The morning at the academy was unusually chilly, yet the atmosphere among the elite class students was heated—and not in a positive way. Each of them had mixed feelings about the bonding trip. Some, like Lucy, were excited, while others—such as Cornelius—yawned with clear boredom.

The entire class gathered in the school hall. At the front stood Jian Xing, as calm as ever, with his hands clasped behind his back. Beside him appeared a man with a gentle expression and long red hair.

"Meet Simon Piszczek, your psychologist," Jian announced.

Simon smiled broadly.

"Hello, team. My job is to make sure you don’t lose your minds… at least not more than the program requires."

Lucy burst out laughing, and a few students smiled nervously. Simon seemed friendly, but his nonchalant attitude raised some doubts.

Moments later, Barbara Beksińska, the nurse, joined the group. She had soft facial features and a warm voice.

"I hope you won’t need me, but if anything happens, you can always count on me," she said kindly.

Shortly afterward, the students boarded the vehicle. Isaac tried to snag a window seat, but Tommy had already claimed it and wasn’t planning to budge. Cornelius, as usual, sat to the side, seemingly preferring to avoid contact with the others.

"Alright, before we get to our destination, we need to choose a class leader!" Jian Xing announced from the front.

Isaac glanced at Cornelius.

"I bet you’re volunteering, huh?" he said with a smirk.

"No way," Cornelius replied instantly. "Too much work."

For a moment, no one spoke until Maya raised her hand.

"I want to be the leader," she said confidently.

Jian nodded.

"Very well. If no one else objects, Maya Moniuszko, you are now the leader of the elite class."

Isaac rolled his eyes, but Lucy enthusiastically patted Maya on the back.

"Congratulations! I knew you’d be perfect!"

The journey to their destination took place in a special armored bus that resembled a military vehicle more than a means of transport for students. Inside, the atmosphere was tense—the cramped interior, tinted windows, and engine noise suppressed any conversation.

Outside, the ruins of destroyed cities and abandoned villages slowly passed by. Here and there, mutants wandered among the rubble, their silhouettes casting long shadows on the gray landscape.

Lucy, her nose pressed against the window, watched it all with fascination.

"Wow, this looks just like in video games," she whispered, almost forgetting she was on a crowded bus.

"Except it’s not a game," Makoto replied from the side, his voice serious and almost curt.

"Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Serious," she shot back sarcastically, though her tone hinted at slight irritation. "Sometimes it’s good to dream."

Cornelius sat in a corner of the vehicle, absorbed in a book. He didn’t seem to care about the surroundings or conversations. Isaac, initially occupied with trying to get a signal on his phone, eventually struck up a conversation with Tommy, who unexpectedly turned out to have a decent sense of humor.

In the middle of the vehicle, Simon, the elite class psychologist, observed the students with curiosity. His job was not only to care for their mental health but also to get to know them better, so he could help them in the future. Noticing Lucy’s wandering gaze, he decided to start a conversation.

"Hey, Lucy. How are you finding our trip?" he asked with a slight smile, leaning toward her.

The girl looked at him with interest.

"The trip? Hmm, it’s… interesting. Mutants outside, ruined cities—it’s like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie! Don’t you think the director could be a villain in one of those movies?" she added suddenly, grinning slyly.

Simon raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh.

"A villain, you say? And what makes you think that?"

Lucy leaned in conspiratorially as if sharing a great secret.

"He’s got that… dark smile. And he always walks with his arms crossed, like he’s plotting something sinister. He’s definitely trying to take over the world!"

Simon nodded as if her words were a serious topic for consideration.

"Interesting observation. Tell me, do you often think in such terms? Do you look for villains in people?"

Lucy pondered this for a moment.

"No, but with Philip, it’s just obvious! He’s so… you know, suspicious."

The psychologist jotted something down in his notebook.

"Fascinating. You know, that might indicate your tendency to analyze your surroundings, which is a valuable trait. You could be an excellent observer."

"An observer? That sounds cool," she replied proudly. After a moment, she added, "But the director is definitely a villain."

Simon chuckled softly.

"I’m looking forward to working with you, Lucy. Your imagination is fascinating."

At the front of the bus, Jian was talking with Barbara, the class nurse. The woman was always calm, but a trace of concern could be seen in her eyes.

"Do you really have to test them so much on this trip?" she asked, frowning.

"Test them? It’s not a test; it’s learning," Jian replied, looking at her with his usual calm demeanor. "They need to understand that life outside the city walls isn’t kind."

Barbara sighed.

"I understand, but they’re still kids. Don’t push too hard."

Jian shrugged.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Kids grow up quickly in these conditions. Besides, who knows what awaits them in the future? Better they’re prepared."

The nurse looked at him seriously.

"I hope you know what you’re doing, Jian."

"I always do," he replied, turning his gaze back to the window.

Inside the bus, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. Cornelius put down his book and started a conversation with Maya. Lucy continued asking Simon strange questions, while Anna listened to Tommy and Isaac’s banter.

"I wonder what else awaits us on this trip," Makoto murmured, looking at the mountains that were drawing closer.

After a few hours, they reached their destination—a picturesque yet harsh mountain village. Majestic peaks surrounded them, and the cool wind carried the scent of forests and damp earth. The students got out of the vehicle with relief, stretching their stiff legs. Some looked around with curiosity, others with a clear hope for a moment of rest.

"Alright, so where are our rooms?" Tommy asked, yawning loudly.

Jian pointed to a small building with a wooden roof that looked like it had seen better days.

"Leave your belongings there. You have five minutes."

"Only five minutes?" Lucy groaned, pulling her backpack from the vehicle. "We could at least get a moment to catch our breath after the trip…"

"You wanted a bonding trip, so you’ll bond," Jian replied calmly, not even glancing in her direction.

The students headed to the building, grumbling under their breaths. Inside, simplicity reigned—a common room with several bunk beds and a single small table with chairs. There was no sign of the luxury some had hoped for.

"And… where are the bathrooms?" Anna asked hopefully.

"Outside, to the left," Jian informed them, standing in the doorway like a guard. "Time’s up. Gather outside."

"I didn’t even have time to unpack!" Maya protested, but Jian was unmoved.

A few minutes later, everyone stood in the square in front of the building, sleepy but clearly interested in what was to come. Jian, with his hands clasped behind his back, pointed to a steep mountainside in the distance.

"Your task is to climb to the top of that mountain," he said, his tone as calm as if he were suggesting a walk in the park.

A silence fell over the group. The students looked at the mountain, then at each other, and finally at their instructor, as if trying to figure out whether this was some kind of joke.

"But… this was supposed to be a bonding trip!" Lucy exclaimed, breaking the silence. The rest of the class immediately nodded in agreement.

"And it will be," Jian replied with his typical calmness. "You’ll get to know each other while climbing. But there’s one catch—your hands will be tied."

Everyone froze. Tommy, leaning against a pole, nearly fell over. Even Cornelius looked up from his book, staring at the instructor in disbelief.

"Is this a joke?" Anna asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Jian replied with a slight smile. "It’s part of the training. Your goal isn’t just to reach the top but to understand that success can only be achieved through cooperation. Now, warm-up—15 push-ups."

"Tied up, we’re not doing push-ups, are we?" Makoto asked sarcastically.

"Not yet," Jian replied, eliciting another wave of groans.

The climb turned out to be not only difficult but also full of surprises. Each step was a challenge—steep slopes, loose rocks, and tied hands that made maintaining balance nearly impossible. Initially, everyone climbed in silence, focused on not falling, but soon the first comments began to surface.

Makoto, usually quiet and calm, finally showed his true colors.

"You don’t stand a chance, Pilsudski!" Makoto shouted, barely catching his breath as he tried to catch up to Isaac. His pink crystal on his brooch seemed to glow brighter than usual. "You’re too slow for this challenge!"

"Slow? Wait until you see my pace, pink prince!" Isaac retorted, accelerating so suddenly he almost tripped. A wide grin spread across his face, despite the sweat dripping from his forehead.

Makoto narrowed his eyes.

"Pink prince? You say that like you’re not the one who got a white brooch. What is that, a consolation prize?"

"White symbolizes purity and excellence!" Isaac shouted, trying to keep up. "And pink… that’s the color of love, which means you’re as soft as cotton candy!"

"Say that again, and I’ll show you who’s soft!" Makoto challenged, trying to overtake him but failing to notice his foot getting stuck in a small hole. He nearly fell, saving himself only with a quick balance shift.

"You were almost first… at the bottom of this mountain!" Isaac laughed, continuing his climb.

In the back, the situation was less dramatic but no less entertaining. Tommy, who had initially been silent, finally joined Lucy and Anna’s conversation.

"You know, if we had a teleport, we’d already be at the top," he said, yawning.

"Tommy, this is training, not a video game," Anna noted with a gentle smile.

"Training that’s going to kill us," he replied, shaking his head. "But hey, at least we’ve got a view of Isaac and Makoto’s backs as they act like they’re in a reality show."

Lucy giggled, trying to maintain her balance on the steep slope. "They’re like two angry roosters. But you know what, Tommy? I didn’t think you could be this funny."

"It’s a hidden talent," Tommy replied, feigning modesty. "Though my console would disagree. It thinks I’m the best with one hand."

Anna looked at him, blushing slightly, as if expecting a specific answer.

"What do you play with one hand?"

"Tetris," Tommy deadpanned, causing a burst of laughter.

Meanwhile, Maya, further in the back, climbed in silence, lost in thought. Her gaze occasionally wandered toward Isaac, who was unaware of her observation. Memories from her time in the gang resurfaced with double the intensity.

"He doesn’t remember me," she thought, clenching her teeth. "I always wore a mask, but… maybe that’s for the best. If he knew who I was, my reputation in this class would be ruined. But… I wish I could tell him everything."

Her heart tightened slightly, but she quickly dismissed those thoughts. "Focus, Maya. You’re here to lead them, not to break down."

At the top, Jian Xing observed everything with a slightly bored expression. He sat on a rock, sipping tea from a thermos. His peace was interrupted by a group of tourists climbing the other side of the mountain. One of them, a middle-aged man, approached Jian.

"Excuse me, ma’am… could you take our photo?" he asked, pointing to a camera.

"Ma’am?" Jian replied, visibly irritated.

An awkward silence fell. Jian stared at him with a twisted expression for a moment before swiping the camera to the ground with one swift motion. The tourists looked at him in shock, but before they could protest, Jian vanished without a word, leaving them in confusion.

At the base of the climb, Isaac and Makoto were already on the verge of exhaustion.

"This is your last chance to give up," Isaac said, panting like a bellows.

"Never!" Makoto shouted, but his words were drowned out by his own stumble. He fell to his knees, then looked at Isaac with determination. "It’s just a small break!"

Maya watched the whole scene, shaking her head.

"You two really have something wrong with your heads."

"With our heads? Maybe. But at least I’m not last," Makoto replied, pointing at Tommy, who had sat on a rock and pulled a snack from his backpack.

"What? I need to recharge," Tommy defended himself, mouth full. "I can’t be hungry and dying at the same time."

Eventually, everyone reached the summit, in varying states of disarray. Jian looked down at them and said:

"Congratulations. You’ve passed the first test."

"The first?!" Isaac exclaimed, collapsing to the ground.

"Yes, the first. And now… head back down."

Though everyone was exhausted, they knew they had to do it; otherwise, something worse awaited them. On the way down, Isaac and Makoto resumed their race to be first, Tommy lagged behind, completely drained, and Anna tried to befriend Maya—unsuccessfully. Cornelius descended calmly, observing everyone, showing no signs of strain. And Lucy? Well, she decided she had no energy left and simply rolled down to the bottom.

It might not have been the trip they had imagined, but for the first time, they felt like a team.