I stepped out from the weird teleporting changing stall, patting out my dress as I rushed toward the door in this bright white space. Fighting my anxiety, I emerged out into one of the training fields at the back of the academy, blinking away the light that filled my eyes.

What in the world had I gotten myself into?

"Harmonia Lux."

I blinked, nearly tripping as I heard a familiar, soothing deep tenor voice right next to me.

I turned to see Claw Currant crossing his arms next to a grinning Strawberry leaning against him, and another magical girl I didn't recognize standing on their right. She had a bright yellow outfit with black accents, and curious yellow eyes that seemed to shine a little brighter as they caught me looking. Like Currant and Strawberry, she had a feline theme to her magical girl outfit, but she was shorter than even me.

Her ears and tail reminded me of a serval, and I couldn't help but stare as she clutched a lion staff that was a bit taller than her.

She grinned, her tail swishing to the side as she gestured to her team. "Hiya! I'm Claw Yuzu. Strawberry's told me all about you! It's such a delight to finally meet you face-to-face."

Claw Currant nodded, chuckling as he leaned down to shake my hand. He was huge up close, and it was hard to believe how quickly Eris had just completely smoked him during her brief attack last week.

"Thanks for helping me and my sister the other day. Strawberry tells me you two have been texting quite a bit and you'd show up soon. Figured we'd introduce Yuzu to you. She's a bit shy, but she's good people."

Strawberry bounced on her feet, throwing me a huge grin. She definitely looked like a kid ready to start her first day at school.

I blushed, flinching as Strawberry suddenly pounced on me in a hug, squealing as she squeezed me. "Sheesh Lux. I'm so excited! Hear the teacher leading the session this time is totally nuts!"

I gulped, letting out a soft sigh as she let go of me.

I looked past them, taking in the sight of the wide, enclosed field in front of me. Like the training field I'd tried out with Strawberry and Elysia last week, it was enclosed with a barrier that stretched into the sky, and the concrete ground was covered in a layer of high-tech gridded material that cushioned each step and absorbed impact. It looked like there were about twenty cadets here, dressed in their magical knight outfits and chatting amongst themselves. The four of us walked together, and I spotted Elysia not too far away, mingling with the crowd. She waved at me with a knowing smirk, and I couldn't help but grin back.

And then, another familiar redhead with a crazy, spiky hairdo emerged from the crowd, strutting slowly towards me with a frown.

Strawberry visibly tensed up next to me, and I couldn't help but sigh.

"Harmonia Lux. Fancy seeing you in my first class. How nice..."

She narrowed her eyes, shooting me a glare as she tapped her plated gauntlets against an oversized hammer behind her waist.

She was strong, and even with the lighthearted chat Strawberry had me bounce back with the other day, I could tell she was intent on making trouble for me here.

I groaned, shaking my head as she stopped a few feet away.

"Look. I don't know what your problem is with me, but can you seriously just let it go, Sparrow?" I asked, standing my ground as I approached her.

She was just a fellow cadet, and it wasn't like we were fighting for a top spot here.

She grinned, crossing her arms as she eyed me like a predator eyeing its prey. "My problem, huh? Well, I can't say it's much. Unlike the other emergency contract rejects here, you did book a training field with the kitty cat there. Maybe that's why you've stuck out to me like a sore thumb."

Claw Strawberry bristled, her tail tensing behind her.

"That's enough, Raging Sparrow. We're training for a common goal, and you don't have to make the emergency contracts sound like failures," her brother muttered, shoving her aside as he took a protective stance in front of the four of us.

She stepped back, smirking as she scoffed at him. "Cute, Claw Currant. But we'll see about that soon."

"Hey, hey, hey!" a girl with a stage magician's outfit crooned, her eyes twinkling as she came out of nowhere and slid between Currant and Raging Sparrow.

I recognized her immediately as Ace — Raging Sparrow's teammate who'd de-escalated a tense situation the other day.

"C'mon, birdie. Give it a rest! Let's save that energy for the class, 'kay?"

She gave her a cheery smile, and Raging Sparrow huffed, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms. I took that chance to activate my aura sight, watching the fight go out of her stance and the vibrant colors of her spirit fade a bit.

Not like I hadn't experienced a fair share of bullies back in childhood, but I didn't expect this from a fellow magical girl.

Moreover...

Raging Sparrow's red aura signature was... enormous. The only cadets - no. The only single cadet with a significantly brighter aura was Elysia.

And the other two from her team were just as impressive.

Sunlit Majesty walked up next to Raging Sparrow, shooting me a sly smirk as she gently adjusted her witch's hat. "So. What are we playing with today, Sparrow?"

Sparrow shrugged, "I do wonder who our instructor will be. Word is, it's someone that we all have seen before. Fascinating."

A slow, deliberate clap from the side of the field caught my attention, and we all turned to see a grinning, tall boy with piercing blue eyes and pale blue hair. His outfit was a thin, long-sleeved jumpsuit with snowflakes embroidered on them, and he held up his wrist, whistling slowly.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"Never in my days... Well. Not that I've been a magical knight for a while, but you all get the point. Seriously. What a joke."

Currant stared, tensing up beside me as the boy continued to snicker, shrugging.

"Frostburn." I spoke up, craning my neck as I faced him.

I'd heard enough of this guy to know that I didn't like him one bit.

"Oh, Harmonia Lux. Fancy seeing you here too. Should've figured the ones who came here the 'proper' way and didn't fumble our ways in through an apocalypse would show up to beef. Not like we had a choice, I suppose."

I tensed up, shaking my head in disbelief. He definitely wasn't helping.

"Come on," I muttered, folding my arms as I watched him approach, swaggering like he owned the place.

"Nah, nah, hold on," he smirked, turning his eyes on Raging Sparrow. "The world's been ending left and right, and we had to save ourselves. And now that we're here, you're accusing us of... well. What did we even do again? Heh. It's just a goddamn training exercise. Don't you think you're all being a bit touchy here?"

His voice was smarmy and snide. I turned to look at the others, and while Strawberry was stiff-lipped and gritting her teeth, Yuzu's smile had faded, and she'd turned away, creating some distance between us.

Raging Sparrow was still grinning, but it was a cold, unnerving grin that sent shivers down my spine.

"And you are?" Raging Sparrow tilted her head in disdain, arching an eyebrow as she stared Frostburn down.

He scoffed, leaning forward with a sneer.

"Frostburn. Shouldn't have heard of me, I suppose. I've been around. You could say I don't have half the experience you do," smiling as he tilted his head right back. "Don't worry about it, though. I don't play up the 'I am magical knight this, and magical knight that' card. Not like you all."

His voice was laced with disdain, and he was projecting a large, blue aura that contrasted with his tone and demeanor.

I blinked in surprise. It wasn't as powerful and refined as the trio's in front of him, but it had a raw, chaotic energy to it that was... unexpected.

Sparrow nodded, her smile fading. "This is rich. As if you have any right to criticize us. Do you even care what you're talking about, or are you just trying to get a laugh out of us like the clown that you are?"

Frostburn shrugged. "I'm just a cadet like you all. No big deal. I've been helping as much as I can. I don't come here to bitch, though. So relax."

Claw Currant stepped forward, narrowing his eyes. "Everyone. Settle down. We're here to learn and grow. Let's stop the insults and focus."

"R-right!" Ace stammered. "What the big tiger guy said! Fighting can wait for later."

Sunlit Majesty flashed a disgusted look as Ace tapped her foot in irritation.

Ace seemed to shoot a warning glance at Raging Sparrow, but Frostburn's snickering caught Sunlit Majesty's attention.

"You wanna bring it, pretty boy? Show us what you've got. Should've known you'd have such thin skin coming from the type of trash who whines about getting a free ride."

Claw Currant narrowed his eyes, hissing as he watched Sunlit Majesty step forward, her fingers toying with a wand she'd pulled out of thin air. She had a regal, focused aura, and even though she looked small and gentle at a glance, there was a fire behind her eyes that showed she meant business.

Her lips curled up in a smug smile as she looked over the crowd.

I narrowed my eyes, focusing my aura sight as I watched her spirit burn brighter and stronger than any of the rest of us. She was gathering mana for something big.

Frostburn scoffed, putting his hands in his pockets.

"And?" He shrugged. "You three made it pretty clear. Loud and clear, actually. That we're deadweights, mistakes. Lucky accidents. So let's just get on with our day, shall we? Come on. Can't even fight me outside the realm of words, or whatever bullshit you were spitting on and on about. Oh well. Another battle won for the almighty rising star. Sunlit Majesty."

Sunlit Majesty narrowed her eyes as Frostburn turned away, walking towards the field with a condescending shrug.

Uh oh. I had a feeling I knew where this was headed.

Aura surging, Sunlit Majesty threw her arm forward, hand aimed at the back of his head. "You don't get to walk away from this. You talk a lot of crap, and now you're gonna get what's coming for you! Dawn Strike: Blazing Ember!"

Energy surged forward in the shape of a fiery spear, and in a flash, it impacted against his back, shattering against him in a blaze of crimson light.

And then he tumbled forward, burning and writhing as the flames grew larger and larger, setting fire to the ground around him.

Stunned, the crowd gasped as the flames consumed him, and even Raging Sparrow stepped back in surprise.

As the fire dissipated, the crowd erupted into screams and gasps, and Frostburn was gone. He had vanished, and all that was left was a scorched, black outline of his former position on the concrete.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" a woman's voice boomed as the crowd silenced.

A shimmer near the center of the crowd caught my eye, and a dark, blurry silhouette seemed to flash between the cadets in the crowd.

And then, in a flurry of bright light, a tall, slender woman with dark, chocolate brown skin in a dark purple and silver jumpsuit with hourglasses appeared in the center of the field.

Her wavy jet-black hair trailed to her shoulders, and her dark red lips curled up in a knowing smirk as she narrowed her sharp eyes. She adjusted her silver goggles as she chuckled and glanced at Sunlit Majesty.

SHE was our teacher? No fucking way.

"Mr. Frostburn. You are to desist as well. I've let the lot of you stall out this class for far too long as is," she stated plainly, walking forward.

I turned around to see Frostburn frowning as he stepped out from behind Sunlit Majesty. He held a knife made of ice aimed in a stabbing gesture above her neck. Sunlit Majesty froze up, her eyes growing wide with realization as he slowly raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, backing off with a yawn.

Oh my god.

So he hadn't burned to death. He'd just evaporated or it was a clone or something.

But...

Our would-be instructor was standing right in front of us, and it seemed like everyone had collectively shut up as she scowled at the surrounding cadets.

"Now. Let's discuss the particulars of this field exercise. Unless any of you are dead set on spouting more garbage and acting like a bunch of snot-nosed schoolchildren."

The field had fallen silent.

After all. There was no way anyone would mess with this magical knight in particular. If anything, everyone was in shock that she was here at all.

She shook her head, crossing her arms in annoyance. "Good. Maybe that's finally some common sense. Now, while I've been a captive audience for your antics, I believe we have a more important matter at hand. Mr. Frostburn, Ms. Sunlit Majesty, Ms. Raging Sparrow. Approach the barrier at the front of the field. I will be using you lot for the lesson."

The three of them nodded nervously, stepping forward as the rest of the class exchanged nervous glances.

"And the rest of you? I have pre-assigned you partners away from your current established teams - if you have any. Follow me."

I blinked, exchanging a surprised look with Claw Currant as Elysia made her way towards me. I looked at her, only to see a purple light tethering us to each other and one more that extended into the ground.

Other cadets were receiving similar tethers, and we were all murmuring in curiosity.

"Hey. Fancy that!" Elysia beamed, playing with her hair as she approached me.

I let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing my neck as the rest of the cadets began to partner up. "So uh. We have a bit of a celebrity for a teacher today."

Elysia giggled, "I guess so. Let's see what she has in store for us."

"Still, doesn't she have better stuff to do than teach a bunch of well... first year cadets? That seems kind of weird," I shrugged, frowning.

She shrugged, running her fingers through her hair. "Well, maybe she's got time to do other stuff? Besides, it's just a training exercise, right? Maybe they're just showing off for us. Who knows? I'm just excited to get a class with someone like Tesseract. It sounds like it'll be interesting."

Tesseract.

A living legend, and one of the survivors at the collapse of Mortifera Nox's Citadel of Shadows.

She'd be a pretty wild teacher, that's for sure.

"Huh. True," I muttered, twiddling my thumbs as the rest of the class slowly made their way towards the front of the field.

"After all..." Elysia furrowed her brows, looking at our teacher with interest. "With no Arcadia Vox or Nightingale Eclipse around, she does have a reputation as Humanity's Strongest to uphold."