“What in terminus was that?!” Jid started at Ally.

  “What was what?” She feigns ignorance.

  “You kept interrupting me in front of them. I probably lost so much merit and respect from them.”

  “Oh don't worry, I really doubt they’d respect you any less.”

  “You think so?” He was slightly taken back.

  “Of course, you can't lose what you never had.” She responded with a grin.

  “You-”

  “Excuse me…” A voice interjected.

  They finally turned to look at the red-head requesting their attention, only to finally notice the five recruits left in the hall.

  “Great, they finally see us.” One of the five spoke, A blond girl with crimson eyes, she wore a white bolero over a black tank-top and white capri pants.

  Beside her, despite being a different gender, was someone that could easily be identified as her twin. Though his eyes were a deep blue, his hair color matched hers down to the tiniest strand. He was in blue pencil jeans and a grey sweatshirt.

  “About time.” He added, arms folded.

  “What are you guys still doing back here?” Jid inquires.

  Tyson finally finds room to respond. “Our wristbands don't show us anything.” He'd observed that none of the others had guiding lights either, one of them being the strange girl he'd seen earlier.

  “That's very strange.” Ally opened a tablet screen she'd seemingly pulled out of nowhere. “May I have your name?”

  “Tyson...” He responded, and after a brief moment of hesitation. “Tyson Jarul.”

  A few eyes widened around them, followed by a gasp for Ally herself.

  “You mean you’re from ‘The’ Jarul family? The family that’s constantly produced the strongest fire-type eminents since the start of the force?” She asked, bright eyed and amazed.

  Anybody would gladly bask in such praise towards their family name, but for Tyson…

  “Pfft… ha!” Jid suddenly bursts out laughing.

  Ally frowns upon his rudeness. “What's so funny to you?”

  “You really didn't know?” He managed to release a few words between his laughter. “He's their failure!” He states before he continues laughing.

  Tyson didn't react directly to the insult, but he couldn't help but avert his eyes from Ally. If he hadn’t however, he would have seen that

  Her expression clearly portrayed disappointment.

  Howercer, it was not due to the revelation, but the man laughing at his expense. What followed was a swift punch to the gut that silenced the room.

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  “I’m sorry about him, he's annoyingly insensitive, to the point that you wonder if he desires to be punched in the face constantly.” She speaks while dusting off her fist.

  “It’s fine…” Tyson could only mutter after such a display. Though it didn't feel too bad for someone to act on his behalf for once.

  After bending over for a few moments until the pain subsided, Jid straightened up, though he winced.

  “Actually… I think I know which squad they belong to.”

  “You do?” Ally asked, but then she noticed something unusual—Jid's expression had darkened. His usual smugness was gone, replaced by a rare, serious look.

  “They're Mary Sue's assigned recruits.”

  Ally’s eyes widened. For a long, painful moment, she said nothing. Then, when she finally found her voice, it was barely above a whisper.

  “They approved his status?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far.” Jid turned toward the five recruits, his voice uncharacteristically firm. “Listen, I don’t usually stick my neck out for strangers, but I’m not heartless enough to let you walk into this blind.”

  “What are you talking about, Jid?” Ally's tone sharpened, almost accusatory. “I know you’ve always been jealous of him, but even for you, there’s no excuse to sabotage—”

  “They are vindictive enlistments.”

  Silence. The recruits exchanged uncertain glances, as if hoping they'd had misheard.

  “…What do you mean?” Ally pressed.

  Jid exhaled, turning back to the bewildered group. “You five… You weren’t chosen because of your potential. You were enlisted out of spite. The head captain has a grudge against the person you were assigned to, and to settle it, he handpicked the worst recruits he could find—just to set them up for failure.”

  “Jid, that’s enough—”

  “We had a feeling.” The male twin interrupted. His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed his unease. “There was no way this wouldn’t come with a catch.”

  Tyson clenched his fists. Every year, over half a million humans on Earth awakened their authorities. Yet somehow, he—one of the least capable people striving to become a Veil officer—had been enlisted. Now he understood why.

  “But what’s wrong with hoping?” Tyson blurted out, his voice cracking with frustration. “What’s wrong with taking a shot anyway?”

  A heavy silence settled over them. No one needed to say it out loud—they all felt the same sinking disappointment.

  Jid stepped forward, his presence suddenly more imposing. “Maybe so,” he admitted.

  “But you never imagined it would be for this reason, did you?” His tone turned cold. “I don’t know about you, but I’d never accept an enlistment I didn’t earn—especially if it meant being labeled a disaster under someone else's name.”

  That was the final straw.

  “Jid!” CRACK!

  Jid’s head snapped sideways as Ally's fist connected with his face, sending him sprawling to the ground. She stood over him, breath heaving, fists trembling with fury. Then, she turned to the solemn recruits.

  “Head southwest through the forest. It’s a long walk, but eventually, you’ll reach a white grove. Your squad’s HQ is there.”

  The recruits hesitated for only a moment before silently heading in that direction, each leaving at their own pace. Tyson was the last to go. As he reached the doorway, he glanced over his shoulder at Jid, who still lay motionless on the floor.

  “Oh, and sir…” Tyson’s voice was calm, but firm. “Since conviction is what powers our authorities… what do you think happens when we abandon it?” He turned away. “If we lose our drive the moment things get difficult, then maybe it was never strong to begin with.”

  The automatic door slid shut behind him.

  Jid finally sat up, rubbing the blood from his nose.

  “That wasn’t like you,” Ally muttered, arms crossed. “You usually pride yourself on minding your own damn business.”

  “Oh yeah?” He scoffed, wiping his face. “What about you? The way you gave those directions—sounded more like orders than advice.”

  Ally exhaled sharply. “Was it really that obvious?” She turned toward the door. “I’ll be damned if I let those kids give up after hearing that.”

  Jid let out a tired chuckle. “Right…” Then his expression twisted into irritation. “And what the hell was that bullshit about me being jealous of him?!”

  Ally’s hand flew to her mouth, realizing her slip-up.

  “Is that what you’ve always thought?!” Jid pushed himself to his feet, glaring.

  “Well, what am I supposed to think?” She shot back. “You pick fights with him every chance you get.”

  “Because I consider him my rival!”

  Ally raised an eyebrow. “Jid, you have to be equal to be rivals.”

  Their bickering picked up right where it had left off, their voices carrying down the hall, with no end in sight.