- Oliver -

  Uhe other selected didates, who were merely directed toward a corridor at the back of the arena, Oliver was always apanied by two soldiers. They fnked him closely, leaving no room for him to move out of their sight, even for a moment.

  As they walked down the seemingly endless corridor, Oliver noticed dozens—if not hundreds—of rooms lining the walls. Through the small windows set into each door, he glimpsed other didates seated alone, each fio their own sterile chamber.

  The rooms were spartan, almost austere. Most tained just a table and two chairs, no other furnishings, and no windows to the outside world.

  ‘All this just to decide which division we'll join?’ Oliver thought his brow furrowing as he took iark surroundings.

  Reag the end of the corridor, they entered a vast hall furnished with rows of chairs. Several didates who had gone before him were already seated, their expressions a mixture of ay and anticipation.

  One of the soldiers instructed firmly, "Sit in one of the chairs and wait for your o be called. "

  Oliver nodded and chose a seat toward the back, settling in with the expectation of a long wait—especially since he'd been one of the st to arrive.

  However, barely had he seated himself when a holographic dispy flickered to life at the front of the hall.

  "Oliver Nameless, proceed to Room 14," an automated voinounced.

  Surprised, Oliver stood up quickly, feeling the weight of numerous eyes turning toward him. He didn't elepathic abilities to seheir thoughts; the envious and puzzled gnces made it clear they were w why he'd been summoned so swiftly.

  As he made his way toward the indicated room, the two soldiers resumed their positions at his sides, matg his pace step for step. Their unwavering presence began to ule him. Oliver couldn't help but notice that none of the other didates were receiving such attentive supervision.

  ‘Is this because of the eighty-two pert?’ he wondered, referring to his unusually high synization score. Perhaps that was why he was being treated differently. He hoped Athena might chime in with some insight, but ever since he'd touched the crystal, she had remained spicuously silent.

  Arriving at Room 14, one of the soldiers pressed a panel o the door, which slid open soundlessly. Inside was a modest room—just like the others he'd glimpsed—with a siable and two chairs fag each other. The lighting was muted, casting soft shadows against the bare walls.

  "Please enter," the soldier said, his tone devoid of emotion.

  Oliver hesitated for a fra of a sed before stepping ihe door closed behind him with a quiet hiss, leaving him alone in the silence. He took a seat, his mind rag with questions. What awaited him here? Why the special treatment?

  He gnced around the room, searg for clues, but there was nothing—no ss, data ports, or even a clock. Just the table, the chairs, and the faint sound of his owhing.

  ‘Athena?’ Oliver asked silently, hoping for a response from the enigmatic presehat had guided him before. But there was only silence.

  Seated in one of the chairs, Oliver waited. Minutes passed slowly, eae stretg loha. Just as he began tapping his fingers nervously oable, the door slid open with a soft hiss.

  A tall maered, his footsteps eg lightly against the floor. His metallic spectacles gleamed uhe lighting, refleg a myriad of data streams as he gnced down at his gau. A broad smile stretched across his face as he looked up.

  "Hello!" the maed warmly. "Oliver. You're Nameless, correct?"

  "Yes," Oliver replied cautiously, not quite uanding the emphasis.

  "Excellent. This should be quick, then," the man said, settling into the chair opposite him. "I'm one of the recruitment captains. My responsibility is to record your desired division, finalize your tract as a Ranger with the NEA, and then expin your steps."

  "All right," Oliver nodded.

  "So, let's proceed. You'll be signing on as a Blue Ranger, correct?" the captain inquired, his fingers poised over a holographiterface emanating from his gau.

  "No, I want to be a Red Ranger," Oliver stated firmly.

  The captain blinked, caught off guard. "But your best performance was as a Blue Ranger," he pointed out, tapping a few times on his dispy. "Your synization with the Blue Crystal is exceptional."

  "Even so, I prefer to join the Red Division," Oliver insisted, his gaze unwavering.

  "With an 82% synization, you'd be among the elite in the Blue Division. At 20% with the Red, you'll be just another Ranger. Do you uand that?" The captain's tone held a note of incredulity.

  "Perhaps not fully, but my decision stands. I wish to be a Red Ranger," Oliver replied.

  The captain rubbed his temple, clearly perplexed. "Is there anything we offer that might ge your mind?"

  Oliver hesitated, sidering his words. ‘Maybe I could mention what I'm seeking? But he's just a captain. Besides, I could have more problems—I'd have to expin about my past.’

  "No, I'm decided," Oliver said firmly.

  The captain studied him for a long moment, his mouth opening as if tue before he closed it again with a sigh. "Very well. I'll o step out for a moment."

  As the door slid shut behind the departing captain, Oliver found himself alone again. The silence pressive. He tapped at his gau, hoping to access updates from the arena or messages from his friends, but the device seemed i. Aside from his basic status s, none of the funs responded.

  "Great," Oliver muttered under his breath. "Just perfect."

  Time dragged, each minute feeling like ten. He leaned ba his chair, staring up at the featureless ceiling. Just when the wait became nearly unbearable, the door opened again.

  This time, it wasn't the captain.

  A man stepped inside wearing semi-activated blue armor. His eyes were sharp behind a pair of sleek gsses, and a well-kept white beard framed his calm expression. Oliver reized him instantly—it was General Wiz, the leader of the Blue Division. He had addressed them all during the annous after the sed trial.

  Caught off guard, Oliver sprang to his feet and so attention, a salute.

  "At ease," General Wiz said with a brief nod. "Have a seat, son."

  Oliver sat down, but his posture remaiiff, his senses alert. Questions swirled in his mind as he tried to grasp why the head of the Blue Division would take the time to speak with him personally.

  "Oliver, I oversee the entire Blue Division," Wiz began, his gaze steady and probing. "One of my captains informed me that you wish to join the Red Division. I uand that it often carries more prestige and perhaps greater opportunities." He paused as if weighing his words. "However, with your level of e to the Blue Crystal, you could achieve all that and more within our division."

  "Sir, with all due respect," Oliver replied carefully, "those factors aren't what's most important to me. They're certainly appealing, but I have other reasons for my choice."

  General Wiz leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving Oliver's face. It felt as if the man could see straight through him, reading every flicker of emotion. "I see that you haven't shared what you're seeking. If you 't tell me directly, perhaps you indicate if there's something I could offer that would make you resider."

  Oliver swallowed, an uneasy knot f in his stomach. How could he expin without revealing too much? His reasons were personal, intricately tied to a past he wasn't ready to share—not with a General he barely knew.

  "Sir, I'm searg for information," Oliver said carefully.

  "I see." General Wiz paused as he regarded Oliver thoughtfully. "Information that even the Blue Rangers don't have access to, I presume? Remember, we're the division responsible for teology and intelligence operations. It seems we align precisely with what you're seeking."

  "Even so, it's something I won't be able to access as a Blue Ranger," Oliver replied, his gaze steady.

  "Hmm." Wiz leaned ba his chair, steepling his fingers as he sidered the young man's words. "Let me expin your situation. If you're set oing the Red Division, there's a signifit ce that General Quinn will disqualify you. She's already exceeded her quota ers. The other divisions are the ones currently in need of reinfort."

  "But from what I uand—and given your presence here—my high sakes me valuable enough that a General is willing to iate," Oliver tered.

  Wiz's lips curved into a subtle smile, a glint of admiration in his eyes. "After verifying that your results were genuine, yes. You've moved from being a problematididate in the sed exam to one of the most coveted seles."

  "So what will happen to me if I tinue oh I'm on?" Oliver asked.

  "I 't say for certain. It may e down to a vote among the Generals. You might be accepted into the Red Division, or you might be blocked entirely. In any case, losing someone of your potential would be foolish," Wiz admitted didly.

  "Especially siher Houses might already have an i in me," Oliver added, subtly reminding the General of his newfound leverage.

  "Certainly." Wiz's smile widened, refleg a mix of resped strategisideration. "Unless you'd be open to a iation."

  "And what would that be?" Oliver inquired, his curiosity piqued.

  "I may not kly what you're seeking, but I offer you my support," Wiz proposed. "Iurn, you join the Blue Division."

  Before Oliver could voice his objes, the General tinued.

  "Serve with us for two years," Wiz said, his tone ear. "During that time, I'll personally assist you in obtaining the information you desire. Afterward, I'll arrange for your trao the Red Division. You'll gain a powerful ally and ultimately arrive where you wish to be without the risk of beied. What do you say?"

  He extended his hand toward Oliver, the gesture both inviting and challenging.

  GCLopes