Test - Part 2

Tyrin didn't hesitate. Within minutes, he returned to the room, grabbed the egg, and brought it to Gertrudes' office. The object was a mystery even to him. Heavy, with a solid shell that seemed to pulse faintly at his touch, it was unlike anything he had ever seen.

"Wonderful. Hand it over," Gertrudes said, extending her hands.

As she took it, she examined it carefully, turning it from side to side. Her eyes searched her memory, looking for any clue or reference, but the confusion on her face only deepened.

"This…" she murmured. "This is unlike anything I've ever seen." She furrowed her brows, pressing the egg lightly. "It could be the infernal serpent from the planet Basiliscus, but this egg is about five times larger than it should be. And you said it's not from your planet, correct?"

"Yes, professor. There are no egg-laying animals on our planet. As far as I know, this egg came from another world. Maybe someone brought it, or…" Tyrin paused for a moment, a thought crossing his mind for the first time.

Gertrudes noticed his hesitation. "What is it? Go on."

Tyrin took a deep breath. "Well, now that you mention it, I just remembered something. Before I was called to the academy, there was an issue with an unknown portal. We lost an Astra named Yank." He paused, trying to organize his memories. "What happened was…"

Gertrudes watched him closely, as if her life depended on every word. Her gaze was focused, but also filled with concern.

"Do you remember where the portal was linked to?" she asked.

Tyrin scratched his head, thinking. "Actually, we were only told it was a Beta planet. We lost all contact with it. It was as if the planet ceased to exist. Everyone who was sent there died. At the time, many thought it was madness to send an Astra, but one person managed to return… with some belongings."

Gertrudes frowned. "One person? Who was it?"

Tyrin hesitated. He trusted Gertrudes, but he preferred not to mention Karin. He felt it was irrelevant to their discussion for now.

"I don't know, professor," he said, averting his gaze. "I just know that no one talked much about it."

She seemed to ponder for a moment, her fingers drumming against the egg. "I see…" she murmured. "So, you think the egg might be connected to this Beta planet?"

"It's possible. I never considered it before, but now that you've brought it up… everything seems to align. The gene I received, the egg—everything started after that."

Gertrudes sighed and set the egg back on the table. "Tyrin, I'll be honest with you. This goes far beyond what I expected. I don't know if we'll get quick answers, but we need to be extremely careful from now on. What you carry"—she pointed at the egg—"could be just as dangerous as you. And the danger won't come only from enemies, but from anyone who learns about it."

"Understood, professor. But…" Tyrin hesitated. "How can I protect myself while also learning faster? I can't afford to fall behind."

Gertrudes stared at him for a long moment, her expression serious. "Keep training. Stay discreet. And above all, never fully trust anyone. Not even me. Because the moment you stop being a secret, Tyrin, you won't be a student anymore. You'll become a target."

Her words echoed through the room, carrying a weight Tyrin had never felt before. He nodded slowly, trying to process everything. The egg pulsed softly on the table, as if it were alive and listening to their conversation.

Now, more than ever, Tyrin knew that his life would be nothing like what he had imagined.

"BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The deafening sound of an alarm filled the room, making Tyrin instinctively step back and cover his ears. His heart pounded as his mind raced to understand what was happening.

"Professor! What's going on?!" he shouted over the noise.

When he looked at Gertrudes, he saw something he never expected. A smile appeared on her face—but it wasn't the kind of smile that brought comfort. It was something eerie, almost animalistic, charged with anticipation.

"We're being summoned, Tyrin," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "We're going to train in a real battle."

"A battle? What kind of battle?" Tyrin shouted, still shielding his ears.

Gertrudes stood up, ignoring the blaring alarm, and walked to a metal cabinet in the corner of the room. With a swift motion, she opened it and pulled out a black uniform with metallic details, one that looked like it had seen many battles. She tossed a slightly smaller one to Tyrin, who caught it in midair.

"You're going to need this. Get dressed quickly."

"But… what's happening?" Tyrin insisted, feeling the anxiety grow inside him. "What kind of battle is this? Are we under attack?"

Gertrudes met his gaze while adjusting her own uniform. There was a glint in her eyes that Tyrin couldn't quite interpret. It was determination, but also something deeper—something he couldn't name.

"I don't know yet. But the last time I heard this call… I was still a student here. Let's go."

Tyrin froze for a moment as Gertrudes walked past him. The seriousness in her voice was unmistakable.

"What happened back then?" he asked, trying to keep calm.

Gertrudes took a deep breath, as if she were reliving buried memories.

"We encountered a new enemy," she replied, her voice lower now, almost a whisper.

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Tyrin swallowed hard, feeling their weight.

"A new enemy?" He frowned. "Who… or what was it?"

Gertrudes shook her head, as if dismissing the question. "We don't have time for that now. What matters is that you're ready. I don't know what we're about to face, but I can guarantee it will be unlike anything you've seen before." She looked at him, her tone growing firmer. "And Tyrin, no matter what happens out there, do not reveal your true potential. Let them underestimate you. It might save your life."

He nodded. Even though he had more questions than answers, he was glad he had allocated his points before this crazy turn of events. As he put on the uniform she had thrown to him, he tried to ignore the pit in his stomach and the growing sense that he was about to face something far bigger than any test or training session.

The alarm continued blaring, but now it felt more distant, as if his mind were elsewhere. He glanced at Gertrudes, who was already dressed, adjusting a strange bracelet on her wrist.

"Professor…" he began, but she cut him off.

"Save your questions for later, Tyrin. Now store the egg for the time being and follow me. We're heading to the summoning courtyard."

With no other choice, Tyrin quickly secured his companion and followed her. As they walked through the academy's corridors, he realized they weren't alone. Students and instructors were rushing in all directions, their expressions ranging from anxious to determined. The once-quiet atmosphere was now chaotic, filled with voices and hurried footsteps.

When they reached the courtyard, Tyrin felt his stomach tighten. A massive hologram was projected in the sky above them, showing something he couldn't immediately comprehend. It was a planet… or at least it looked like one. But its surface was covered in dark patches that pulsed like open wounds. He heard murmurs around him.

"Is that… a stray planet?" someone said in a horrified tone.

"It can't be. Weren't they just a myth…?" another responded.

Tyrin looked at Gertrudes, hoping for an explanation. But she stood motionless, her gaze locked on the hologram. Her face had hardened, as if she were steeling herself for something inevitable.

Finally, she broke the silence.

"Tyrin, listen carefully. This is more than just a training exercise. They send us into these situations when they have no choice—when something is out of control and they need as many people as possible. We'll probably be protecting one of the planet's moons while the main fleet defends the planet itself from the threat. I'm almost certain we'll be in a support role, but that doesn't mean it's safe." She turned to him, her eyes unwavering. "The last time this happened to me, half of my class was lost."

She stared directly at him.

"Stay close to me. I will make sure you survive this. But I can only do that if you listen to me."

Tyrin felt a lump form in his throat. "Yes, ma'am."

Before he could say anything else, an authoritative voice rang out through the academy's speakers.

"Students and instructors, prepare yourselves. The combat portal will be activated in five minutes. You will be transported in groups. Remember: this is not a drill. Defend your designated area, survive, and most importantly, eliminate any threats. Good luck."

Tyrin looked up at the sky once more. The hologram pulsed like a dying heart. He didn't know what he was about to face, but one thing was certain—nothing in his life would ever be the same after this.

Gertrudes placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back to reality.

"Breathe, Tyrin. You're going to need all your strength and focus now. Don't let fear take over. Fear kills. Understood?"

He nodded, even though his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might explode.

The portal—one that Tyrin had completely overlooked due to the moss and dirt covering it—began forming at the center of the courtyard, glowing in shades of blue and white. It looked alive, swirling and rippling like water.

"Let's go, Tyrin," Gertrudes said, squeezing his shoulder one last time. "It's time to see what this status boost has done for you."

And with that, they stepped toward the portal—ready or not for whatever awaited them on the other side