Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 265: Back to Gear (5)

A few nervous laughs rippled across the crowd. Morgana’s lips curved slightly.

She continued, pacing slowly. "This year marks the introduction of a new initiative, one that will test not only your strength, but your adaptability and unity as members of this institution."

A soft hum of curiosity filled the air.

"The Inter-Year Exhibition."

A projection flared above her, runes spinning into the shape of the academy’s emblem surrounded by smaller crests, each representing a different year.

"It will take place in six weeks. Participants will be selected from each year based on combat performance, academic merit, and faculty recommendations. Each team will represent their year and compete through a series of trials designed to push your abilities to their limit."

Nathan leaned toward Merlin again, whispering, "Oh, this is gonna be chaos."

Elara gave him a look. "It’s going to be an assessment of control, not chaos. At least, that’s what they’ll call it."

Morgana’s gaze swept the room, calm, assessing, faintly knowing. When it passed over Merlin, for a brief heartbeat, her expression changed. Just slightly.

A glint, recognition, or maybe quiet understanding, flickered in her eyes before it was gone again.

Merlin felt it. The subtle weight of being seen too clearly.

She went on, her tone turning firm. "Students recommended for candidacy have already been notified. If your name appears on the list, report to your assigned training unit after this assembly. The trials begin immediately."

Murmurs rippled across the hall. Some were excited, others anxious.

Nathan looked at Merlin. "Don’t tell me—"

Merlin opened his orientation packet and tilted it slightly. His name was highlighted.

Nathan groaned. "Of course."

Elara’s brows lifted faintly. "You sound surprised."

"Not surprised," Nathan said. "Just... resigned."

Elara’s eyes flicked to Merlin’s profile. He was unreadable, golden irises glinting under the auditorium light. "You’ll participate?"

He closed the folder. "Looks like I don’t have a choice."

"You always have a choice," she said softly.

"...Not when people are watching."

After the announcement, the students began to filter out, groups chattering, voices overlapping with excitement and speculation.

Merlin, Elara, and Nathan walked out together, the hallways buzzing around them.

Nathan tossed his bag over his shoulder. "So this Exhibition thing, basically a giant inter-year tournament, right?"

"Not exactly," Elara replied. "The way Morgana described it... it’s more than combat. Trials. That usually means multi-affinity challenges, strategy, endurance, team coordination."

Merlin nodded slightly. "It’s not about power alone."

Nathan grinned. "Which means you’ll still destroy everyone, just politely."

Merlin gave him a dry look. "I’m not interested in showing off."

Elara smirked faintly. "That’s the difference between you and everyone else."

They reached the end of the corridor where the candidates’ lists were displayed, glowing letters suspended in the air.

Crowds were already forming, students searching for their names, cheering or groaning when they found them.

Nathan squinted. "Okay, okay... Second-year list... huh, there I am. Barely."

Elara scanned the list beside his. "I’m assigned to Team A. You’re in Team C."

"And Merlin..." Nathan trailed off. "You’re on Team S? What kind of naming scheme is that?"

Merlin frowned faintly. The letter shimmered with a faint silver outline, unlike the others.

"Special unit," Elara murmured. "It’s not listed by year."

Nathan blinked. "Wait, so he’s—"

"In a team made up of students across different years," Elara finished quietly. "They’re testing something."

Merlin’s gaze flicked to the bottom of the notice. Five names in total. He recognized none of them.

’They’re watching me again...’ he thought.

A breeze moved through the hall, soft and oddly cold. For a heartbeat, he thought he heard a whisper, faint and mechanical, not from any voice in the room.

But it was gone as quickly as it came.

He straightened, closing his expression before Nathan noticed.

Later that evening, the candidates assembled in the central courtyard. The open arena glowed under the light of floating crystals, the sky fading into dusk.

Dozens of students stood in organized lines, talking in low murmurs, their crests glimmering faintly with their affinities.

Merlin stood with Team S, five figures, each distinct, each watching the others carefully.

The first was a tall girl with long dark green hair tied into a braid, expression sharp, stance military. She nodded once at him. "Leira Voss. Combat specialization. Earth affinity."

Beside her stood a quiet boy with a staff strapped to his back, messy brown hair, serious eyes. "Dain Corver. Support and mana amplification."

A pair of twins introduced themselves next, finishing each other’s sentences like a rhythm. "Sil and Sera Ronne, lightning and shadow affinity."

The last member, a silver-haired boy leaning casually against the wall, smirked when Merlin looked at him. "Guess that makes me the last one. Renn Alden. Fire, naturally. You’re Everhart, right?"

Merlin nodded.

Renn tilted his head. "Heard stories. Don’t know if they’re all true, but I’m hoping for a good show."

Leira shot him a glance. "We’re not here for shows."

Renn shrugged. "Everyone’s here for something."

Before anyone could respond, the air shimmered, Morgana appeared atop the balcony overlooking the courtyard, hands clasped behind her back.

Her voice carried effortlessly. "You’ve all been chosen for a reason. Strength alone does not define you. Adaptability, judgment, restraint, those will decide who represents this academy."

Her gaze swept over the gathered students, pausing briefly, again, on Merlin.

"Your trials begin at dawn."

And just like that, she was gone. The illusion of her fading into light.

As the crowd dispersed, Nathan jogged over from another group. "You good?"

Merlin nodded. "Yeah."

"You sure? You’re in a cross-year unit with some seriously intense people. I’ve seen that Leira girl punch a training dummy until it cracked."

Merlin smirked faintly. "Sounds like fun."

Elara approached then, soft steps on stone. "Be careful tomorrow. They’ll all be watching how you lead."

"I don’t plan to lead."

"You’ll end up doing it anyway," she said simply. "You always do."

He met her gaze, a faint glimmer of warmth breaking through his usual calm. "You’re worrying again."

"I’m allowed to."

Nathan glanced between them and groaned dramatically. "Can we not start the emotional eye contact before dinner?"

Elara’s eyes narrowed. "Go eat, Nathan."

"Gladly."

When he left, the two of them lingered a moment longer beneath the rising stars.

Merlin exhaled quietly. "It’s going to be a long six weeks."

Elara nodded. "Long, but necessary."

"...You sound like you know what’s coming."

"I don’t." Her voice softened. "But I can feel it. The air’s changing."

Merlin’s gaze drifted to the horizon where the academy towers rose against the fading light. "Yeah," he murmured. "It always does before something starts."

The breeze stirred again, faint and cool, brushing against them both.

And for the first time since returning, Merlin felt the stir of something unfamiliar beneath the calm, not dread, not fear... anticipation.