- Oliver -

  "Dismissed!"

  Uher csses, the recruits didn't rush out this time. Instead, several of them began to gather to discuss.

  "Is there still room in yroup?"

  "I got someone from the First Battalion in mine."

  "If we pool our money, ay someone from the First Battalion to support us."

  Hearing the discussion around them, Oliver and An became worried.

  "I'm in yroup, right?" An asked.

  "My group?" Oliver questioned.

  "I don't know," An replied. "I'm terrible at group work."

  "Alright," Oliver responded. "However, I think you just messed up by being in my group."

  He could see the looks of the people around them. None of them wao be in his group, even though he held a high position i training. They all believed he had caused the i.

  "What do you mean?" An asked.

  "I wonder who would want to be in roup," Oliver replied.

  "ht. Well, there's Isabe," An ented.

  "Maybe; it doesn't hurt to try," the boy responded.

  Grrrrr

  Oliver heard the sound of his stomach. Exging a gh An, they left the room. They hadn't had time to go to the cafeteria before css, but finally, they had a few hours before the raining.

  However, as soon as they left the room, they ran into a surprise. Katherine was leaning against one of the building's ns.

  When Oliver exited the room, she straightened up and walked toward him.

  "I think she wants to talk to you," An ented. "I'll wait for you in the cafeteria."

  "Alright," Oliver firmed.

  Oliver walked up to Katherine.

  "Hey," Katherine said.

  "Hey," the boy replied.

  "I didn't get a ce to thank you for everything you did when we were there. In the end, I was more unscious than awake, and the medie away so quickly," she tried to expin.

  "I know. You were exhausted; that fight was a close call," Oliver ented.

  "Yes," Katherine firmed. "But it wasn't just that. I'm sorry—you saved me, but in the end, you ended up as the culprit and even got suspended."

  "No problem. It wasn't your fault; it's more about how things work, especially when it involves the h Army," Oliver replied.

  "Not just the Army, but also the Great Houses. The moment it reaches the ears of someohat iial, the whole game ges," Katherine expined.

  "I noticed. At least it'll serve as a lesson," Oliver ented.

  "Even so, I apologize—for myself and on behalf of the Yorks," the girl said again.

  Oliver nodded, uanding that it oiue.

  "If there's anything I do to help, just let me know," Katherine offered.

  "No, I'm fine. Don't worry," the boy said.

  They paused for a moment, unsure of what to say after everything that had happened.

  "I'm heading to the cafeteria. Would you like to join me?" Oliver asked.

  She hadn't been going that way, but she preferred to follow him since she wasn't familiar with the Sed Battalioor, and it would be easier to find her from the isnd's tral area.

  "Sure," she replied.

  They began walking, chatting lightly about daily life at the academy. However, when they were nearing the cafeteria, Oliver had an idea.

  "Actually, there is something you help me with," the boy said.

  "What would that be?" Katherine asked, curious. This offered favor also served as a test to see whether he was ied in her family's power.

  "Do you already have a group for the exam?" he asked.

  "Oh! Not yet," she replied.

  She thought about it; it would be pretty difficult for her to find a group. Except for other princes or princesses, hardly anyone would dare to be in a group with her, especially after the st i.

  "You know I could be a big problem if anything goes wrong, right?" she said, fearing he might resider, but she o be upfront.

  "Yes, yes. But this time, there won't be any is; it'll be smooth sailing," Oliver said fidently.

  'I’ve grown a lot i few days; I bet even a Knight-level creature wouldn't be a match for [Prometheus],' he thought.

  "Great. I join yroup?" she asked.

  "Of course," Oliver replied.

  As they reached the tral pza with the cafeteria, Katherine quickly said goodbye before rushing to her raining.

  "Add me on the chat—'KathSaysHi'—so I know where you'll be tomorrow," she said before leaving.

  "No problem," Oliver replied.

  As soon as she left, An approached Oliver again. "So?"

  "So what?" Oliver asked.

  "What did she want? Spill it," An urged.

  "I preferred when you were the sarcastic guy," Oliver remarked.

  "Really?" Aioned.

  "Ah," Oliver sighed. "She came to apologize for all the crazy shit that happened after the i."

  "Oh! Just that?" he asked, slightly disappointed.

  "Of course. What else would there be?" Oliver responded.

  "I don't know. Something more," An hinted.

  "While you're talking nonsense, how about we get in line?" Oliver suggested.

  "Good idea."

  --

  --

  - Major Five -

  Major Five was once again at his desk, reviewing the pns for the exam. Even as a major with decades of experience, he still ed himself with every detail of his campus's operations—especially when he had so many eyes from the Seg his every move.

  The major looked up as the door to his office opened.

  One of the Sed Battalion captains called to him, "Major, the other captains are already waiting for you in the pnning room."

  The major nodded, quickly closing the holographic dispys before heading to the adjat room.

  The pnning room was essentially a regur meeting room, but it featured a long table with space for each captain.

  "Gentlemen, I believe we're all ready," the majan, firming the start of the meeting. "I called you here to review the pn for the exam. But first, I'd like to reinfore points."

  The captains listetentively.

  "All campuses will duct the exam simultaneously; however, there won't be any other campus alongside ours. Therefore, the full responsibility for the students' safety rests on us. Uood?" Major Five asked.

  "Yes, sir," the captains replied in unison.

  "Excellent. Remember, we have two princes and a princess in the group. If anything happens to them like i training, the Senate will be furious with our performahe major emphasized.

  The room remained silent as they pted the issue. The only one who seemed uurbed was Scipio, who was already aware of the information and the Senate's pressure regarding the safety of their heirs.

  "Perfect. Preseh the sario we have at hand."

  --

  --

  - Oliver -

  Oliver was slowly returning from his training with Captain Liv. Everaining with Nico, he had never felt as exhausted as today. Still, he leased with his progress.

  ‘Without a doubt, it's the effect of the increase in stitution,’ Oliver thought. In his st evolution, his body had improved a bit in physical endurance, allowing him to finally keep up with the training—even if it pletely drained him.

  As he walked, Oliver saw a notification pop up in his chat.

  | els| TransportTruHell [3] [Private]||| TransportTruHell| [BelRedFanGirl] Hey! I'm he cafeteria.| [OliverKR] On my way| [AquiAn] Damn, I won't have time to shower!|

  He quickly read the messages and hurried toward the isnd’s ter.

  Approag the area, he began to walk around the cafeteria, looking for the girl in the recreational areas. Along the side were several tables as for the recruits to sit and, in theory, rex—but with the amount of training they had, the space was rarely used.

  "Hey! Over here," Isabe waved to Oliver.

  "Hi! Where's An?" Oliver asked.

  "He hasn't arrived yet. He's not going to shower now, is he? He wouldn't keep us waiting," she said incredulously.

  "Quite possible," Oliver replied.

  "Quite possible what?" An asked, approag the table.

  "Quite possible that you got lost, and we'd never find you again," Oliver teased.

  "Go to hell," Aed with a grin.

  The three of them began sharing how their week had been. For Isabe, nothiraordinary had happened—just more and more training. The only major thing was that all field training had been celed after the i.

  An expihat he had stayed at his family's house, where he tiraining. He didn't go into details but mentioned he had plenty of time to spend at the bead missed it.

  Oliver had the lo story. He expihat he had goo train with a former Ranger on Luna but didn't delve into details about the Trial Tower or his experience fighting others.

  "But I tell how much you've grown in a week. You're taller, right?" Isabe noted. "And that eye of a different color."

  "I think so; I haven't had a easure, but it 't be much," Oliver said.

  "I think I've grown some, too," An chimed in, showing off the muscles he'd gained from his training.

  "Um, I don't think so," Isabe quipped, cutting him off.

  "Hey! Oliver?!" An excimed.

  "You've grown, you've grown. Stop hurting the boy's feelings," Oliver joked, pretending to defend his friend.

  Isabe ughed at the whole situation but wao get straight to aopic.

  "Alright, let me tell you something that will really i you," she said.

  The two boys focused their attention, notig the seriousness in her voice.

  "I think I know who caused the i during the exam."

  GCLopes