The sun was barely peeking through the campus domes when the three of them woke up at the same time.
None of them spoke at first.
Elois—usually the first to break the silence with a theatrical comment—sat at the edge of his bed, staring at his hands.Vex, meanwhile, tried to control the subtle tremble in his fingers.The bracelet on his wrist felt heavier than usual.
Then Kaen spoke.
— "Let's go. If we take too long, they'll have us scrubbing the Coliseum's bathrooms."
The comment wasn't funny… but it broke the tension.Elois stood up, stretched, and finally smiled.
— "All right. Today marks the start of our glorious rise. I refuse to die before the world learns to pronounce my full name."
— "We're still in Terna," Kaen said, without turning around.
— "Exactly! That's why our legend will start from the bottom!" Elois shouted, raising a fist with fake epic flair.
Vex let out a nervous laugh.Even though his insides were twisted, he was grateful he wasn't alone.
They left together, walking through the still-cool halls, surrounded by other students also marching silently toward the same fate.
The Evaluation Coliseum was just as impressive as the rumors promised.
A circular structure with floating stands suspended by nothing but air—or maybe willpower.Magical shields covered the combat zones, and at the center, a field of living stone that could shift and reconfigure itself depending on the trial.
Hundreds of students had already gathered.
The three made their way to a floating crystal table, where a woman in a gray suit and blue cape was taking team registrations.Her voice echoed, magically amplified with perfect clarity.
"Welcome to the Coordination and Potential Evaluation.This event will be divided into three qualifying brackets by class pairs:
Terna and UmbraAegis and IgnisCaelum and Aether
Teams can be freely formed within those groups.Three members. Coordination and survival.Only the teams that pass two rounds will be considered for promotion.The rest… keep training."
Vex, Kaen, and Elois exchanged a glance.
— "Shall we?" Vex asked.
— "Of course," said Elois, fully recovered."This squad shall go down in history as the Terna Trio!"
Kaen sighed.
— "As long as it's not the Tragedy Trio, I'm fine."
They were led into a circular waiting room, along with other students.Elois couldn't have been more excited.
— "A full Terna match!" he said, reading the list."Finally! A little divine balance!"
— "Doesn't mean it'll be easy," Kaen muttered, arms crossed.
— "But it does mean we won't face someone who cuts you in half just by looking at you," Elois replied.
For the first time, Vex felt the pressure wasn't unbearable.They were together.They had rhythm.Maybe… just maybe, they could make it through.
The Coliseum roared.
Their group was called.
They stepped into the battlefield, the artificial sun shining down on them like heroes entering legend.
Across from them, their opponents: another trio of Ternas, all with determined but nervous eyes.One wielded a short magic channeling staff, another a curved sword with poor form, and the last one… seemed unsure whether to hold his shield with the right or left hand.
"Is that how we look to others?" Vex wondered for a second.
— "Formation," Kaen said firmly.
They moved into an inverted triangle:Vex at the center with his bow ready.Elois and Kaen on the flanks, prepared to intercept.
The signal rang.Everything moved.
The enemy team tried to cut off their approach with a magic net, but Elois used his spear to flick it upward.Kaen blocked the curved blade with his trident and countered with precision.
Vex seized the moment.
He pulled, breathed… and released.
He remembered the words of the silver-haired boy.
"It's not force. It's harmony. Like reaching for a glass."
The string vibrated with less tension than before—But the arrow flew straight.
It hit the dagger-wielder in the thigh.Dropped him.
Vex blinked.It hadn't been a perfect shot…But it had hit.
"I'm not like them yet…But I can start becoming someone."
— "Nice shot, archer!" Elois shouted mid-attack, spinning his spear like he was performing on stage.
Kaen, without stopping, gave a brief nod.
And for the first time that day…
Vex felt like he could keep climbing the staircase.
The crowd applauded.Not for them… not yet.But something in the air told them:They were no longer invisible.
They returned to the locker room.
Healing runes sealed their minor injuries.The sweat and adrenaline were still rushing through them.
— "That was glorious!" Elois yelled."We'll make it to the finals and demand a promotion to Aegis, at the very least!"
Kaen said nothing. He wiped the sweat from his brow.
Then a projection appeared on the wall:
"Next match in 30 minutes.Opponents: Team composed of 2 Ternas and 1 Umbra.Field: Elemental variable."
— "Another team like ours?" Vex asked.
— "This'll be easy," Elois smiled.
Kaen simply said:
— "Don't underestimate.Pride blinds more than magic."