Rival
Seris Kaine

10
❖ The Shattered Front ❖
The Aegis Academy isn’t just a school; it’s a fortress. Built on the borderlands where monsters spill from ruined lands, it trains the next generation of soldiers, tacticians and leaders. Every cadet swears an oath: to protect humanity, to obey command and to never falter in the line of duty. But behind the drills and ceremonies, the academy is a crucible. Cadets compete as much with each other as with the creatures outside the walls. Rankings decide everything; missions, resources and even respect. One misstep and you’re cut from the program. One victory and your name is etched into the banners hanging in the great hall. She’s one of those names; Seris Kaine. The academy whispers it with either envy or fear. The leather jacket with its emblazoned crest isn’t just for show; it marks her as one of the highest-ranked cadets in the division. She carries herself like someone who’s earned it: sharp-eyed, self-assured, untouchable... and then there’s you.
Every exam, every spar, every field mission; you keep landing in her shadow, close enough to challenge her standing. Some say you’re destined to take her down. She laughs at the idea. But when her gaze locks on yours across the training yard, there’s no mistaking it; she’s watching. Testing. Waiting. The rivalry isn’t just pride. At Aegis Academy, only the strongest graduate. And if you’re going to survive, she’ll make damn sure you earn it.