Asdras stared into the mirror, his reflection a mixture of determination and trepidation. He felt like a miner unearthing a precious gem.

‘The next chapter,’ he thought, his voice a whisper in the quiet room, the words dragging like a quill across rough parchment as he adjusted his crisp, dark uniform.

Today was the day they were scheduled to face the Eruption. His expectations soared higher than the peaks of the distant mountains, yet beneath this excitement lay a fragile core, like a glass figurine poised on the edge of a precipice, one misstep away from shattering into countless irreparable shards.

He ran his fingers through his unruly curls, the dark strands springing back rebelliously. Vanity was a foreign concept to him, and he rarely lingered before his reflection.

Yet the ritual of taming his hair provided a momentary distraction. The feel of each curl, the slight tug as he smoothed them down, was a tactile reassurance, a way to occupy his mind and steady his nerves.

He closed his eyes, the dim light behind his eyelids creating a soothing darkness. Memories surged, a torrent of images and emotions: the enigmas of his past, the shadow of the curse, the moment of his awakening.

His fingers brushed against his nose in an unconscious gesture, a familiar habit that grounded him without his awareness.

“I need to focus,” he murmured, the words a barely audible mantra.

In his bed, the backpack and the sword lay side by side. The weapon was unlike the standard choice from the academy.

His training with the system had sharpened his perception, revealing hidden facets of the objects around him. To his surprise, Joe's gift was a key item.

“A tainted weapon, sharp against dark elements,” Asdras repeated the words he saw with the system.

He closely examined the sword. It was like the previous image he had about it was wrong, and now he had the mind to see what really was.

The steel blade bore the marks and scratches of what it had witnessed. Etched along the edges of the blade was a subtle, intricate pattern, a delicate filigree that shimmered faintly in the light, hinting at both its craftsmanship and its storied history.

Asdras turned the sword, his eyes tracing the lines of the hilt. It was crowned with a faint yellow church cross, a symbol that radiated an aura of solemnity and ancient power. Nestled within the cross, almost hidden yet unmistakable once seen, was the symbol of a key.

‘Then him is at least a Challenger,’ he pondered. ‘This explains why he was so agile, and it seems he never was tired despite his old age.’

“A tainted sword, like my core. But why do I have it?” Asdras murmured, his voice tinged with confusion and curiosity. “No one else in the group has one, and the other students I’ve seen possess only common cores.”

He sighed, sliding the sword back into its sheath with a soft, metallic whisper. Turning, his eyes fell upon his lute, and a flush of emotions surged through him.

The system had identified it as “a bonded item to Asdras Morie, the twilight crow’s lute.” The term ‘bonded’ was new to him. It was like the questions in his mind reproduced faster than any answer he found.

‘Why do I have a bonded item? Who or what linked it to me? Why do I know how to play it?’ The questions plagued him as he gazed at the lute. It was a beautiful instrument, its dark wood polished to a sheen, strings taut, and ready to sing under his fingers.

He shook his head, deciding against taking the lute with him. The thought of facing a monster while fretting over his instrument was absurd.

Yet the lute’s presence triggered memories, hazy and fragmented, of the time before Joe and Brian found him.

He adjusted the backpack and secured the sword at his back, then glanced at the mechanized clock on the wall. Initially, he had found its complexities daunting, but the system had revealed its secrets, translating its ticking mechanisms into readable time.

“Dawn time,” he read.

He stepped out of his room. As he made his way to the main square, he observed the other students, whose faces were a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. In a corner, he spotted his group, their animated chatter and laughter drawing his attention.

“What happened?” Asdras asked, his curiosity piqued by the rare sight of Joah laughing heartily.

“Step in, Asdras,” Finn whispered, gesturing for Asdras to join the huddle they had formed, creating a protective dome with their bodies. “We’ve stumbled upon some hidden gems!”

“Goods?” Asdras echoed, curiosity tingling in his voice as he watched Finn unzip his backpack.

“You bet!” Finn affirmed, nodding enthusiastically. “This morning, Joah, Merida, and I scanned the lounge with the system and found some key items. Everyone else has theirs; you’re the last to get yours.”

“Good things?” Asdras urged, his eyes lighting up with anticipation.

“Enough to help us,” Joah replied, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. “Six items, one for each of us.”

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“I matched each item to our strengths,” Finn added, his finger pointing at Asdras. “For you, with your combat prowess, I saved this special one.”

Finn retrieved from his backpack an object shaped like a small bottle. It gleamed with an intricate brass frame, adorned with tiny, whirring gears and delicate mesh that caught the light in a mesmerizing dance.

“A floating lamp. Fueled by fire. To light it, twist the bottom and ignite,” Asdras read aloud, the system’s description appearing before his eyes.

He took the lantern, feeling the small ridges and intricate lines of its design under his fingers. The craftsmanship was exquisite, with each detail meticulously crafted. He paused, a smile spreading across his face. “This is just right for me! Thanks, Finn.”

“Glad it suits you,” Finn chuckled. “I’ve got something called binoculars. I had never heard of them before, but they extend vision over long distances, according to Merida and the description.”

“Yes,” Merida chimed in. “I saw one in the repair shop. It was an antique, and the client claimed it let him see twenty meters ahead.”

“This one extends vision up to a hundred meters. Can you believe it?” Finn said, his smile widening with excitement.

“Mine is an air cloak,” Merida said, her eyes gleaming. “It allows the wearer to float in the air.”

“That’s incredible,” Asdras exclaimed. “What about yours, Joah?”

“Mine is a set of wooden stakes,” Joah replied. “They make a protective barrier with a seven-meter radius.”

“Aye, mine's a good one too,” Stig interjected with a smile. “Brings back memories of my childhood. It’s called Echo Clone; it mimics any sound and echoes it till I say, Stop.”

“Your childhood?” Lisandra asked.

“Yes.” Stig nodded, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips. “We’d copy animal sounds to baffle or pester 'em.”

“And what did you get, Lisandra?” Asdras asked, turning his attention to her.

“I’m not entirely sure how mine works,” Lisandra admitted, shaking her head. “It’s called Inverted Mirror. It’s supposed to reveal hidden things, but I haven’t seen anything through it yet.”

“With these items,” Finn began, seizing the moment to voice his thoughts, “our chances have improved greatly. Each item is unique. We can see better at night, observe far distances, create protection, float in the air, clone sounds, and—”

Finn coughed hard. It took him a few seconds to catch his breath. “And see hidden things. We’ll figure it out, Lisandra.”

“Well, all things aside,” Asdras remarked, his voice tense as he looked at them. “All that’s left now is facing the Eruption. Ready to go?”

"Sure, let’s go," Stig responded, his voice firm.

They adjusted their backpacks, settling comfortably against their shoulders, and headed towards the main square.

As they approached, they were struck by the unexpected vastness of the space, which seemed larger and more open than they remembered.

The other two groups had already gathered, along with teacher Zafir and the vice director. Asdras took a moment to observe the scene, his eyes flitting from one student to another, absorbing the varied expressions of determination, nervousness, and excitement.

Four individuals stood out to him. First was a young man with sleek, silvery hair combed back meticulously. His face was a mask of boredom, his eyes half-lidded, exuding an air of unshakable calm, as if nothing in the world could ruffle his composure.

Next to him stood a young woman with the same silver hair, though her demeanor was the polar opposite. She wore a bright, infectious smile that lit up her face, radiating joy as if this moment were the pinnacle of her happiness.

In the other group, he spotted Natalia Noctis. Even Asdras, who paid little heed to gossip, recognized her immediately. She had a stern, focused expression, her eyes scanning the surroundings as if she were expecting something significant to occur at any moment.

A short distance away in her group was a chubby youngster, his round face and sturdy frame standing out among his peers. Asdras couldn’t help but feel a twinge of surprise at his physique, which seemed less suited for combat. The only other person he recalled with a similarly ample body was Javier.

‘That thing…’ Asdras mused, his thoughts drifting to the mysterious item he was supposed to deliver to the headmaster.

He glanced at teacher Zafir and the vice director, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. In his mind, he pondered whether Stencil was still awaiting the item’s delivery or if he already knew Asdras had it and was simply waiting for the right moment.

The thought of losing something crucial for someone like him made Asdras’s heart race. He instinctively adjusted his stance, subtly shifting closer to his friends in an attempt to blend in and avoid drawing attention.

“Good morning, everyone,” Gilberto announced, his voice echoing across the square and drawing their attention. “I’ll spare you the speech, as that’s more in the headmaster’s domain. But I want to express my gratitude to each of you for showing up on time and choosing to face the Eruption.”

“And since time waits for no one,” Gilberto added with a smile, his eyes scanning their eager faces. “Let’s get started,” he said, snapping his fingers with a crisp, decisive sound.

The ground beneath them trembled slightly, a subtle vibration that resonated through their feet. Suddenly, an intense light pierced through the darkness above, and they looked up to see the ceiling splitting open, revealing the sky. A rush of cold winter air poured in, carrying with it the sharp scent of snow and pine.

The square shook again, more forcefully this time, and began to ascend towards the open ceiling. As they rose, they could see massive iron pipes and heavy chains embedded in the earthen walls, their metallic surfaces gleaming faintly in the ambient light.

As they reached the ceiling, they had a brief moment to take in the outside world. For some, the familiar snowy landscape looked almost alien, its white expanse stretching endlessly under a pale sky.

Others felt a surge of happiness at the sight, their breaths forming frosty clouds in the crisp air as they relished the fresh, invigorating breeze.

A sudden jolt of electricity zipped through their bodies, causing them to shiver involuntarily. They looked around and saw the academy's three towers pulsating with a purplish-blue light, the glow intensifying with each pulse.

Slowly, a dome of swirling wind began to form around them, its translucent barrier shimmering with energy.

They realized they were inside a giant Jumper, a marvel of modern technology that most of them were seeing for the first time.

The platform hummed with power, and with a final, blinding burst of energy, the Jumper launched them toward the horizon. The speed was breathtaking, the world outside blurring into streaks of color as they soared through the air, propelled by forces beyond their understanding.