Codename Prometheus

A Few Days Ago at the Academy Barracks…

The cafeteria was alive with murmurs, a constant undercurrent of speculation that had refused to die down for weeks. The clatter of trays and utensils barely masked the hushed conversations. Ever since Elias had seemingly leaped ahead of the rest, rising from a fellow cadet to some kind of untouchable figure, the academy had become a breeding ground for rumors. The unknown breeds speculation, and speculation turns into stories—twisted, embellished, and passed around like a well-worn secret.

At one of the long, cold metal tables, five cadets sat together, their meals half-eaten as they exchanged glances. The tension in the air was palpable, but none of them dared to acknowledge it aloud—at least not yet.

"Alright, so what's the latest version of this nonsense?" grumbled Desmond, a broad-shouldered young man with dark, curly hair and sharp green eyes. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, unimpressed. "Last I heard, Elias discovered some lost blueprints in the archives and took credit for it. Supposedly, that's why they yanked him from our quarters."

"That's nothing compared to what I heard," said Vivian, her sharp features alight with amusement as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "Apparently, he's got family in the government, and they pulled some strings to get him out of the cadet barracks and into the research division. You know, 'privilege' and all that."

"Tsk," Jiro scoffed, adjusting his glasses. The quietest of the group, he spoke with careful deliberation, every word weighed before it left his mouth. "That contradicts the last rumor. Wasn't he supposed to be some prodigy who won a classified challenge? The academy wouldn't let someone skip the ranks for nepotism alone. Too many military regulations."

"Regulations?" Aiden barked a laugh, shaking his head. "If you think that stops the top brass from doing whatever they want, you're even more naive than I thought."

Sitting at the edge of the table, Bao remained silent, his fingers drumming lightly against his tray. The Chinese cadet had an unreadable expression, his dark eyes carefully scanning the room. He had been watching Elias from the moment they arrived, and something about his rise didn't add up.

"Maybe he actually is that good," Bao finally said, earning a round of skeptical looks from his friends. "I've seen him work before. It's… different. Not like the rest of us."

Desmond snorted. "You sound like one of his fanboys."

Vivian smirked. "Careful, Des. You're just mad because he's getting the VIP treatment while you're still running drills at five a.m."

"Screw off, Vivian. I like earning my way up. Not taking shortcuts."

"Who said he took a shortcut?" Bao countered calmly, his gaze unwavering. "We don't actually know how he got there. All we know is that he did."

Before the conversation could continue, a different group of cadets sauntered toward their table, their presence immediately changing the atmosphere. These were some of the more physically dominant students—the kind who relied more on brute strength than intelligence.

The leader, a burly, thick-necked cadet named Markus, crossed his arms and sneered. "Well, well, look who's still stuck in the gutters with the rest of us. Thought your little group was supposed to be 'elite.'"

"Better to be stuck here than stuck with your IQ, Markus," Vivian shot back smoothly. "How's it feel knowing you'll never make it out of infantry?"

The other cadets behind Markus grumbled, but he just rolled his shoulders. "At least I don't waste my time idolizing some lab rat who thinks he's too good to be a soldier."

Jiro sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Why do you care so much about Elias?"

"I don't," Markus growled. "But you nerds do. And I'm sick of hearing about it."

"Then stop eavesdropping on our conversations," Bao said, his voice eerily calm. "We weren't talking to you."

A tense silence settled over the group. Markus' nostrils flared, and for a moment, it seemed like he might escalate things. His fists clenched at his sides, but after a long stare-down, he scoffed and turned away.

"Whatever. Keep wasting your time with your little theories. In the end, brains don't win wars."

With that, he and his group left, leaving Desmond shaking his head. "Morons."

"No argument there," Aiden muttered. "But you know, they're not entirely wrong. There's a reason people are nervous about Elias. Someone jumps ahead too fast, and suddenly they start wondering if the system is rigged."

"Or if he's dangerous," Bao added, his voice low.

That thought hung over the table as the group fell into silence, each of them realizing the same thing: Elias wasn't just a cadet anymore. He was something else entirely. And whatever he was involved in now… it was only getting started.

Later that evening, as the barracks quieted down and the lights dimmed for curfew, the group found themselves in their usual corner, discussing what came next.

"You guys realize we're not just talking about a student anymore, right?" Jiro said, voice barely above a whisper. "Whatever he's working on, whatever got him out of here, it's bigger than just 'advanced research.' The academy doesn't move people around like this unless it's something critical."

Vivian tapped her fingers against her knee. "So, what? You think he's making a super weapon or something?"

"I think so" Bao said. 

The others turned to him smiling as if he made a joke, waiting for an explanation.

"Think about it," Bao continued. "The secrecy. The fact that he's been pulled out of all active training. The way the faculty suddenly went silent about him the moment he was transferred. If it was just some research project, we'd still hear whispers. But this? Whatever he's working on, it's locked down tight. That means it's important. Military important. Something Big, doesn't have to be a Weapon, but still."

Desmond exhaled sharply. "So what do we do? Just sit here and watch?"

"We wait," Bao said simply. "And when the time comes, we'll see for ourselves. Because one way or another, whatever Elias is working on… it's going to be big."

Patreon Chapter:

The Cadets' Routine

The Elite Force Selection Tournament Annouencement

The Gauntlet of Battles

The Tactical War Begins

The Final Test – Phase Three Begins

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