//Training Grounds behind the Academy//

"Do you have to stick right by me?"

"Yes."

Noland and Jade ran outside in the drizzling rain, dressed in shorts and a shirt with the rest of the class. It was miserable and cold.

"Keep running if you don't want to get hypothermia!" Fenrik bellowed out from underneath shelter, completely dry.

Jade, for whatever reason, stuck uncomfortably close to Noland. He tried to speed up multiple to leave her behind but like something out of a horror movie, she would catch up with her emotionless gaze fixed on him like a predator.

"Alright, fine. Could you at least tell me why?"

"Train with the best to be the best."

"Quoting instructor Fenrik?"

Jade nodded, her expression unchanged.

The two of them locked gazes for a brief moment before Noland sighed with frustration, shaking his head. He focused his attention to the tracks ahead, trying to block out her unsettling presence. Several weeks had passed since they began training. Sparring or independent missions were strictly prohibited during this initial phase.

The day was monotonous but grueling. Split between a morning workout, which is what they were doing now, class, lunch, class, another workout, and then they were released.

Simple days, perhaps more so than they could ever hope for in the future.

It wasn't hard either, at least to Noland. But he watched and listened as dozens of students had already dropped out. Every day weaknesses were displayed, and people dropped out.

Some, who came from the middle and upper city, couldn't handle the food. Others, while gifted in their magic, couldn't handle the rigorous training or the scheduled lifestyle.

Noland briefly glanced at Jade beside him running. Her eyes were still eerily fixated on him. There was no denying her progress.

Her physical abilities had improved, Noland even heard she had risen a few ranks. When they first started this training, she was huffing and lagging behind. Now she kept pace with him.

A sharp whistle blew, and Fenriks' voice called out. "Stop! Get sorted out! Class in thirty minutes!"

The students, panting heavily, slowed.

One of the ladies was crying when they stopped. She had complained to Fenrik before training, though Noland couldn't hear what about, and now ruined makeup streaked her face.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Noland shook his head, rolling his eyes as he slowed and focused on controlling his breathing.

Panting beside him, Jade stated flatly, "Dumb cunt."

His eyes widened slightly as he turned to her. Her expression was still the same, but she was smirking. Noland started chuckling though, shaking his head as his gaze shifted back toward the crying girl.

"Yeah… She's pretty stupid."

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//Lecture Hall//

"Control!" Fenrik raised his voice, pacing slowly between the students sitting in the lecture hall. "Control is most important thing when handling your powers."

Initially, their lectures were based on the fundamentals of the city's layout and laws. It was then followed with what to do, what not to do. Who to arrest, and who not to arrest.

Upper city residents had special leniencies- perhaps too many. Some students, unable to stomach these moral compromises, left the academy, citing their disdain for such inequalities as their reason.

"As everyone knows," Fenrik lectured casually while his gaze darted between students. "every individual born in the Iron City is given Metallum Animatum. It's what gives us our powers, and is what affects all of our daily lives. Some have it in greater capacity than others though."

"For most, powers don't manifest until their teenage years and for most, they have control of only one or two elements. Whether through basic schooling or self-teaching, residents learn basic control."

Fenrik's voice drew closer as he came up alongside Noland. "Lightning, fire, water, and earth are the most common elements. Pretty simple stuff- who doesn't know this?"

Noland glanced up at Fenrik's looming figure next to him. His eyes were sharp and hunting for prey. Some students, oblivious to his intent, foolishly raised their hands.

Fenrik smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes. "Thank you for raising your hands! You're all expelled."

"Wait, why?!"

"That isn't fair! You have to give us a reason!"

Students who'd raised their hands also erupted in protest, while those who sat exchanged confused glances.

My reason?" Fenrik repeated, his tone condescending. "Is it that you didn't read the texts assigned to you by class? Not only that, but this is common knowledge. Which means you're extra special! But we can't have that kind of special in our uniform."

"Oh, but instructor, why didn't you say this during the first week?" Fenrik quoted in a mocking, whiny tone as some students started to open their mouths, citing something that a student definitely said to him in the past.

"I DID! We wait to see who's slacking- or who's retarded, like all of you. Now get out."

One by one, each of the students made their way toward the exit. Pretty peaceful compared to some of the first expulsions that resulted in students getting the crap beaten out of them.

Clearing his throat, Fenrik resumed with the same authority as before. "Where was I... Ah yes. Two elements at most is the usual case. Rare exceptions, like this moron here," he gestured at Noland with an open hand at his scarred face. "can have four or more."

"More doesn't mean better. You can be a jack of trades and shit at everything. That is not this moron's case, however. Otherwise, we wouldn't have given him his rank."

Fenrik's casual insults and taunts rained down on Noland who sat there twitching, his fists clenched as he restrained himself from any outburst. It was clear the instructor was trying to provoke a reaction, something to give him an excuse to discipline.

With a smug smirk, Fenrik glanced down at Noland with an expression screaming, 'deal with it'. He resumed pacing through the classroom after a short pause.

Noland sighed, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. Turning his head, Jade was inches away. Her cold, emotionless expression staring directly at him. He nearly jumped out of his seat, his heart slamming into his ribcage.

'Fucking assholes all around!' Noland glared, fuming silently as she smirked triumphantly.