Chapter 427:Testing.

Chapter 427: 427:Testing.

He released Ravenna’s hand and walked into the testing area. The display showed his public information.

SILVER RUDDINGTON

SOUL CAPACITY: 7

CONTRACTOR RANK: 2

ABILITY CLASSIFICATION: SPATIAL

Several students whispered again.

Peter ignored them.

"Your file lists multiple spatial applications."

Silver nodded.

"Yes."

"Start with mobility."

Silver looked toward the marked points.

Ten meters.

He activated Short-Step and space shifted. Silver disappeared and reappeared on the mark.

Several students reacted with awe.

Peter didn’t.

"Again. Different direction."

Silver moved.

Short-Step.

He appeared right, then backward.

Peter marked it.

"Maximum range?"

Silver gave the academy the safe number he’d already registered.

"Current reliable combat range is short."

Peter looked at him.

"That wasn’t a number."

Silver smiled.

Peter stared at him, clearly unimpressed.

He eventually gave him one.

"Ten meters."

Peter entered it.

"Offensive application."

Silver drew the academy sword.

Space Slash.

The spatial attack travelled and hit the target. A deep line appeared across its reinforced surface.

The class became quieter.

Peter inspected the reading.

"Again at reduced output."

Silver did, smaller and cleaner this time.

"Defensive."

He hesitated.

This was one of the things he didn’t particularly want everyone understanding too well.

Peter noticed his hesitation.

"You registered spatial barriers during special-admission evaluation." ℯ

So much for hiding that.

Silver raised his hand and space distorted. A barrier formed before him.

Peter launched a projectile. It was deflected. A second on was launched it towards his classmates.

Silver changed the angle and deflected it away from the students.

Peter stopped.

"Duration?"

"Expensive."

"That wasn’t the question."

"Not long enough to use casually."

Peter flatly looked at him while Silver innocently smiled back.

He sighed.

"You’re going to annoy me."

"I’ve been told that."

Ravenna laughed quietly.

Peter heard and glanced at her.

"Arkland, don’t encourage him."

She immediately looked innocent. Silver nearly laughed but he held it in.

Peter pointed toward the center.

"Perception."

He activated it.

[Spatial Sense Lv3 Activated]

"Close your eyes."

Silver did.

Peter moved across the training ground. Silver easily tracked him. An also assistant moved but Silver pointed him out.

Peter tossed a training ball. He caught it without opening his eyes. Another came from behind. He shifted aside and it passed by him.

Peter looked at the tablet.

"Useful."

Silver opened his eyes.

"Very."

He looked at him.

"Anything else you want to show us?"

Yes. Several things.

Silver smiled and shook his head.

"Nothing I’m comfortable demonstrating in a room full of people yet."

That earned immediate murmurs.

Peter studied him for a few seconds before he nodded.

"Acceptable."

That surprised several students.

Peter looked around.

"Remember what I said. You are required to establish functional capability, not expose every technique you possess."

He entered Silver’s result.

The display processed longer than Ravenna’s, then:

PRIMARY ROLE: TACTICAL SKIRMISHER

Silver stared in dismay.

Ravenna’s lips twitched.

SECONDARY ROLE: RANGED / BATTLEFIELD CONTROL

SCOUT COMPATIBILITY: HIGH

DEFENSIVE COMPATIBILITY: MODERATE

COMMAND COMPATIBILITY: HIGH

Silver looked at Peter.

"Tactical skirmisher?"

Peter raised an eyebrow.

"Problem?"

"No, sir."

Ravenna was visibly trying not to laugh. Silver returned while trying so hard not to roll his eyes at her.

The moment he sat beside her, she whispered, "Tactical skirmisher."

"It sounds ridiculous."

"It sounds accurate."

"I teleport around shooting things, I’m literally a meat shield or something."

Ravenna smiled.

"That would be a longer title."

Silver stared blankly at her before it turned into a glare the more she giggled at his situation.

"It’s not funny."

He took her hand. She leaned against his shoulder for a moment.

Shirley watched from across the training hall. Her expression had changed. The doubt was still there but it had evolved.

She’d seen how impressive Silver was. Leadership rank one suddenly looked considerably less absurd. And perhaps more confusing than all of that was Ravenna.

Shirley knew her stepsister, or she thought she did. Ravenna had never been particularly affectionate or particularly trusting.

She could be distant, angry and stubborn enough to turn every disagreement into a wall.

Yet there she was sitting beside Silver, fingers intertwined with his as naturally as breathing, leaning briefly against his shoulder while she quietly laughed about something he’d said.

Shirley looked away.

Peter finished the remaining ability demonstrations. Then he called everyone back to the center.

Thirty-one students formed a loose semicircle.

The display behind him contained dozens of preliminary classifications.

Attackers.

Defenders.

Scouts.

Ranged specialists.

Support.

Control.

Some had two roles, some three but nobody had everything.

Peter looked across them.

"This is your starting point." He gestured toward the results. "Not your limit."

The room quieted.

"Some of you performed better than expected." His eyes briefly moved toward Silver. "Some discovered obvious weaknesses."

A few students looked uncomfortable.

"Good."

That surprised them.

Peter continued.

"If your weapon proficiency is poor, now we know."

"If your endurance is terrible, now we know."

"If your ability consumes too much energy, now we know."

He pointed toward the academy insignia.

"That is why you’re here."

Silver carefully listened.

Peter’s gaze swept across them.

"Tomorrow, normal instruction begins."

Several students visibly relaxed.

Peter noticed.

"I wouldn’t look relieved."

They stopped.

"Academic instruction begins at seven."

Groans were carefully suppressed.

"Physical conditioning follows."

Worse.

"Then combat fundamentals."

Better.

"Then weapon training."

Several students brightened.

"Then tactical theory."

Expressions fell again.

Peter almost smiled.

"Welcome to Alpha Three Academy."

He looked at the thirty-one students he’d been given.

"Passing the entrance examination earned you exactly one thing... The right to start." Peter picked up his tablet. "From tomorrow onward, we’ll find out whether you deserved it."

Class Four was dismissed and the room immediately filled with conversation.

Silver stood and Ravenna rose beside him.

She stretched.

"Tired?" He asked.

"A little."

"Want food?"

"Yes."

Silver smiled.

"Finally, something we’re equally qualified for."

Ravenna looked at him.

"You’re better at cooking."

"That’s true."

"So not equally qualified."

He sighed.

"You couldn’t let me have that?"

"No."

He kissed her cheek. Ravenna smiled and kissed his back.

They started toward the exit together, then a voice came from behind.

"Ravenna."

They both stopped since they recognized the voice.

Shirley.

Ravenna slowly turned.

Her stepsister stood several meters away. The carefully pleasant expression had returned but now there was something else beneath it.

Curiosity.

Not toward Ravenna but toward Silver. Shirley looked at him once, then back at her stepsister.

"Can we talk?"

Ravenna’s fingers tightened around Silver’s hand.

And judging by the expression on her face, the peaceful portion of their first morning in Class Four had officially ended.