Panels of LED lights, symmetrically placed on the roof, glowed with a bright white light, illuminating all corners of the room.

The ventilator purred rhythmically, each cycle accompanied by a faint click and a mechanical imitation of the sound of gentle wind.

A sharp beep from a hearth monitor occasionally broke the symphony of noises made by the various machines.

A sleek infusion pump stood against one wall, its screen lit in a soft, dim green, displaying numbers and lines that scrolled like a private language.

Alice looked around, lying on a minimalistic hospital bed covered in a white sheet.

Next to her stood still a doctor, holding a tablet where she inspected the results of various medical tests Alice went through.

"Is everything alright?" Alice asked, smiling.

Doctor sighed. She pulled a stool and sat down. "I am afraid," she said, her eyes locked on the medical results.

Alice turned her away, eyes locked on the roof. "I see." She closed her eyes with a smile. "I lived a good life."

"No, you got me wrong!" The doctor jumped up. "I am afraid, as in I am terrified." She put the tablet in front of Alice. A full-body X-ray of hers was on the screen.

"You got body slammed by what I can describe as a freight train at full speed, and there isn't even a single crack, let alone broken bones!"

Alice sat straight and looked at the doctor. "Ah, so I am good."

Doctor nodded. "Yes, yes. You are recovering extremely fast, and all you have are some bruises and a split lip. Just use some ointment for it, and you will return to full health with no scars."

Alice sighed and clenched her fists, "Agh!" She suddenly shouted. "Then why did I even go through all these tests!" She protested.

The doctor jumped away, startled, but quickly calmed herself.

"I am sorry, but when we see someone get body-tackled by a giant robot, then take an explosion strong enough to shake this entire building head-on, we don't assume they are good." Doctor answered. "You people make it so giving up your born powers for aura looks so worth it." She murmured.

"Then can I go?" Alice gripped the bed rails, already halfway through her escape.

"Rest for fifteen more minutes, then visit my office if you feel fine for exit documents, and don't worry, you are the only one here anyways." The doctor left the room.

Alice dropped herself to the bed and sighed.

The sword materialized, lying next to her. "You seem to be in a bad mood."

"I did lose." She sighed.

"That boy Leonhard, he wasn't an easy opponent."

Alice raised one arm and pointed towards the roof. Her eyes locked on her hand, and she clenched it. "But I was very close to taking him down."

The sword levitated above Alice, pommel down, and rushed down, hitting her stomach.

"Tsk!" Alice straightened up, holding her stomach. "What was that for!" She shouted, glaring at the sword.

"You needed a little wake-up call."

Alice rushed forward to grab the sword, but it flew away, avoiding her attempt.

"You fought against an enemy more experienced than you are." The sword said as it avoided Alice.

"But we have been training ever since the bonding ritual. It's been like ten years!" She leaped forward, her aim at the sword.

"Training." The sword emphasized the word. "You trained if I had to give you my opinion. Your opponent experienced combat and let you fight longer to gather data." It dodged the next attempt.

"What?" Alice stopped.

"That mech suit had the strength to overwhelm you from the start. If Leonhard had activated assault mode and pinned you down while his supports bombarded you with bullets and missiles, things could have turned very ugly very fast."

"Then explain why you stopped me at the end. I had strength for one last attack!" Alice protested.

"You would have been seriously damaged then. Your opponent prepared a last-ditch attack on you. His anti-oxygen radiating spiked extremely high. I couldn't risk it."

"Then I lost it pretty badly." Alice smiled, surprising the sword. "Still, that feeling at the end," She put her hand over her heart. "I felt like I was alive!"

"You remind me of your great-grandfather. He was a battle maniac who looked like a mindless berserker, but he controlled the flow of the fight flawlessly."

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"I remember him, at least his renown. He was one of the strongest of his time. Do you think I will reach him?" Alice asked.

"No, you won't just reach him. My special knight will go so high she will be the biggest pain in the ass for the future generations who will constantly get compared to herself!"

"Then I say sorry to my nieces and nephews."

*** A week after Alice left the medical room.

It was early in the morning. Alice, Jin, Jonathan, and Yulia had gathered on the training grounds.

"So, other kids arrive today?" Alice asked.

Others nodded.

"And why are we standing here in a line?" She asked further.

"We are here as representatives of our schools." Said Jin, showing the pin on his chest, a serpent-like wingless dragon.

"But I haven't joined any." Alice looked at herself and then at the other kids. All were in their school uniforms, while she wore basic gym clothes. "And I think I am pretty underdressed for the occasion."

"Don't worry about it," Jonathan said. "It's not like we do much on first days anyway."

"Alright, if you guys say so." She turned around and looked at the main entrance. It was fully open.

Soon after, kids, led by advisors, entered inside.

"There are all kinds of people here," Jin remarked.

"I see two winged guys, one giant..." Yulia said as she pointed towards the person she mentioned.

While the trio bickered, Alice was stiff as a board. "Why didn't they warn me? I could have at least worn more formal clothes." She thought, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Not long after, other kids gathered before them. In between groups stood the advisors.

Yulia stepped forward. Her carefree and, as Jonathan called it, "Gremlin" attitude was nowhere to be seen. She slowly but graciously walked towards the other kids, stopped, and gave a perfect soldier greeting.

"I am Yulia Zimnyaya, representative of Sickle Academy for Battle and Public Defense."

Jin followed her. He moved forward, his glaive at ready. He opened his wings wide, lights from the roof shining on them. "I am Jin Qiang, representative of Dragon Warfare Academy."

Jonathan levitated off the ground and moved forward. "Jonathan Miller. Representative of Arsenal." His muscles flexed, and his face stern.

It was time for Alice. She braced herself and moved forward. "Long as I don't stumble and fall, I can't go any lower here. So, just let it flow."

She called her sword in the form of a greatsword and stabbed the ground.

"Alice Ardenblade, I think I was supposed to be Horizon's representative, but I don't have a school I enrolled in right now."

Other kids stepped forward, approaching them.

Suddenly, a wave of electricity surged around Jonathan, and a moment later, a kid appeared standing on his shoulders.

He had pastel yellow hair with streaks of black paint in the shape of a lightning bolt. He wore sport baggy clothes and a denim jacket adorned with pins of famous agents and heroes alike.

He bent forward until his eyes met with Jonathan's. "My man!" He shouted, waiting for a reaction, but Jonathan kept his serious face.

"You poor happened here in the last three weeks to make you forget to smile?" He gestured as if he was wiping his tears.

Jonathan suddenly dashed backward and caused the boy to fall.

"No, I was just giving good impressions."

The boy got up and dusted his clothes. "Good impressions, my ass. You looked like you were barely holding your number two." He moved next to Jonathan, leaving a trail of electricity behind, his speed so fast a regular person would think he teleported.

Jonathan pressed his fingers to his face and sighed as he shook his head. "Good to see you too, Jack."

"So they are friends." Alice turned around. "Wonder if I see any other knights." She thought.

Kids, who she assumed were from the Sickle, had gathered around Yulia, bombarding her with questions.

So she turned towards Jin. He was in a similar situation, just question bombardment changed with casual chatter.

"Why did I become the odd one out?"

"Hey," A voice called her.

"Yes?" Alice answered. A giant as tall as the Chancellor stood before her. Alice looked up to see his face.

He was very muscular and had no nose. He was also bald, and his skin was a mix of gray and swampy green.

Alice looked at his hands. "Six fingers." She noted.

"You the knight girl?" He asked.

"Yes, but is rudeness required when meeting someone new?" Alice asked.

"Name's Goliath," he said, cracking his fingers. "And would like that representative position of yours."

"Here we go," Alice sighed and raised her sword. "I don't think I can even give that position, but-"

"Yes, she can't give you that position." Jin put his arm over Alice's and leaned forward. "She also can't duel with you because she has a duel promise to me."

"If your girlfriend is scared, I will beat you then."

"Okay, now let me-" Alice moved forward, but Jin stopped her.

"No, I can't fight because I have to duel her." Jin released Alice, moved, and grabbed Jonathan, "Sorry for that." He suddenly threw him to Goliath.

"What the hell are you doing!" Jonathan shouted, stopping himself in mid-air.

"Take this one for us!" Jin shouted back.

"And why exactly-"

"Enough!" Goliath suddenly charged forward and threw a punch towards Jonathan. "It seems that I must beat all of you one by one. Like it or not!"

Jonathan turned around and grabbed the incoming fist with one hand. He was strong enough to overpower Goliath. He glared at Jin. "You will pay for this." His eyes said to him, no words needed.

Jonathan levitated higher, bringing Goliath's arm with him. "I had no business with you, but thankfully, I can release some steam now." He released the arm and dashed forward for a punch to the face.

The punch was strong enough to create a shockwave, fast enough to crack like a whip.

The attack sent Goliath flying away. He rolled on the ground for a while.

The crowd, not expecting the outcome, gasped.

"He is strong." One girl with pearls on her hair said.

"Ouch, that looked brutal." A boy with wings murmured.

"That's my boy! Beats his ass!" Jack shouted his hands in front of his mouth, mimicking a megaphone.

"Damn it." He tried to get up, but Jonathan rushed forward and kicked him back to the floor.

Goliath, angry, swung an aimless punch.

Jonathan flew around it and landed another kick to him, creating a Goliath-shaped crater on the floor.

When he approached Goliath on the floor, a wall of sand appeared between them, followed by a loud whistle.

"This much is enough." Shouted an advisor. "You kids will have enough opportunities to give each other permanent brain damage later."

Jonathan turned around and flew away. "You owe me one." He said to Jin as he passed next to him.

Meanwhile, a crowd gathered around the loser.

Goliath punched the floor, "What are you all looking at!" He shouted but didn't get up.