- Oliver -

  "I believe so," the Ranger firmed. "Because of that, I he three of you to keep absolute secrecy about these discoveries."

  "Sure. But why tell us?" Oliver could uand the o keep the secret, but he wao know why something so dangerous had been shared with them.

  John stood up from his chair, his serious gaze sweeping over the group gathered before him. He made a subtle gesture with his hand, indig that everyone should pay attention.

  "Kath must have already expio you, but I have a talent for trolling Energy," he said, extending one of his hands. Immediately, luminous lines of energy began to spread uhe skin of his arm, f intricate patterns that danced and pulsed with a life of their own. The demonstration of trol was impressive, each fiment of energy moving with precise finesse.

  "However, that's not all. trol over Energy allows me to see ahings others normally don't. For example, I know you've already evolved twice," John decred, fixing his gaze on Oliver.

  "Twice?" Isabe and Katherine excimed at the same time, exging surprised gnces.

  Oliver was astoo be revealed in such a way. He scratched his head a bit, trying to disguise his embarrassment for being discovered so easily.

  "Meanwhile, you two have already had one evolution each. Moreover, you're very close to obtaining another," John tiurning to Isabe and Katherine.

  "Are we?" Isabe murmured in a low voice, almost to herself.

  Katherine looked at her hands, feeling the tent energy c through her body. She thought about the ret battles against dozens of Orks, the times she had pushed beyond her limits. The idea of being so close to the step was both exg and intimidating.

  "Usually, during the Academy, students achieve, on average, one evolution. Here in this room, we have three individuals who have gohrough their first evolution and are reag the sed. This demonstrates your potential and the risks you've taken i months," John ented, pausing before proceeding.

  He drew a deep breath. "Kath, I realize my words will only strengthen your resolve—and that's exactly uts you in jeopardy. If I 't dissuade you from this path, then the least I do is keep you aware of the dahat encircle us. Besides, it's likely you all will soon join the Rangers. When that time es, I hope I rely on you so we tinue sharing vital information," the Ranger said, his voice heavy with gravitas.

  "We don't even know if we're going to be Rangers yet," ented Isabe with a faint smile, trying to hide the uainty in her voice.

  Katherine sighed before speaking. "How is the Academy? Do we at least have a ce to retake it?"

  Typically, being eliminated from the exams or expelled meant that one couldn't attend the Academy again. However, their case, and possibly many others, would be sidered exceptional after ret events.

  "I wouldn't worry about that at the moment," John expined, crossing his arms. "The Academy—not only of h but several others—was impacted by the attacks. Later this day, they will announce a way for students with inplete processes to carry out some kind of supplementary test. Moreover, all the Houses urgently need new officers and Rangers."

  The office's silent enviro was broken only by the faint hum of eleic systems. The cold light of the holograms was quickly turned off.

  "For now, I would suggest that you tiraining until the annou is made," John cluded, looking at the gau on his wrist. "I'll o leave you now. They're callio start another hearing."

  ‘I still wao ask about him being a Ger. Weren't there only five colors? I'd better ask Katherine,’ Oliver thought.

  The Ranger bid them a quick farewell, leaving the room, and only the trio remaihey exged gnces before heading back along the path that would take them to the infirmary wing.

  Upourning to their rooms, each y on their bed, diving into their thoughts.

  Oliver felt a wave of relief as he y on the soft surface. His back, once marked by the scars from prison, was fully healed, leaving only pale lines. He could finally have a good night's sleep.

  Oliver fixed his gaze on the ceiling, his hands resting behind his head. Although he was happy to have left the prison, he khat soon he would have to say goodbye to the girls, which made him uneasy. They had been through so much together that the idea of going separate ways was strange.

  "What are your pns?" Oliver asked, still looking at small points of light that seemed to imitate distant stars.

  Isabe was engrossed, fiddling with her gau; finally, she looked up at him.

  "Hmm... I think I'll go home. I o see my parents, especially after these six months." The girl spoke with her eyes fixed on holograms that floated above the gau, showing smiling images of her family. "After that, I don't know."

  Oliver houghtfully. He knew family meant everything to Isabe. She craved adventure, but the perils they'd faced might have been more than she'd anticipated.

  "I... will tiraining. If John said that, there must be something happening, and soon we should know what the Academy is pnning," Katherine expined, with a determined sparkle in her eyes. "And you?"

  Oliver hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully.

  He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I want... to find out what happeo An," he admitted softly. The weight of his friend's uain fate pressed heavily on him. "If... if something happeo him, it's my responsibility. I was the one who decided we should return to the city."

  The memory of An huween them like a specter. During those first weeks in the prison, they'd specuted endlessly about his fate—ging to hope one moment, wrestling with despair the . At times, Oliver's guilt was so overwhelming that he wished he could fet Aed, just to make the pain stop. However, he couldn’t allow himself to do that.

  Katheriuro face him fully. "I get that information," she offered, a resolute edge to her voice. "John must have direct tacts within the Academy. I don't know his House, so approag his family directly wouldn't be wise, but he help."

  "Thanks, Kath," Oliver said, a faint smile toug his lips. It was the first time he'd used her niame, and it felt natural, f even after all they'd been through.

  She returned his smile before striding toward the exit. "I'll see what I find out."

  Silenveloped the enviro, broken only by the distant sound of the ventition systems. Isabe remained engrossed with her gau while Oliver delved into thoughts about the past and what the future held for them.

  --

  --

  A few hours ter, Katheriurned, entering the room suddenly.

  "Are you watg the annou?" she asked, slightly breathless.

  "What annou?" inquired Oliver while Isabe finally diverted her eyes from the holograms.

  "Let me see," said Katherine, looking for the room's trol. Rummaging one of the tables, she found it and activated the projebedded in the ceiling.

  The noise of maery and the hiss of the hologram filled the room until, finally, the image rojected in the ter of the enviro. A man in officer attire appeared, his serious expression refleg the gravity of the situation.

  "They're talking about the Academy," Katherine expined.

  "Due to the attacks that have occurred over the past few months, especially during the Academy's training, to avoid harming the students and h, we have decided to duct a joint process of the st two csses and promote a public evaluation of humanity's alents," the man at the ter of the room announced.

  He was in an NEA meeting room where several high-ranking officers, including the five Generals of the Ranger Divisions, were present.

  Katherine crossed her arms, clearly skeptical.

  "Lies. This isn't to 'avoid harming anyone.' It's because of the various accusations that arose i tests, where corruption was one of the mildest," Katherine ented.

  "On the first day of month, we will anize a on h with all the students from all the ies. Over a week, two tests will be ducted: one focused on defense operations and another on assault, in addition to the final evaluation for officers and those who wish to bee Rangers," the official tinued expining.

  "That gives what?" asked Isabe, doing the math mentally. "Fifteen days?"

  "Yes," Oliver replied.

  "Damn, that's little time," Isabe ented again.

  "Those who ot participate iest or are not approved in the exams will be allowed to return to the Academy the following year. It will not be sidered a withdrawal or expulsion," the official tinued expining.

  "That's a relief," sighed Isabe, relieved.

  The transmission was ing to an end. It was mentiohat the entire event would be broadcast iime, and everyone could watch the evaluations. However, it was not informed how the tests would be; everyone would only know at the time.

  As soon as the hologram dissipated, Katherine spoke again, with a more serious tone.

  "Besides, I wao talk about something else. About An."

  GCLopes