Chapter 10: The Mission of No Return

The weight of the ring still lingered on his finger.

Albert clenched his fist, feeling the inscriptions pressed against his skin as he walked toward the academy's central hall. His thoughts swirled with what he had seen—visions of a place that shouldn't exist, memories that weren't his, and a truth he wasn't ready to admit.

The Shroud wasn't just his enemy.

They were connected to him.

And he wanted nothing to do with them.

The moment he stepped into the hall, his distractions had to be pushed aside.

Rows of students stood in formation, lined up in groups of five. The massive holo-display above flickered, showing a live feed of Terra Nova's outer zones. Albert's gray eyes swept across the room, noting the tense energy in the air. No one was joking around. Not after what happened to the previous mission team.

At the front of the hall, Principal Dren Vax stood with his hands behind his back, his voice booming.

"Your mission is a reconnaissance and elimination assignment in the Shadow Rift. Lethal force is authorized."

A murmur ran through the students. Lethal force meant one thing—this wasn't a simulated test. It was real.

Dren's sharp gaze cut through the room. "Fifteen teams. Five-man squads. Your primary objective is to locate the missing squad's distress signal. Secondary objective—eliminate any identified threats."

The holo-display shifted, revealing terrain scans of the Shadow Rift—a warped, jagged region beyond Terra Nova's protected zones. Dark fissures ran through the ground like veins of something unnatural.

Instructor Veyra Soln took over, voice clipped. "Mission rewards vary by contribution. Distress signal retrieval—20 points. Threat elimination—10 points per confirmed kill. Squad survival—50 points."

Albert exhaled slowly. Fifty points for making it back in one piece.

The last mission team had gone in expecting an easy win. They returned as corpses.

His grip on Aetherion tightened. That wouldn't be him.

As the students were dismissed to prepare, Albert felt a presence appear beside him.

"You're staring at that sword like it's gonna whisper sweet nothings to you," Mira Lune's voice teased.

Albert barely turned his head. "It's a sword, not you."

Mira gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock offense. "Wow. Rude. Here I was, about to offer you some pre-mission inspiration, and you go and say that."

Albert sighed. "What kind of 'inspiration' are we talking about?"

Mira leaned in, eyes twinkling. "Well, I was thinking of a good luck charm. Maybe a kiss on the cheek? I hear that works wonders."

Albert blinked. What?

The mental image crashed into his head—Mira actually leaning in, her soft lips pressing lightly against his cheek before a fight.

His brain short-circuited.

"…That won't be necessary."

Mira smirked, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh? So you're saying you're too strong for my blessings?" She tilted her head. "Or are you just shy, Faustin?"

"I'm focused." He adjusted Aetherion on his back, ignoring the slight heat in his face. "And you're distracting."

She gasped again, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Distracting? That's a compliment. Finally, you're learning."

Albert pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's not what I meant."

Mira patted his arm. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. But seriously, don't die out there, okay?"

Her teasing smile softened—just a little. Just enough to be real.

Albert hesitated, then nodded. "I won't."

Mira grinned. "Good. Otherwise, I'd have to avenge you, and that sounds exhausting."

As she walked off, humming to herself, Albert exhaled.

Dealing with Mira took more energy than fighting.

Deployment – The Shadow Rift

The transport craft hummed as it cut through Terra Nova's atmosphere. Inside, students checked their gear, weapons clicking into place. Albert sat near the edge, staring at the blackened rift below.

His team—Toren Vale, Elara Solis, Rhyd Kellan(not his teacher), and Mira—stood ready.

"This place is cursed," Toren muttered. "Feels like it's staring at me."

Albert felt it too. The air was thick, unnatural. His Law of Binding sensed threads—but they were frayed, twisted.

Elara shivered. "If the last team didn't make it back…"

"They weren't us," Mira cut in.

The craft rumbled. The doors slid open.

Drop zone reached.

They jumped.

The ground met them in a gust of dust and decay. The moment Albert's boots hit the dirt, a whisper curled in his ear.

Welcome back.

His breath hitched. He turned sharply—nothing. Just darkness.

But someone had spoken.

They moved in formation, eyes scanning the ruins ahead. The distress signal flickered on their holo-displays.

Then, the air shifted.

A presence.

Albert's instincts flared. Aetherion hummed.

And then—she stepped into view.

Dark hair. Piercing golden eyes. A stance that spoke of danger, but also… familiarity.

Her gaze locked onto his, and for a moment, it was as if time stilled.

Then, she smirked.

"About time you got here."

The battle had yet to begin.

But Albert already knew—this girl wasn't just anyone.

She was Kara.

And this mission had just become far more complicated.