Chapter 94: First Day of Training

The academy's bells hadn't rung yet when Levi opened his eyes. Pre-dawn light filtered through their window, casting gray shadows across the room. He wasn't surprised to see Alex already up, performing a series of controlled stretches in the common area.

"Morning," Alex nodded, moving into a deep lunge.

From his bed, Ryn sat cross-legged, scrolling through training manuals on his watch. The soft blue glow illuminated his focused expression.

Only Toby remained bundled in his blankets, though his irregular breathing betrayed his wakefulness.

"Get up, Toby," Levi called out. "Unless you want another bathroom adventure."

A pillow flew across the room. "I hate morning people," Toby groaned, finally emerging from his cocoon. "The sun isn't even up yet!"

They dressed in silence, pulling on the academy's training uniforms – black fitted garments with reinforced panels for protection. Levi noticed how Alex's movements were precise, practiced, while Toby stumbled around looking for his second boot.

The training grounds sprawled before them like a small city. Different sections featured varied terrain – from flat combat rings to obstacle courses that seemed to defy gravity. Mist clung to the ground, adding an ethereal quality to the scene.

Students gathered in clusters, their nervous energy palpable. Some stretched, others chatted in hushed tones, and a few stood alone, lost in thought. Senior students in their blue uniforms lined the perimeter, Leon among them, watching the freshmen with measuring eyes.

"Look at him," Toby muttered, nodding toward Leon. "Bet he loves this – lording over us like some king."

"Focus on yourself," Ryn advised, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Senior students can make our lives difficult if we draw their attention."

A hush fell over the gathering as Instructor Cassandra strode onto the field. Her presence commanded attention, just as it had during the ceremony. Today, she wore fitted combat gear that hinted at the warrior beneath the instructor's facade.

"Form lines!" her voice carried across the field. "Today, we assess your baseline abilities. Remember – restraint and control are as important as power and skill."

"Enough!" Cassandra's voice ended all matches. Her eyes swept the field, lingering on certain students – including, Levi noticed, their room's unlikely group.

"Interesting," Leon murmured from the sidelines, his gaze sharp.

As they headed back to the dormitories, to fresh up before theory classes, Levi looked at his roommates. They were more than they appeared.

He had expected Alex to win, but Ryn and Toby were a surprise. It seemed like each of them was hiding depths beneath their surface personalities.

"Not bad for a theory failure," Toby nudged him, grinning despite his fatigue.

"Same to you, bathroom navigator," Levi replied.

"You both showed unexpected skill," Alex said thoughtfully. "Though I noticed you were holding back, Levi."

Levi kept his expression neutral not showing any emotions while noting to be more wary of Alex. "We all were, weren't we?"

Ryn nodded slowly. "It's only the first day. No one wants to reveal all their capabilities yet."

They walked in comfortable silence, each lost in thought. Levi felt the weight of his secret more keenly now. His roommates were observant, each in their own way. Keeping his demonic abilities hidden would require constant vigilance.

But as they reached their room, Toby already launching into an exaggerated retelling of his match, Levi allowed himself a small smile. Maybe having roommates wouldn't be so bad after all.

Even if they did make keeping secrets a lot more complicated.

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As you may have noticed, this chapter is a bit fast-paced. I received lot of reviews and comments saying the novel is too slow-paced so I am increasing the pace a bit! Let me know how you guys like it!