Chapter 13: Tremors Beneath the Surface
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The morning began normally.
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Then the ground shook.
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It wasn't enough to knock people over.
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It wasn't enough to damage buildings.
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But it was enough for everyone to notice.
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Rumble...
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Cups rattled.
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Windows vibrated.
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Hanging lanterns swayed slightly.
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Then it stopped.
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For a few moments, life continued as usual.
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Until it happened again.
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Rumble...
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This time people paid attention.
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Especially those living near the outer districts of Rashenghart.
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---
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In the outskirts of the kingdom, merchants paused in the middle of trading.
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Farmers looked up from their fields.
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Children stopped playing.
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The vibrations seemed to be coming from somewhere beyond the distant forests.
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No one knew exactly where.
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No one knew exactly why.
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And that uncertainty quickly spread.
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A middle-aged woman stood outside a bakery, clutching a basket of bread.
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"Did you feel that?"
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Her neighbor nodded nervously.
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"That's the third time today."
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"My husband says it's probably construction."
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"What construction causes the entire ground to shake?"
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The woman couldn't answer.
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Nearby, a group of workers discussed the same thing.
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One man crossed his arms.
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"It's monsters."
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Immediately another man rolled his eyes.
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"You people blame everything on monsters."
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"Then explain it."
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"I don't know."
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"Exactly."
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The first man pointed triumphantly.
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The second groaned.
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"Not knowing doesn't automatically mean monsters."
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More citizens began gathering.
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The conversations multiplied.
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Rumors spread faster than wildfire.
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Some claimed a mountain had collapsed.
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Others believed the Barrier was failing.
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A few insisted dragons had returned.
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Each version sounded crazier than the last.
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Yet people listened.
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Because nobody had answers.
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And fear always grew best in silence.
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---
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Near the town square, a crowd had already formed.
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Merchants abandoned their stalls.
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Workers left their jobs.
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People wanted information.
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Unfortunately, information wasn't available.
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A city officer stood on a small platform.
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"Everyone please remain calm."
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Nobody looked calm.
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"What caused the shaking?"
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"Is the Barrier damaged?"
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"Are monsters coming?"
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The officer raised both hands.
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"We are currently investigating."
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The answer only made things worse.
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A large man stepped forward.
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"That's not an answer."
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Murmurs of agreement spread.
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Another citizen pushed through the crowd.
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A thin older man carrying a walking stick.
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"The kingdom has protected us for centuries."
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He glared at the larger man.
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"Stop frightening everyone."
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The larger man scoffed.
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"I'm frightening people?"
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He pointed toward the forest.
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"The ground is shaking!"
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"And?"
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"And something is obviously wrong!"
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The older man shook his head.
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"You don't know that."
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"I know what I felt."
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The argument quickly escalated.
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People started choosing sides.
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One group believed there was danger.
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The other believed everyone was overreacting.
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Voices grew louder.
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Accusations followed.
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"You trust the government too much!"
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"And you panic too easily!"
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"Something is happening!"
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"Or maybe you're just stupid!"
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The crowd erupted.
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Several people shouted simultaneously.
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The city officers immediately tensed.
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This was becoming dangerous.
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The large man shoved someone.
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Another citizen shoved him back.
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Within seconds, chaos exploded.
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People screamed.
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Arguments became physical.
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Panic spread through the square.
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A riot had begun.
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---
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At the academy, alarms weren't ringing.
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But concern was growing.
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Inside the administration building, instructors moved quickly between offices.
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Reports arrived one after another.
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Commander Garrick stood beside a communication crystal.
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His scarred face remained calm.
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Unlike everyone else.
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"The police units are overwhelmed."
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An instructor frowned.
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"In multiple districts?"
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"Three so far."
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The room fell silent.
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Garrick immediately made a decision.
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"Deploy senior trainee support units."
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Several instructors nodded.
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The orders spread throughout the academy.
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Soon whistles echoed across the training grounds.
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Senior trainees hurried toward the assembly areas.
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Equipment was distributed.
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Names were called.
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Orders were given.
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The academy moved with surprising efficiency.
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---
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Meanwhile, the first-year trainees watched everything.
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And naturally...
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They started talking.
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A lot.
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Roshan stood near the training field when he noticed groups of senior trainees gathering.
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Some wore academy combat uniforms.
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Others carried weapons.
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The atmosphere felt different from normal training.
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Serious.
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Focused.
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Urgent.
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Nearby, dozens of first-years whispered among themselves.
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"What happened?"
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"I heard there's a riot."
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"A riot?"
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"Yeah."
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Someone gasped dramatically.
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"Wait... are monsters attacking?"
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Immediately several students groaned.
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"No."
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"Not everything is monsters."
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The student shrugged.
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"It usually is."
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A burst of laughter followed.
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Another trainee pointed toward the departing seniors.
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"Look at them."
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"They seem excited."
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"Probably because they're finally doing real work."
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A nervous boy swallowed.
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"What if we're sent out next?"
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Several students looked horrified.
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"We'd die."
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"We wouldn't die."
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"We'd definitely die."
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The conversation quickly became chaotic.
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Roshan listened quietly.
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Then another voice spoke beside him.
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"Still overthinking things?"
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Roshan froze.
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He knew that voice.
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Slowly turning his head, he found Daren standing nearby.
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For a moment neither spoke.
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The tension was obvious.
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Weeks ago they would've joked immediately.
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Now things felt awkward.
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Uncomfortable.
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Like standing on thin ice.
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Daren scratched the back of his neck.
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"So..."
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Roshan nodded.
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"So."
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An awkward silence followed.
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A few nearby students immediately noticed.
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Some discreetly pretended not to watch.
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Which only made it more obvious.
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Finally Daren sighed.
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"This is stupid."
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Roshan blinked.
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"What is?"
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"This."
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Daren gestured between them.
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"The awkwardness."
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Roshan looked away briefly.
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"Yeah."
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Neither of them smiled.
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But the hostility wasn't there anymore.
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Only discomfort.
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Daren shifted his weight.
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"How have you been?"
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Roshan laughed softly.
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"What kind of question is that?"
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"I don't know."
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Daren groaned.
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"I forgot how conversations work."
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That earned a genuine chuckle from Roshan.
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For the first time in weeks.
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The tension eased slightly.
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Not gone.
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Just smaller.
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A crack in the wall separating them.
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Daren glanced toward the departing senior trainees.
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"You think they'll send us out eventually?"
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"Probably."
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"That's reassuring."
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Roshan smirked.
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"You asked."
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"Fair point."
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For a brief moment things almost felt normal.
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Almost.
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---
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Elsewhere on the training grounds, another group of students continued gossiping.
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A blonde trainee pointed toward the seniors.
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"I heard they get assigned to different units after graduation."
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"What kind of units?"
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"Combat."
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"Support."
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"Scouting."
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"Healing."
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"Intelligence."
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A dark-haired girl raised her hand.
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"Do we get to choose?"
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Nobody knew.
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That didn't stop them from answering.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIbxeHRgwt
"Probably."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4w93xtNja
"No."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mhvvOe07Y
"Maybe."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy1LRGPYja
"Depends on rankings."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWS1b2xaEi
The conversation instantly exploded.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJfmpIz6gq
One student proudly crossed his arms.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwZg1hgKdC
"I'm joining combat."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7HxVafU5k
Another laughed.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjQIwuVUxf
"You'd last five minutes."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2pwDT65j7
"At least I'd be fighting."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGn8VgoBPy
"At least I'd be alive."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoggKCxmRxV
The surrounding trainees laughed.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQUDeCN5w8
A shorter girl frowned.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6LdTCPm37
"I'd rather join a support unit."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVe1x5WI6t
"Really?"
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF2FXf1z0u
"Of course."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTWHDV37aV
"Healers survive longer."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeEYr8wW5Q
"Smart."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS69pwvgDx9
A nervous boy whispered.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj2OWJbJlr
"What if they force us into units?"
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgItBwPhb9
Several students immediately looked alarmed.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0rbu9rQuE
"Can they do that?"
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPC1ILmupt
"I don't know."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAI3lKnvgX
"Don't say things like that!"
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYAJ4HWMrb
The group erupted into worried chatter.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBXLvXXtL2
Nearby instructors sighed.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMMrPk7aLT
Young trainees had incredible imaginations.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTRbudBRDA
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkKZXJFWr2
---
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tA6AeDLDL
Hours later, the senior trainees departed through the academy gates.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0Ys2U0nor
Rows of uniformed students marched beside police units.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18e85KFObm
Their armor reflected sunlight.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxYnLX9Gtr
Their expressions remained serious.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5NOazT31a
Watching them leave made everything feel more real.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVccPoWG0j
The unrest wasn't just a rumor anymore.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27nvFEPsbX
Something was happening in the kingdom.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4ASSMB24z
Something big enough to require academy intervention.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGDleLeUxR
Roshan watched silently.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMfZqFoehh
Beside him, Daren folded his arms.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt6w5Mv7e9
"You think this is related to the tremors?"
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3gtY3apsE
"Probably."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q6Yu1s0H3
"You sound pretty certain."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KcMwmJzOS
Roshan stared toward the distant horizon.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBIWj05vl7
The same horizon where the vibrations seemed to originate.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG7SL529cj
"I've got a bad feeling."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCGZdfFcft
Daren looked at him.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr3IUavetV
Normally he would've laughed.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxygxqPn8Qe
Normally he would've teased him.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLPBkBO7pO
But today...
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxu4V1lHXg
He felt the same thing.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1ulZYOyZS
Something was wrong.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQXYQ60qr8
Not academy wrong.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKkHcG5uGk
Not training wrong.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH4or5CGVN
Kingdom wrong.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvNEZn2LBG
The kind of wrong that changed lives.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8ti314Ljn
A cold breeze swept across the training grounds.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3LmcpinLQ
Students shivered.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iNqTHksN8
Far beyond the kingdom...
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGKVkwu6bf
The mysterious tremors continued.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxepLlg4QMa
Deep underground.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0765UnGVb6
Ancient crystals shattered one after another.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbNNpsvokh
The enormous creature hidden beneath the earth slowly moved again.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh6pQdtZoy
This time...
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCwXWGJkBK
A second eye opened.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazS6CQ45kx
And within the Alliance Bureau headquarters, emergency alarms suddenly erupted.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0N93vue63
Red warning lights illuminated the halls.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLPbhjrTBL
Analysts froze.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD3qhiyJRr
Officers stared at incoming reports.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6LAYozhMM
One terrified employee whispered the words nobody wanted to hear.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdTjqMuAwV
"The mana readings..."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs29wnEea9s
His voice trembled.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGABfDZe6gJ
"They just doubled."
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdldZUjNJBo
Silence consumed the room.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfiorp56pL
Then the director slowly looked toward the map of Rashenghart.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMe6htG4Uo
And for the first time in years...
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5RUr5pDpd
He looked afraid.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkqga4S8la
To Be Continued...
ns216.73.216.66da2 
and then Add to home screen.