Three hours later, both Mirelia and Biron stood near the edge of the academy's training center, looking out across the open fields.

Dozens of students were already out there—running laps, lifting weights, sparring with dummies, or meditating alongside their summons.

Biron crossed his arms and sighed. "You know… You didn't have to come. You already have a way to make your monster stronger."

He glanced at her, but Mirelia just shook her head—her long red hair swaying with the motion.

Honestly, she felt a little foolish.

He was the one who'd pestered her for weeks. Dragged her to training. Insisted on walking her home. Showed her how to feed her Budling properly.

Now that they were finally getting close… he was the one hesitating.

"I told you it's fine," she said, keeping her voice steady. "Besides… my family's books say that to form true synergy with a summon, the summoner needs to be equally trained."

She wasn't athletic and never had been.

But if her creature kept getting stronger… she would become the weak link that would drag it down.

Biron blinked. "Oh. I didn't know that."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I guess the teacher mentioned it once, but I thought only the summon's core really mattered."

Mirelia exhaled sharply, almost a scoff. "The core does matter, but it won't grow without absorbing enough aether—and no one's giving that out for free."

She gestured toward the field.

"That's why this military course exists. It trains both our core and our bodies—to prepare us for war."

At that word, Biron went quiet.

His throat tightened.

He remembered Earth and the devastation caused by war.

The virus that wiped out almost every animal species… that thing was born from war.

He then calmed himself, imagining what war would look like here, in a world where monsters and dragons were real.

"I guess…" he said slowly, "at least most of the fighting's between monsters."

He tried to smile.

"We humans don't stand a chance anyway. We just… get in the way. So the side with the strongest summons usually wins."

Then he added with a bitter chuckle, "Unless someone shows up with a dragon. Or a legendary beast. Then it's game over, right?"

Mirelia looked at him for a moment.

She could still hear the echoes of their earlier conversation—the one about the silver dragon and the kingdom it claimed.

She wasn't sure what scared her more: her family's ambitions to try to claim the beast or that she was defying them by joining the cadets.

"Anyway—let's go," Mirelia said, stepping forward with resolve. "I've already made up my mind. This'll also help me escape my family's influence."

She glanced at Biron, her expression firm.

"If they want to send me to the front lines to chase a dragon, they'll have to go through the army first. Once I'm enlisted here, the military holds a stake in my life. Not just the Valcynes."

Biron followed her as they walked into the main building. The facility was already buzzing—rows of students lining up, forms in hand, some chatting nervously while others stretched and yawn in boredom.

Luckily, there was no gender separation in the sign-ups. That meant they could stay together in line, quietly talking as they slowly shuffled forward.

About ten minutes passed before it was their turn.

One of the officers handling paperwork glanced up at Mirelia, then down at her file. He tilted his head slightly, eyebrows rising.

He didn't say anything—not until his eyes landed on the page detailing her summoned creature.

His jaw tensed. He said nothing else, simply gave a respectful nod and stamped her approval with a sharp thunk.

Then it was Biron's turn.

The officer scanned his file, then looked back at the two of them.

"You sure you're not a Valcyne?" he asked dryly. "We've had enough accusations of poaching their bloodline. Wouldn't want any misunderstandings."

Biron shook his head quickly. "I'm not. Just… someone who came from Earth."

The man narrowed his eyes for a second longer before nodding.

"Good," he muttered. "That's a strong summon. It's hard to find one like it nowadays in the army, with noble families scooping up any talent they see. If you can get it under control, you might even end up leading a team."

Biron blinked. Then slowly—very slowly—he smiled.

Something about hearing it from a military officer, someone who didn't know him personally, made him feel like he had a chance to be something special.

"Good. I see ambition," the officer muttered, stamping Biron's form with a heavy thud. "You'll need that here… if you want to survive."

Biron nodded, already bracing himself. He flipped through the papers again and spotted a promising detail: cadets would receive not only training, but also an added allowance and one mana core every so often—depending on performance.

It wasn't guaranteed. But it was something to strive for.

After that, he was directed to the uniform station.

The military building was pristine—gleaming walls, tiled floors, a sense of efficiency that felt oddly comforting. He was handed a bright red cadet uniform, along with a small silver pin meant to be worn over his academy uniform to signify his entry into the cadet section.

He didn't understand why he couldn't just keep wearing his standard blue set—but he didn't argue. At least now he wouldn't have to rewash the same clothes every day.

Out on the field, he spotted Mirelia near the fence—clearly uncomfortable.

She was fidgeting with the new uniform pants. She usually wore skirts, even during fieldwork.

"Looks good," Biron said as he walked over. "Although with all that red, your hair sort of disappears."

She shot him a look, but eventually tied her long hair up into a ponytail—something she only did during intense combat training.

"I hate it," she muttered. "But I'd rather run with this on for obvious reasons."

Their attention shifted toward the others gathering nearby.

Most of the students looked just like them—new recruits. Some had the dazed look of students forced into this by their families. Others had a familiar glint in their eyes—the kind Biron had when the officer told him he had a promising future here.

It was the glint of someone who really needed this.

Someone who needed mana cores, training, or a shot at something bigger.

Then a voice broke through the chatter.

"Hope you two know how to fight. Looks like we'll be using swords soon—so sorry if I whack you a few good times."

They turned to see a tall, athletic boy with short blond hair, toned arms, and a self-assured smirk. He looked older than both Mirelia and Biron—probably by a year or two.

"I'm a second year," the older boy said, casually rolling his shoulders. "Got tossed into this after my last labyrinth run. Teacher didn't like how I handled it… so here I am."

He smirked like it didn't bother him, or so he tried to make it seem.

"Guess you two are fresh blood, huh? Good that you joined now—before making my mistakes."

He extended his hand—to Biron.

But it was obvious. The way he angled his body, the way his gaze flicked toward Mirelia just a second longer than needed…

This handshake wasn't about greeting Biron. It was about showing courtesy before trying to impress someone else.

Still, Biron took the hand with a firm grip just long enough to greet.

"Paul," the boy said. "I've got a water serpent. Fast, agile… doesn't deal too much damage, though."

"Biron," he replied. "Got lucky with a fire salamander. Trying to push it to the next stage."

Paul's eyebrow rose slightly.

"Funny they let you join with the whole Valcyne-family situation," he said. "You must've slipped through the cracks."

Then, smoothly, he turned toward Mirelia—along with a few of the nearby recruits who were now listening in.

"And you?"

"Mirelia," she said flatly. "Evolved Budling. Just here to train."

The girl gave him the briefest wave—barely two seconds—before turning her attention to the others as if he hadn't mattered at all.

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