Twenty minutes later, the simulation cycle concluded.

  [Simulation Complete.]

  [System Shutting Down...]

  The lights in the Simulation Hall dimmed, and the hissing sound of hydraulic seals depressurizing filled the room. One by one, the glass lids of the pods slid open.

  Students sat up, groaning, rubbing their heads, or cheering depending on their results.

  Only Pod #02 remained closed.

  Tap. Tap. Tap.

  Ryn frowned, hearing a rhythmic knocking sound intruding on his nap. He cracked one eye open to see Asher standing over his pod, grinning and tapping on the glass.

  "Rise and shine, Rank 2," Asher's muffled voice came through. "Nap time is over. Unless you plan to stay in there until next year's intake."

  Ryn let out a long sigh, pressed the release button, and pushed the lid open.

  "I was considering it," he mumbled, climbing out and stretching his stiff limbs. "This thing is softer than my own back home. I could get used to this."

  "Attention!"

  Instructor Shaylo's voice boomed from the overhead speakers, echoing through the hall.

  "The Third Phase for Batch 1 is complete. You are dismissed. The detailed breakdown of your performance and your final entrance results will be sent to your personal Arc-Link within a few days."

  Her voice paused for a beat, carrying a strange weight, before continuing.

  "Now, clear the hall. Batch 2, prepare to enter!"

  Ryn grabbed his jacket and immediately merged into the crowd heading for the exit, eager to escape before any professors decided to come down for a 'chat.'

  As they walked out of the large double doors and into the afternoon sun, the heavy atmosphere of the exam finally evaporated. The cool air felt refreshing after the sterile environment of the simulation.

  "So," Asher asked, falling into step beside him. "How did it go? What was your scenario?"

  "Hostage Extraction," Ryn replied, rubbing his shoulder where the phantom pain of the simulation bolt still lingered. "Had to save three loud civilians from some mercenaries. Got shot in the process. It was a hassle."

  "Got shot?" Asher raised an eyebrow. "That sounds rough."

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "It was," Ryn lied smoothly. "What about you?"

  "Defense and Command," Asher said, his eyes lighting up slightly. "I was dropped into a border town called Riverwood. I had to organize a local militia and a squad of Adept Arcanists to hold off a Tier-3 Beast Wave for forty minutes until reinforcements arrived."

  "Sounds... exhausting," Ryn commented, shaking his head. Inwardly, he gave himself a pat on the back. Choosing the Support Division was definitely the right call. While Asher was playing general in a muddy trench, Ryn had been chilling on a roof (mostly).

  "It was intense," Asher laughed, wiping a smudge of virtual soot off his cheek. "But fun in a way."

  "Your definition of fun is twisted," Ryn deadpanned.

  "Says the guy whose ideal hobby is comatose napping," Asher shot back with a grin. "I bet you'd sleep through an apocalypse if no one woke you up."

  "At least I'm not weird like you, who laughs before fainting," Ryn countered.

  "Yeah, yea-wait what? I-I didn't!"

  "You did..."

  "..."

  They continued their banter until the sleek metallic corridor opened up into the sprawling courtyard of the main gates. The sun was dipping below the horizon, bathing the Academy entrance in twilight gold.

  Outside, the streets were bustling. Luxury Arc-Cars hovered near the curbs, and anxious parents or guardians were scanning the crowd for their children.

  "Well, this is my stop," Asher said, halting at the pedestrian intersection. He pointed toward the bustling city center, away from the luxury vehicle pick-up zone. "I rented a room at an inn downtown. I need a long bath and sleep after all of this."

  He turned to Ryn. "Where are you headed?"

  "Train station," Ryn replied, pointing toward the descending escalators of the public transit tubes. "Going home."

  "Alright. Good luck with the results," Asher grinned, offering a fist bump. "See you at the opening ceremony... assuming we both get in."

  "Yeah. See you." Ryn bumped his fist lazily against Asher's.

  "Don't miss your train sleeping on a bench!" Asher called out over his shoulder as he turned and walked away, merging into the evening crowd.

  Ryn watched him go for a second, then turned around, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He walked alone toward the subway entrance, descending into the cool, underground air.

  "Finally," he whispered, the noise of the exam fading behind him. "It's over."

  _____ ____ _

  The journey back was peaceful.

  The "unforeseen incident" regarding the train lines in the morning had vanished without a trace, precisely because it was never real to begin with.

  It was just an event orchestrated by the Academy for the exam anyway.

  Even if there had been actual damage to the infrastructure, the city's automated repair drones would have fixed the tracks in minutes.

  The Arc-Train glided over the magnetic rails with a smooth, rhythmic hum that almost lulled Ryn to sleep right then and there.

  He spent the ride staring out the window, watching the towering, neon-lit spires of the Academy District fade into the modest, warm glow of the residential suburbs.

  By the time he stepped off the platform and hailed an automated Arc-Taxi, the sky had turned a deep, bruised purple.

  The ride was short and silent.

  "Destination arrived," the vehicle's robotic voice announced as it lowered to the curb.

  Ryn paid the fare with a tap of his wrist and stepped out in front of his home.

  It stood in stark contrast to the imposing, sterile architecture of the Academy - a modest, two-story house with a sloping roof and a small, well-tended garden where his mother grew herbs.

  It wasn't a grand estate like the ones in the Core District, nor was it a high-tech fortress, but it radiated a warmth that no amount of arcana could replicate.

  Because it was home, his home.

  "..." Ryn raised his wrist to the sensor panel. A soft beep from his Arc-Watch confirmed his identity, and the door slid open with a whisper.

  "I'm home," Ryn called out, stepping into the warm light of the entryway.

  He took off his shoes, placing them neatly on the rack beside the others, waiting for the inevitable tackle-hug or the sound of running feet.

  But silence answered him.

  "..."