The Talk

At first, Ank who had just returned saw him sitting on the floor flinched at him for sitting like an underprivileged, but then thought it over and felt that it is not a good thing to discriminate on this basis as he crouched down and shook his shoulder to wake him up.

"Hey! Don't take it hard. Some of us have trouble adapting after our first death. Moreover, it is incredible that you dived straight into your first match despite your first attempt at this game. You are a cocky one."

Crey chuckled as he twisted open the cap and drank out the water. Ank waved to make him follow as both of them departed to make their way towards the rooms. On the way, it was him who was doing most of the talking, telling Crey some rules about tomorrow as Crey only listened while staying silent as he was still calming down. Only after reaching the floor of Crey did he bid farewell and best of luck to him for tomorrow.

Ank, who was about to close the lift to go to his room, stopped as suddenly he got a call on his ring. A holographic screen lit up and a man with brown hair showed up on the screen. He smiled as he teased,

"I heard you are making a new friend. Since when did you become so friendly to socialize with every tom, dick, and harry."

Ank rolled his eyes as he grunted,

"If you don't have anything better then, I am hanging up. "

"Wait! Wait! .."

"...."

"I am calling for a favor. I have one friend in the 'Gold group' along with you and I want you to help him with tomorrow's test. Help him if he gets into some trouble, and I will owe a favor to you. I know it's against rules but I am sure you can find a way, after all, who is better at exceeding rules than you."

Ank raised his eyebrow as he asked,

"Are you sure you want to owe one? Because I don't think it will be profitable for you, Vince."

"Whatever….just do it. "

*******************

Sun rose and it marked the beginning of the day of the field exam for the students who have cleared the first stage of the exam and are looking to be selected in Terra Academy.

There was not a single exam for the final admission but every group had different types of exams. Now it is bound that some students will get simple exams while some of them will get hard ones. To this discrepancy, according to Terra academy luck and unfairness were an integral part of life and one should expect to deal with it from start.

The students taking this field exam were put in different groups. The bundling was done randomly and groups were kept secret until the morning. Then they were sent to the students as a message on their Watch ID. The aim was to minimize favoritism, preparation, or any secret cooperation up to some extent. Therefore until morning, every individual was blind as to which group they are going to be or what exam they would be facing?

Combat and in-fighting were allowed, as the competition was individual-based. There were no rules as anything can be attempted to reach their objective in one piece Except there shouldn't be any deliberate casualty by students. Checks and cameras would be at appropriate places to monitor their activities but there are no penalties for any underhanded methods.

But before the start of the exam at dusk, it was at one PM in the noon with happy Sun overhead and temperature at its highest. Crey found himself sitting in the room where students had to undergo medical tests to weed out any unfit or any unethical means taking students(drug test) before the Exam. Crey was sitting as new as when he arrived here, with yesterday's trauma drowned away after last night's sweet sleep in a comfortable bed.

He went through a few general blood tests and normal medical scans where he went through a testing screen and walked out quickly. Everything was going normally when suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder as he was about to leave towards the starting site where he had to board a ship to reach an island chosen for the 'Ferrous Group' for today's test.

Crey turned back to find General Dan standing behind him. His face was as strict and unreadable as always. Crey nodded politely as he had no idea how to interact with this guy.

"Come after me! "

Crey followed after him to a deeper part of the medical building. And while walking Dan started the topic while observing his reaction with a side-eye,

"You should know it was me who put you into the 'Ferrous group'. This group is going to have one of the most difficult exams out there. If you are not careful you can even lose your life there. It would be very tough even for you…... if you want to obtain merit."

Crey looked up and shrugged his shoulder,

"Oh!"

Seeing his lackluster response, Dan was surprised but he didn't show it on his face. He actually forgot that this young man was unaware of the meaning of 'Merit' or even if he knew he would have the same response. As he was here not to pass exams but to fail here.

"I know that you have already Evolved to a second stage."

Crey who was hearing with half a mind nodded because it was not something he could hide or he wanted to hide.

"And you know that a person is not allowed to take a second gene recombination drug to Evolve to the second stage before eighteen years. But your reports indicate that you are Evolved-2 even before when you were 14 years old.

You should know that rules demand that we should have a proper history of the individual going to attend the academy. "

There was silence in the room as Crey pretended he didn't hear those words but his mind had woken up from his usual energy-saving settings to super active mode. His eyes were beginning to dart around, doing the things he thought he must have forgotten after leaving behind his previous life for so long.

But here feeling the necessity he was doing it once again like a 'programmed reaction'. His eyes were looking around analyzing and noting surroundings for the best escape route, best opportunity to attack or run, etc. It was a professional hazard he was suffering from.