Date: C4:Y23:D103
[Location: Gralyn District – Aezric's Home, 0700 Hours]
A faint chime pierced the quiet room.
Aezric stirred as a soft blue glow pulsed from the AetherBand on his wrist.
BEEP: Evaluation Results Uploaded.
He groaned, rubbing his eyes. The voice that followed was too familiar to ignore.
Sylena: "Oh come on, boy. Wake up. Your stats just arrived. Aren't you even a little excited?"
Aezric (groggy): "I'm up... kinda. Excited? Sure. Also mildly terrified."
He sat upright, hair a mess, eyes still half-closed. His heart thumped as the weight of the moment settled in.
Aezric: "I want to check... but what if I didn't make the cut? What if they send me back to Gralyn for good?"
Sylena (softly but firm): "Be courageous. Your results won't define your future you will. The system measures statistics, not potential. Now open it. I believe in you."
Aezric tapped his AetherBand. A cyan-blue digital panel hovered in front of him, flickering to life.
Evaluation Result – C4:Y23:D102
IQ: 107
Tactical Intelligence: B-
Adaptation Rate: B
Reflex Synchronization: C+
Kinetic Output: C
Opponent Analysis Efficiency: C++
Sylena (playful): "Honestly... not bad. Better than I expected."
Aezric: "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
Sylena (grinning): "Nothing! Now go. You're due for your next session. Don't make them wait."
He grinned, bolting to his feet.
[Location: Instructor Quarters – Aetherion Nexus Institute]
Aron sipped a mug of steaming synth-coffee as his holoscreen displayed the cadet evaluations. His eyes scanned each one quickly, pausing briefly on Aezric's.
"Not bad," he muttered. "But there's still a mountain to climb."
Just then, his AetherBand buzzed.
Sympha – Encrypted Call Incoming.
He accepted.
Sympha: "So, how's your shiny new class?"
Aron (dryly): "Ego overload. More pride than sense. I've been out of the field for fifty years, and now I have to fix this mess."
Sympha (lightly): "Well, someone's gotta do it. You know what's coming. The war is closer than ever."
Aron: "I know."
Sympha: "Have you met him yet?"
Aron: "Not yet. But there's talk of a joint lecture between Class A and Class D."
Sympha: "Wait, there's no such schedule."
Aron (smirking): "There will be. Can you arrange it? I need to see him in action. I don't trust these evaluation numbers."
Sympha (mock offense): "Even when I sent them?"
Aron: "Especially then."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll make the changes. Just don't get them all killed."
"No promises," he said, finishing his coffee.
[To be continued…]