After the Summoners Battle class had concluded, Kairos separated from his group of three, as he had chosen a different class from the others.
He walked alone through the silent halls, his footsteps echoing off the empty walls. The lack of students in sight gave him a vague idea of how many would actually be present in the Environnt Survival class.
Arriving at his destination, Kairos pushed open the heavy classroom door and stepped into the large room. Shelves lined the walls, sparsely filled with books and supplies, hinting at the nature of the course. His gaze swept over the rows of chairs set in the middle of the space, and his eyes landed on the only other person there.
The long, dark hair was unmistakable.
Kaela. She was early.
'Figures. She probably doesn't have a very strong summon. That must be why she's here,' Kairos mused, making his way towards the front of the class. He chose a seat one place apart from her, maintaining a comfortable distance.
As soon as he sat, he noticed the subtle shift in Kaela's posture. She seed to shrink into her seat, her hair acting as a curtain between them. She acknowledged his presence but remained silent.
Kairos didn't press for conversation. 'She's shy, not full of herself like so of the others. That's a good thing.'
The classroom was filled with an awkward silence, stretching on for what felt like an eternity—thirty minutes at the very least. Kairos let his thoughts wander, ntally preparing himself for what the course might entail, until the heavy doors swung open with urgency.
A man rushed in, dressed in a crisp military uniform, his presence commanding attention despite his seemingly relaxed deanor.
"Oh! I'm sorry for coming late! I had a lot to do!" the man announced as he reached the front of the class. His voice carried a playful edge, a stark contrast to the authority his uniform implied.
Kairos observed him carefully. The instructor was tall, with sharp blonde hair, strikingly handso features, and a muscular build that spoke of years of training.
"I am Sergeant Fex Bower, and I'll be teaching Environnt Survival. Seeing the number of students here, it seems many didn't pick this class—or switched after realizing how pointless it might seem at first glance." Fex's tone was casual, almost amused. "Well, that's fine because, whether you believe it or not, this is the best class anyone could ever choose."
Kairos narrowed his eyes slightly at that statent. 'Best class?' He found it hard to believe.
Sergeant Fex imdiately locked eyes with him, catching onto his skepticism with sharp precision. He had a habit of maintaining eye contact while speaking, but with Kaela practically hiding behind her hair, Kairos beca his sole target.
"You might want to ask why," Fex continued, his smirk unwavering, "but with just two students, I can personally guarantee that this will be the best decision you both have made. Now, let's begin."
He took a seat at the front of the class, clasping his hands together as he leaned forward. "First, let's start with nas. I need to know who I'll be turning into survivalists."
Once introductions were made, Fex wasted no ti diving into the core of the lesson.
"As you both know, the world outside is not what it used to be. Mutations have altered environnts in ways we can barely comprehend. Here on Earth, we've seen it firsthand, but other planets? That's where it gets truly unpredictable."
Kairos leaned in slightly, intrigued despite himself.
"Imagine this scenario," Fex continued, "You land on a foreign planet, and everything seems normal. Then, rain falls for half a day—ordinary enough. But suddenly, it transitions into an unprecedented snowfall. Within minutes, temperatures plumt, and before your squad realizes what's happening, half of them freeze to death."
Fex paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "Or perhaps, your team stumbles upon an area filled with alien vegetation. Exhausted, they lean against the trees to catch their breath. A few hours later, they're writhing in agony, their bodies rejecting the very air they're breathing. Sothing in those plants triggered an infection. Sothing no one saw coming."
Kairos exhaled slowly. This wasn't just about surviving harsh climates—it was about predicting unseen threats. It was about staying ahead of death.
"That's why every faction values an environnt specialist," Fex explained. "It's not a glamorous role, but it's a critical one. And if you learn it properly, it can make you a fortune in the future."
Kairos nodded. 'A high-paying job just by understanding the dangers of alien worlds? This is exactly my type of field.'
"So," he spoke up, "you're an environnt military sergeant?"
Fex chuckled, shaking his head. "Not quite. I learned everything from a close teammate—one of the best I've ever known. During the war, their knowledge saved my life more tis than I can count. That's when I realized how crucial this skill was. And now, here I am, passing it on to you two."
He grinned suddenly. "And lucky , I get two exceptional students to learn topography all day with."
A soft voice cut through the conversation.
"Sir?" Kaela's hesitant tone caught both their attention.
Fex turned to her. "Yes? Do you have a question?"
She hesitated before asking, "Is that why they call you 'The One-Man Battalion'?"
Fex's eyebrows lifted slightly. For the first ti since entering, he seed genuinely caught off guard.
"Ah..." He let out a low whistle, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, that's one of the reasons. But let's not dive into war stories just yet. There will be ti for those later."
Kairos studied Fex's reaction closely. Of all the sergeants he had encountered, this one was... different. He was relaxed, playful even, and yet there was sothing undeniably sharp about him. The kind of sharpness that ca from years of experience.
'Why is he like this?' Kairos wondered. 'He's hiding sothing beneath that easy-going attitude.'
Unbeknownst to him, Fex was analyzing them just as intently.
'The girl is kindhearted,' he thought, 'and her summon... intriguing. But the boy... he's different. Good-hearted, yes, but every decision he makes is rooted in survival. He cos from a low-grade city, no faction to back him. Life must have been brutal.'
Fex's gaze flickered slightly as he sensed the energy around Kairos.
'His summon... it's leaking so much aura. It's enthralling.'
His thoughts drifted back to when he had first reviewed the academy's exceptional cadets. Watching Kairos' legendary summon in action had sent a strange, thrilling resonance through his own summon. It was a sensation he had only felt once before in his life.
And now, the very source of that feeling was sitting right in front of him.
'Silver was right about this kid,' Fex mused. 'A strategist who prioritizes survival over brute power? He'll be worth teaching.'
With that, he clapped his hands together, pushing his thoughts aside. "Alright, enough talk. Ti for so hands-on learning."
He stood, motioning for them to rise as well.
"Now," he announced, a glint of challenge in his eyes, "let's start with a little beast summoning exercise, shall we?"
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