The next morning, Lunaris Academy felt unusually noisy.
Cael noticed it the moment he entered the classroom.
Several students were gathered around their desks, talking about something.
Evan was already there.
He immediately waved when he saw Cael.
"Cael! Over here."
Cael walked toward him.
"What's going on?"
Evan leaned closer.
"We're getting our first group assignment."
Cael raised an eyebrow.
"That's it?"
"That's it?"
Evan looked offended.
"Do you know how much work group assignments are?"
Cael smiled.
"You're acting like we're going to war."
"You don't know. Teachers can be terrifying."
Before Cael could respond, Liora arrived.
"What's terrifying?"
"Evan."
Cael answered immediately.
Liora smiled.
"That makes sense."
"HEY."
The three of them laughed.
A moment later, their teacher entered the classroom.
The noise gradually disappeared.
"Everyone, take your seats."
The students settled down.
The teacher placed several small metal devices on the desk.
"Today we're starting a different kind of exercise."
The class became quiet.
"This isn't a combat test. You won't be graded on how much power you can produce."
Evan whispered,
"Good."
Cael glanced at him.
"You'd probably break something."
"That's exactly why I said good."
The teacher continued.
"Each group will receive a simple task. You'll have to complete it using your Core while managing your energy and cooperating with your teammates."
Several students looked excited.
The teacher began assigning groups.
When he reached Cael's group, he looked at the three of them.
"Cael Arven. Evan Rell. Liora Veyn."
Evan immediately smiled.
"We're together again."
Liora nodded.
Cael simply smiled.
"Looks like it."
---
Their task was simple.
A small training device had been placed at the center of the practice field.
Around it were five energy markers.
The objective was to activate all five markers in the correct order.
The catch was that each marker responded differently to Core energy.
The first required continuous energy.
The second required a short burst.
The third required precise control.
The fourth required two energy sources to be applied at the same time.
The fifth required all three.
The teacher explained the rules.
"You have fifteen minutes."
He looked around the field.
"You may discuss your approach before beginning."
Evan immediately looked at Cael and Liora.
"So..."
He pointed toward the markers.
"Who wants to pretend they know what they're doing?"
Liora laughed.
"I think we should actually figure it out."
Cael walked closer to the markers.
He studied them carefully.
"The first one is probably easy."
"Probably?"
Evan looked worried.
Cael smiled.
"We'll find out."
He turned toward Liora.
"You have good control."
"Thanks."
"Can you handle the third?"
Liora nodded.
"I can try."
Cael then looked at Evan.
"The second one needs a short burst. Your Earth output is stronger than ours."
Evan blinked.
"You remembered that?"
"Of course."
Evan smiled.
"Okay. I can do that."
Cael looked at the fourth and fifth markers.
"For the fourth, we need two of us."
Liora nodded.
"And the fifth needs all three."
"Yeah."
Evan crossed his arms.
"So what's your plan?"
Cael thought for a moment.
"We don't need to use much energy. We just need to use the right amount."
Evan grinned.
"Sounds familiar."
Cael laughed.
"Maybe I've heard that somewhere."
---
They began.
Cael activated the first marker with a steady stream of Wind.
The marker glowed.
"One."
Evan stepped forward.
He raised his hand.
Earth gathered beneath the second marker.
Instead of creating a large formation, he focused the energy into a short, controlled burst.
The marker activated.
"Two."
Liora moved to the third.
A thin stream of Water formed around her hand.
She carefully guided it toward the marker.
The moment the water touched the correct point, the marker lit up.
"Three."
Evan looked surprised.
"That was clean."
Liora smiled.
"Thanks."
They moved to the fourth.
Cael and Liora stood on opposite sides.
"Ready?" Cael asked.
"Ready."
They released their energy together.
Wind and Water reached the marker at nearly the same time.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then—
The marker lit up.
"Four."
Evan raised both hands.
"One more!"
They moved toward the final marker.
The three of them stood around it.
Cael looked at the other two.
"Don't force it."
Evan nodded.
Liora took a breath.
They released their energy together.
Earth.
Water.
Wind.
The three energies met at the center.
The device flickered.
Nothing happened.
Evan's expression changed.
"Uh..."
The light disappeared.
"We failed."
Liora looked at the marker.
"Maybe the timing was wrong."
Cael nodded.
"Yeah."
They had several minutes left.
"Let's try again."
---
The second attempt failed too.
The third attempt got closer.
On the fourth attempt, the marker activated for a second before shutting down.
Evan dropped his shoulders.
"So close."
Cael looked at the device.
"We're using too much energy."
Liora nodded.
"I noticed it too."
Cael looked at her.
"Then let's reduce it."
Evan stared at both of them.
"How much?"
Cael smiled.
"Less than before."
"That's not a number."
"I know."
Evan sighed.
"You're impossible."
Cael laughed.
They tried again.
This time, they didn't force their energy into the marker.
They focused on keeping their output stable.
The light appeared.
It flickered once.
Then remained steady.
The fifth marker activated.
A small chime rang through the field.
Task complete.
Evan froze.
Then he raised both arms.
"YES!"
Liora laughed.
Cael smiled.
They had done it.
Not because one of them was stronger.
Not because one of them had some special ability.
They had simply figured out how to use what they already had.
Their teacher approached.
"Good work."
The three of them stood straight.
"You failed several times."
Evan's smile disappeared.
"Thank you for reminding us."
The teacher ignored him.
"But you adjusted your approach instead of simply increasing your output."
He looked at Cael.
"Who came up with that?"
Cael pointed at himself.
"I did."
The teacher nodded.
"Good."
Then he looked at all three of them.
"And the important part is that you listened to one another."
The teacher walked away.
Evan looked at Cael.
"Not bad."
Cael smiled.
"You stole my line."
"Maybe."
Liora laughed.
---
After class, the three of them walked through the school courtyard.
Evan stretched his arms.
"That was actually fun."
Liora nodded.
"It was."
Cael looked toward the academy buildings.
"I think we should do it again sometime."
Evan looked surprised.
"You actually want more assignments?"
"No."
Cael smiled.
"Just training together."
Evan laughed.
"That's more like it."
Liora looked at the two boys.
"Then tomorrow?"
Cael nodded.
"Tomorrow."
They continued walking.
None of them noticed the small observation drone hovering high above the academy.
It had been there throughout their exercise.
It recorded the students' Core output, energy consumption, and synchronization patterns.
Then it quietly flew away.
Cael never saw it.
For now, it was just another ordinary day at Lunaris Academy.