The girls ran to the next room.

“What is this? A classroom?” Thais exclaimed, surprised to see the environment.

“Silence, you have five minutes,” the instructor said authoritatively.

“It looks like a normal school test…” Thais thought, uncomfortably.

Five minutes later, the instructor collected the tests.

“Time’s up. Give me the papers and move on to the next test,” the instructor ordered.

“They’re testing our knowledge about ghouls and the army… I think I did well this time!” Viviane thought, relieved.

Everyone moved to the next test.

“The fifty of you who are here will take the tests together. In some tests, you will be allies; in others, you will be enemies. Your costumes are behind that door. Go change, put away the weapons you carry, and return here!” Arion said.

The competitors went to the indicated room.

— So, can I leave now? — Kay exclaimed impatiently, speaking to Arion.

— Come on now! — Mira said, pulling Kay by the arm.

They went to the next room.

— I'm going to smell like a ghoul... I don't want to! — Kay grumbled, like a stubborn child.

— You look like a child throwing a tantrum! — Mira said, rolling her eyes.

— Wait, young lady. This is the girls' entrance! — Kratos said, pointing to the door.

— That was a close call! Thank you! — Mira said, letting go of Kay.

— Good luck! — Kay said, as she walked away.

Kratos held Kay's arm firmly.

— I'll take care of him. Go get ready for the test. — Kratos said, taking Kay to the locker room.

— I hope he's okay... — Mira thought, looking worried.

— He has a lot of strength in his hands... Now I understand why he has so many muscles. — Kay reflected, feeling Kratos' grip.

— You shouldn't do this. You're holding your partner back. — Kratos said, letting go of Kay.

— Don't worry about her. Mira is an intelligent person. — Kay replied confidently.

— And that's why you think you have the right to get in the way of her dream? — Kratos exclaimed, staring at Kay.

— Get in the way? You misunderstood. Mira should go it alone. If I stay, I'll end up getting in the way. — Kay said, with a serious tone.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

— Fool. If someone pulls you to achieve something, it means you're part of that person's dream. — Kratos paused, looking into Kay's eyes. — You're purposely distancing yourself, as if you're worthless but she needs you. Don't you see that? She's including you in her future, and you're running away.

— You seem like a good person, but you're misunderstanding. It's my lack of interest that's going to get in her way. If she stays with me, she'll end up wasting her time trying to motivate me! We're childhood friends, and she knows that's true. Besides, I have things to do where I live! — Kay said, trying to explain.

— If she knows that, then you should already know that she won't give up. You have to pay attention, or you'll end up hurting your friend. At least try to take the tests. — Kratos replied, taking the suit from the closet.

— And will this fit you? They must have taken the wrong measurements! — Kay commented, looking at the suit.

— The suit adjusts to people's bodies, they just need to be close to the height of the suit. — Kratos explained, taking off his shirt.

— Your muscles are very firm, I can see that it's the result of dedication. This place is not for me! — Kay said, impressed.

— Why are you trying to fool me? Your body is well trained, you lack motivation, not strength! — Kratos replied.

— Motivation, right... If I don't try, I'll be embarrassed in front of Mira. I'm her master, I have to set an example for my apprentice! — thought Kay, looking for her locker.

“I give up!” — Kay exclaimed, with a sigh.

“The lockers are numbered, yours should be at the end.” — Kratos commented, observing Kay’s confusion.

“Tell Mira I fought a good fight!” — Kay joked.

“I’ll get it for you.” — Kratos said, laughing.

“Thanks!” — Kay replied.

“Maybe the army will fix his motivation…” — Kratos thought, pulling Kay towards the locker.

Kay frowned.

“His smell is strong… why?” — Kay thought, confused.

When they reached Kay’s locker, Kratos laughed.

“It wasn’t that far away!” — Kratos said.

Kay opened the locker and took the suit, looking at it seriously.

“I have to motivate Mira… I have to motivate Mira…” — Kay repeated in her thoughts.

He took off his shirt, revealing a scar.

— A scar... what kind of fight would leave something like that on a person? — Kratos thought, observing Kay.

— I can keep my underwear on, right? — Kay exclaimed, breaking the silence.

— Of course! In fact, that's exactly what you should do. — Kratos replied, laughing.

— I see, keep your underwear on. — Kay said, as she took off her pants.

— I knew it... he trains a lot. — Kratos thought, impressed by Kay's physique.

— Are you having trouble putting on your suit? — Kratos exclaimed, noticing Kay's hesitation.

— I think he's backing off. — Kay muttered, with a nervous smile.

— Leave it alone! There are only the two of us left here in the locker room. — Kratos said, encouraging him.

Kay shook his hands and finally put on the suit.

— It wasn't that hard! — Kratos commented.

— This suit is a complete outfit... I wonder if it's the same for the girls? — Kay thought.

— Why are you covering your nose? — Kratos asked, finding Kay's gesture strange.

— That smell is unbearable! — Kay complained, putting her clothes away in the closet.

— Can you really smell it? I can't smell anything! — Kratos said, confused.

— A strong smell like that... how can he not smell it? — Kay thought, intrigued.

Soon after, they left the locker room.

— Now that everyone is here, move on to the next test! — Aurion ordered, leading the group.

— Kay! — Mira called, approaching.

— Mira, can you feel it now? — Kay exclaimed, hopeful.

— I don't feel anything! — Mira replied.

— Neither do I! — Thais and Viviane said in unison.

— I don't know if it's because I'm wearing the suit, but this smell is horrible! — Kay concluded, still bothered.

— Answer me one thing: among the five of you here, who smells the strongest of ghouls? Start with the weakest! — Aurion said, approaching.

— Viviane, Mira, Thais, Kratos and me! — Kay replied.

— Interesting. And put me on that list: where do I rank? — Aurion exclaimed.

— After Kratos, but there's a difference! — Kay said.

— Move on to the next test! — Aurion said, with a serious look.

— Interesting! — Raven thought, observing the situation.

— Vice-captain, did something happen? — exclaimed a voice through the earpiece.

— I'm just showing off a little, it's nothing! — said Aurion, with a smile.

— Be careful! — warned the voice.

— Don't worry! — replied Aurion, rolling his eyes.

Next test...