The morning at the academy felt different.
There was no obvious reason for it.
Nothing had happened.
And yet, something in the air felt unsettled.
It was the kind of feeling that came without warning—a quiet instinct buried somewhere deep inside, telling you that something was about to happen before you even knew what it was.
The academy seemed to carry that feeling too.
The corridors were filled with the usual footsteps and voices, but beneath them ran something quieter.
Something difficult to name.
A sense that things were about to change.
By the time the students settled into their usual seats, the classroom had returned to its normal rhythm.
Some were talking about yesterday's lessons.
Others were still arguing over their assignments.
A few were simply enjoying the last few minutes before class began.
Then—
Ring!
The bell echoed through the academy.
The conversations gradually died down.
Class was about to begin.
A moment later, the classroom door opened.
The professor walked in.
But this time, he wasn't carrying his usual books.
He had a stack of files in his arms.
Every file was carefully sealed, each one tied with a clean thread. Nothing about them looked ordinary. They were too neatly arranged, too carefully preserved.
And, more importantly—
They looked confidential.
The moment the students noticed them, the atmosphere changed.
A few whispers passed through the room.
"What are those?"
"Are those case files?"
"Did something happen?"
The professor didn't answer.
He simply walked to the front of the classroom and placed the files on his desk.
One by one.
The sound of them touching the wooden surface seemed strangely loud in the silence.
The professor looked across the classroom.
He adjusted his glasses.
Then he smiled.
It wasn't a warm smile.
Nor was it a bitter one.
There was something else in it.
Something almost cunning.
The kind of smile that made you wonder whether you really wanted to hear what he was about to say.
The students exchanged uncertain glances.
The professor finally spoke.
"Students."
The remaining whispers disappeared.
"Until now, this entire month has been nothing more than an introduction."
Several students blinked.
The professor continued calmly.
"The classes you've attended, the assignments you've completed, even the exercises you've participated in..."
He paused.
"They were never the important part."
A few students straightened in their seats.
"They were trials."
His eyes moved across the room.
"Simple trials designed to give you an idea of the difficulty levels you'll eventually face."
The classroom grew quieter.
"And whether you performed well or poorly during them..."
He gave a small shrug.
"...those results were never recorded as your final evaluation."
A murmur almost escaped from somewhere in the back.
The professor ignored it.
"Think of everything you've done so far as preparation."
He rested one hand against the desk.
"Preparation before entering the real battlefield."
The words settled over the classroom.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
The professor looked at their faces again, seemingly satisfied by the expressions he was seeing.
Then his gaze returned to the sealed files.
"Now..."
He lightly tapped the top one.
"We begin your first real mission."
That immediately drew everyone's attention.
The professor picked up one of the files.
"These are the beginning of your real experience."
He placed it back down.
"And, more importantly, the beginning of how our academy truly teaches."
Several students leaned forward.
The professor continued.
"From today onward, you will work in teams."
He paused.
"Each team must have a minimum of five members and a maximum of seven."
A few students immediately began looking around the room.
"Choosing your teammates is entirely your decision."
The professor raised a finger before the classroom could erupt into conversation.
"But listen carefully."
His tone hadn't become louder.
It didn't need to.
"The people you choose will play a major role in your entire assignment."
He let that sink in.
"You may think someone is useless."
His eyes moved slowly from one student to another.
"Don't."
A few students exchanged looks.
"Even someone you consider a nobody may end up being the person who helps you find the mystery everyone else missed."
That caught their attention.
The professor adjusted his glasses again.
"And I'll repeat this because I don't want anyone coming to me later with excuses."
He looked directly at the class.
"Your teammates will play a major role in whether you succeed."
A faint smile returned to his face.
"So choose carefully."
He stepped away from the desk.
"Now..."
He gestured toward the classroom.
"Form your groups."
The silence broke instantly.
Chairs scraped against the floor.
Students stood and began moving around the classroom, calling to one another.
"You're with us, right?"
"Wait, we still need one more!"
"Come here!"
"No, we're already seven!"
Within seconds, the classroom had transformed.
Groups began forming everywhere.
Some students gathered around their closest friends.
Others immediately searched for classmates known for specific strengths.
And a few stood quietly, watching everyone else choose.
The sealed files remained untouched on the professor's desk.
Waiting.
For now, nobody knew what was inside them.
But whatever those files contained...
The ordinary days at the academy were over.
"..."
Kael remained seated for a moment, thinking about the professor's warning.
Choose your teammates carefully.
The professor had repeated it more than once.
That alone made Kael take it seriously.
He already knew Elior and Aevrin would be with him. That part didn't need discussion.
But the remaining members...
Who should they choose?
Kael slowly looked around the classroom, studying the students one by one.
He didn't need people who would constantly interfere, ask unnecessary questions, or treat the whole thing like a game.
He needed people who could stay focused.
People who could notice things.
People who knew when to speak and when to stay quiet.
His eyes moved across the room.
Then someone caught his attention.
A girl was walking toward Elior.
Kael watched her carefully.
She was known for keeping her distance from everyone. She rarely allowed people into her personal space, and her expression was almost always blank.
Yet, for some reason, she had chosen to approach Elior.
She stopped in front of him.
"I'll join your team."
Elior looked at her for a moment.
Kael studied her quietly.
She didn't seem interested in making friends.
She hadn't even bothered to explain herself.
She had simply decided.
And strangely enough, Kael thought she might actually fit.
He needed someone who wouldn't interfere with other people's business but would still notice what was happening around her.
That kind of awareness could be useful.
Elior glanced at Kael.
Kael gave him a small nod.
Elior turned back toward the girl.
"Okay. You can join us."
The girl nodded once.
"Alright."
And that was all.
Kael almost appreciated how little she talked.
A few moments later, another student slowly approached Aevrin.
It was a boy.
He looked nervous.
Very nervous.
He stopped a short distance away and gathered enough courage to speak.
"H-hello..."
Aevrin turned toward him.
The boy swallowed.
"May... may I join your team?"
Aevrin stared at him.
Then he pointed at himself.
"Are you asking me?"
The boy nodded quickly.
"Y-yeah. I... I'm talking to you."
Aevrin looked genuinely surprised.
For a second, he didn't know what to say.
Then he glanced toward Elior as if silently asking him what he was supposed to do.
Elior looked at the nervous boy.
"Okay. You may join us."
The boy's shoulders relaxed immediately.
"Th-thank you."
He then looked toward Aevrin.
Aevrin raised an eyebrow.
"It's nothing to mention."
The boy nodded awkwardly.
"O-okay."
That made five.
Kael looked around once more.
Five was enough.
He and Aevrin seemed to reach the same conclusion without saying anything.
They didn't need anyone else.
At least...
That's what they thought.
A cheerful voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Hey! You guys still have space, right?"
Kael turned.
It was another boy from their class.
He was one of the most cheerful students around, always talking, always smiling, and somehow finding something amusing in almost every situation.
He walked over with an easy grin.
"Can I join?"
Silence.
The nervous boy looked at Elior.
The girl looked at Elior.
Aevrin looked at Elior.
Even the cheerful boy, despite his confident smile, was waiting for the answer.
Elior turned toward Kael.
Kael already knew what everyone was waiting for.
He hadn't wanted another person.
Five members were enough.
But the professor's words came back to him.
Your teammates will play a major role.
Having someone cheerful around might not be such a bad thing.
They couldn't spend every moment being serious.
At the very least, this boy might keep the atmosphere from becoming unbearable.
Kael gave a small smile.
"Let him join."
Elior nodded.
"Okay."
But before he could say anything else, the boy immediately smiled wider.
"So everyone's okay with me?"
He looked around at the group.
"Great! Thank you."
He placed a hand against his chest dramatically.
"It's nice to be with all of you. Please take care of me."
Then he added with complete confidence,
"We'll definitely make this assignment a success."
Kael stared at him.
He's definitely talkative.
He quietly looked away.
As long as he doesn't disturb everyone, it'll be fine.
Elior couldn't help but smile faintly.
The group was complete.
He walked over to the registration desk and wrote down their names.
One after another, the others joined him and registered as well.
Across the classroom, the other students were doing the same.
Groups were finally taking shape.
The noise slowly settled as everyone finished choosing their teammates.
Kael looked at the people standing beside him.
Elior.
Aevrin.
The quiet girl. Elara Veyne.
The nervous boy. Caelan Riven.
And the cheerful one. Milo Renwick.
Six people.
For now, none of them knew what kind of task waited inside the sealed file waiting for them.
"..."
The professor waited until every group had finished registering.
Then he looked across the classroom.
"All of you have registered your teammates. From this point onward, they will remain your teammates until your assignment is completed."
He adjusted his posture and walked slowly toward the other side of the room.
"Now, let's talk about what this assignment is actually about."
The murmuring gradually faded.
"The files you see before you contain pending cases. Cases that were reported, examined, and left unfinished."
He glanced toward the sealed files.
"Your task is simple."
A short pause.
"Complete the case assigned to your team."
A few students exchanged looks.
"Every case will be given at random. You cannot swap your case with another team, and you cannot refuse the one you receive."
His voice became slightly firmer.
"Once the file is in your hands, it belongs to you."
The classroom fell quiet.
"And remember something else."
The professor looked around the room.
"We will not judge you only by whether you succeed or fail."
Several students looked surprised.
"We will observe the process."
He raised one finger.
"How you approach the case."
A second finger.
"How you make decisions."
A third.
"And how you deal with the unexpected."
He lowered his hand.
"Those things will determine your credits."
His gaze became serious.
"So handle your assignment carefully."
He turned toward the sealed files.
"One member from each team will come forward. Take your file, then register your case number and its name."
He paused before adding,
"And one last reminder."
His eyes moved across the room.
"Be careful with the process."
That was all.
He stepped aside.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then the students began murmuring among themselves.
The professor's strange way of emphasizing certain words had clearly caught their attention.
Some wondered why he had repeatedly warned them to be careful.
Others were already trying to guess what kind of cases were inside the files.
Finally, the first team sent their representative forward.
The student took the first file.
Case No. 91 — The Empty Coffin.
The student who had been chosen as their team leader, Cassian Rowe, carefully registered the case before returning to his group.
The second team sent Cedric Vane.
Cedric was known for his physical strength, but his team also had a member who was particularly skilled with logic, theories, and their practical application.
Their assigned file was:
Case No. 203 — The Child Who Draws Tomorrow.
The third team sent Darian Vale.
Darian had a sharp sense when it came to people's behavior. He was good at judging how someone acted and, more importantly, could often sense when something about a person's presence felt wrong.
His team received:
Case No. 117 — The Merchant Who Came Back.
The fourth team sent Alden Rosier.
Alden had an unusual ability to locate objects.
Even without obvious traces, a sound, a smell, or even a portrait could sometimes be enough for him to figure out where something had been.
His case was:
Case No. 186 — The Bell That Rings Alone.
The fifth team sent Evren Hale.
Evren possessed incredibly fast reflexes. He could snatch an object almost instantly, often before anyone realized he had moved.
But he didn't rely on magic for it.
His reflexes were simply exceptional.
He also had an instinctive understanding of locks, doors, and survival situations—almost as if his body knew what to do before his mind had time to think.
His team received:
Case No. 265 — The Locked House.
The sixth team sent Lorian Voss.
Lorian was particularly good at finding people's weaknesses and tracking down possessions that had disappeared.
By observing someone's memories and grasping the last moment they had seen an object, he could often trace where it had gone.
His case was:
Case No. 82 — The Name Written in Ash.
The seventh team sent Julian Everhart.
Julian had a strange talent for reading the human body and its movements. He could notice differences between a person's physical behavior and their shadow, sometimes allowing him to determine whether what stood before him was truly a person.
His team received:
Case No. 148 — The Shadow That Doesn't Match.
The eighth team sent Nolan Veyre.
Nolan was skilled at understanding people's minds.
Psychology was his strongest area, and he had a talent for noticing patterns in the way people thought, reacted, and behaved.
His case was:
Case No. 29 — The Village That Forgot Someone.
The ninth team sent Leon Arveth.
Leon was known for having an unusually strong mind.
Fear didn't easily control him, and neither did the influence of others. He was difficult to manipulate and had trained himself to recognize and break through attempts to control his mind.
His team received:
Case No. 109 — The Bridge Nobody Crosses.
Finally, the tenth team stepped forward.
Elior was the one who went to collect their file.
He took it carefully from the professor and registered the number.
Case No. 271 — The Room That Doesn't Exist.
Elior returned to the group with the sealed file in his hands.
The professor waited until everyone had received their cases.
Then he spoke again.
"The case you have received is now your mission."
He looked at the clock.
"You have thirteen days."
A few students immediately became more serious.
"Thirteen days to complete your assigned case."
He paused.
"And now, the final reminder."
His expression changed.
"Never share your clues with another teammate until you have confirmed that they are real."
The classroom became completely silent.
"There may be false information hidden among the clues you find."
He let the words settle.
"And there may be people who believe those false clues are true."
His eyes moved across the students.
"So be careful."
He then reached beneath the desk and took out a small badge.
"Every member will receive one of these."
He held it up.
The academy's symbol was engraved at its center.
Beneath it were three small buttons.
"This badge will remain with you throughout the assignment."
He pointed toward the first button.
"The first button must remain active twenty-four hours a day."
A few students leaned forward.
"It's a location tracker. The academy will be able to locate you at all times."
He moved his finger to the second button.
"This one is for emergencies."
His tone became more serious.
"If you press it once, a protective barrier will activate around you. It will remain active for up to two days."
He paused.
"And during those two days, the academy will be able to trace your location."
The students listened carefully.
"If you press it twice..."
He tapped the button again.
"...the badge will transport you to a safe location somewhere nearby."
A few surprised murmurs spread through the room.
"For example, if you become lost in a forest and have nowhere safe to stay, the badge may transport you to a suitable shelter nearby."
He then pointed toward the final button.
"The third button connects you with your teammates."
His expression relaxed slightly.
"Use it when you need to communicate with your group. Only the members of your team will be able to hear the conversation."
He turned the badge slightly so everyone could see it.
"Each team has a different badge pattern."
He pointed toward the academy symbol.
"Your team number will also be marked here."
Then he added,
"There will also be matching badges kept at the academy. They will allow the faculty to monitor your assignment and send warnings when necessary."
He lowered the badge.
"Now..."
The professor looked around the room.
"If you have any questions about the badges—or anything else—ask."
Nobody spoke.
The students looked at one another.
Perhaps they were still processing everything.
The professor smiled.
"Alright."
He placed the badge back on the desk.
"If you think of something later, you may ask me."
Then he stepped away from the desk.
"Until then..."
His expression softened.
"All the best."
One by one, the students received their badges.
Each team was given a distinct pattern.
Team One.
Team Two.
Team Three.
And finally—
Team Ten.
Kael, Aevrin, Elior, Elara Veyne, Caelan Riven, and Milo Renwick each received the same Team Ten pattern.
One additional Team Ten badge was handed to a member of the faculty.
The professor looked toward the clock one final time.
"You will begin your assignment tomorrow."
He turned toward the door.
"For now, get some rest."
His hand reached the door.
"Tomorrow will be a long day."
The professor left.
The classroom remained silent for several seconds after the door closed.
Then the noise returned all at once.
Students gathered around their teammates, comparing cases and discussing what they had received.
Kael remained where he was.
Elior still held their file.
He opened it carefully.
Kael reached over and took the file from his hands.
Aevrin stepped closer.
Elara, Caelan, and Milo gathered around them.
Kael opened the first page.
Everyone looked down.
There it was.
Case No. 271
The Room That Doesn't Exist
Kael's eyes moved to the line beneath it.
His expression remained calm.
But he read it again.
And again.
A mysterious Room 13 that does not appear to the normal eye.
— by Aurea; "We thought we were choosing a case. We didn't know the case had already chosen us."