After the girls left, Kay and Mira walked to the courtyard.

“I was being honest, Mira. You are more than capable of being vice-captain.” Kay crossed her arms, watching her with a firm gaze.

“But I don’t want that!” Mira protested, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and sadness.

“Then do like your mother. Punch him and say you refuse! That always works on him!” Kay suggested, with a mischievous smile.

“I can’t punch my father!” Mira replied, indignant, but unable to contain a nervous laugh.

“Then I’ll go and do it!” Kay said, standing up abruptly.

“Don’t do that!” Mira grabbed his arm, alarmed.

They both sat on a bench in the courtyard. The moonlight illuminated their conflicted expressions.

“Then show him that you’re not capable. That way he’ll be forced to remove you from office.” — Kay shrugged, trying to appear unconcerned.

“I can’t... He trusted me with that.” Mira looked down, her trembling hands clutching the fabric of her clothes.

“She’ll never give up...” Kay thought, watching her face. He sighed before continuing:

“Then I’ll support you. If you want to do this, go ahead. If you want to give up, then give up. But, Mira, I know you too well to believe that you’ll back down. You’ll do fine, even if you don’t believe it now.”

“You really think so?” Mira asked, looking up, reluctant but hopeful.

“Look at me. I’m nowhere near as smart or sociable as you, but I still managed to lead a team. Just believe in yourself and you can do it too.”

“You really did great, Kay.” Mira smiled slightly, wiping away a tear.

“Don’t you want to brag to Rem that you managed to reach a high position?” — Kay teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“I don’t feel like it,” Mira replied, but her expression softened.

“No? Well, you should know that Rem wants you to brag. She always said that you would take your father’s position one day, in her place. Those were her words.”

“Really?” Mira seemed surprised, her eyes shining with the revelation.

“It’s true. We’ve discussed this several times. She said that if you took the position, you wouldn’t have time to visit her anymore, but she always stressed that I should come with you to the Army, just to support you.”

“Mom…” Mira thought, moved, as a slight blush took over her cheeks.

“Now you understand why she said that, don’t you?” Kay smiled, watching her expression change.

“You all believe in me. I’ll try, at least. If it doesn’t work out, just leave.” Mira took a deep breath, looking more confident.

— I will always support you, so if you feel like this is overwhelming you, just put the weight on me.

— Thank you, Kay. I will do it. — Mira smiled, and in a moment of courage, Kay leaned over and kissed her lightly.

— I love you, Mira. — Kay murmured, with a sincere smile.

— I love you too. — Mira replied, smiling back.

— What a lovely scene. — A sarcastic voice interrupted the moment. Ravena approached with a mischievous smile.

Mira quickly moved away, her face completely flushed.

— Ravena? — Kay asked, standing up in surprise.

— Joana asked to tell you that tomorrow morning you must appear before the royal family. They want to give you another medal and show you the new shape of the suit.

— I don't want to go! — Kay complained, sulking. — Ask someone from our squad or Takemichi. They can transform the suit too!

— You're the only one here with 100% compatibility, Kay. Besides, you were the one who discovered this, remember? — Raven crossed her arms, impassive.

— Is it mandatory? — Kay asked, already knowing the answer.

— They've already scheduled the visit as soon as we return to the base. — Raven confirmed, with a smile of victory.

— Damn it! — Kay sighed, resigned.

— You have to go, Kay. — Mira said, holding his hand for a brief moment before letting it go.

— Okay. I understand. — Kay replied with a tired smile.

— Just one more thing: try to be an exemplary leader. Oh, and stop kissing inside the base. — Raven said as she walked away, waving without looking back.

Mira, still embarrassed, followed Raven, waving to Kay.

— Thank you! — she shouted before disappearing into the hallway.

Kay smiled, waving back.

— "She could call me love..." — he thought as he stood up. — I'd better take a shower and sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

The scene changes to the next morning, at the government headquarters.

— You're the one who came with the captain... Why are you wearing a mask? — exclaimed the driver, frowning as he observed Kay.

— It's part of his attire! — Fernanda answered quickly, in a firm tone.

— That's it! — Kay confirmed, crossing her arms in apparent discomfort.

— Being called up twice in less than a month... You're doing very well! — commented the driver with a proud smile.

— That's right... I have to slow down. — Kay answered, with a smirk, full of irony.

— Very humble of you to think so! — praised the driver.

— No, he just doesn't like attention. — Fernanda corrected, glancing at Kay, who looked away.

— After today, that's all you'll get. Good luck! — wished the driver.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

— Thanks... I think. — replied Kay, as she opened the car door and got out, adjusting the mask on her face.

— Thank you! — said Fernanda, getting out right away.

— It's a pleasure to take soldiers from my old division. See you later! — said the driver, waving goodbye before leaving.

As soon as the car drove away, a soldier from the royal guard approached.

— Why are you wearing that mask? — asked the guard, with a suspicious tone.

— It's a prototype that the institute is testing. — explained Fernanda, before Kay could answer.

— I understand. I apologize. I'll take you to the king's room. — said the guard, resuming a formal posture.

The guard led them through wide, ornate corridors, with walls covered in tapestries that told the history of the kingdom. Finally, they reached a pair of imposing solid wood doors.

—This is the throne room. The king and his family are present. Don't cause any trouble! — warned the guard, before taking two steps back.

—You can leave it to me. — Kay muttered, rolling her eyes behind her mask. "Do they always say that to people who come here?" she thought.

The doors opened slowly, revealing a majestic hall, illuminated by large crystal chandeliers. The red carpet that stretched up to the throne seemed to invite them to walk under the watchful eyes of dozens of nobles.

—I imagined... It's still full here. — whispered Kay, adjusting her posture to appear more confident.

—Stop complaining and hurry up! — Fernanda retorted, in a low but incisive tone.

As they walked, Kay noticed Emilia, the princess, smiling and waving discreetly at him. Without thinking, he returned the gesture. This was enough to draw everyone's eyes to the royal family, making Emilia blush and quickly lower her hand.

"You're here as an authority. Don't show him such friendship!" the queen whispered to the princess, in a firm tone.

"Okay..." Emilia replied, looking away.

Kay and Fernanda stopped in front of the throne and bowed deeply.

"You've made a lot of progress in the army. To be honest, as king, I never imagined that I would be handing out two medals to the same people in a single month!" the king declared, with a slight smile.

"Thank you!" Fernanda murmured, nudging Kay discreetly.

"Thank you," Kay said, trying to sound formal.

"Ghouls flying, Mineford recovered, and now new forms of the costume. This is so unbelievable that it's almost funny!" — said the king, bursting out laughing.

— Thank you. — Kay replied again.

— I shouldn't have thanked you now! — whispered Fernanda, containing her irritation.

— How was I supposed to know? — replied Kay, also in a whisper.

The king continued, in a more serious tone:

— We received the video about your training. Of course, a squad leader flying through the skies left us in disbelief.

— Now thank you! — Fernanda insisted, in an urgent tone.

— What a complicated thing... — Kay grumbled, before correcting herself. — Thank you.

— I would like to clarify something for everyone here. Is this new form a threat? — the king asked, in an inquisitive tone.

— It depends. — Kay answered, without hesitation.

— From what? — the king pressed, narrowing his eyes.

— From the person wearing it. The tentacles and wings are part of the suit. If the person has control, it is safe. But if they don't and try to use it... then it is a threat to everyone around them. It depends on the user's intention: good or evil. That's why I say it depends on the person. — Kay explained, in a firm tone.

— And how would you describe yourself? — the king challenged, leaning forward slightly.

— If you want to see it, just ask. Stop the drama. — Kay replied, with a boldness that drew murmurs from the audience.

Before the king could react, Fernanda intervened:

— Your Majesty, the protocol was followed. In addition, we are evaluating how to optimize the training to make the process safer. — she said diplomatically.

— We have summarized the report for this meeting, and these are the words of scientist Fernanda — announced the scientist, holding a document while adjusting his glasses. He began reading aloud:

— "The suits, because they are made of materials originating from ghouls, somehow retain traces of the consciousness of the ghouls themselves. These residual traces conflict, devouring each other until only one remains, stronger, which begins to dominate the suit. The percentage of compatibility of the soldiers with the suits depends directly on how much they are able to synchronize with this residual consciousness.

"In my view as a scientist, every time a suit is repaired, the new ghoul material used in this process can also end up interfering with the predominant consciousness. This can change the percentage of compatibility of the soldiers, for better or for worse.

"During testing, one of the recruits, named Kay, who had an initial compatibility of 100%, discovered a method of subduing the consciousness of the dominant ghoul, which allowed him to increase his compatibility to an impressive 150%. This feat was observed and validated in combat and training. In addition, the suits can apparently take on physical characteristics of the ghouls, such as tentacles and wings, if the user manages to reach an 'agreement' with this consciousness."

The scientist paused to look around the room before continuing:

— "In the training, Kay plays a fundamental role, as he is the only one who can access and interact directly with these consciousnesses without suffering damage, helping other recruits adapt to the suits. We are investigating alternative methods to replicate these results without relying exclusively on him."

The scientist finished reading and looked at Kay. — Those were the words of scientist Fernanda.

Kay tilted her head slightly, as if pondering something. Then she spoke in a casual tone:

— That's it. I don't have much to add... well, actually, I have one thing. When the dominant ghoul devours the consciousnesses of others, he heals himself. This can directly affect the performance of the suit, as the ghoul becomes stronger and more... arrogant. They start trying to take control of the suit. It's like breaking a limit — Kay explained, crossing her arms. — And, honestly, if they try to force a person to use the suit without being prepared, the ghoul will notice and sabotage everything.

The king, who had been listening in silence until then, leaned forward on his throne, his gaze steady.

“In the worst case scenario, what would happen if a ghoul were to fully regain consciousness?” asked one of the scientists, breaking the tense silence.

Kay gave a half-smile, but his eyes reflected seriousness.

“If that happens... the soldier would die. The ghoul would break free, using its tentacles to attack indiscriminately until its energy was exhausted. But since they cannot see or feel the world around them like we can, they would eventually succumb to hunger. That is, of course, if they do not find another ghoul to consume first,” he replied, his voice carrying a dark weight.

The room went silent, the tension palpable in the air. Fernanda stepped forward, breaking the ice:

“That is why our focus must be on intensive training and absolute control. We have the technology and the tools; now, we need to ensure that no one is put at unnecessary risk.” The king nodded slowly, his expression grave.

“Very well. Kay, we appreciate your sincerity. Your contribution has been invaluable. However, the burden you carry is great. I hope you are prepared for the trials that lie ahead.”

“Trials, achievements… throw them all to the captain. I don’t want my name, much less my face, spread around. To be honest, it’s horrible to have reporters on my tail!” Kay said, his tone exasperated.

The king raised an eyebrow, surprised by the young man’s attitude. His voice echoed through the hall, firm:

“We can’t attribute one person’s achievements to another!”

Kay sighed and, with a half-smile, replied:

— Then say it was the leader of the fifth squadron. But don’t disclose my face or my name! I don’t want to be stopped every time I walk around.

The king leaned forward slightly on the throne, his gaze sharp:

— And this leader... who would that be?

Kay pointed to himself with his thumb, his face calm, but with a defiant glint in his eyes:

— Me.

Before the king could answer, Fernanda intervened:

— It is a recent decision, approved by the captain and the other leaders of the sixth division. Officially, Kay was named leader of the fifth squadron, but the information has not yet been released to the kingdom.

The king folded his hands on the table and thought for a moment, then nodded.

— I understand. It will be done this way. The achievements will be attributed to the leader of the fifth squadron of the sixth division. No mention of his name or face will be published.

— It will be as you wish! — everyone present replied in unison.

Satisfied, the king turned his attention to Kay.

— Now that everything is clear... can you show us what was mentioned in the report?

Kay stood up unceremoniously, adjusting the collar of his suit. The hall fell silent as he positioned himself in the center. Then, slowly, black tentacles began to emerge from the suit, moving like serpents around him. The air seemed to grow heavier, and even the bravest soldiers gulped at the sight.

The tentacles were long, agile, almost hypnotizing. Some coiled around Kay like living armor, while others stretched across the hall, as if examining the surroundings.

“They are like extra hands,” Kay said naturally, as he made the tentacles move with precision. “They obey my will.”

The young princess Emilia, who was watching with eyes shining with admiration, exclaimed:

“How incredible!”

Kay laughed, relaxing her posture.

“Isn’t it? I knew you’d like it.”

“Restrain yourself, Emilia,” the queen reprimanded in a calm but authoritative voice.

“Sorry!” the princess replied, trying to contain her excitement.

The tentacles retracted, returning to the costume and restoring her normal appearance. Kay sighed and ran her hand through her hair, as if to dissipate the tension in the air.