Three weeks had passed since the attack on the academy, and the change was **breathing** everywhere.
The new walls weren't just stacked stones—they were **pulsing with defensive magic** that glowed under the moon like golden veins.
The doubled patrols weren't just footsteps—each guard carried in his eyes **a fire that never sleeps**, and his hands trembled with readiness. As for the new training program, it wasn't just a schedule—it was a **hammer reshaping us anew**, as if we were iron bars heated in fire then struck until they became a sword.
"I can't believe they're making us train six extra hours every day"
Elyana complained as she wiped sweat from her forehead with a tired motion, the sweat falling like rain on scorched earth.
We had just finished a grueling training session with Professor Stormhammer in the new "Combat Simulation Hall"—a place unlike any other in the academy.
Its walls **melted and grew** as needed, and the ground transformed from ice to fire in a single second.
The last simulation had been a **terrifying reminder** of what happened in the tower.
Darkness crept from the corners like a venomous snake, and red lights flashed like the eyes of hidden monsters.
Elyana was launching light barriers that cracked under the pressure of ice magic, while I tried to create a fire wall that dissolved in the air as if it were paper in boiling water.
Draken was escaping from a phantom Rex who unleashed blue flames that consumed everything in their path.
"Better than being unprepared for the next attack,"
Draken replied as he sharpened his sword with an automatic motion—it wasn't an ordinary movement.
Each edge of the sword **glowed with a shadow** indicating new power.
The intensive training had clearly made him stronger—his muscles had become more defined and his movements faster, as if he had transformed into a **shadow moving with intelligence**.
"Draken is right,"
I said as I examined my status window, my hand trembling from exhaustion.
The numbers were impressive, but they didn't reflect the **fire eating me from within** from the daily training:
---
**[Status Window - Lian Shadowind]**
**Level:** 23
**Rank:** Advanced Spirit Controller (Early Second Tier)
**Attributes:**
- Strength: 78/100
- Agility: 85/100
- Intelligence: 72/100
- Spiritual Power: 89/100
**New Skills:**
- [Advanced Spirit Fusion] - Level 7
- [Dancing Flame Blade Technique - Enhanced] - Level 6
- [Sacred Fire Barrier] - Level 5
- [Summoning the Small Dragon] - Level 2 (New!)
**Contracted Spirits:**
- Ember (Level 24 - Evolved!)
- Oriolus (Temporary bond - Level 45)
---
The new technique "Summoning the Small Dragon" was an unexpected result of my friendship with Oriolus.
In the last simulation, while I was facing a crowd of enemies, I **shouted his name** without thinking.
From between my flames, a small dragon appeared—not as large as the real Oriolus, but its wings released a fire breath that **burned three phantom figures in a single second**.
Amazingly, the connection was **real**—I felt his blood flowing through my veins, and his fire melting into my spirit.
"Lian!"
a familiar voice called from behind us, but it came with a **sudden wind** that stirred the dust on the ground.
We turned to see Marcus Iron approaching, but he wasn't alone.
With him were three other students I didn't know—a girl with long black hair and violet eyes glowing like night stars, a tall young man with silver hair carrying a **hidden lightning** in his demeanor, and a small girl with curly red hair like a small flame.
"Marcus,"
I greeted him, my eyes watching the movements of the new group members.
Each of them was **pulling the air** toward them in different ways—as if magic breathed from their skin.
"I want to introduce you to my friends,"
he said enthusiastically, but his voice carried a **cautious tone**.
"This is Luna Silverblade, a second-year student specializing in moon magic. This is Ash Stormrider, second year, a magical warrior specializing in lightning.And this is Zara Fireheart, first year but a genius in fire magic."
"Hello,"
Luna said in a quiet, elegant voice, but her eyes **were studying us** as if searching for weaknesses.
"We've heard a lot about you. Your performance in the last attack was impressive."
"We wanted to ask you something," Ash said directly, his silver hair **rippling as if under the influence of invisible winds**. "We want to form an alliance."
"Alliance?"
Elyana asked curiously, but her hand was unconsciously touching Luna's arm—a touch testing whether she carried defensive magic.
"A larger team for training and missions,"
Zara explained enthusiastically, her eyes glowing with an inner fire that **perfectly matched Ember's fire**.
"The last attack showed that we need to work together more."
I thought about it. In the game, there was a "groups" system, but here **life isn't a game**.
One mistake in coordination could cost lives.
"Interesting idea,"
Draken said, his eyes watching Ash's hand movement—every time it moved, a small lightning spark shot from his fingertips.
"But how will it work?"
"Joint training, knowledge exchange, and most importantly—supporting each other in dangerous missions,"
Marcus said.
"Seven people are stronger than three."
"But also more complicated to coordinate,"
Elyana noted, her voice carrying a subtle reminder of what happened with Rex.
"That's why we need a good leader,"
Luna said, looking directly at me—her violet eyes **glowing with moon magic** trying to penetrate my spiritual defenses.
"And I think Lian is the obvious choice."
"Me?"
I was surprised.
"Why?"
"Because you're the only one who saw the conspiracy before others,"
Ash said.
"And because your battle strategies **dissolve darkness**."
"And because you have a bond with a dragon!"
Zara added with obvious excitement, her small fire erupting from between her fingers as if greeting Ember.
"That's amazing!"
I looked at Elyana and Draken.
"What do you think?"
"I think it's a good idea,"
Elyana said after thinking, but her eyes were searching for **Luna's reaction**.
"The more of us there are, the stronger we become."
"I agree,"
Draken said.
"But we must ensure we trust each other completely."
"How do we ensure that?"
Marcus asked.
Before I could answer, Oriolus suddenly appeared—still in his small size—and sat on my shoulder as if he were a **golden shadow**.
"A simple test,"
the small dragon said in his deep, miniature voice, his fire glowing strongly under the moonlight.
"Let them place their hands on the Stone of Truth."
I took out the "Dragon's Tear" from my bag—the stone that **glowed with intelligence** as if it were alive.
"This is a special stone that reveals true intentions. If your intentions are sincere, it will glow with white light. If there's deception, it will glow with red light."
In reality, I wasn't sure if this would work, but the "Dragon's Tear" was **pulsing with fiery energy** that harmonized with Ember.
One after another, the new students placed their hands on the stone.
Each time, it glowed with a soft white light—but when Luna touched the stone, the **light flickered** for a moment, then stabilized.
"Excellent,"
Oriolus said approvingly, but his eyes **remained fixed on Luna**.
"They're all sincere."
"Okay,"
I said with a smile, but my brain was working fast—why did the light flicker with Luna?
"So we have a new team. But we need rules."
We spent the next hour determining how our new alliance would work. We decided to meet daily for two hours of joint training, exchange information about any suspicious activities, and most importantly—no secrets among team members.
"A name for the team?"
Zara suggested, her fire dancing in the air as if choosing the name itself.
"The Academy Guards?"
Ash proposed.
"No, that sounds too formal,"
Elyana said.
"What about 'Golden Tongues of Flame'?"
Luna suggested.
"That... is very bad,"
Draken said frankly, his eyes watching **Zara's reaction**—her fire dimmed momentarily in frustration.
We all laughed, but the laughter was **mixed with tension**.
"What about something simple?"
I said.
"Just 'The Seven'."
"I like it,"
Marcus said.
"Simple and impactful."
And so "The Seven" was born.
In the following weeks, our joint training became an **unquenchable fire**. Each member brought different skills, but the amazing thing was **how they harmonized together**:
- Marcus was the shield—when he unleashed his magic, an **iron shield** appeared that absorbed blows, and when he moved, you could hear **the sound of clashing chains** as if surrounded by ghost soldiers.
- Luna was the controller—her moon magic didn't just paralyze enemies, but **created silver light networks** that slowed time around the target.
- Ash was the destroyer—every lightning strike from his hands **left a wound that wouldn't heal**, and when he ran, **lightning trails** appeared behind him in the air.
- Zara was the artillery—her fire abilities weren't just explosions, but **small planets** orbiting around her before launching toward the enemy.
- Elyana was the healer and support—her healing light didn't just mend wounds, but **created circles of energy** that protected the entire team.
- Draken was the main warrior—his sword glowed with **Rex's phantom shadow**, as if learning from his past mistakes.
- And I was the strategist and leader—my strategies weren't just orders, but **living maps** that appeared in the air like fire moving according to the enemy's reactions.
"Your cooperation has improved incredibly,"
Professor Stormhammer noted after two weeks of training, her eyes **glowing with tears of pride**.
"In just two months, you've become a team that fights as if you've worked together for years."
He was right.
In combat simulations, we defeated opponents much stronger than us individually.
In the last simulation, we **attacked a group of shadow beasts** similar to those we faced in the tower.
- Luna launched a moon network that **paralyzed three monsters**.
- Ash struck the fourth with a **double lightning** that shot from his hands like swords.
- Zara launched a fireball that **exploded in six directions**, hitting five monsters at once.
- Elyana created a light barrier that **saved Draken** from a surprise attack.
- Draken pierced the main enemy with **speed resembling a shadow**.
- And I used "Summoning the Small Dragon" to **end the battle**—the golden dragon pierced the last beast with its fiery mouth.
But our real test came when Professor Firestone summoned us to his office on a cold evening—the air carried the **scent of distant smoke**.
"I have a mission for you,"
he said with seriousness that turned the air to ice.
"A real mission outside the academy."
"What kind of mission?"
I asked, my hands trembling with intense focus.
"A report has come from Ironford City—the same city as Draken's family,"
Firestone said.
"People are disappearing, and witnesses have seen strange red lights at night."
Draken froze. His **hands trembled**, and I felt his inner fire rising in temperature.
"My family?"
"We don't know yet,"
Firestone said gently, but his eyes **didn't glow with reassurance**.
"But the description matches Red Shadow Organization activity."
"We're going,"
I said immediately, my voice carrying an **unstoppable fire**.
"When do we leave?"
"At dawn tomorrow," Firestone said. "But be careful—this isn't a training mission. If the Red Shadow Organization is really there, you'll face real danger."
"We're ready,"
Draken said with a voice full of determination and worry, but his eyes **were searching for a glimpse of Rex** in the darkness.
But as we left Firestone's office, I heard a faint whisper from the dark corridor—a **whisper that dissolves in the bones**:
"The third phase begins soon,"
an unidentifiable voice said.
"Let them go to Ironford. There we'll finish what we started."
My heart raced. **Is this another trap?**
The air around us became **cold as steel**, and I felt as if the darkness itself was breathing behind us.
But if Draken's family was in danger, we couldn't ignore it.
"The Seven"
would face their first real test.
And deep in my heart, I feared we might be walking straight into another trap.
But this time, we were stronger, and better prepared.
At least, that's what I told myself—as **Ember's fire** burned with unusual intensity on my shoulder.