The girls rushed into the next room.
"What is this? A classroom?" Thais asked, surprised by the setting.
"Silence. You have five minutes," the instructor ordered, his tone sharp.
"Feels like a regular school test..." Thais thought, uncomfortable.
Five minutes later, the instructor collected the exams.
"Time's up. Hand over your papers and move on to the next test," he commanded.
"They're testing our knowledge on ghouls and the army... I think I did well this time!" Viviane thought with relief.
Everyone moved on to the next trial.
"The fifty of you here will undergo the tests together. In some, you'll be allies; in others, you'll be enemies. Your suits are behind that door. Get changed, store your weapons, and come back here!" said Arion, the commanding officer.
The competitors followed his direction into the locker room.
"Can I leave now?" Kay exclaimed impatiently to Arion.
"Just move it!" Mira replied, dragging him by the arm.
They headed to the designated area.
"I'm going to end up smelling like a ghoul... I don't want that!" Kay grumbled like a stubborn child.
"You sound like a kid throwing a tantrum," Mira replied, rolling her eyes.
"Hold on there, miss. That entrance is for the girls." Kratos pointed to a separate door.
"Close one! Thanks!" Mira said, releasing Kay.
"Good luck!" Kay called out as she walked away.
Kratos grabbed Kay's arm firmly.
"I'll handle him. Go get ready for your test." Kratos pulled Kay toward the men's locker room.
"I hope he'll be okay..." Mira thought, concerned.
"He's got serious grip strength... Now I understand where all those muscles come from," Kay reflected, feeling the tight hold.
"You shouldn't act like this. You're holding her back," Kratos said, releasing Kay.
"Don't worry about her. Mira is smart," Kay responded confidently.
"And that gives you the right to hold her back?" Kratos shot back, locking eyes with Kay. "If someone pulls you forward to chase a dream, it means you're part of that dream. You're walking away like you don't matter — but she needs you. Can't you see that?"
"You seem like a good guy, but you've got the wrong idea. My lack of motivation will slow her down. She'd waste time trying to push me forward. We've been childhood friends — she knows I'm not cut out for this. Besides, I've got things to do back home."
"If she knows that, then you should know she won't give up on you. You need to pay attention, or you'll end up hurting your friend. At least try the tests."
Kratos turned to his locker, pulling out his suit.
"Is that really going to fit you? They must've gotten the size wrong," Kay said, eyeing the tight uniform.
"The suit adapts to each body. It just needs to be close to your height," Kratos replied, pulling off his shirt.
"Your muscles are firm... That kind of build only comes from real discipline. This place isn't for me," Kay muttered, impressed.
"Stop pretending. Your body's in great shape. It's not strength you lack — it's motivation," Kratos replied bluntly.
"Motivation, huh…? If I don't at least try, I'll embarrass myself in front of Mira. I'm her teacher. I have to set an example," Kay thought, scanning the room for his locker.
"I give up!" he sighed.
"The lockers are numbered. Yours should be near the back," Kratos pointed out.
"Tell Mira I fought the good fight!" Kay joked dramatically.
"I'll grab it for you," Kratos said with a laugh.
"Thanks, man!"
"The army might just fix that motivation of his..." Kratos thought, dragging Kay toward the back.
Kay squinted.
"His scent is strong... Why can I smell it so clearly?" he wondered, confused.
When they reached Kay's locker, Kratos chuckled.
"It wasn't that far!"
Kay opened the locker, staring at the suit inside.
"I've got to motivate Mira... I've got to motivate Mira..." he repeated in his mind.
He took off his shirt, revealing a long scar on his side.
"A scar like that... What kind of fight leaves a mark like that?" Kratos thought, taking notice.
"I can keep my underwear on, right?" Kay asked, breaking the silence.
"Of course! That's exactly what you're supposed to do," Kratos replied, laughing.
"Got it. Underwear stays," Kay said, taking off his pants.
"Yup... He definitely trains hard," Kratos noted, silently impressed.
"You struggling to put the suit on?" Kratos asked, seeing Kay hesitate.
"I think I'm hesitating," Kay muttered with a nervous smile.
"Stop messing around. We're the last ones left in here," Kratos encouraged.
Kay clenched his fists and finally slipped into the suit.
"Wasn't that hard after all," Kratos commented.
"This thing's a full-body uniform… I wonder if it's the same for the girls," Kay thought.
"Why are you covering your nose?" Kratos asked.
"This stench is unbearable!" Kay said, storing his clothes in the locker.
"You really smell something? I don't smell a thing," Kratos replied, puzzled.
"How can he not smell this? It's so strong," Kay thought, still confused.
Soon after, they left the locker room.
"Now that everyone's here, move to the next test!" Arion commanded.
"Kay!" Mira called, running up to him.
"Mira, do you smell it now?" Kay asked hopefully.
"I don't smell anything!" she replied.
"Neither do I!" said Thais and Viviane together.
"Maybe it's the suit... But the smell is awful!" Kay grumbled.
"Answer me this: out of the five of you, who smells the most like a ghoul? Start from the weakest," Arion asked, stepping closer.
"Viviane, Mira, Thais, Kratos, and then me!" Kay answered.
"Interesting. Now include me in the list — where do I fit?" Arion challenged.
"After Kratos, but there's still a difference!" Kay replied.
"Proceed to the next test," Arion said with a serious expression.
"Interesting," thought Ravena, observing from a distance.
"Vice-captain, is something wrong?" came a voice through his earpiece.
"I'm just showing off a little. Nothing serious!" Arion replied with a smirk.
"Be careful!"
"I got this," he said, rolling his eyes.
In the next test...