The sun hung low over the Knight Academy, casting long shadows across the sprawling campus. The stone towers glowed faintly under the warm light, their banners fluttering proudly in the breeze. Trainees gathered in clusters across the central courtyard, their voices a steady hum of anticipation. For most, this was the moment they’d been waiting for—the announcement of team assignments, the beginning of their journey toward knighthood.

Julius Johnson leaned against a stone pillar on the edge of the crowd, arms crossed as he observed the scene. The heavy ache in his muscles from the morning’s sparring session served as a reminder that the Academy wasn’t designed for comfort. Every day had been a grueling test, both physically and mentally. Yet the whispers and sidelong glances from other trainees felt like a test of a different kind. The sword strapped to his back—the infamous blade of Julius Johnson Sr.—made him stand out more than he liked.

“Team assignments are up!” someone shouted, and a wave of movement rippled through the crowd. Trainees surged toward the announcement board, eager to see where they would land. Julius stayed put, letting the tide of excitement sweep past him. He wasn’t in a rush.

“Better see where I landed,” he muttered, pushing off the pillar and weaving through the thinning crowd.

As he approached the board, his eyes immediately caught the familiar figure of Edward Leona. The prince stood a short distance away, posture as rigid as ever, his ice-blue eyes scanning the list with precise focus. Everything about Edward radiated command—the immaculate tailoring of his white and gold Academy uniform, the gleaming sword at his hip, and the faint aura of electricity that seemed to hum around him. Of course, he’s probably leading the perfect team, Julius thought sourly.

Nearby, Shane—or “Sean,” as he insisted on being called—lounged against a low wall, wearing his usual smug grin. Shane had a knack for looking utterly unbothered, even in the chaos of the Academy. It was an attitude Julius found simultaneously irritating and begrudgingly impressive. He could already tell that Shane was the type to thrive on mischief and spontaneity, two qualities Julius didn’t exactly trust.

When Julius finally reached the list, he let his finger trail down the parchment until it stopped on his name. His stomach sank.

Team 4: Julius Johnson, Edward Leona, Aria Chase, Shane Leona.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” Julius muttered.

“Charming reaction,” came a familiar, clipped voice. Julius turned to see Edward standing beside him, arms crossed, his piercing gaze as cold as ever. “Let me guess—you’re surprised they assigned you to a team at all.”

Julius forced a grin, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Not surprised. Just disappointed I’m stuck with you.”

Edward raised an eyebrow, his expression unamused. “Likewise,” he said coolly, brushing past Julius to stand in front of the group.

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Julius sighed and turned as another figure approached. Aria Chase moved with deliberate intensity, her sharp green eyes scanning the list. She exuded a quiet power, her muscular frame hinting at the raw strength she wielded through her Giant’s blood. Her presence was commanding, but Julius couldn’t help noticing the faint tension in her movements, as if she was holding herself back.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Aria muttered, echoing Julius’s earlier sentiment. Her gaze flicked between him and Edward before settling on Shane, who ambled up last with a grin.

“This is our team?” Aria asked, her tone sharp and skeptical.

“Relax, Chase,” Shane said, his grin widening as he glanced at the list. “Looks like a solid lineup to me. We’ve got Prince Perfect, the Strongest Stonebreaker, Farm Boy Extraordinaire, and me—the wild card.”

Aria’s glare could have withered stone. “If you’re the wild card, we’re doomed.”

Shane leaned closer to her, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Oh, come on. Admit it—you’re at least a little curious to see how this train wreck unfolds.”

Aria ignored him and turned to Edward, crossing her arms. “I assume you’re in charge?” Her tone was flat, but her stance dared him to argue.

Edward nodded sharply. “Obviously.”

“Obviously?” Julius raised an eyebrow, stepping forward. “Did we vote on that while I wasn’t looking?”

Edward turned to face him fully, his expression like ice. “This isn’t a democracy, Johnson. The Academy appoints leaders based on merit, discipline, and skill. I doubt you qualify.”

Julius felt his temper flare but managed to rein it in. “You sure that stick you’re carrying isn’t a weapon?”

Shane laughed loudly, clapping Julius on the shoulder. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

“Enough,” Aria cut in, her voice firm and commanding. “I don’t care who’s in charge. Just stay out of my way, all of you.”

“Glad we’re off to a great start,” Julius muttered under his breath.

Before the tension could escalate further, a loud bell tolled from the tower, silencing the chatter in the courtyard. All eyes turned toward the figure stepping into view—a towering man with broad shoulders and a scar running down his left cheek. His armor clinked softly as he moved, and his sharp eyes scanned the crowd with the precision of a blade. This was Eckhart, one of the Academy’s most respected instructors, known for his no-nonsense demeanor and brutal training methods.

“Teams,” Eckhart barked, his gravelly voice cutting through the noise. “Gather at the training grounds. Your first trial begins now.”

The crowd began to disperse, the buzz of excitement replaced by a growing tension. Julius exchanged a glance with his new teammates, the weight of their assignment sinking in. Whatever this trial was, it would be their first test as a team—and their first opportunity to fail.

As they walked toward the training grounds, the silence among Team 4 was heavy, broken only by the distant clang of weapons and the murmurs of other trainees.

“You’re awfully quiet, Your Highness,” Julius said, glancing at Edward. “Not feeling inspirational?”

Edward didn’t break stride. “Save your energy, Johnson. You’ll need it.”

“Wow,” Shane said, feigning shock. “He made a joke. Or was that a threat? Hard to tell with all the brooding.”

“Focus,” Aria snapped, her voice cutting through their banter. “If we’re going to get through this, we need to work together.”

Julius raised an eyebrow. “You mean work under Edward’s glorious leadership?”

Aria glared at him. “No, I mean don’t screw it up for the rest of us.”

Shane chuckled softly. “Chase, you really know how to bring people together.”

The tension among them lingered as they arrived at the training grounds, where Eckhart waited with an imposing presence. The trial ahead was unknown, but one thing was certain—this team had a long way to go before they could truly call themselves one.