The moon hung high above the compound, its pale light slipping through the window.
Reol was halfway to his room when exhaustion finally caught up to him. He pushed the door open, and stopped cold.
Tyla was already inside.
She lay across his bed, one leg bent, the hem of an oversized shirt riding just high enough to make him painfully aware of where not to look. Moonlight traced her soft curves beneath the loose fabric, shadows only emphasizing them. Her silver eyes glinted in the dim light.
"Uh—Tyla?" Reol said quickly, heat rushing to his face. "You're… in the wrong room."
She propped herself up on her elbows, the shirt shifting with the movement. Not intentionally, which somehow made it even worse.
"I believe I'm in the right room," she said, amused. "Your room, that is..."
His mind raced. 'What's going on here?!… Is she really trying to...?' He swallowed.
Reol's gaze flicked down toward her chest for a fraction of a second before he forced them elsewhere. "Y-Yeah. Sure… then how did you get in here?"
"Window," she replied casually. "You really should lock it."
"I could've been changing," he muttered.
She patted the mattress beside her. "Sit. I just want to talk," she said softly.
Reol hesitated.
She was far too relaxed— too close, too familiar, for someone who had nearly crushed his chest with her heel not long ago. Yet… he reminded himself they had been through life and death together.
Still, he sat carefully, leaving space between them.
Tyla noticed, a sly smile curving her lips. She shifted closer anyway, the mattress dipping. His shoulder brushed her side, warm, soft, unavoidable. Her cherry scent clouded his senses.
He stiffened instantly.
"You're always like this," she said, glancing at him sideways. "So rigid."
"I'm being cautious," Reol replied. "There's a difference."
She laughed under her breath. "If this is cautious, I'd hate to see you relaxed."
She leaned back slightly, arms crossing beneath her chest. The movement of her breasts drew his attention again before he could stop himself.
He swallowed.
Silence stretched, heavier than before.
Then she spoke, quieter this time.
"I just wanted to check on you," she said. "After today."
The teasing faded. Just a little.
Reol exhaled slowly. "You could've knocked."
"Wouldn't have had the same effect."
She met his eyes.
And for the first time since he walked in, Reol realized she wasn't here to flirt. She was here to see if he'd break. Then she finally spoke.
"I wanted to know how you coping without being around your siblings?" Her eyes then softened. "I know it must be tough for you."
Reol looked at her, touched by the sincerity in her eyes. 'I guess she didn't come all the way here just to tease me… she was worried.'
He smiled faintly, gaze cast downward. "Well, to be honest… I've been beyond worried." Then he looked up at her. "But the Commander promised me they'll be fine. I'll be able to check on them from time to time, so… I guess that puts me at ease a bit."
Tyla returned a warm smile. "That's good to hear. Oh, and you should bring me along, I'd love to meet them."
"You're sure…?" Reol blinked, surprised.
"Why not? I'd love to see the people you hold so dear, the ones you'd put yourself in constant danger for."
"Well… sure, but they're brats. Don't expect to meet saints."
Tyla chuckled softly. "Oh, they can't be that bad. Anyway, I also wanted to tell you about the Sergeant Exams…"
"Oh, yeah… that."
Tyla folded her legs, her tone shifting. "The Sergeant Exams sound like a normal ranking system, but it's much deeper than that." Her eyes narrowed. "It's a way to weed out the weak."
"Weed out the weak?" Reol's eyes widened slightly.
"There are three special exams you'll have to participate in," she explained, "each can prove deadly depending on the instructor."
"Do you know what kind of exams they'll set for us?" Reol asked.
"No. They change every year depending on the instructor, but the system is more or less the same… a survival exam is guaranteed." Her tone softened. "I just hope… she isn't one of the instructors…"
Reol leaned closer. "Who…?"
Tyla's cheeks flushed faintly as she leaned back a little too quickly.
"Oh… it's nothing."
Reol didn't pull back, his eyes locked onto hers as silence stretched between them. Tyla's heart thudded as she blinked, caught off guard.
Finally, Reol broke the silence. "O-Okay then."
He leaned back, and Tyla quickly rose. "Okay, since I've dropped some knowledge, I'll be going now," she said nervously, hurrying out and closing the door behind her. She pressed her back against the wall, catching her breath.
'What was that? I thought I would be the one teasing him… boy, did that backfire.'
She sighed. "I need to get some sleep."
As she made her way to her room, Reol collapsed onto his bed, burying his face in the pillow.
"Damn… I couldn't even focus on what she was telling me. Even her scent is still lingering…"
"Dammit! How am I supposed to get any sleep now?!"
*****
The next day, blue and rose light clashed and sparked across the soccer court. Reol and Tyla circled each other, sparring fiercely—her chains snapping toward him while he dodged and parried with an enhanced pole, sparks flying on every clash.
Above, Felicia and Cassidy observed carefully.
"It seems Reol can only switch from one object to another at a time. Perhaps that's his Phase One," Cassidy noted, jotting down observations.
Felicia leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Perhaps, he's adaptive though. He's been keeping up with Tyla surprisingly well."
Below, Tyla closed in, her chains humming as she leaned close and whispered in his ear, "By the way… I don't usually break into every guy's room."
Reol faltered, memories from last night flooding back. Tyla seized the opening, wrapping her chains around him and pulling him to the ground. She straddled him briefly, smirking. "I win."
Reol looked to the side, trying to mask his fluster. "You play dirty, you know that?"
Cassidy tilted her head, scribbling on her notes. "I wonder… what did she say to cause him to lose focus?"
Felicia sighed, shaking her head. "That's a question only they can answer." Then, clapping her hands, she announced, "Okay, it's a wrap."
As Tyla's chains dissipated and Reol's pole reverted to its normal form, she smirked.
"I told you, you might need your skateboard to even stand a chance." She extended her hand.
"Trust me," Reol said, taking it as he got to his feet, "that's not why I lost."
Felicia stepped onto the grounds. "Reol, you show promise, but you'll need to improve much faster if you want to pass the Sergeant Exams."
Reol smirked. "Yeah… I've been learning a lot. I didn't even know I could adjust the size and weight of a weapon and stuff like that. Still got work to do, though."
Felicia's lips curved into a knowing smile. "That's the advantage of working with professionals, kid. By the way, another Cadet will be joining you soon. He's also participating in the exams. I want you to play nice."
She turned and walked away. "You're free for the rest of the day."
Reol glanced at Tyla. "Another Cadet?"
Tyla gave him a look he didn't expect. She exhaled with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Ugh… oh brother. Where do I even start with him?"
Reol leaned forward, intrigued. "Wait… who is he? Is he seriously strong?"
Tyla tapped her temple thoughtfully. "Strong? Sure… but it's more about his personality than his power. Honestly? I think it's best you find out for yourself."
Reol felt a shiver of unease. 'Suddenly, I have a bad feeling about this…'
*****
Somewhere in a dark, abandoned warehouse, two Voletiles tore into each other, limbs and blood scattering across the floor. From the shadows, a hooded figure sat, casually breaking apart a human arm as he gnawed on it. Only his red pupils glowed, cold and hungry, cutting through the darkness.
A soft, feminine voice drifted in:
"It looks like some Fortextiles broke your toys in the Pretonia District."
He laughed.
"Ain't no surprise there. Didn't expect shit from a fuckin' Fledge anyway… So then, who was it? The Lionels?"
"No... it was the Honeybadgers. And… you'll be interested to know…" She paused. "One of them… is an Enhancer."
The figure froze mid-motion, bloodied arm dropping to the table. His dead eyes widened.
"Oh nah."
His grin slowly split wide, red pupils flaring brighter in the dark.
"Aight then… turn me up."