The next morning, the camp buzzed with rumors from last night's duels. But something even stranger awaited the six.
A loud chime echoed in the barracks.
> "Trainees Teaha Draven, Lara Venex, Mira Sein, Kevin Strath, Nisa Solen, and Bihoo Sarail—report to the South Courtyard immediately."
"What did we do this time?" Kevin muttered, shoving toast in his mouth.
"Maybe a secret punishment for showing abs too much," Mira shot back.
They dressed in seconds and jogged across the mist-covered field, nerves building. When they arrived—no commander. No soldiers. Just…
A box.
It sat on a stone table, sealed with a red sigil that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.
"Creepy…" Lara whispered.
Bihoo stepped forward. "It's old. Very old."
As his hand brushed the box, the sigil flickered and broke.
Inside—six envelopes. Each had a name written in an ink that shimmered like liquid shadow.
> "It's from… someone called 'Unit 9.'" Nisa frowned, holding hers.
They exchanged confused glances.
Kevin opened his first.
> "This academy lies. They fear you because you were chosen long before they found you.
Follow the trail beyond the west wall tonight. Only the shadows will lead you to your truth.
Unit 9 awaits."
"What the hell does that mean?" Mira whispered.
Suddenly, a raven landed on the table.
Its eyes glowed briefly—before vanishing into smoke.
That night, they gathered in the woods near the academy's west wall. No guards. No patrols.
"I don't like this," Teaha said, looking over his shoulder.
But Lara stepped forward. "We need answers. We need to know why we were chosen."
They pushed through thick forest, following strange symbols glowing on rocks—guiding them like a path only they could see.
The deeper they went, the colder it got.
Then—they found it.
An underground entrance, half-buried in vines and stone. Above it, carved in an ancient tongue:
> "Only the abandoned will rise. Welcome, Shadows of Unit 9."
As the door creaked open… they felt it.
They were being watched.
To be continued…