"Impressive," he said. "Your combat technique is highly refined. Who trained you?"
Merlin met his gaze calmly.
"The teachers at the academy," he said simply, obviously lying a little. He wasn't going to admit that he was the disciple of two of the best teachers and is currently the disciple of the headmistress…
"But I mostly trained myself."
Alden studied him for a moment longer.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"We might have use for you in the future."
Merlin's lips curled slightly.
Commander Alden's words lingered in the air, carrying more weight than a simple compliment.
We might have use for you in the future.
Merlin had expected something along those lines.
The military didn't invite academy students for a casual tour.
They were here to assess talent, recruit, and gauge potential threats.
And now, Alden had taken notice of him.
Exactly as he had planned.
The other students were still staring, some whispering among themselves as the tension in the observation deck gradually faded.
Nathaniel's blue eyes held something close to frustration. Not anger—but a feeling of not being good enough.
Merlin could already see it happening.
Nathan was the protagonist, but this was his story now.
And he would keep proving it, over and over again.
Vivienne, still wearing that same soft smile, clapped her hands lightly. "Well, that was certainly a shorter match than expected. I suppose we still have plenty of time left in the schedule."
Alden nodded. "We'll continue the tour. But first—" He turned to Merlin. "Merlin Everhart, follow me for a bit."
Merlin remained silent as he stepped out of the arena, following the commander down a long corridor.
The others stayed behind, but he could feel their eyes on his back.
The corridor led to a private meeting room, reinforced walls lined with mana-resistant plating—a place designed to keep conversations from being overheard.
Alden sat down at the head of the table, motioning for Merlin to take a seat across from him.
Merlin complied, his movements calm and measured.
For a few moments, Alden simply studied him, fingers steepled together, his sharp gray eyes unreadable.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"You're different from the others."
Merlin remained silent.
"You didn't hesitate to step forward. You weren't surprised. You are a deviant with multiple affiliates. You weren't nervous at all before the spar. That means either you've fought opponents of a higher caliber before, or…" Alden leaned slightly forward. "You knew exactly what would happen before the fight even started…which wouldn't even make sense."
Merlin's gaze remained steady. "Does it matter?"
Alden smirked faintly. "No. But I like to understand the people I take interest in."
Merlin didn't respond.
Alden continued. "I assume you're aware that this trip was not planned by the academy."
"I figured as much," Merlin said simply. "The academy and the military don't usually mix ."
Alden nodded. "Good. You're paying attention."
Merlin didn't ask why they were invited—because he already had a good idea.
'The balance of power is shifting.'
Something was happening behind the scenes—something big.
And if the military was taking an interest in academy students, it meant they were preparing for a future conflict.
Merlin tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair. "So, what happens now?"
Alden's smirk returned slightly. "That depends on you."
He leaned back. "We are always looking for talent. The military has its share of gifted combatants, but we also value independent forces—people who don't just follow orders, but who know how to act on their own initiative."
Merlin understood immediately.
They wanted to keep an eye on him.
This wasn't a direct recruitment offer—not yet. It was an evaluation.
If he agreed to anything here, he would be tying himself to military interests.
He had no intention of being a pawn.
But he also had no reason to reject them outright.
"I'll consider it," Merlin said.
Alden's smirk grew slightly. "Good answer."
He stood up. "For now, we'll return to the tour. But I'll be watching your progress, Merlin Everhart."
Merlin simply nodded, standing as well.
When the time came, Merlin would make sure everyone in this world knew his name for the strength he holds.
When Merlin returned to the observation deck, the atmosphere had shifted slightly.
The students had mostly calmed down, but there was a clear change in how they looked at him.
Nathaniel was stiff, his hands clenched into fists.
Adrian, always quick to brush things off, grinned as Merlin stepped in. "Well, that didn't take long. Thought they were gonna offer you a job on the spot."
Merlin gave a neutral shrug. "Not interested in military work."
Ethan smirked. "That's what they all say… until the paycheck comes in."
Liliana, however, simply smiled softly. "It was an impressive match."
Seraphina remained silent, but her silver eyes were locked onto him, analyzing every move he made.
Vivienne clapped her hands together. "Well, now that that's settled, let's move on, shall we?"
Alden returned as well, motioning for them to continue down the corridor. "The next section of the tour will cover our combat simulation chambers—you'll see how real battles are prepared for."
Merlin fell in step with the others, his mind still processing the implications of everything that had just happened.
The group continued down a reinforced corridor, the hum of security drones and distant machinery filling the space with a low, mechanical rhythm.
The deeper they moved into the facility, the more militarized the environment became—rows of automated turrets along the ceilings, biometric scanners at every entry point, and walls lined with mana-resistant plating.
This wasn't just a training center.
'It's like a damned war machine in progress.'
Commander Alden led them through a heavy set of blast doors, which slid open with a pressurized hiss.
The room beyond was massive, lined with rows of simulation pods, each connected to a sprawling holographic command center suspended in the air above them.
Several officers and technicians worked at various stations, adjusting combat algorithms, managing AI-driven training programs, and monitoring real-time battle simulations.
"This," Alden said, stepping forward, "is the Combat Simulation Chamber. The most advanced virtual war environment in Eldoria."
A large holographic display lit up behind him, showcasing a three-dimensional battlefield reconstruction—complete with real-time soldier movements, spell trajectories, and AI-generated strategic assessments.
'This is fucking insane..'