Three days later, the new semester began. The campus transformed overnight, buzzing with club recruitment booths and wide-eyed freshmen touring the grounds. These students would soon head to the battlefield. These school years were their last chance for carefree joy—seize the day, for war meant living moment to moment.
"Hey," Lixin murmured from a makeshift rest tent, eyes glazed as he watched Qin Fan check equipment. "How long till the opening ceremony starts?"
"Still two hours."
"Great. Wake me when it’s time." Lixin slumped onto a table.
*Slap!*
"Damn it! That hurt!" Lixin yelped, jolted upright.
Qin Fan tossed headphones and an armband onto the table. "No sleeping. Patrol starts now. Elwin’s tracking you—linked straight to Cleyna. Slack off, and you’re dead meat." He turned to a boy buried in monitors. "Elwin. Status?"
"Got it covered," came the muffled reply. The bespectacled tech prodigy—admitted early for his hacking genius—had been roped into grunt work since Cleyna recognized him. Even as a freshman, he’d miss the ceremony.
"Testing, one two—" Qin Fan tapped his earpiece.
"*Yes*, we hear you. Stop yapping," crackled the reply.
Lixin sighed. Fine. Patrol it was. He’d just coast through it.
"Move out." Qin Fan strode off, energized. Lixin trailed behind.
*God, it’s hot.*
………………………………………………………………
Students flooded the paths, teachers maintaining order—just like any ordinary school. Maybe better. With wars flaring globally, few teens got this luxury.
"*Ugh*," Lixin trudged along, sweat beading. "Why did I agree to this? Should’ve napped in AC till the ceremony..."
*Bump.* "Oof!"
He’d collided with a girl. "Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention." *Walking and zoning out—real smooth.*
"No harm done, senior," she smiled. Then paused. "Wait… *senior*? You’re a *boy*?"
Lixin’s cheeks flushed slightly. Even he didn’t believe it.
"Oh? *Really*?" The girl’s eyes swept over him, ignoring his deadpan stare, lingering on his chest. "Huh. Flat as a board…"
A flicker of irritation sparked in Lixin’s mind.
"*Haha*, yep! Gotta patrol now—bye!" He flashed his armband and sidestepped her.
"Stay alert out there!" Her voice chased him. Lixin felt suspicious glances from passersby. *Note to self: make Qin Fan buy extra meals for this indignity.*
Behind him, the girl watched his retreating back, her lips curling into an unnatural grin…
*What was her deal?* Lixin scratched his head belatedly. *Total weirdo.*
But something felt… off. He couldn’t pinpoint it.
*Just paranoia.*
………………………………………………………………
"Qin Fan, Lixin—listen up," Cleyna’s voice cut through his earpiece. "The gate scanners detected two unregistered entries. Data’s scrambled. Plus, the defense grid’s glitching. Ceremony starts in an hour. Stay sharp."
Lixin jolted. Qin Fan snapped alert. "Can we recover the data, Elwin?"
"On it."
*How many voices are crammed on this channel?* Lixin groaned internally.
"Lixin? Acknowledge!" Cleyna pressed.
"Got it, got it. Patrolling!"
Cleyna didn’t trust him. His reputation at the academy was… colorful. Why Qin Fan recruited him was a mystery. "I’ve got dirt on you, Lixin. Screw this up, and you’ll regret it."
*Threats? If things go south, you’ll have bigger problems than me.*
"Sure thing. I’ll be *perfect*," he lied smoothly.
………………………………………………………………
"Hey. They spotted us. Abort?"
"Nah. They’re tougher than expected, but the plan holds."
"Patrols are active. Stay careful."
"Copy."
………………………………………………………………
"*Ahhh*—"
Lixin had no idea their two-person patrol was being watched. Not that he’d care.
He was sprawled under a tree, savoring the shade…
"Lixin. Report your location." Cleyna’s voice shattered his peace.
"P-patrolling!"
"The ceremony *started*. Why are you 500 meters from the hall—in the *park*?"
*Damn trackers.*
"Well, Qin Fan’s *inside* guarding. I’m covering the *outside*! You said threats could come from anywhere—"
"Move. *Now*."
"…"
Fine. He’d walked enough anyway. Pity about missing the AC.
The campus was deserted—everyone packed into the hall. But…
*Who’s that?*
A man hurried past—thirties, Black, bald head gleaming.
*No bald Black teachers here… right?*
"Qin Fan. Do we have a bald Black teacher?"
"Yeah. Professor Smaan. Only one with that… shine."
"Oh. Guess I skip too many classes."
"He’s sitting beside the Principal right now. That dome’s blinding." Qin Fan chuckled.
Lixin almost smiled. But his mind snagged on something else:
*Then… who the hell was that guy?*
