“Hey, wake up! We're about to be late for the roll call!” Avalel pulls away the thin but warm bed sheets from Tarak and Kavlina before running to the door, and in one bold motion, opens it, letting the freezing air inside.

It has been just one week since Avalel and Kavlina arrived at Thille, but already, they have made themselves somewhat celebrities inside their platoon. In such a short amount of time, Kavlina had already learned the basics of shooting a beam rifle, and with her unparalleled martial skills, she quickly earned the unofficial title of “The Prodigy”. Avalel, meanwhile, also excelled in many aspects of the cadet training, although he is often overshadowed by Kavlina. Despite all this, however, his performance in strategy simulations is superior, besting even Perivial once after just a few days of learning basic battle tactics. With Ms. Ipela's endorsement, they did not have to worry about finances, focusing instead on honing their skills in the military.

Tarak, meanwhile, has since permanently moved in with Avalel and Kavlina, bringing with him many personal gadgets that Avalel investigated with great interest, with the only cost of teaching him melee combat. However, he still didn't know of the Anapadeia, now hidden under the bed.

“S-so c-cold,” Kavlina shivers, her body quickly curling up to a ball, “W-why is it s-so cold t-today?”

“Winter has arrived, finally,” Tarak mumbles, completely unfazed by the sudden change in temperature.

With the cold as a motivating, or rather forceful, factor, the three quickly eat and change into their cadet uniforms, their warmth finally useful in the chilling weather. Running, they reach the training ground in time, panting as they melt into their column.

“Alright, roll call,” Sureya announces, her voice projecting all around the grounds. “Class One!”

“All arrived!”

“Wait, who's that standing next to Hayeviel?” Avalel whispers to Tarak, motioning to a short woman in the distance. Although she is much shorter than Hayeviel, perhaps even a head shorter than Avalel, her presence is imposing. Even in the frigid weather, she is only clothed with a grey cloak over a sleeveless tunic, some leggings, and a pair of long boots.

“I don't know. Is it yet another newcomer?” The two chuckle, thinking back to the test a week ago.

“Class Five!” Sureya shouts.

“O-Oh, all arrived!” Tarak responds, caught off-guard.

“Be more alert next time, soldier,” Sureya warns.

The roll call went by relatively quickly, with no absences or interruptions. However, Avalel could not take his eyes off the newcomer. Her eyes are grey too, like Kavlina's. I wonder which class she will belong in...

“Before today's training,” Hayeviel declares, “I would like to introduce our new instructor and my third assistant…”

Instructor? Avalel is caught by surprise.

“... Taravi. She is twenty-five years of age, a native of Rakurhen in the West. Although she is new to the city of Thille, she is an experienced mercenary who fought on many fronts. Her specialty is guerrilla warfare, but for now, she will teach you melee combat and survival skills. What else do you have to say, Taravi?”

“I have been briefed that although all of you are trained somewhat to use pikes,” Taravi adds, “I believe that is not enough. By the end of melee training today, I expect all of you to have good control over the knife, a soldier's best tool for survival.”

“Thank you, Taravi,” Hayeviel smiles, “Now, everyone: begin your daily run!”

Throughout the day, despite the physically taxing training, the cadets cannot help but chatter amongst each other about Taravi. Whether it be her age, her height, or her background, the gossip passes from one to the other without any sign of slowing down. However, Taravi is silent, calmly observing from afar, her eyes quickly falling on the talented Avalel and Kavlina. Whether it be their agility, range of movement, adaptability, or unarmed combat, those two consistently stand out amongst all the cadets. In fact, as much as she would dislike to admit, they hold far more potential than even herself.

The cadets here in general are quite mediocre, as is the training, she thinks, but those two... I have been briefed that there were two newcomers who joined the cadets just a week ago. Perhaps these two more skilled ones are the newcomers. They are quite interesting indeed and deserve slightly more attention.

Finally, the long-awaited melee training has come. As the cadets line up in front of Taravi, she hands each of them a blunt knife. Although the blade is slightly rusted, the handle no longer comfortable to grip, it is nevertheless a deadly weapon, suitable to almost any situation.

“In battle,” she explains, “Sometimes the rifle may break, the pike may snap, but the knife will never fail you. Whether it is in close-quarters combat or survival in the wilderness, a knife is always a soldier's best tool.”

“But knives lack the strength of a pike or the reach of a rifle, Instructor,” a cadet points out.

“Would you like to see a demonstration?” She points at the cadet, her eyes commanding and intimidating. “Grab one of the training pikes on the ground.” Complying, the cadet immediately runs forward and picks up a pike.

“Now, I shall try to disarm you, using only one of these blunt knives,” she simply says, as if it is just her daily routine.

“Taravi,” Hayeviel cautions, “We do not want any injured cadets, especially as it's not beneficial to the war effort.”

“Don't worry,” she responds, before turning to the cadet, “Whenever you're ready, strike me with the pike. Aim to kill.”

The cadet hesitates. “I don't think I can…”

“You're a soldier!” Taravi suddenly shouts, “What use are you if you cannot bring yourself to kill?”

Frightened, the cadet flimsily thrusts the pike at Taravi. In one swift motion, she parries the strike effortlessly, dodges, and closes the distance between the two. In a moment, her right hand, holding the knife, is pointed at the cadet's neck, while her other hand firmly grabs onto the cadet's wrist, holding it still and restricting all movement. Shocked and defeated, the cadet drops his pike, a resounding clang echoing off the ground. Shaking her head in disappointment, Taravi releases the cadet, allowing his shaking body to retreat into the ranks.

“Your soldiers are too soft, supervisor,” Taravi comments, “Anyway, do you all now see the use of the knife? I can easily close the gap by relying on my agility. A pike is greatly useful when there are numbers, but a knife is a truly versatile weapon that, if used correctly, can be deadly in almost any situation. Your training today would simply be to thrust accurately at a designated weak spot on these boards. It's very simple, but it is essential when you are facing a moving, deadly target.”

She turns to Avalel and Kavlina. “Oh, and for you two, I need to know your current skills with a knife.”

“Why only the two of us?” Avalel asks.

“I have a feeling the two of you already have prior knowledge on the handling of a knife in combat.”

“What do we need to do?” Kavlina questions impatiently.

“Pretend I am the enemy. Your aim is like my demonstration before: to try and kill me. Only difference is that I will be more serious against you two,” Taravi explains calmly as she flips out four sharp knives, dropping two of them on the ground. “Come on. I don't have all day.”

Suddenly, Kavlina dashes forward, picking up the knife and immediately swinging it towards Taravi. In response, Taravi parries, and a loud clang can be heard throughout the grounds.

To imbue, to charge, to release... Taravi chants in her head. Suddenly, Kavlina staggers backwards, her hand shaking from the sudden force. What was that energy I felt? That violent flow...

By this time, Avalel had also picked up the other knife, swinging it with great speed. The two step back and forth, dodging and parrying. However, Taravi quickly and effortlessly knocks Avalel's knife out of his hand, and stands triumphant as she points a knife at Avalel's throat.

“You two may have raw talent, but that is nothing compared to hard-earned experience,” she says dismissively. Even so, she senses the strength behind each of their strikes, so direct and natural. Even without using the energy, they were able to muster such strength…

"Give me another chance," Kavlina requests.

“No,” Taravi refuses, “I've seen enough. You hold much strength and speed, but you lack coordination and fail to use your skills to your advantage. Now, return to the group and reflect on your weaknesses.” The two of them have great potential, but they need to be humbled first.

Kavlina grits her teeth, her fists clenched together.

“Kavlina, let's go,” Avalel whispers, gently tapping her shoulders. Reluctantly, Kavlina complies, slowly walking back and picking up the blunt knife once more.

The rest of the day is relatively uneventful, as the cadets continue going through their daily routine. However, Kavlina can only do the tasks half-heartedly, her mind preoccupied still with the short duel against Taravi. What humiliation, being defeated in the span of one blow. She must be boasting of her victory now against the best of the cadets. Her fancy knives are nothing but aesthetics to boost her pride as a warrior. But that energy... where did it come from? She continues grumbling, averting any eye contact with Taravi until it is finally the end of the day's training.

“Kavlina, are you alright?” Avalel asks, his face filled with concern, “I noticed you weren't in a good mood ever since the short duel. What happened?”

“Nothing in particular,” she lies.

“But…”

“Avalel, Kavlina,” Tarak calls, “Taravi wants you two to meet her in the assembly grounds.”

“What is it for?” Avalel asks.

“I don't know, but I think it has to do with training today.”

Avalel stares at Kavlina for a long while until she finally relents, breathing a frustrated sigh. “Alright, we'll go.”

When the three of them arrive, they find that not only Taravi is waiting for them, but also Hayeviel. “The two new cadets as well as Tarak have arrived, finally,” Hayeviel welcomes, his signature grin plastered on his face.

“What do you want?” Kavlina questions Taravi directly, her tone harsh.

“You must've noticed the energy flow when we clashed blades, didn't you, girl?” Taravi replies, to the surprise of all three cadets.

“How…”

“That is besides the point. The point is, do you know exactly what you were experiencing?”

“I don't understand,” Tarak says, to which Avalel nods in agreement, “What are you talking about?”

“In this world there is something that we call 'magic',” Hayeviel explains, “However, this magic is in fact the simple manipulation of the energy around us. One simply concentrates their energy in one or several spots, and then releases it, either gradually or suddenly. The uses of it range from healing to strengthening. Some legends even claim masters of this art could temporarily manipulate the energy to take the form of objects. Centuries ago, it would be common to see at least one user of magic among a squad of soldiers. Unfortunately, this art has long declined with the advent of technology as guns, which also utilize energy, require less training from the individual, even if magic is far more powerful. It is only now that we, the New Rule, are rediscovering its potential, which is why we hired Taravi. Sadly, we have yet to find other users who would be willing to teach our cadets.”

“To put it simply,” Taravi rephrases, “The New Rule wants its soldiers to know and use at least a little magic to give them an edge on the battlefield. Hence why I'll be teaching you the basics through these knives.”

“What does a knife have to do with magic?” Avalel asks curiously.

“Metal is the best conductor for energy, and the knife is often the easiest and cheapest tool to channel or release energy due to its small size.” Taravi again brings out the four knives. “These knives were made with Nahera steel, which is a great conductor of energy. However…” She looks up and stares at Avalel. “The legendary sword, the Anapadeia, is the best conductor of energy known, and amazingly, the best storer of energy as well. Some records even claim that the energy stored was so vast it could even create and maintain its own consciousness.”

Avalel looks at Taravi with shock. Did she know through Hayeviel?

“You're going on a tangent, Taravi,” Hayeviel reminds, “Why not demonstrate a simple move for then to copy?”

“Alright.” Taravi turns to a wooden board, identical to the ones the cadets used in melee training. “I shall be doing the same move you all did during melee training: thrusting the knife at the board. However, the only difference is that I'll release energy on contact. The key phrase is this: to imbue, to charge, to release. To imbue the knife with energy, to charge it until it reaches enough concentration, and finally, to release it in one single burst.” With that, she immediately thrusts the knife at the board. At first, the knife simply lodges itself in the board with a soft thok, but a moment later, a quiet noise drifts from the knife, no different from the sound of a rifle shooting a beam. When the sound finally dies down, the wood had already been reduced to nothing more than ashes and charcoal.

“This power…” Tarak gasps in awe.

“Wood is especially weak against energy bursts, which is why it was destroyed so easily. Now you three shall try to do the same on these fifteen boards. You cannot be dismissed until all fifteen boards are reduced to this pile of garbage.”

Fifteen? However, the three have no choice but to accept the challenge. “How can we release the energy?” Avalel asks.

“Just remember the key phrase and chant in your head: to imbue, to charge, to release,” Taravi advises.

Well that wasn't much advice at all. The three repeatedly thrust their knives at the board, but to no avail. Kavlina in particular is frustrated, repeatedly stabbing the board with her knife as if she is painting dots on a canvas. How is this gimmick ever going to help me in battle? Finally, in anger, she grips the knife tightly before violently taking a stab at the nearest wall.

Suddenly, the wall explodes, forming a neat crater surrounding the tip of the knife. Smoke emerges from the hole and Kavlina's right hand turns red from the heat. This power...

“You forgot to mention this, Taravi,” Hayeviel grins, “but channeling your emotions into energy is also very helpful.”

“Kavlina, that was…” Avalel is flabbergasted.

“Amazing,” Tarak finishes.

Taravi smiles in appreciation. “You have already understood the basics now, girl,” she applauds, “Now teach what you felt to your comrades and finish the task.” Perhaps raw talent does help after all.

“So how should we approach this?” Nasition asks, the team standing in a semicircle in front of him.

“I sent a scout drone to properly scan the area,” Tevlaia reports, “Results are not good. The city is heavily fortified and protected, something that our numbers, no matter how elite we are, cannot overcome.”

“We need some way to lure our targets away from the city,” Teritav adds.

“I have an idea,” Nasition suggests, "I can order one of my generals to attack a town or city, close enough for the soldiers of that city to reinforce, but far enough in between that we can stage an ambush in.”

“There's no guarantee that the soldiers who come out will definitely include our targets,” Tevlaia disagrees.

“Why not just vaporize the city with an orbital cannon?” Kerohar proposes. The others quickly give him a sharp glance of disapproval.

“You're joking, right?” Nasition asks, his tone serious.

“Yes,” Kerohar laughs, “I thought it was a good joke too. But anyway, why not sneak in and infiltrate the city, leaving as soon as the job is done?”

“How about this,” Tevlaia suggests, “I believe Nasition’s idea is suitable, but instead of wasting one of our armies just as decoys, I think our strength alone is enough to take down a small outpost. I remember there is a weak enemy outpost known as Lazairu, left alone for quite a while now. Maybe we can try our luck there, and if that doesn’t work, then at least we have destroyed a minor threat to our borders.”

“I’ll still request some long-range artillery support from nearby armies,” Nasition says, “If anything, it can add to the message of urgency to the enemy.”

“We can even divert our aircraft away to give them a false sense of air superiority,” Kerohar adds, “What better tactic than to shoot those foot soldiers down from the sky?”

“For once, you are using your brain well,” Tevlaia agrees, “It sounds quite good.”

“I’ll handle the logistical details, including a backup plan if this isn’t enough to lure them out,” Nasition says, “I assume there are no objections to this plan?”

The team responds with silence.

“Alright, you may be dismissed.”