Chapter 16: The Waiting Game


    <hr>


    The Calm Before the Call


    Axel had never been good at waiting.


    Fighting? He could handle. Training? That was fine. Even studying—as painful as it was—gave him something to focus on.


    But this?


    This in-between moment before the tournament selection?


    It was driving him insane.


    Ever since Blackthorn’s challenge, the academy had been in a strange state of hushed intensity. The instructors were discussing strategy behind closed doors, students whispered in corridors, and the entire school felt like it was holding its breath.


    No one knew who would be chosen.


    No one knew when the official announcement was coming.


    All they could do was wait.


    And Axel hated waiting.


    <hr>


    Morning Routines (Ruined by a Menace)


    Axel groaned as he rolled out of bed, rubbing his face as he blinked at the bright light filtering through his dorm window.


    He had planned to sleep in—just a little. Maybe take a morning off from training.


    Tempo had other ideas.


    The little monkey pounced onto Axel’s chest, knocking the air out of him.


    “Gah—!” Axel choked. “Dude. Why?!”


    Tempo just grinned and started smacking his cheeks.


    Axel groaned. “Alright, alright, I’m up.”


    Tempo chattered happily before flipping off the bed, landing perfectly on Axel’s desk like he owned the place.


    Axel sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Tempo posed dramatically.


    Axel rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Come on. Let’s go before breakfast is gone.”


    <hr>


    The Cafeteria & Familiar Faces


    The Academy Cafeteria was louder than usual.


    Not in the fun, chaotic way it usually was—but in the uneasy, tension-filled kind of way.


    Everyone was talking about the same thing.


    The tournament.


    Axel grabbed a tray, weaving through the crowd before spotting a familiar table.


    Ryder was already there, arms crossed, his boot propped up on the bench as he argued with a girl across from him—Sienna Vale, the tactical genius of their class.


    Axel sat down with a sigh. “Please tell me you two aren’t already fighting this early in the morning.”


    Ryder scoffed. “She thinks the instructors are gonna choose based on rankings.”


    Sienna pushed her glasses up. “Because they are.”


    Axel frowned. “You sure? This isn’t a normal tournament.”


    Sienna exhaled. “I know that. But Helix still follows structure. They’ll choose the highest-ranked students first, then fill the last few slots based on adaptability.”


    Ryder smirked. “So you admit there’s a chance I’ll get in?”


    Sienna shot him a look. “A small one.”


    Axel snorted.


    This was weirdly normal, considering what was coming.


    And honestly? He kind of needed that.


    <hr>


    A Quiet Moment with Iris


    After breakfast, Axel found himself wandering toward the Academy Garden.


    It was one of the few places that wasn’t constantly filled with sparring or battle drills. A place meant for reflection and study.


    Which was why he was only slightly surprised to see Iris sitting there, cross-legged on a bench, scrolling through her holo-tablet.


    She looked up as he approached. “Skipping training?”


    Axel smirked. “Nah. Just… thinking.”


    Iris scooted over, giving him space.


    After a moment, Axel sat down beside her.


    They sat in comfortable silence, the hum of the academy fading into the background.


    Finally, Iris spoke.


    “You’re nervous.”


    Axel exhaled. “Yeah. A little.”


    She nodded, as if she expected that.


    “It’s okay to be.”


    Axel glanced at her. “You don’t think I’m being an idiot about all this?”


    Iris smiled faintly. “I think you’d be an idiot if you weren’t taking this seriously.”


    Axel huffed a laugh. “You really don’t hold back, huh?”


    Iris tilted her head, thoughtful. “Not with you.”


    Axel paused.


    Something about the way she said it—so simple, so honest—made his chest feel weird again.


    He cleared his throat. “So, uh. What are you reading?”


    Iris smirked. “Cipher Evolution Theory.”


    Axel groaned. “I walked into that one, didn’t I?”


    She giggled. “You really did.”


    And just like that, the tension from the tournament faded for a little while.


    <hr>


    The Calm Before the Call


    That night, Axel lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.


    Tempo curled up beside him, already asleep, his tiny tail twitching as he dreamed.


    Tomorrow.


    That was when the selections were happening.


    That was when everything would change.


    Axel exhaled slowly.


    He wasn’t ready.


    But he was going anyway.