The day's heat settled early over Aurenheim, clinging to the stones like a second skin. By the time Serene reached the lower courtyard, the air already felt thick enough to choke on. The training yard shimmered faintly, a haze rising from the pale stone like the ground itself was sweating.
First-years gathered in uneven clusters, wiping their brows, adjusting their grips, and stretching sore limbs. Yesterday's sparring still marked their bodies — bruises darkened arms, ribs, and shins. Some trainees limped. Others winced when they laughed.
Serene's ribs still ached sharply when she inhaled too deeply. She kept her posture straight despite it. Pain could be carried. Pain could be hidden. Pain, she was learning, could also be shaped.
Lira hurried to her side, her braid bouncing lightly. "You heard?" she whispered.
"Heard what?"
"We're doing formation drills," Lira said with a grimace. "Combined-division. Sword, Lance, Spirit. Mixed teams."
That meant Serene's body would not be enough. Her mind would be required. Again. So soon after the tactical evaluation.
She didn't complain.
She just nodded once.
A whistle cut through the air.
Thane strode into the yard, all stern composure and shadowed eyes. He looked like a man carved for battle rather than instruction. "Form ranks! You'll be grouped by performance, not preference."
Whispers rippled.
That meant merit.
That meant the rankings.
Thane began listing groups, and trainees shifted anxiously, hoping for friends, dreading rivals.
Finally —
"Group Three," Thane called. "Rowen Aster. Serene Valehart. Alden Rook. Lira Ciryne. Kael Drakov. Taren Vayne."
Lira's face paled. "Oh no."
Taren groaned. "Oh no."
Kael's chin snapped upward, annoyance flickering like fire. Alden drew a long, slow breath, calm and unreadable. Rowen did nothing — not a blink, not a twitch.
Serene remained still.
This was expected.
Six students, each from different major strengths, thrown together because the instructors needed to see how they functioned under pressure.
A mixed-division test.
And with that combination of personalities?
It was deliberate.
Thane raised his voice. "You will retrieve six banners placed along the cliff route. Each banner guarded by instructors simulating enemy interference. You have limited time. Fail to retrieve all banners — you fail."
Taren lifted a hand. "Instructor, question—"
"No questions," Thane snapped. "You succeed or you don't."
The teams began to move. Group Three gathered last, forming a loose circle.
Silence pressed between them:
Rowen — cold focus.
Kael — simmering irritation.
Alden — stillness that felt sharper than noise.
Taren — nervous energy barely contained.
Lira — determined, even if her hands trembled.
Serene — assessing everything quietly, her eyes moving in sharp, precise patterns.
Rowen finally said, "We need a plan."
Kael scoffed. "Strategy again? This is retrieval, not diplomacy."
Serene didn't look at him. "If you don't wish to use your head, that's your choice. Don't ask others to lower theirs."
Kael bristled. "You—"
"Enough," Alden interrupted softly, stepping between them. "We don't have time."
Rowen turned to Serene. "Report your assessment."
Instant obedience would have meant authority, but Rowen asked — he didn't command. Not yet. Serene appreciated that.
She pointed along the route. "The banners are set by color. Red, blue, gold, white, black, and bronze. Red is closest, black is farthest. The instructors will expect us to take the shortest path."
"So we don't?" Taren asked.
"We take the second-shortest," Serene said. "They'll guard the obvious path heavily. The long one is a trap. The second path will have moderate resistance."
Kael folded his arms. "And why should we listen to—"
Rowen cut him off. "Because her plan yesterday kept half the cohort from failing."
Kael clenched his jaw but fell silent.
Lira added shyly, "She's usually right."
Serene didn't react. She didn't need to.
Alden gestured to the cliff edge. "Let's move."
They moved.
The path dipped into a narrow pass carved into the rock. Shadows pooled there, cool against the morning heat. The first obstacle appeared almost instantly: Instructor Rhett, leaning casually against a stone pillar, arms folded.
"Oh wonderful," Taren whispered. "Him."
Rhett smiled with no warmth at all. "Group Three. Let's see how badly you want your banners."
His foot tapped the ground — and a shower of rocks and dust spilled down from above as two second-years dropped from higher ledges, wooden practice spears in hand.
Kael lunged forward immediately, strength bursting ahead of thought. He met the first second-year with a clash sharp enough to startle birds from the cliffs.
Taren yelped and ducked as the second one jabbed at him. Alden stepped in front, deflecting with fluid motion.
Serene and Rowen took the center.
"We go straight," Serene murmured. "They want us slowed."
"Agreed," Rowen said.
He moved first. Serene followed, using his larger frame as temporary shade, slipping past two incoming strikes with almost surgical precision.
A spear swung toward her ribs.
Rowen twisted, intercepting. "Focus."
"I am," she said, already ducking beneath the arm aimed at his back.
Rowen blocked a second strike.
Serene kicked the attacker's knee.
Control. Not brute force.
The attacker stumbled backward.
They broke through the trap's center, emerging onto the path beyond.
Rhett watched them go with calm, assessing interest — but no interference.
Kael rejoined them moments later, panting slightly, irritation dripping from every breath. Taren and Lira followed, both shaken but unhurt.
"That was only the first," Alden warned.
The group pressed on.
Heat rose.
Sweat gathered.
Breaths grew sharper.
At the next bend, two instructors simulated a landslide obstacle. The group had to dodge falling sandbags and shifting planks. Taren nearly tripped, but Lira caught his arm. Rowen took the lead, pushing forward with efficient strength.
Serene timed the shifting planks with eerie accuracy, slipping past at the exact quiet second between drops.
"How did you—?" Taren gasped.
"Listen to the ropes," Serene said simply. "They tighten a moment before release."
Kael shook his head. "You watch everything."
"Yes," Serene replied.
No apology.
They reached the penultimate banner — white — guarding a narrow ridge. The wind battered them. The cliff fell sharply away to the ocean below, swirling with foam. Lira paled, gripping the rock wall.
Serene placed a steady hand on her back. "Breathe through your stomach. Not your chest."
Lira obeyed, slow and shaking.
Rowen noticed the exchange. "She'll be fine."
Serene didn't look at him. "I know."
The final banner — black — was guarded by Commander Eira herself.
Taren nearly cried. "Why is she here? Isn't this just a drill?"
Alden murmured, "It is. That's why she's here."
Eira stood silent, her presence more intimidating than any shouted command. She didn't lift a weapon. She didn't move.
"Retrieve the banner," she said.
Kael charged first — and froze when Eira simply shifted her foot. He stumbled back, thrown off-balance without a single strike.
Alden attempted a feint — Eira's gaze alone read it before he moved.
Taren tried to slip around — Eira stepped into his shadow, blocking him effortlessly.
Lira couldn't even step forward — her hands had begun trembling again.
Serene studied Eira carefully.
Her stance wasn't meant to fight.
It was meant to observe who could read her.
Rowen whispered, "She's testing perception."
"No," Serene murmured. "She's testing leadership."
Serene stepped forward.
Eira's eyes flicked to her in silent acknowledgment.
"Lira," Serene said, "step sideways, two paces. The wind current is weaker there. Taren, when Kael steps forward again, move with him to split her attention. Alden, shift behind me. Rowen—don't engage. Watch her feet."
Rowen's eyes sharpened — impressed, but controlled.
Eira lifted a brow faintly.
"Begin," Serene said softly.
Kael lunged.
Taren moved with him.
Eira shifted — exactly as Serene expected.
Lira darted to the weaker wind pocket.
Alden blocked an incoming diversion.
Rowen called out sharply, "Right foot—!"
Serene lunged under Eira's extended arm exactly as the Commander redistributed her weight. Not to strike. Not to win.
Just to reach the banner tied behind her.
Her fingers brushed the cloth.
Eira's hand snapped down, catching Serene's wrist with unyielding strength — but not stopping her.
Just testing her resolve.
Serene didn't pull away. She pushed forward, enough for the ribbon to loosen beneath her fingers.
Eira released her.
The banner came free.
Silence fell.
Only the wind moved.
Eira stood still, looking at Serene with something sharp, unreadable.
Not pride.
Not approval.
Recognition.
"You read well," Eira said quietly.
Serene bowed her head slightly. "I observe what is necessary."
"That will be enough," Eira murmured. "For now."
They returned to the start point with all six banners.
Group Three was the only team to complete the trial fully.
As they walked back toward the academy, Kael muttered, "You keep making things complicated."
Serene answered without turning.
"No. I make them possible."
Rowen's quiet exhale might have been a laugh.
Alden looked at her longer than before.
Lira walked close, eyes bright.
Taren cheered.
Kael scowled but did not argue.
The academy bells rang across Aurenheim, sharp and bright.
Serene Valehart walked with steady steps, the black banner rolled beneath her arm.
She wasn't the strongest.
She wasn't the fastest.
But she had led.
And everyone had followed.