Before the send-off event, the cadets spent their remaining days bonding with their mentors in ways that reflected their personalities, and their shared history.

  Kyle and Connor were seated at a worn chessboard in the common hall, the tension between them palpable. Kyle furrowed his brow as he tried to anticipate Connor’s moves.

  “Again? You just always trap me in the knight-ladder!” he groaned.

  Connor smirked, moving a bishop with precision.

  “You’ve got heart, Kyle, but you always underestimate the subtleties. Again.”

  Kyle rolled his eyes, already plotting his next attempt, while Connor’s grin only widened. Losing or trying to win was part of the fun.

  Meanwhile, Takeshi and Aoi were sparring in the courtyard with wooden katana swords, the sound of splintering wood and clashing strikes echoing in the afternoon sun. Takeshi lunged with a precise strike, Aoi deflected it, spinning gracefully.

  “You’re getting faster,” she said between strikes.

  “You’re stronger than I expected,” Takeshi replied, ducking a sweep and countering. Their laughter mingled with the rhythmic clang of practice, friendship and rivalry intertwined.

  Serafina and Min-Jae, in contrast, had traded the battlefield for the calm of a zoo. Serafina laughed as Min-Jae mimicked the movements of a lounging lion, her own spirit creatures’ presence subtly echoing the wild animals around them. They moved slowly, talking quietly, observing, and letting the calmer side of their bond emerge.

  Natalia and Beatriz had taken refuge in a prestigious café, the aroma of coffee and pastries filling the air. Cups clinked lightly as they discussed the finer points of fashion and makeup.

  “If I wear this shade, do you think it’ll make him notice me more?” Natalia asked, twirling a lock of hair.

  Beatriz sipped her cappuccino, smirking. “Confidence makes the dress. The makeup is just an accessory.”

  Their conversation was lighthearted, almost girlish, a momentary escape from the rigor of the hunting ground.

  Nikolai and Anya, on the other hand, were at the shooting range, adrenaline and focus guiding every movement. Each took turns firing at distant targets, their rhythm almost a dance.

  “Bullseye!” Anya called, grinning.

  Nikolai frowned, lining up his next shot. “Not for long,” he said, but a hint of a smile betrayed him.

  Their competitive banter echoed in the metallic hallways, each trying to outdo the other, but neither truly caring about winning, they just enjoyed the challenge.

  And then there was Kael. He spent most of his time at the hospital, sitting quietly by Cain’s side. He watched over his mentor, checking on bandages, monitoring vitals, and sometimes just talking quietly to fill the silence. Occasionally, General Ryker would visit, leaning back in a chair, observing Cain and Kael with an amused smile.

  “You know,” Ryker said one afternoon, a mischievous glint in his eye, “Cain was far more reckless when he was young, than you are.”

  Cain groaned, rubbing his side. “You don’t have to tell him everything.”

  Kael chuckled softly. “I don’t even know if I want to know half of it.”

  Ryker leaned forward, lowering his voice. “He once tried to single-handedly face an entire squad of rogue spirit users… and lost. But it was impressive, nonetheless.”

  Cain just shook his head, half embarrassed, half proud, while Kael simply smiled, absorbing the stories and the quiet lessons woven between them. Watching his mentor and listening to Ryker, Kael felt a new weight of responsibility, but also the reassurance that he wasn’t alone in shouldering it.

  Each mentor-cadet pair spent their time differently, but the bond between them deepened. Whether through competition, conversation, or quiet care, they were preparing, not just for the send-off event, but for the journeys that lay beyond it.

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  A few days later, the academy held the send-off ceremony for the retiring sergeants.

  The auditorium was packed, students, mentors, and distinguished guests filling every row. The air was thick with respect and nostalgia, a quiet hum of anticipation settling over the crowd.

  Cain, still wearing his arm brace, stepped onto the stage. His movements were measured, deliberate, but his presence alone commanded attention.

  “Good morning, everyone,” he began, voice steady but edged with emotion. “It has been an honor. A joy. And yes… a pain to bid farewell to my fellow members of the academy. These individuals have stood by me, not only as my squad in the frontlines against the aberrations but also as my fellow instructors, shaping the next generation of the Battle Infantry.”

  He paused, letting his words sink into the audience.

  “I request the sergeants to join me on stage: Connor Fraiser, Aoi Nishimura, Kim Min-Jae, Beatriz Fernandes da Costa, and Nikolai Viktorovich Orlov.”

  One by one, the sergeants ascended. Their uniforms were immaculate, posture perfect, radiating years of discipline and dedication. Cain carefully pinned medals of honor onto each of their chests, each one gleaming under the auditorium lights, a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and unbroken loyalty.

  He saluted them, and in unison, the cadets rose, returning the salute with reverence.

  The auditorium erupted into applause, cheers cascading through the hall as the sergeants descended the stage. Heads held high, they walked with pride tempered by humility, the weight of their years of service evident in every step.

  Cain’s voice cut through the applause, firm yet warm.

  “In the midst of darkness, light will always shine. Cadets; Kael Santos, Takeshi Sato, Natalia Oliviera, Serafina Oliviera, Anya Coupri, and Kyle De Los Reyes, please come forward.”

  The cadets stepped to the front in crisp, clean squad uniforms, every motion precise, every expression resolute. Cain’s eyes swept over them, pride unhidden.

  “Everyone,” he said, voice echoing with certainty, “I give you the new squad of the Battle Infantry, led by Cadet Kael Santos, Squad Prime.”

  The cadets saluted sharply, the gesture clean and powerful, a symbol of unity and responsibility.

  The crowd erupted. Cheering, applause, whistles, and claps filled the room, celebrating this new chapter. The retiring sergeants watched, pride gleaming in their eyes, smiles wide as they saw the cadets they had trained now stepping into leadership.

  Even General Ryker, seated at the front, nodded once, a rare smile breaking his usually stoic face. Approval and recognition radiated from him, and the cadets felt it.

  As the cheers washed over them, Kael glanced at his squad. Their eyes were bright, determined, hopeful, filled with the unspoken promise that they would honor the legacy entrusted to them.

  Squad Prime had begun.

  Days passed. Weeks turned into months. Two months later, the cadets stood together once again, having completed the rigorous Battle Course. The graduation ceremony had been lively, filled with laughter, cheers, and the proud gazes of mentors, but now, a new chapter awaited.

  After the celebrations wound down, the cadets were called to the Battle Course classroom. The room was orderly, bright, and unusually tense, as if the walls themselves anticipated the news they were about to hear.

  As they entered, Kael, Takeshi, Natalia, Serafina, Anya, and Kyle noticed two familiar figures standing at the front: General Ryker, imposing in his formal uniform, and Captain Cain Smith, still wearing his arm brace but exuding calm authority.

  The cadets saluted instinctively, posture straight, eyes forward. Cain returned the gesture with a nod, while Ryker’s gaze swept across them, sharp and commanding.

  “Cadets,” Ryker began, voice carrying the weight of command and expectation.

  “Congratulations on graduating the Battle Course. You have proven your skill, endurance, and spirit. But your training is not yet complete.”

  He paused, letting the weight of the words settle.

  “Effective immediately, you will be deployed to the Battle Infantry. Your squad, Squad Prime, along with four other squads under the command of Captain Smith, will be assigned to an international operation. You will be sent to a different country to engage in active operations against the ongoing aberration threat.”

  A murmur ran through the cadets, a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Kael’s heart raced, a blend of anticipation and the gravity of responsibility settling on his shoulders.

  Cain stepped forward slightly, his gaze locking onto Kael’s.

  “This is your first true test as a squad leader,” he said, voice steady but laced with encouragement.

  “Your decisions, your courage, and your ability to lead will define not just your squad’s success, but the lives of everyone under your command.”

  Kael swallowed hard, the weight of leadership pressing on him, yet a spark of resolve ignited within. Beside him, his squad members stood firm, trust and determination mirrored in their eyes.

  General Ryker’s voice cut through the tension one last time.

  “Prepare yourselves. The war against the aberrations continues, and now, the Battle Infantry depends on you.”

  Kael clenched his fists, his belt pocket glowed and out came his spirit creatures, feeling the presence of his spirit creatures by his side. Kylon’s wings twitched, Kawa’s feathers shimmered, and Zatz crackled lightly in excitement.

  The room was silent for a moment, save for the quiet hum of spirit energy resonating between the cadets. The moment was heavy, yet full of promise.

  Squad Prime had graduated, but their real journey was only beginning.