Vanessa stopped the timer, "Fourty-five minutes. Very good, next up Loraine. As long as you can! Noah, you will also now measure your strength." After Noah had been sitting for about 10 minutes, Loraine was almost dead, and Noah went to his grip strength measurement. He picked up the device and squeezed it hard. The numbers on it went higher and higher until it stopped at 41,6 Kg. Which was in the average category, leaning to the weak side, though. He went to Vanessa and told her the number. She nodded and pointed to the instructor, who was fighting Zenix at the moment.

Zenix pulled a lot of hard kicks, flying fists, and agile movements to avoid the instructor's movement. He managed to defend himself well, was rarely hit, and if he was punched, it didn't even look like it hurt him. The instructor's timer went off producing a light ring, Noah was surprised by the sound he didn't hear it when he was running. Or when he was there for his grip measurement. He walked up to the instructor, it was a bald muscular man. He had many tattoos, but a very upright posture. Focused eyes were looking at him, but there was no change in his face. Noah was 99% sure that the man in front of him served in the military. And that wasn't just because of the straight posture, the focused gaze, or the emotionless face. A necklace he wore told him that, the dog tag, that is what they call it. They have an identification number on them, but he wasn't 100% sure because some family members also keep them.

The instructor was still looking at Zeinix and then put one hand on his shoulder, "You are really good at fighting, a bit disappointing that you aren't an ability user though." Zenix nodded sadly and walked to the treadmill, he also sneakily shot a wink at Noah. Noah smirked and walked in front of the instructor, the instructor although not showing it on his face, Noah could feel the other looking down at his stature. The instructor then set a new timer of five minutes, left the timer on the floor, and attacked Noah. He was as fast as a snake and avoided an otherwise very heavy punch. The instructor didn't care though and set out a kick that would have landed right between Noah's family jewels. If Noah hadn't dodged again, a back-and-forth was created between Noah and the instructor. It was a back-and-forth in which Noah didn't even try to punch or kick just avoided every punch, kick, or other tricks from the instructor. Almost three minutes have gone by and Noah slowly began to get into the fight. He looks at weak spots in the defense of the other while also making sure not to get hit himself.

Then he saw his opportunity, the instructor punched the air as Noah dodged and left his right side unprotected. So his body almost flew over as his hand flattened out and hit an acupuncture point, SP15, just on the right side of the stomach. The instructor didn't feel the hit until his stomach was rumbling a bit and gas wanted to get out. He shot a calculating gaze at Noah, ignored his stomach pain, and wanted to kick him. Only for Noah to avoid it and kicked at the left side of the knee that wasn't trying to kick him. The man he kicked, fell over and was now looking like he was going to propose. That is because he caught himself with the other leg. But Noah didn't wait for the instructor to get up, he directly roundhouse kicked his face. The instructor was now fully on the floor, he wanted to get up but his legs were pulled away from him again. His face kissed the floor, and Noah was just standing above him. Seeing the instructor like this he felt a bit bad, but he was promised points. Although he didn't really know what they would be used for he wanted them. But that bit of thinking cost him precious seconds the instructor was already on his feet again, kicking, punching, and trying some faints he hoped Noah would fall for.

But Noah didn't, he defended himself and also punched the instructor's face, sides, and shoulder blades often. They were both enjoying the fight as well as feeling frustrated every time they couldn't break through the other's defenses. The timer rang and the five minutes were up, only Noah and the instructor were still in the feeling of the fight. Noah was kind of glad the timer rang through, his body would not have held on for much longer.

He shook hands with the instructor as a sign of peace and also a sign of goodwill after the match they just had, "Just like the guy before you, if only you had an ability. And I'm sorry, deep down I thought of what a weakling you were. But in turn, you showed me that size and outer appearance don't necessarily mean they are weak." Noah smiled and walked to the treadmill, to watch Zenix.

He didn't realize how the resentment and coldness in Loraine's eyes pilled up. She hoped Noah would have been pushed to the ground, She hoped someone would finally give him a throughout beating. But what did she get? That Noah was much stronger than she anticipated. She felt resentment and unfairness, but she also knew that the story before was bull. How could poor orphan Noah defend himself? How could he be smart? And most of all how could he not remember her when he only forgot two months? How could he have not recognized her, she was also standing next to Laura, Henry, and Charly. Sure, she was just standing a bit further away, but she was there. She was so sure that who was walking to Zenix was not Noah, at least not the Noah she knew...

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Noah walked next to the treadmill, Zenix was looking at him astonished, "Dude, if we had known that you could fight like that, we would have not had to discuss if we should keep you. Hahahaha, just kidding, as if we would let a cutie like you be left alone. We might seem tough to you at first, but I am sure you have come to notice our weak spots and that we are all good people." Zenix said, even looking at Noah and still he was running full speed. Not even breathing in to get more oxygen. Noah was really a bit amused by it, he knew about that conversation after all he is not deaf. But to see Zenix so honest about it, he felt maybe Zenix and Ben were somewhat the real friends, he was supposed to find. Although he knew he only watched the conversations between them, he now has to actually try to integrate himself into their close relationship.

Noah chuckled, "Yeah, of course I noticed that. I just find it horrible, that this whole thing happened. I miss a lot of things, but the first thing is probably my favorite video game. Maybe you have heard of it? Code Vein? I really like it, especially because I can make my own character instead of getting one that is integrated into the story beforehand. You know with a family?"

Zenix smiled, "I totally get it. Code Vain is something I have played before, but Ben never wanted to play with me. Let me tell you a secret, despite his tough attitude he is actually quite the scaredy cat. I can't even watch horror movies with him, even this situation right now is getting to him. Don't tell him I told you though. He'll kill me for that."

Noah sat next to the treadmill and said, "So how long do you think you will pull through?"

Zenix gave a low laugh, "If I want to I could actually go for an hour. I was in a long-distance running club before, even took quite a few trophies too. Until the third year of middle school..." His voice was suddenly not as cheerful as before and he looked quite sad too.

Noah could already guess why, but only said, "If you don't want to talk about it it's fine. I also have a lot of stuff I don't want to unpack. Not because I won't, but because I physically and psychologically can't. And with the other people in here, I'm very sure you don't want to dump your trauma in the room."

Zenix smiled again, "Yeah, you are right about that. But then again, not that I can really talk about it. Ben really doesn't want to talk about it, and although I really need to get this off my chest, I don't want to bother anyone."

Noah nodded in understanding, "Listen although we only know each other for about two to three days, which really isn't a lot. If you need someone, you can talk to me. I mean who is better to bother than a guy you don't even know that well."

Zenix looked at Noah, "Yeah, sure. So you can then gossip about it to everyone else. I'll pass. Thanks though for offering." Noah just sat there after they were done talking, so he could wait for Zenix. When everyone was done they moved to a new room. Through the door at the right side was a rectangular room, with six tables and chairs in rows, just like in school when there was a test. When Noah walked closer to the left table in the last row, he saw a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. Vanessa was standing still in front of the six chairs and tables. There was a small podium, but just like the tables and the chairs it was all white only the floor was a gray color. It honestly reminded him of many movies where the people were tested for everything or had to solve puzzles.

"In front of you, you will find a piece of paper. Turn the paper around and don't even try to cheat, we have cameras in every corner of this room. If you are done, give a short signal with your hand, and I will then give you the next one."

They all nodded as a sign that they understood, Noah sat down and the little girl and the Asian woman also walked into the room and sat down. Noah was sure that at this point he would not get to Professor Maclaren on time. They needed about two hours alone for the first test, not probably a new test that takes an hour too. He just shook his head and worked hard on the test, it was not hard either. And Zenix thought so too. They both raised their arm at the same time. They got a new sheet, it was a math test, Noah also got through that quickly. Raised his hand again and got a test with different chemicals. He only had to write what they could be used for so it was easy too. Again he raised his hand, Vanessa took the sheet of paper and showed him with a finger to a door. He got up silently and left the test room.

The last test, in his mind Noah gave this test the name of "A test of heart". He didn't know what was going to happen, but if it was anything like Zenix predicted then he hoped no one was an idiot. The room was not as big as the arena in the main hall, but still a room of size. The walls were light gray this time and the floor was black. He looked at the door he just come from and wished Zenix would hurry up, he needed more bonding time with him. He was now very determined to make Zenix and Ben his friends. He heard the sound of a door opening, he turned around and saw a zombie. It was approaching him, trying to sniff him out, trying to listen to his heartbeat. Then the door he just came out of opened, and Loraine and Zenix came out. They looked at the zombie that was about fifteen meters away from them. Loraine was about to scream, but Zenix quickly put a hand over her mouth. Then he looked at Noah with a face full of questions. Noah just shook his shoulders not knowing either why there was a zombie in the room.