Alpha was dismissed, sent to his room, and told to rest. The day passed in silence, and he awoke to find himself moving toward the campgrounds. His squadmates were already warming up, running laps around the grounds. Alpha joined them for a few circuits, keeping pace with the team. Lambda's voice suddenly cut through the rhythm of their training. The squad snapped to attention as she stood before them, her presence commanding. "I learned a lot from your battle," she began, her voice carrying weight. "You all have the potential to grow strong, but you still lack much. You need to focus on developing yourselves, mastering your abilities. The tournament is approaching, and you will face cadets far stronger than you or ones determined to end you. Your weaknesses will be tested, your strengths pushed. You must balance your training with your lessons. Every skill you learn, every ability you master, focus on your team as well. Cover each other's backs. From the last battle, we lost a member, but the council has assigned a new cadet to join your ranks. Value each other's lives, or it will come back to bite you." She paused briefly, exhaling silently before continuing. "Now, I know you have a lot on your minds. Let us begin with a question while we wait for your new teammate." Omega's hand shot up. "Exarch Lambda, can you explain our abilities more clearly? How did we get them?" Lambda's piercing blue eyes swept over them, calm but unyielding, her presence radiating heat like the core of the sun itself. "I cannot fully explain everything to you," she said, "but I can tell you this: you have been given a gift a blessing from the gods. Here at Nexus, we call them Wills. Each Will is unique, tied to a god. None are alike." The training hall fell silent, except for the faint hum of residual energy in the walls. "Listen carefully," Lambda began, her voice echoing against the vaulted ceiling. "You are not merely children learning to fight. You are vessels vessels for something far older, far more potent than any weapon you can wield. What courses through you is not magic, nor skill, nor luck. It is your Will." She let the words hang for a moment before continuing, her voice steady and commanding. "A Will is the essence of a god. It is not a tool to be summoned at whim. It is a living, conscious force. It watches you. It judges you. It tests you. And it will answer only to those it deems worthy. Do not mistake its power for obedience. A Will has no loyalty to weakness. It will obey only when you are precise, cunning, and resilient enough to command it. Fail, and it will act on its own sometimes in bursts, sometimes in moments that could cost you everything." Lambda stepped closer, golden light flaring around her, reflecting in the cadets' eyes. "To master a Will is to master yourself. To bend it to your purpose requires discipline, control, and understanding. And above all, it requires sacrifice. Sacrifice fear. Sacrifice doubt. Sacrifice hesitation. Only then can you wield your Will not as a weapon but as an extension of your being." Her voice softened, though it remained commanding. "You will learn to fight, to survive, and to dominate. But remember this your Will is not yours alone. It is alive. Ancient. It will test you, guide you, shape you. Respect it. Fear it. And perhaps, just perhaps, it will allow you to become more than mere children in a world of monsters." The hall was silent afterward. The cadets' hearts pounded, the weight of her words settling over them like a mantle of fire. None dared speak each knew a Will was not something to be trifled with. Alpha raised a hand slowly, a question lingering on his mind. Lambda called out, waiting for him, when a girl walked onto the grounds, a guard following behind her. He halted to greet Lambda, who dismissed the guard, leaving the girl standing before the squad. "Cadets, meet Beta," Lambda announced. "She will be your new teammate. As I said before, cover each other's backs." Lambda then addressed the team, her tone formal and commanding, as if delivering a lecture rather than casual advice: "Now, listen closely. I have observed your fighting styles and assessed your abilities. What I am about to tell you will guide your training for the foreseeable future. You must learn to minimize casualties. You might not feel pain, but that does not make you invincible. Learn to deal damage while taking almost none. This will be your first lesson in survival and efficiency. "Omega, your Will draws upon snow and frost. I recommend a sword paired with a dagger. The dagger complements your agility and speed, while the sword provides balance and range when necessary. "Gamma, your speed is exceptional. Pair it with a bow. Your strength allows you to strike decisively when needed, while your mobility lets you serve as both backup and frontline support. "Zeta, a sword and shield will suit you best. Your Will enhances your defensive capabilities beyond expectation, allowing you to protect yourself and others simultaneously. "Alpha, I recommend gauntlets, paired with a chokutō. I want to see how you adapt to this combination, how you integrate offense, defense, and precision into a single form." Lambda's gaze then turned toward Beta. Crimson-red eyes met her exarch's, expressionless. Before Beta could speak, her shadow expanded, forming a jet-black core shaft, cracks running along it, symbols etched into its surface glowing faintly crimson. The staff retracted smoothly back into her shadow. Lambda's voice returned, authoritative. "That will suffice. Lessons begin tomorrow. A schedule will be provided follow it without exception. Your armor and weapons will be ready in two days. On Friday, you will be placed in a simulation to test your cohesion as a team. Prepare yourselves. Dismissed."
