Early in the morning, Squad 11-D trudged sleepily through the forest.

Soraya led the way at the front.

A map lay unfolded in her hands. Every now and then she glanced down at it.

Beside her walked Yesu. Occasionally pointing at the thin blue line running across the parchment.

"The stream follows this direction." She said.

Soraya gave a small nod and continued forward.

Right behind them, Isaiah was already fighting a losing battle.

"Keep it down."

Nobody listened.

"Guys, seriously."

Still nobody listened. The squad’s chatter only grew louder.

A little farther back, Reggie walked up beside Carrots.

"Remember what you said last night?"

Carrots glanced at him. No qualms.

"And so what?"

Reggie grinned.

"And so this."

He immediately raised an armpit to her face.

Carrots didn’t even flinch.

"I’ve smelt worse." She said plainly.

Reggie’s smile faltered.

"You could try that on your girlfriend if you want a reaction," Carrots continued. "Although I think she might pass out."

A lousy punch shot toward the back of her head.

Farida.

Carrots casually tilted her head aside.

The fist missed completely.

"Nice try, princess." Carrots said without even turning around. "But you’ll have to do better than that if you actually plan on fighting."

Farida groaned in annoyance.

Isaiah rubbed his forehead.

"Can everyone please be quiet for five minutes?"

Nobody obeyed.

At the front, Soraya and Yesu walked mostly in silence.

Then Yesu suddenly spoke.

"Don’t you have anything to say to me?"

Soraya glanced sideways.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I disappeared yesterday with the Scales and nearly ruined the mission."

She looked genuinely curious.

"Aren’t you supposed to scold me or something?"

Soraya looked ahead again.

"Or ask questions?" Yesu continued.

"I already heard enough at the bonfire." Her tone was curt. She obviously wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

"Yes, but—"

"There’s nothing else I need to know."

Yesu was quiet for a moment.

"Aren’t you suspicious? Reggie said I sold out the squad last night."

Soraya took her time answering.

The forest crunched beneath their boots.

Eventually she said,

"You don’t have anything to gain from collaborating with the enemy. So the suspicion isn’t founded."

Yesu blinked.

Then slowly smiled.

She opened her mouth to say something else.

But stopped.

A faint sound reached her ears.

She gave her head a tilt, one ear raised.

Then smiled wider.

"We’re here."

Everyone looked around.

"Huh?" Isaiah asked.

"There isn’t anything here."

"Yes there is." Yesu replied.

The squad looked even more confused.

"Not here, here." She explained. "I mean we’re close."

"Close to what?"

"The stream."

Several students listened. Nothing. More confusion followed.

"I don’t hear anything."

"Me neither." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Are you sure?"

Except for James and two other students.

James paused, listened, and nodded.

"I hear it."

"Same." One of the others confirmed.

"Me too." said the third.

Soraya glanced at Yesu. And so did everyone else.

James frowned.

"How come you can hear it?"

He pointed toward himself and the other two.

"We’ve got Heightened Senses." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you one of us?"

Yesu gave a small laugh.

"I wish."

"So how can you hear it then?" James asked. "It’s still too far away for normal hearing."

Before Yesu could answer, Soraya spoke.

"We can discuss it later."

The squad’s attention shifted to her.

"We still need to get back before the Directive is delivered."

A chorus of disappointed groans followed. But they picked up their pace nonetheless.

And somewhere ahead, hidden behind the trees, the faint sound of rushing water continued to grow louder.

***

As they emerged from the thick vegetation, a collective sigh of relief spread through the squad.

The stream.

Finally.

Several students immediately rushed down the slope.

One knelt by the bank and splashed handfuls of cold water onto his face.

Another groaned dramatically.

"Never thought I would ever be so glad to see moving water in my life."

Without hesitation, he tossed aside his jacket and trousers and plunged straight into the stream.

The icy water reached his waist.

His eyes rolled back in bliss.

A few girls immediately made disgusted noises.

Then one pointed.

"Are those teddy bears?"

The entire stream bank erupted into laughter.

The boy looked down at his underwear. Then shrugged without a care

The laughter doubled.

Nearby, one of the Water Users extended a hand toward the stream.

Foamy water rose into the air and twisted together.

A small dragon formed.

It let out a squeaky roar.

"I can finally use my Ability again." He said, delighted.

He immediately sent the water dragon after his classmates.

Students scattered.

"Get that thing away from me!"

The dragon chased them enthusiastically.

Another Water User joined in.

A medium-sized whale rose from the stream.

It splashed water everywhere before lumbering after the fleeing students.

Soon half the squad was running around the riverbank laughing.

Soraya watched from above.

A small smile appeared on her face. The sight was oddly comforting.

Normal.

For a brief moment she forgot about Trials. About rankings. About responsibilities.

Then reality returned abruptly.

Her smile faded.

She sighed.

"We don’t have time for this."

The words immediately earned groans.

"Aw, come on."

"Five more minutes."

"Why is she being such a killjoy?"

"You’re turning into Miss Heaven."

"Maybe they’re secretly related."

Soraya ignored every single comment.

"Isaiah, we’re going to need a wall."

Isaiah nodded, gathered his strength and stretched out both hands.

The earth trembled.

A ridge surged upward between the two halves of the stream bank.

Within moments a tall wall stood between both sides.

Soraya pointed.

"Boys on the left. Girls on the right."

No one argued. An hour later, everyone was finished.

Isaiah lowered the wall.

Students immediately began making final adjustments.

Washing boots.

Straightening collars.

Combing hair.

Pretending they hadn’t spent the last hour behaving like wild animals.

Finch stood near the stream with his back to the water, holding both comb and mirror.

He carefully adjusted a strand of hair. And another.

Then tilted his head.

Admiring himself.

The squad was already gathering to leave when Yesu walked over.

"Stop obsessing over yourself."

"I’m maintaining my beauty."

"We’re leaving."

"You should really consider yourself lucky to be my friend." Finch declared. "You’ll never find ano—"

He stopped.

His eyes narrowed.

The mirror had caught movement behind him across the stream.

The bushes rustled.

Finch slowly lowered the mirror.

Students emerged from the vegetation on the opposite bank.

One after another.

A full squad.

The conversations around 11-D died instantly.

Everyone turned.

The faces were familiar. Far too familiar.

Nobody needed to look at the insignia on their jackets.

The recognition was immediate.

Squad 11-A.