Chapter 6

A new day, a new theory class. Unlike the last lesson, this one required a little more effort because of Lero's occasional questions that might have touched on either current or topics from previous lessons. However, even this did not save Rachel from boredom, and towards the end of the lesson, she literally had to hold back her yawns. The pain in her muscles from yesterday's jog saved her a little. Despite Androssi's assurances, she had no intention of driving the blonde half to death in any way, stopping as soon as Unlawful was exhausted. It might be strange, but Rachel was planning to make another run for it, after all Androssi was right and if the blonde couldn't defend herself, she should at least be able to run away.

As the girl was about to leave the auditorium, Juga spoke to her.

"Um, Miss Rachel... it's..." Juga scratched the back of his head, trying to get over the awkwardness. It had been days since they had talked in the cafeteria and in that time he had never dared to approach the girl, and their interactions in class had been limited to a simple greeting. "I'm sorry about that conversation. I was going to apologize yesterday, but you left so quickly, so..."

"..." It took Rachel some time to understand what it was that Juga was trying to apologize for. When she did, she smiled weakly before answering. "There was no need to apologize, to be honest, I'd forgotten all about that conversation."

"Ah, that's relieving." Juga laughed embarrassedly. "Ha... I just thought I said something wrong and hurt you a lot, and that's why you... you know..."

"Well, then you really reminded me of something not very pleasant," the girl admitted a little reluctantly. "But there's enough to worry about right now that I don't want to dwell on that sort of thing."

In spite of what she had said, Lero Ro's words about Baam had not gone out of Rachel's mind since that night. The boy was here now, on this floor in another testing area, and most importantly, looking for Rachel. Night was looking for her Star. Rachel simultaneously wanted to know exactly what the first test awaited Baam and how he was able to completed it, but at the same time, she remembered what had happened on the first floor and how exactly Baam had been helped to beat with an otherwise impassable task for him. So, most likely, there were those here, too, who had literally dragged the boy through all the difficulties.

She bit her lip in irritation, and then looked in the direction of her interlocutor: Juga was still telling another half-made-up life story, not caring much whether Rachel were listening or not, as they both walked towards the canteen.

"I have been wondering for some time." Rachel asked, catching the pause between the stories, "Why did you even dare to talk to me, Androssi and even Hizu? I mean, we all tried, you know..."

Rachel made a vague gesture with her hand. She'd actually seen Juga chatting casually with the Princess about something and trying to rouse Rachel's bodyguard a couple of times.

"Kill everyone else?" Juga finished sentence for her. "Well, how shall I put it... several reasons."

The boy thought for a while before he continued:

"To tell you the truth, I was really afraid of your group in the field, not as people capable of killing everyone - we had plenty of those in the neighborhood, but because of the ease with which you did it," even though Juga considered it like they all three were doing killing, all the dirty work was done by the Princess and Hizu, Rachel was just running behind them, trying to keep up with them. Even so, she could not stay completely "clean" in that regard. "No one, not even those who I thought were strong participants, could even put up much resistance. So the least I could do was run, hide, and naturally fear for my life."

A small group of regulars coming right in front of them made Juga interrupt with his explanations. The wary or even frightened glances directed at her were not concealed from Rachel. Chameleon simply shrugged it off. When the group finally had passed, Juga continued:

"When the test was over and we were at the station, I was watching you involuntarily at first, and then with interest," the Juga paused briefly at the counter to place his order, "And you all seemed... pretty normal to me? Well, as normal as you can be within the Tower. Just very strong, that's all."

"Quite a sober way of looking at things," Androssi's silent approach made the two participants shudder. Regulars's reaction made the girl laugh. The Princess had indeed followed Hax's advice, and so instead of the usual high-heeled shoes, she wore the most ordinary dark orange sneakers on her feet. "Hi there."

"You don't live long in the lower boroughs with the other mentality," Juga quickly came to his senses, bowing courteously. "Good to see you, Miss Androssi."

"Hello, Androssi," Rachel smiled awkwardly, and then pointed her finger at the two items on the menu on the counter, placing her order, only adding, "Takeway."

"Aren't you going to have lunch in the canteen?" The chameleon asked more for clarification.

"No appetite," the blonde shook her head. She really didn't feel like eating. "I'll just take it with me so I don't have to go back later."

"Oh, well, I'll see you then," Juga nodded. The Princess repeated the gesture of the chameleon, and then was distracted by the cook's shouting for her to hurry up with her choice. Usually there's a member of the Da'an clan on duty, and they're so patient so you can think what to take for almost an eternity. Today, however, there was someone on duty who looked more like an overgrown praying mantis, and he was clearly not patient.

Rachel left the noisy canteen and headed toward the training area. About halfway there, she was joined by Hizu, whose class had just ended. The girl did not even pay much attention to it, just accepting as a fact such behavior on the part of the bodyguard. Except that she was a little surprised that Hizu did not stay outside, but came to the training grounds with her. However, she did not ask to leave or stay to "guard" the door. She simply threw off her sweatshirt and put on it the sandwiches and a bottle of water she had brought with her. After standing for a while, wondering where to start, Rachel decided to start the same way she had ended yesterday: with a simple jog. Not that she even knew what exactly to do beyond that. However, as soon as she finished one lap and got ready for the second, to the girl's considerable surprise, Hizu blocked her way and gestured for her to stop.

Rachel blinked a few times in surprise, but stopped running. She had not expected such a thing from her bodyguard. No, the guy certainly interacted with the other regulars in one way or another, mostly with Androssi, but he never took the initiative himself. Only nodded or shook his head if asked, but now...

"Um, Hizu?" Rahel asked a question after she'd recovered a little.

"First... stretch... then. Run," Hizu said with difficulty in pronouncing each word. Rachel frowned, still not understanding the reason for this behavior on the part of the bodyguard.

"Only if you show me exactly how. Also, what with that the sudden compassion?"

"Good shape... helps... survival," the girl signed: it explained everything. Hizu was clearly putting the task of keeping Rachel alive above everything else, including his own health. Androssi was able to understand this and use it to get rid of the other participants, even if it took some time. Another question remained.

"Why didn't you decide to take care of my "shape" sooner, then?" Rachel folded her arms across her chest. Now that she had the opportunity, she was going to take it and learn as much as she could about her bodyguard. She had tried before, but then he would only nod or shake his head occasionally, and more often he would just ignore her. Something had changed these days and the Princess was most likely involved.

"Androssi changed my mind" Hizu looked away. Is that how he expresses his guilt? Rachel sighed heavily and called for her watch to look at the time.

"I see. Mr. Headon has instructed me to be guarded only on that floor, so why go to such trouble?" More rhetorically Rachel asked.

"Not because of Headon," but Hizu answered anyway. Waiting for him to continue, Rachel looked questioningly at the boy. He only shrugged his shoulders slowly as he noticed her gaze.

"Are you telling me that you're going to continue to guard me on the next floors?" If it so, that's gonna be pretty good. In the Tower no loners survived, but in Rachel's case that rule was almost absolute. Technically, she was going to be assisted by the FUG, but the girl wanted her own power, even if it was not her own but of her loyal allies.

"Yes," Hizu nodded and then heading toward the center of the court. When he approached his destination, he pointed a finger first at himself and then at the girl, hinting that the day of revelations was over and we should move on to what Rachel had come here for. She hesitated for a moment but complied and then they began training.

...

Rachel collapsed tiredly on the bed. There was no strength at all. Every muscle and bone in her body was humming, as if she were expressing all the discontent she had accumulated during the last training session. Despite this, the girl felt a strange lightness. Even though formally nothing in her situation had changed, but now her previous problems and worries seemed somehow insignificant and not worth attention. It was not entirely clear what that had to do with it, but Rachel clearly did not mind. She also had a couple of questions regarding the luminaries, and yes it was worth talking to Androssi.

So, making plans for the next day, the girl did not notice how she fell asleep. And as before, that night she again dreamed of the stars.

At the same time, in the next room, holding a book in his hands, Hizu was sitting on the bed. He read out loud every line he read, trying to say as many words as he could without pausing between them. From time to time he had to stop and drink water. He decided to take the advice he had first received from Androssi that got repeated by Rachel at their recent warm-up. Perhaps it would be useful.

However, Hizu mind was occupied by another, more difficult to understand problem. During the conversation with the blonde, the boy had only been able to see a memory for a moment. A short one, obviously related to his "previous" life, but a memory nonetheless. It raised even more questions and, strangest of all, a sense of fear directed at himself...

***

Sitting at the desk in the principal's office, as Rachel had once sat there, Lero Ro studied the folder issued by the principal. With each new page the Officer frowned more and more and cast glances in the direction of the Floor Administrator. Yu Han Sung himself was sitting across from Lero Ro, having changed his usual attire to a simple blue kimono, waiting patiently, sipping his favorite coffee.

"Are you sure Director?" Lero Ro asked after he finished reading.

"Is something wrong?" Yu Han Sung said as he put his cup on the table. "Considering our... unusual number of participants, a standard exam will be quite difficult. And I'm generally bored with them anyway."

"I understand that, but still, fighting two Rankers at once is... too much," Lero Ro frowned even more. He assumed one was more than enough for Regulars, even if Rankers will be primarily defensive.

"That's why there are no conditions for victory or defeat in the test, only a time limit," Yu Han Sung shruged. He didn't saw any problem in such conditions. "Yes, and with this rules and situation, Regulars would be able to demonstrate their abilities much better."

"If There would have to be something there to demonstrate," almost escaped from Lero Ro's lips. He was in charge of floor security, and that included watching the cameras located throughout the complex. So with the exception of a couple Regulars, the regulars in that area were frankly unimpressive. The rest of the Rankers shared that opinion as well.

"I Suppose," Lero rubbed his eyes, resignedly, "Have you decided who exactly will be the examiners?"

"If you don't decide to take part, then Hax and Yu Bak-dol," Yu Han Sung looked at his half-empty cup. It was obvious that the contents of the cup actually bothered him more than his choice of Rankers. "I think they're competent enough."

"I'd rather just watch," Lero Ro declined offer. However, if only Yu Han Sung had thought to put Quant there, Lero Ro would have had to agree. Just to make sure that the red-haired jerk didn't lose his temper and kill the regulars...

"All right," the Administrator shrugged indifferently. "Since I've begun to change the tests, how about exploring a prepared one for another zone? I think you will like it more. There will also gonna be a Ranker, but only one."