Arthur and Luke arrived at their final class of the day, Survival 101. The classroom itself was unlike anything Arthur had expected. Instead of desks and chairs arranged in rows, they entered what appeared to be a miniature indoor ecosystem—complete with trees, underbrush, a small swimmable pond, and several flowing rivers where fish darted beneath the surface.
"This is incredible," Luke whispered, adjusting his glasses as he took in the environment.
The teacher, a lively younger woman with wild curly hair and an enthusiastic smile, stood near the center of the room, perched on a flat rock. She wore practical outdoor clothing—cargo pants, hiking boots, and a lightweight jacket with numerous pockets.
"Welcome to Survival 101!" she called out as the students gathered around. "I'm Professor Ellis, and unlike your other instructors, I don't really stand on ceremony. You can call me Mira if you prefer."
Her energy was infectious, and Arthur found himself relaxing for the first time that day. Professor Ellis—Mira—wasn't cold and serious like Professor Harmon, nor was she intimidatingly perfect like Ms. Anne. She was simply... real.
Since it was their first day, Mira spent most of the class going over the syllabus and explaining the survival necessities they would learn throughout their time here.
"When you're sent to a realm," she explained, demonstrating with animated hand gestures, "you won't always have a backpack full of supplies. No convenient stores or restaurants. You'll have yourself, your wits, and whatever skills you've learned here."
She led them on a tour of the classroom-ecosystem, pointing out edible plants, demonstrating how to test water quality, and showing them the basics of temporary shelter construction.
"This class," she told them as they gathered around a simulated campsite, "might just save your lives more than combat training ever will. A Chosen who can't fight but knows how to find food and shelter will outlast a warrior who can't tell poisonous berries from safe ones."
Arthur found himself genuinely interested and engaged. This was a class where his lack of combat skills wouldn't leave him humiliated. Perhaps here, he could find his niche.
The class passed quickly, filled with practical information and Mira's occasional humorous anecdotes about her own past survival experiences. Though she was a bit eccentric, frequently going off on tangents about her adventures in the realms, her enthusiasm made the material come alive.
"See you all tomorrow," she called as the bell rang. "And remember—in the realms, knowledge is just as valuable as strength!"
…
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months as Arthur settled into the rhythm of Academy life. Each morning began with breakfast alongside Luke, their early morning conversations becoming a cherished routine. Then came Realm Theory, where Professor Harmon's dry but informative lectures left Arthur's head spinning with complex concepts and terminology.
Combat training remained Arthur's weakest subject. Despite his best efforts, he continued to find himself regularly thrashed by his classmates, earning bruises and embarrassment in equal measure. Ms. Anne had begun giving him extra drills, though her patience seemed to wear thinner with each passing session.
"You're overthinking it, Arthur," she would say as he picked himself up from the mat for the dozenth time. "Stop anticipating what your opponent might do and focus on what you're doing."
Lunch with Luke provided a welcome respite, their conversations ranging from realm theory to academy gossip to memories of their lives before becoming Chosen. Arthur found himself opening up more than he had to anyone since his parents' deaths.
Survival 101 quickly became Arthur's favorite class. Professor Ellis seemed to recognize his aptitude for the subject, often calling on him to demonstrate techniques or identify edible plants. For the first time since arriving at the Academy, Arthur felt competent, even valuable.
The routine became comforting in its predictability—mundane in the best possible way. After the chaos of losing his parents and the fear of his impending core completion, the structured days at the Academy provided Arthur with a sense of normalcy he hadn't realized he'd been craving.
Yet beneath this newfound comfort lurked a persistent anxiety. Each day brought them closer to the inevitable moment when their cores would fully form and they would be thrust into the dangerous unknown of the second realm. Arthur tried to push these thoughts down, focusing instead on the present, on learning, on his friendship with Luke.
But reality had a way of asserting itself, no matter how deeply buried.
Almost two months into their training, Arthur and Luke sat in his room after dinner, reviewing notes from Professor Harmon's latest lecture. Arthur noticed Luke repeatedly touching his chest, a grimace crossing his face each time.
"You okay?" Arthur asked, setting aside his tablet.
Luke hesitated, removing his glasses to clean them with the edge of his shirt—a nervous habit Arthur had come to recognize.
"I... I need to tell you something," Luke said finally, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "My core is nearly complete. I can feel it. The doctor I saw this morning confirmed it."
Arthur stared at his friend, a cold knot forming in his stomach. "How long?"
"Until the end of the day, most likely," Luke replied quietly. "Maybe sooner."
The news hit Arthur like a physical blow. He had thought they would have more time—at least another week. Their cores had begun forming around the same time, and Arthur's own still felt like it had days, maybe even a week left before completion.
"But that's too soon," Arthur protested weakly. "We started the process together. I thought—"
"Core development varies from person to person," Luke explained, repeating information they'd both learned in class. "Some complete faster than others. It's not unusual for the timeline to shift."
Arthur fell silent, processing the implications. Luke had become his anchor in this strange new world—his only real friend since his parents' deaths. The thought of Luke facing the dangers of the second realm alone, possibly dying there before Arthur could even join him...
"Hey," Luke said, forcing a smile. "Maybe I'll get lucky. Maybe I'll appear right next to the core. Place my tether before any monsters even know I'm there."
Arthur tried to return the smile, but couldn't quite manage it. They both knew the odds.
Arthur nodded, unsure what to say. What could you say to someone who might be facing their last hours on Earth?
The silence between them grew heavy with unspoken fears and regrets. Arthur found himself mentally reviewing everything they'd learned about survival in the realms, desperately wishing he could somehow transfer that knowledge directly into Luke's mind.
"We should do something," Arthur said suddenly, standing up. "Not just sit here waiting. Let's go to the training room, or review survival techniques, or—"
"Arthur," Luke interrupted gently. "It's okay. I've been preparing for this moment since we arrived. There's nothing more we can do tonight."
Arthur sank back onto his bed, the reality of the situation finally hitting him full force. Tomorrow, he would wake up alone. His friend would be gone—either surviving in the second realm or... not.
And soon after, Arthur would follow.