Chapter 3: Berret

"Today's the day, huh?"

Jakob muttered, his breath growing heavier by the second, sweat soaking his clothes. He glanced at the watch-like device strapped to his wrist, its screen flashed, displaying some text.

"Ten kilometers, huh? Not bad for a warm-up,"

he murmured, before jogging back home at the same steady pace. It has been a week since Jakob was approved to take the practical exam. Despite his late start in preparation compared to other applicants, he was determined not to waste a single day. Pushing his body to its limits, he honed his skills in both armed and unarmed combat, knowing this moment was crucial for his journey ahead. It was the one opportunity for Jakob to truly assess if he was ready for the new path in life he had chosen.

Minutes later, with the same constant pace, he'd finally arrive at his home. Jakob went straight for the showers, wanting to get rid of his accumulated body odor.

Once again Jakob would question himself once more, asking himself if he was truly meant to break from his newly found comfort as an accountant.

"Am I really ready?"

He asks himself, as the water droplets trickle down on his body.

Despite his background as a former field operator, Jakob found himself consumed by nervousness over the impending examination. Arrowhead wasn't just any run-of-the-mill PMC; its reputation reached the global scene. Anxiety overtook his mind, yet amidst the demons haunting his thoughts, memories of his conversation with Fernando served as a guiding light, giving him temporary peace for the time being.

Moments later, freshly showered and dressed, Jakob knelt by his bed, the floor creaking as he retrieved something hidden beneath. With a faint scrape, he revealed a small, dusty crate, its once-pale green now dulled by time and use. Each scratch and dent on its roughened surface indicated it's frequent use in the past.

"There you are,"

Jakob whispered, his fingers tracing the worn edges of the crate's exterior.

He carefully inserted his fingers into one of its edges, causing it to creak before he gently popped its lid open. The dust scattered away from his action, unveiling a piece of equipment that embodied his distant past: a pair of combat gauntlets, although they resembled more like bracers with knuckles as an extra feature. Crafted from synthetic polymers, they were remarkably lightweight, while the combat-specific parts like the front of the bracer and its knuckles were coated with a special alloy, ensuring both durability and lightness. Jakob, reunited with his old "friends" after a prolonged absence, ran his finger across their surface, adoring them for a brief moment.

"Let's see if they still fit,"

Jakob muttered to himself as he slid one hand into one of the gauntlets.

As soon as it was properly fitted, the veiny patterns on the gauntlet's surface illuminated, bringing it to life. A tingling sensation coursed from his hand throughout his arm, followed by a soft jolt of energy that vibrated through his fingers.

"That's right, that's how it's supposed to feel,"

he thought, before removing the equipment from his hand and carefully placing it inside a duffle bag placed beside him.

"Guess I'm heading out,"

Jakob monologued, finalizing his preparations and arranging everything else, leaving his apartment home neat and orderly.

Exiting his apartment, he took one last glance at his home before striding away towards the the sidewalk where he would call for a taxi.

"So, you're one of the applicants, eh?" the taxi driver inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.

Their eyes meet at the rearview mirror, their gaze locked unto one another.

"Well-, I actually am,"

Jakob replied, leaning against the backseat.

The driver raised a brow as a he heard his answer, shifting his gaze from the road then towards the rearview mirror once more.

"Good luck out there, mate. Hope you get 'em good,"

the taxi driver replies, his tone being optimistic.

Hearing the driver's kind words, Jakob couldn't help but give the driver a small smile, a small gesture of his gratitude.

"Thank you, but I don't think it will be easy—"

The screeching tires interrupted Jakob's sentence as the taxi came to a sudden halt in front of a large black building.

"We're here, mate. That's one hell of a location,"

the driver commented.

Jakob nodded silently, completing the payment process before shouldering his duffle bag and stepping out of the vehicle. Standing before the establishment, he stared at it for a few seconds, his head held high with determination.

"Outta the way!"

a voice shouted from behind, followed by a forceful shove that sent Jakob stumbling over his duffle bag and onto the ground.

"Hey,"

Jakob replied calmly, despite the unprovoked act of aggression. Slowly, he looked up at his assailant, who continued walking as if Jakob was was never there.

It was a large man, towering at six feet or more. He possessed a toned and muscular physique, indicating his dedication to intense physical training. His dark hair was spiky and unkempt, paired with beard without a mustache spread across his face. He only wore a black gi with it's sleeves torn off, the belt on his waist donned a purple-ish hue. He wore no footwear and walked with bare-feet, further contributing to what the general population would call the "hard-core" style.

"Didn't know they'd let shrimps take the exam. This will be easier than I thought,"

The man mocked, his voice brimming with confidence, before casually making his way into the facility, completely disregarding Jakob.

"Hey! Wait!"

Jakob called out, scrambling to his feet and attempting to pursue the man.

About to tail the stranger, Jakob felt someone grab his shirt collar, stopping him from moving an inch further from where he stood

"Don't even bother. It ain't worth chasing a musclehead like him,"

a stranger advised.

Jakob turned towards the voice, finding a young adolescent male standing beside him. He stood just a bit shorter than Jakob, with a smooth face that seemed ageless, like a teenager trapped in an adult's body. His hair, a rich shade of dark brown, matched the deep hue of his eyes. He wore colorful body armor reminiscent of the heroes in children's movies, proudly featuring blue as its primary color.

"Uh huh, and... Who are you?"

Jakob asked, slightly weirded out by the encounter.

"Well friend, I'm glad you asked! I'm Adam Theodore Oliveron Mackenzi! Code name: ATOM!"

the stranger replied enthusiastically.

"Nice to meet you, Atom.... My name's Jakob, but people call me Jake for short. As for my codename, it's..."

Jakob paused, wracking his brain to recall his codename from his time as an operator in his old PMC.

As Atom noticed his newly found friend lost in deep thought, he gave him a gentle smack on the back, pulling him back to the present moment.

"We'll tackle that code name later. Let's head inside now; we don't want to miss the attendance and briefing,"

Atom suggested, maintaining his earlier enthusiasm and friendliness.

"Alright then, let's go,"

Jakob replied, shouldering his duffle bag.

The two men approached the facility's entrance, Atom was brimming with optimism while Jakob was slowly being eaten away by an undying sense of anxiety. Without any hesitation, Atom pushes one of the glass doors open, ushering Jakob inside

"That's odd, I expected more people to be here,"

Atom remarked, surprised by the smaller crowd than anticipated.

"I thought the same thing,"

Jakob agreed.

"Well, besides passing the written exam, the organization rigorously screens applicants to ensure they come from verified backgrounds and have clean records. This organization is among the best of the best, and they aim to recruit only the finest operators for maximum efficiency,"

a man nearby explained.

Jakob and Atom simultaneously turned to their lefts, only to find another stranger standing beside them

"I'm afraid I must withhold my given name for security reasons. However, within the confines of our current arrangement, you may address me by the moniker 'Node.' And might I inqure about yours?"

The stranger asked.

He stood as a slender figure, slightly taller than Jakob, his presence accentuated by the sleekness of his build. On his face was a pair of futuristic glasses, visually distinct from conventional eyewear, hinting at his affinity for advanced technology. Each ear was adorned with equipment resembling headphones, though their purpose in the current setting hinted at their significance beyond mere fashion. Covered entirely in pristine white attire, he emitted an aura of sophistication, further emphasized by the matching pair of white gloves that adorned his hands, completing his impeccably curated appearance.

"I'm Atom, and this is-- uhhhh"

Atom began, hesitating before Jakob swiftly interjected.

"It's Jack," Jakob replied promptly.

"I thought we were using code names," Node remarked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"That is, in fact, my code name,"

Jakob replied, his tone firm.

"Whichever choice aligns with your preference. Nevertheless, it is imperative that both of you proceed to register yourselves and your equipment promptly, as the briefing is scheduled to commence shortly."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Node explained, gesturing towards a desk where a small line had formed.

Jakob offered Node a brief smile, nodding in acknowledgment before gently patting Atom's shoulder, silently signaling for both of them to proceed to the registration desk. They joined the line, where Jakob stood with composed formality while Atom fidgeted with restless movements, brimming with excitement. When Jakob's turn arrived, he was greeted by the warm smile of the receptionist, who handed him a pen and a sheet to write down details regarding his application. After filling out the necessary information, Jakob returned both the sheet and pen to the receptionist with a polite nod.

"Please place your equipment or bags on the conveyer belt,"

the receptionist instructed, gesturing toward the active conveyor belt transporting items to another room.

Jakob followed the instruction, dropping his duffle bag onto the conveyer belt and watching it disappear from sight. Turning to the receptionist, he asks, "Will my equipment be taken to the examination area?"

"Don't worry, sir, you'll retrieve them after the examination,"

the receptionist assured him, maintaining her warm smile.

"Alright, thanks for the information," Jakob replied, seemingly satisfied with her response.

As he processed her words, a realization dawned on him: "Wait... after?" he thought to himself, puzzled by the receptionist's words.

"Ma'am, what do you mean by 'after'?" Jakob attempted to inquire, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by the receptionist's dismissal.

"Next!"

she declared, ignoring Jakob's question entirely.

"Booyah! Finally my turn!"

Atom exclaimed, eagerly stepping forward to receive the registration sheet and pen from the receptionist.

Realizing he wouldn't receive an answer anytime soon, Jakob decided to let it go, standing near the desk lost in thought as he awaited Atom's completion of the paperwork.

"Why would they let us bring our own equipment if they're just going to take it away afterwards?"

he thought to himself, puzzled by the unusual situation.

"Alright Jake, let's go!"

Atom announced, appearing seemingly out of nowhere and snapping Jakob out of his deep thought with a forceful smack on the back.

Seeing Atom finished with his registration, Jakob nodded slightly before leading the way to the conference where the orientation was scheduled to take place. Upon entering, they observed the diverse array of applicants of varying shapes and sizes.

"Awesome! I might be working with some of these guys tomorrow!"

Atom exclaimed with his trademark enthusiasm and excitement.

Jakob couldn't help but chuckle at Atom's confidence, pondering whether he was simply naive or blissfully clueless, perhaps even both.

"What are you laughing at?"

Atom retorted angrily, interpreting Jakob's chuckle as mockery.

"Nothing—let's take a seat,"

Jakob replied, gesturing towards a pair of vacant seats in the conference hall.

They settled down beside each other, with Jakob sitting slightly forward in his seat while Atom slouched back, fully relaxed.

"So... are you a fresh graduate like me?" Atom inquired, curious about their potentially shared circumstances.

"This is my second PMC, though I only had a few months' worth of experience at my old one," Jakob explained.

"Oh? Are ye one of those battle hardened folks?" Atom asked.

"Well, not quite. I've done a few security contracts, but that's about it," Jakob replied.

As their conversation lapsed into silence, the rest of the room followed suit. The lights dimmed, and a spotlight illuminated the podium, revealing a woman standing behind it.

"Good morning, my precious applicants. Oh, how I adore seeing your eager faces here today. Congratulations on making it this far darlings. However, as we continue, I must be honest with you. Only about ten out of thirty of you will make it through. It's a tough pill to swallow, I know,"

the woman announced, her voice gentle yet carrying a weight that settled over the conference hall like a comforting embrace.

"But fear not, my loves. Failing Arrowhead's practical exam doesn't mean the end of your journey. There are other paths in different PMCs, although I must say, few hold the same prestige as Arrowhead,"

she reassured, infusing the room with a sense of warmth and encouragement amidst the daunting challenge ahead.

"Jeez, I didn't really prepare a backup plan in case I fail. What about you, Jake?"

Atom asked, his tone filled with worry.

"Well, I could always go back to my old accounting job,"

Jakob replied, his voice carrying a hint of the same feeling as Atom's

"Darlings, before I forget, let me properly introduce myself! I'm a squad captain under the esteemed Captain Yashindo's command. You can call me by my codename Zone for now, sweethearts. I'll be your supervisor during this examination, alongside a few other proctors who will be lending a helping hand.

Now, let's get down to business, shall we? The examination will have five parts, each with its own unique flavor. Two tests will be all about showcasing your individual talents, while three will focus on how well you can collaborate with others. Each test will earn you a maximum of ten points. Nail the main objective, and you'll snag all ten points; those who fall short will still earn points based on their performance. The top ten applicants with a total score above forty points will earn their spot in the PMC; the rest, well, we'll have to bid them adieu.

Now, onto the juicy details! First up is the ranged weapon test, where we'll be evaluating your prowess with firearms. It's a five-part affair: standing small arms, coverfire rapid weapons, running shotgun, grenade, and marksman rifle tests, in that order.

The second test will be a mano-a-mano hand-to-hand combat showdown. You'll be paired up with opponents of similar weight classes, and feel free to use any technique or style to take them down.

Instructions for the partner and team-based tests will come later, so for now, hone in on the individual tests mentioned earlier. Any questions, my lovelies?"

Zone asked, his voice projecting authority and clarity.

The room remained eerily silent as she proceeded with her next announcement.

"Oh, my dears, just a gentle reminder: the examination will be conducted virtually. You'll find headsets under your seats, which will transport you to the simulation area. Please put them on so we can proceed to the next phase of the examination,"

she added calmly.

Upon hearing this, a wave of murmurs swept through the room, indicating that most of the applicants were not pleased with the decision to make the examination virtual.

"Is this some sort of joke?"

a voice from afar complained.

"We didn't sign up for this cheap video game nonsense! We're soldiers, not players in some game league!"

another voice followed.

"And I thought this PMC was globally renowned!"

said another.

Amidst the complaints, Zone couldn't help but respond, her voice maintaining its calm demeanor despite the room's unrest.

"My darlings, let's all take a moment to lower our voices. Yes, the exam may be virtual, but rest assured, your physical data and equipment have been meticulously uploaded into one of the most advanced simulations available in the world,"

she explained, a hint of concern in her tone.

However, her tone shifted, and her gaze sharpened as she addressed the room with a sadistic smile stretching across her face.

"The only difference is that you needn't concern yourselves with holding back for your or your opponent's safety. Feel free to unleash your darkest desires, whether it's beating, killing, or even torturing them. Just remember to keep within the boundaries of our rules,"

she explained, her words sending a chill down the spines of those in the room.

"Hah! That's more like it! Now I can crush these weaklings without a worry in the world!"

a voice exclaimed, expressing approval at the new information.

Curious, Jakob and Atom turned their heads towards the voice, recognizing the figure as the same man who had bumped into Jakob earlier, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"Dude's a psycho--- Whaddya think of the new announcement, Jake? You still game for this?" Atom's asks, interrupting Jakob's contemplation once more.

"No wonder they confiscated our equipment. Bringing it here was just a ruse for scanning them."

Jakob analyzed.

Atom, seeing Jakob deep in thought again, delivered a harder smack this time. "Quit overthinking it! The exam's about to kick off!" Atom's shout snapped Jakob back to attention.

"Please proceed to wearing the headsets. The examination will commence in approximately sixty seconds,"

Zone instructed, prompting everyone to wear the required gear.

Jakob and Atom retrieved their headsets from beneath their seats.

"See you on the flip side!" Atom chirped before slipping on his headset, causing him to fall into a trance-like state.

"This is it,"

Jakob muttered, placing the headset over his head.

As the headset activated, a screen flashed with the text "initializing simulation." A surge of electricity coursed through Jakob's body, plunging him into the same trance-like state as Atom.

"Did it work?" Jakob wondered aloud, scanning his surroundings, still in the conference room.

"Hey! Did yours malfunction too?" Atom's voice piped up, the headset gone from his head.

"Weren't you just in a moment ago?" Jakob asked, recalling Atom's earlier state before wearing the headset.

"I don't know--Where'd your headset go?"

Atom looked around, noticing Jakob's lack of the device.

"Wait, what?"

Jakob's hand instinctively went to his face, realizing his headset was missing, mirroring Atom's situation.

"Welcome to the simulation lovelies!"

Zone greeted, her attire now transformed from before.

"Before any of you think we're all still in the same place, allow me to demonstrate,"

she announced, snapping her fingers. The conference hall walls crumbled away, revealing an open field.

"Isn't it marvelous, my dears? Unfortunately, only I have access to these abilities as the administrator of this reality."

she adds, descending from the podium.

"So, we're really in a simulation, huh? Felt way too real the first time around, don't ya think?" Atom's head turned toward Jakob, curiosity dancing in his eyes.

"It's rather strange, isn't it? We know it's not real, but it feels so convincing," Jakob replied, his fingers tracing the surface of his chair, lost in thought.

Having captured their undivided attention, she proceeded with the next phase of the examination: the first trial, the ranged weapons test. With a snap of her fingers, all applicants were teleported away to another location—a shooting range. It boasted a straight and narrow path flanked by two sets of moving targets, encased within steel walls that amplified even the slightest noise, echoing throughout the range.

"Now, my dears, the rules are quite simple. Certain gates will only open under specific conditions: either expending your pre-allocated ammunition or landing headshots on all targets. Achieving the latter yields a perfect score, while the rest will be evaluated based on your splendid performance. And do remember, there's a time limit as well, with penalties for exceeding it."

she explained, clarifying the rules before commencing the trial.

"Before we proceed, my dear ones, please watch this demonstration, to be performed by one of my squad infantry."

She instructed, winking at one of her infantrymen who stood near her.

The footsoldier nodded at his squad captain before teleporting within the shooting range and standing at the starting point. As soon as the timer began, he swiftly darted towards the first test, raising the provided pistol with both arms and landing decently placed shots before running out of ammunition. With the first test completed, the fence leading to the second test opened, revealing a similar challenge where the footsoldier had to take cover from enemy fire and time his shots with an assault rifle. He waited patiently, firing his shots as soon as the enemy bot's barrel fell silent. Just like before, he landed well-placed shots until his ammunition ran out, prompting the next fence to open.

The next test differed greatly from the previous ones. This time, he had to move while shooting stationary targets with a shotgun. He rushed through the narrow path, picking up a shotgun as he dashed through the targets, leaving several bullet holes in them as he passed by. The fourth fence opened, leading him to an area with oddly shaped walls. The objective was to land grenades on the targets, some hidden behind walls. Using his wit and field experience, he threw the explosives at certain angles, successfully hitting most of them. The last fence opened, and he sprinted through it. The final stage was simpler than the last: he had to hit moving targets using a scoped rifle from long range. Holding his breath, he fired into the distance, hitting some and missing others. As soon as he ran out of ammo, the test was over.

"Well done, lovely! A performance like that is worth seven points," Zone declared.

Most of the silent observers began conversing with each other, seeking insight from fellow applicants regarding the scoring system. Meanwhile, the footsoldier wiped sweat from his brow, feeling a mixed sensation of tiredness and satisfaction.

""So... does anyone want to volunteer?" Zone asked, scanning the room for any willing participants.

The room fell into a hesitant silence, with applicants, considering the risks and rewards of being the first to step forward. Despite the uncertainty, a figure emerged from the crowd, his grin stretching widely accross his face.

"Count me in!"

Atom declared, his determination shining in his eyes.

"Well, well, if it isn't one of our energetic youth,"

Zone remarked, noting Atom's youthful appearance.

Without further ado, Zone snapped her fingers, teleporting Atom to the center of the range.

"Ready... go!"

the proctor announced, kicking off the test with a burst of energy.

Atom dashed towards the first part of the test, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he approached the moving targets. He swiftly grabbed a pistol, aiming with shaky hands as he fired off rounds. Some shots hit their mark, but none found their way to the targets' heads. With his ammunition depleted, Atom moved on to the next stage, feeling a surge of nervousness building up inside him.

"Come on, Atom! You got this!" he muttered to himself, trying to steady his trembling hands.

Taking cover behind a barrier, Atom hesitated before returning fire at the moving targets. Fearful of exceeding the time limit, he sprayed his weapon wildly, hitting only a few targets by sheer luck. As the next fence opened, he hurried towards the shotgun test, his confidence waning with each passing moment.

Grabbing the shotgun, Atom struggled to control its powerful recoil as he fired at the moving targets. Despite his best efforts, most of his shots missed their mark, leaving him frustrated and anxious as he moved on to the next challenge.

Approaching the grenade test, Atom's nerves reached a boiling point. With shaky hands, he lobbed grenades towards the targets, but they bounced off the walls and fell short of their intended destination. Disheartened, Atom sighed heavily as he prepared for the final trial.

Taking up the scoped rifle, Atom's confidence faltered. He hesitated, uncertain of his ability to land precise shots. However, determination sparked within him as he focused on his target. With a deep breath, he squeezed the trigger, his shot ringing out across the range.

"Come on, Atom! You can do this!" he encouraged himself, steadying his aim as he fired off another shot.

To his surprise, the second shot found its mark, hitting a target square in the head. Despite missing the rest of his shots, Atom felt a surge of pride at his small victory.

As his turn came to an end, Atom couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and disappointment. He had given it his all, but now it was up to the observers to determine his fate.

"Don't worry, dear! There are still other tests!" the supervisor encouraged, noticing Atom's energy from earlier slowly fading away.

Her gentle words offered a glimmer of hope amidst Atom's disappointment, reassuring him that there were more opportunities ahead.

"Anyone else would like to give it a try?"

Zone asked, looking at the crowd of applicants

"Anyone else would like to give it a try?" Zone asked, scanning the crowd of applicants.

A woman stepped forward, her youthful appearance contrasting with her lifeless demeanor. Her hair had a deep purple hue, framing her tanned skin. She wore a combat vest with short sleeves, pants equipped with various accessory slots, and a green beret with a strange symbol engraved upon it.

"I will,"

she offered, her expression stoic.

"Oh, how lovely! Another female combatant. What's your code name, dear?"

Zone inquired.

"I am Berret, madame. Code named Berret,"

the woman replied, her expression blank

"You lost, baby girl?"

a mocking voice taunted from behind, igniting laughter among the onlookers.

"Preposterous! I will not allow any bigotry in this e—"

Zone began, her voice bristling with anger.

"It's fine, ma'am. We are field operators; comments like that shouldn't affect the way we do our work," Berret interjected, her tone steady despite the mocking laughter echoing from the crowd.

Zone took a deep breath, visibly calming down before teleporting Berret to the starting area. She glanced at a nearby proctor, signaling for the countdown to commence.

"Ready... Go!"

the proctor announced, initiating Berret's trial.

Berret became a blur of motion, her movements fluid and precise, wasting no time as she navigated through the first test. Rapidly pressing the pistol trigger, she turned the semi-automatic weapon into a blur of gunfire, each shot finding its mark with deadly accuracy. With the first part completed flawlessly, she seamlessly transitioned to the next challenge.

Grabbing a fully automatic rifle from one of the weapon holders, Berret took cover behind a barrier. Unlike the soldier and Atom, she didn't wait for the enemy fire to subside. Instead, she leaped into action, emerging from cover while the adversaries were still firing. With lightning speed, she landed headshot after headshot, the shooter bots unable to react in time.

As the third fence opened, Berret dashed towards the next area, her movements graceful yet purposeful. Picking up a shotgun, she built momentum with each step, then utilized the slightly slippery metal floor of the range to her advantage. With a smooth slide, she unleashed a hail of shotgun pellets, each finding its mark on the target's heads with pinpoint accuracy.

Entering the fourth area, Berret faced the grenade test. Without hesitation, she simultaneously removed the pins of all three grenades, expertly lobbing them at separate targets. Each explosion was timed perfectly, with every target hit squarely.

Finally, reaching the last stage, Berret picked up the scoped rifle. Taking a moment to steady her breath, she squeezed off shot after shot, each finding its mark on the head of a moving target. With her final shot fired, she stood tall, her performance flawless from start to finish.

The crowd was left dumbfounded, their jaws hanging open in awe at the display of skill before them. Those who had mocked earlier were now silent, their disbelief showing on their faces.

"Impressive, dear. Even I cannot pull that off,"

the supervisor admitted, her voice tinged with admiration as she addressed Berret.

"Anyone else?" she called out, inviting more volunteers from the crowd.

"These people are so good, it's ridiculous... ! Right, Jake?" Atom turned to his side, expecting to find his buddy beside him.

But to his surprise, Jakob was nowhere to be seen.

"Jake? Jake?!" Atom's panicked as he frantically searched the area.

"Oh? Another young one, it seems. May I know your codename, dearie?"

Zone's voice interrupted Atom's frantic search.

"Jack. My code name is Jack," Jakob replied, his demeanor serious and determined.

"Wow, he really went for it..." Atom thought to himself, impressed by Jakob's boldness.

Jakob's gaze met Berret's, his expression firm. "Thanks to you, I might just be able to pull this off,"

he thought to himself, silently acknowledging her impressive performance.

With a snap of Zone's fingers, Jakob found himself teleported to the starting point of the range. The atmosphere was tense, the examination finally beginning for him.

"Focus, Jake. Remember all your training,"

he reminded himself silently, steeling his mind for the challenges ahead.

"Be light on your feet... your mind as sharp as an arrow,"

he continued his internal monologue, preparing himself mentally.

"GO!"

the proctor's shout snapped Jakob back to reality, signaling the start of his first test.

Jakob's journey through the examination had begun. Would he pass with flying colors, or would he fall short?

Chapter 3

END