
Kael dodged left.
The wolf missed.
Kael blinked. "Good call."
Soren blinked back. "I DID SOMETHING."
The fox chirped proudly.
The metal serpent coiled around Lira's wolf.
Soren yelled, "LIRA—FREEZE THE GROUND—MAKE IT SLIP—"
Lira obeyed instantly.
The serpent lost its grip.
Lira struck.
Aldric was being pushed back by the crystal stag.
Soren shouted, "ALDRIC—HIT THE JOINTS—THE GLOWY PARTS—THE WEAK SPOTS—"
Aldric snarled. "Don't tell me what to—"
He hit the joints.
The stag stumbled.
Aldric blinked. "Huh."
Soren gasped. "I'M HELPING."
The fox chirped.
The opposing team's leader glared. "Enough."
He raised his hand.
The thunder wolf, metal serpent, crystal stag, and flame orb all converged at once.
Soren screamed. "NO. NO NO NO—"
The fox leapt from his shoulder.
Its two tails glowed.
Brighter.
Brighter.
Brighter—
Light exploded.
A shockwave rippled across the arena.
The opposing beasts staggered.
Kael struck.
Lira froze.
Aldric burned.
The opposing team fell back.
Silence.
Soren stared. "Did… did we win?"
Kael nodded. "We won."
Lira smiled. "Yes."
Aldric smirked. "Barely."
Soren collapsed. "I hate this place."
The fox hopped onto his chest and chirped.
Soren sighed. "Okay. I hate it slightly less."
Seraphine's voice echoed:
"Evaluation complete."
The arena dissolved.
And the world shifted again.