The academy bell tolled three times, a deep, resonant sound that signaled a mandatory assembly in the Grand Hall. Jin stood with his fellow recruits, the air heavy with anticipation. Even Ryen, who usually found ways to make light of tense moments, looked serious.

“What do you think this is about?” Jin asked.

Ryen shrugged, though his eyes betrayed unease. “Either something big… or another attempt to scare us into compliance.”

The Grand Hall was packed, the entire first-year cohort gathered under the towering arches and enchanted chandeliers. The headmistress, Lady Ilaris, stood at the podium, her presence commanding attention. Beside her stood a group of senior instructors and a man clad in black armor adorned with glowing blue runes—clearly a Rift Hunter.

“Recruits,” Lady Ilaris began, her voice amplified by magic. “You have reached a critical juncture in your training. Today marks the announcement of a special initiative: the Field Integration Program.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“This program will send select recruits into controlled Rift zones alongside trained Hunters,” she continued. “Your task will be to observe, support, and, when necessary, engage in combat under the supervision of experienced warriors. The purpose is to bridge the gap between theory and practical application.”

A hand shot up in the crowd. It was Corin.

“What’s the catch?” he asked, earning a few chuckles.

The armored man stepped forward. His voice was cold and sharp. “The catch, recruit, is that the Rifts do not care for your inexperience. While we will take every precaution, the danger is very real. If you are chosen, prepare yourselves for the possibility of failure—or worse.”

The room fell silent.

The recruits were given a day to prepare for the selection process, which included rigorous evaluations of their magical aptitude, physical endurance, and teamwork. Jin spent the night revisiting notes on Rift creatures and practicing spells he had struggled with.

“Stop pacing,” Ryen muttered from his bed. “You’re making me nervous.”

“I just… I need to get this right,” Jin said.

“You’ll do fine,” Lira said from the corner, where she was meditating. “You’re more capable than you think.”

Corin grinned. “And if you don’t, we’ll just bribe the instructors. Everyone has a price.”

The joke lightened the mood, and Jin managed a small smile.

The next morning, the recruits assembled on the training grounds, where instructors had set up a series of grueling tests. The first was an obstacle course designed to test endurance and agility.

Jin watched as Ryen powered through the course, his brute strength allowing him to smash through barriers that others had to climb over. Lira moved with grace and precision, her water magic smoothing her path. Corin, true to form, found unconventional shortcuts, leaping over walls and avoiding the more difficult sections entirely.

When it was Jin’s turn, he focused on maintaining a steady rhythm. His wind magic allowed him to leap across wide gaps, and his agility carried him through narrow spaces. By the time he crossed the finish line, he was breathless but satisfied.

The second test involved spell accuracy. Targets representing various Feralis types were scattered across a field, and recruits had to hit them with the appropriate elemental magic.

Jin hesitated at first, unsure of himself. But as he focused, he recalled Zayla’s lessons on channeling Rift energy. His first shot was a gust of wind that knocked over a small target. His confidence grew with each hit, and by the end of the test, he had a respectable score.

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The final test was a team challenge. Groups of six were tasked with defending a mock village from waves of simulated Feralis. Jin’s team, the same group from the previous simulation, worked seamlessly.

“Barrier on the west side!” Jin shouted as the creatures swarmed.

“On it!” Lira called, conjuring a shimmering wall of water.

Corin and Ryen held the front line, their physical prowess keeping the creatures at bay, while Elric and Tessa provided magical and logistical support.

When the test ended, the instructors took note of their performance with approving nods.

Two days later, the results were announced. Jin’s name appeared on the list of recruits selected for the program. He felt a mixture of pride and apprehension as he scanned the names of his team: Lira, Ryen, Corin, and two others—Kaela and Doran, recruits he knew only in passing.

The six of them were summoned to a briefing with their assigned Rift Hunter, the same man who had stood beside Lady Ilaris during the announcement. His name was Captain Varok, and his presence was as intimidating as his armor.

“You’ve been chosen because you show potential,” Varok said, his tone brooking no argument. “But potential means nothing if you can’t deliver in the field. In the coming weeks, you will accompany me into a low-tier Rift. Your mission will be to observe and learn. Do not mistake this for a game. One mistake could cost lives—yours or your teammates’.”

The weight of his words settled over them like a heavy fog.

Before their first Rift mission, the team underwent additional training to prepare for real-world scenarios. Varok pushed them relentlessly, forcing them to hone their abilities to the limit.

One exercise involved navigating a dense forest while under attack by simulated Feralis. The recruits were split into pairs, each tasked with finding a safe zone while fending off ambushes.

Jin was paired with Lira. As they moved through the forest, her calm demeanor balanced his tendency to overthink.

“Listen,” she whispered, holding up a hand. “Do you hear that?”

Jin strained his ears. At first, there was only the rustle of leaves. But then he caught it—a faint growl.

“Left flank,” he said, readying his staff.

A simulated Feralis leapt from the shadows, its claws aimed for Jin. He countered with a gust of wind, knocking it off balance. Lira followed up with a stream of water that froze the creature in place.

“Good teamwork,” she said, offering a small smile.

Jin nodded, his confidence growing.

Finally, the day of their first mission arrived. The team assembled at dawn, their gear meticulously checked and rechecked. Varok led them to a Rift portal shimmering with unstable energy.

“This is a Tier-1 Rift,” Varok explained. “The creatures inside are weaker than what you’ve trained against, but they’re still dangerous. Stick together, follow my orders, and you might just survive.”

The team stepped through the portal, the world shifting around them. The air grew heavier, charged with Rift energy. They emerged in a desolate landscape, the sky a sickly green.

“Stay alert,” Varok said. “We’re here to retrieve a specific Core. Keep an eye out for any anomalies.”

The mission began smoothly, the team encountering only minor resistance. Jin took note of how the Feralis moved, their patterns and weaknesses becoming clearer with each encounter.

But as they ventured deeper, the air grew colder. The ground beneath their feet cracked, releasing bursts of icy energy.

“This isn’t normal,” Lira said, her voice tinged with worry.

Varok’s expression darkened. “Everyone, form up. Something’s wrong.”

A massive Feralis emerged from the shadows, its form wreathed in frost. It let out a deafening roar, its breath freezing the air.

“Tier-2,” Varok muttered. “This shouldn’t be here.”

The recruits froze, fear taking hold.

“Focus!” Varok barked. “Jin, Corin, front line. Lira, support with barriers. Kaela, Doran, flank it!”

The battle was chaos. The Feralis struck with icy tendrils, forcing the team to scatter. Jin used his wind magic to deflect attacks, while Corin shielded him with brute force.

“Now!” Varok shouted.

Lira summoned a torrent of water, dousing the creature’s frost and leaving it vulnerable. Jin seized the opportunity, channeling all his energy into a powerful gust that knocked the Feralis off balance.

Varok delivered the finishing blow, driving his blade into the creature’s core. The Feralis let out a final roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into shards of ice.

The team stood in stunned silence, their breaths visible in the cold air.

“Mission complete,” Varok said, his voice steady. “Let’s move.”

Back at the academy, Jin couldn’t shake the memory of the battle. The sight of the Tier-2 Feralis, its unnatural presence, and the raw power it wielded haunted him.

“What’s bothering you?” Lira asked, sitting beside him by the dormitory window.

“That Feralis… it wasn’t supposed to be there,” Jin said. “What if we hadn’t been able to handle it?”

Lira placed a hand on his shoulder. “But we did. And we’ll keep getting stronger. That’s the point of all this, isn’t it?”

Jin nodded, though the unease lingered.

In the days that followed, he threw himself into training with renewed determination. The Rift had shown him the stakes of their mission and the price of failure.

As the academy prepared for its next challenges, Jin resolved to be ready—no matter what awaited them beyond the barrier.