The sun was barely slipping through the automatic blinds, casting cold bands of light across the metal floor. A short, almost mechanical sound signaled the start of the day at the Academy: a deep buzz, followed by the automatic activation of the ventilation system.
"Yooo, sleepyhead! Wake up or you'll miss the hell-starter coffee!"
Lior was already on his feet, his messy red hair bouncing around and his T-shirt so brightly colored it looked borderline illegal. He was hopping in place, putting on his shoes with a disgustingly cheerful energy.
Kairon rolled his eyes without lifting them from his tablet.
"It's the first day of training. Maybe let him die in peace, Lior."
"Pff, no pain, no progress, philosopher-boy," Lior said and lightly smacked him with a pillow.
Yven, in his corner, silently put on his training shirt, avoiding everyone's gaze. The fine scar on his neck stood out strangely in the light, but none of them said anything.
Kael opened his eyes slowly.
On the opposite wall, his shadow didn't quite match the shape of his body. It trembled faintly, stretching at a different angle than the light should allow. No one seemed to notice.
Riven was already fully geared. He leaned against the doorframe, cleaning the blade of a curved weapon—metallic and cold like a promise.
"We're gonna be late," he said, not looking at anyone in particular.
"Look who woke up—the statue," Lior muttered, then flashed a grin at Kael. "You, boss. Soul back in place, or still stuck on level 3?"
Kael got up wordlessly, pulling a black shirt over his chest. His body looked ordinary—but a careful eye would've noticed a part of his shadow lagging behind.
Yven, still timid, murmured,
"Maybe he just… doesn't want to socialize."
"Or maybe he does, in his own way," said Riven, strapping a bracelet to his wrist. "Silently."
Lior raised his hands theatrically,
"Okay, okay! We respect the 'emo-silent-might-be-evil' style! Noted!"
Kael tied his shoes without responding. When he stood, his shadow stretched along the wall like a fluttering banner, then pulled itself back together. Yven stared at it a second too long, then quickly looked away.
"Let's see how hot this academic hell really is," said Kairon, getting up. "Maybe they burn us all in the first hour."
"Or just our souls. Easy start," added Lior with a laugh, slamming the door behind them.
Kael was the last to leave the room. He glanced toward the corner.
His shadow was there. Still.
But something…
It looked like it was breathing.
First Period
The training hall was massive, arched like a hangar, with a floor made of black composite that seemed to swallow light. Mechanical arms descended from the ceiling, each equipped with sensors, metallic spheres, and surveillance cameras.
At the edge of the hall stood a solitary figure: a tall, thin man with white hair tied in a short ponytail. Dressed in a dark gray suit with no emblem or ornament, he looked like a teacher from another century.
"Line up," he said. His voice was short, sharp—almost too low for such a large room.
Lior gave a low whistle.
"Wow… Someone skipped coffee this morning."
"Shut up, Lior," Kairon muttered, stepping between him and Yven.
Kael stood at the end, hands in his pockets, eyes low. Around him, everyone's shadows looked normal… except his. His seemed a bit too dense, like it wasn't shaped by light, but by darkness.
The teacher scanned them.
"I'm Instructor Valein. If you were hoping for motivational speeches or hugs… tough luck. I will test you, push you, and some of you will break. That's not a threat, it's statistics. Your system level is just a number. I want to see what's beyond that."
He stopped in front of Kael.
His gaze locked onto him.
Time seemed to slow for a second.
"Name?" he asked curtly.
"Kael."
Valein blinked. Not from the answer—but from… something else. He tilted his head slightly toward the floor, focusing on Kael's shadow.
It looked back at him.
"Hm."
He said nothing else. Took a step back and moved on.
But in Valein's eyes, for a fraction of a second, a flicker of unease sparked. Small. Barely perceptible.
But real.
"Warm up. Then we divide into teams. I want to see how your bodies react under pressure. How you spin your ankle after your balance is shattered."
Lior chuckled,
"Nicely said, teach. Kinda poetic."
"You've got two seconds to shut up."
"Shutting up!"
Kael's skin felt slightly damp. But not from exertion. From pressure. It was as if the air had grown heavier around him after Valein looked his way.
His shadow pulsed—small, rapid—like a heartbeat.
Then… it calmed.
For now.
"Teams of two," Valein shouted, without raising his tone. "If you don't move in five seconds, you're with me. And you don't want that."
Lior practically leapt toward Kairon.
"Partners, right? The classic fire-tech combo!"
Kairon sighed,
"You really have a thing for clichés."
"Clichés win matches, bro."
Yven looked around nervously. Riven had already approached Kael without a word.
"Don't get in the way. Got it?" he said shortly.
Kael nodded. His shadow coiled tighter beneath him.
Valein raised a hand. Four platforms rose from the floor, each covered with a faint, translucent field.
"Inside. Speed and reaction test. Semi-solid clones based on your profiles will be projected. They will attack. Try to stay standing for more than thirty seconds. That's all."
The eight teams stepped in. The energy field shimmered—then... darkness. Only red lights flickering.
The first projection struck Lior—a fiery one, obviously—and the boy burst out laughing.
"Damn, you copied my style, but not my charm!"
He punched hard with a flame-covered fist. The clones flew back.
In Kael and Riven's platform, everything was silent.
Two black silhouettes took shape. One looked like a metallic version of Riven. The other...
Kael stopped breathing. It was… a terrifying version of himself. A figure with eyes hidden behind a black mask, black smoke trailing from it. His shadow… animated. Independent. A caricature of darkness.
"That… doesn't look like it's from the system," Riven muttered, raising his sword.
Kael didn't reply. Inside, he felt it—the pulse.
The shadow… recognized him.
The dark figure struck first. Kael dodged instinctively, his body moving on its own. Riven clashed head-on with his copy, swords shrieking against each other.
Valein watched from above, eyes locked on platform 4.
"Interesting," he whispered.
Kael was hit in the chest and dropped to his knees. The shadow beneath him burst like living ink, shielding him from the second blow.
In that moment, something changed.
The dark figure… stopped. Its head slowly turned toward Valein, beyond the barrier.
Then… it dissolved.
The test ended abruptly. All fields dropped.
Silence.
Lior raised a hand.
"Just asking... Is this how every first day goes at the academy?"
Valein descended the stairs with heavy steps...