Four weeks had passed.
Most students had fully recovered with a week remaining of their adjustment period. The vacant lot behind the medical ward was noisy. Dimitri and Han were sparring with their weapons.
'Han, win!"
Kuro cheered from the back. He had grown very tall. He was about a palms length taller than Han.
He had a firm and athletic body like a black leopard, but his gentle and soft hearted eyes remained the same. The main distinguishing difference was that he now had white hair. His white hair complimented his dark skin very well.
"Bring it! Dimitri!"
"What a good rehabilitation exercise!"
Dimitri boisterously laughed while spinning his wooden sword. Han whipped his spear in the air. Their weapons clashed in regular intervals. Rather than a spar, they looked like they were dancing with their weapons. Their movements seemed to be like one entity.
"You're not bad."
The both of them didn't have much intent to physically hit each other. It was only a light sparring match between the two. If they really got seriously injured, it would mess up the date they would be officially transferred into year 2.
"What a vulgar way to fight. We're psykers, you dum dums."
Simon said while standing below a tree's shadow.
He thought it was an eyesore watching Han and Dimitri spar against one another. He was in the middle of training his psychic skills by floating the leaves around himself.
'My body feels light. I have so much strength left over.'
Han laughed while attacking with his spear in opposite hands each time.
Han had finished his rehabilitation the fastest out of everyone. His physical body was the strongest out of everyone here. He had also recorded the fastest reflexes out of everyone.
"I won't let you have it easy next time, Han."
Dimitri threw his wooden sword aside and said. Sweat was falling from his muscular body.
The youths felt stares coming from the third floor of the medical ward windows. The people peering down were wearing the second year training uniforms. Simon recognized them and spoke.
"They're the squad commanders of second year. The second years receive training in squads. Squads who are short in number would come to pick a new member from the new transfers.
The reality that they were going to be transferred into year 2 finally weighed down on their shoulders. The second years watched them with sharp glares before leaving after awhile.
Han put on his training uniform that he had thrown off and then looked toward the second years.
The five week grace period had ended. The new transfers were assigned to different squads after the squad commanders' meeting.
The second years had a total of twelve squads. They were teammates and classmates. Each squad had a total of four to ten individuals. Han and Kuro joined the seventh squad. The squad commander for the seventh squad was a Japanese youth named Kato Souki. Kato was a sharp minded individual with narrow eyes.
"I'm the squad leader of the seventh squad, Kato Souki."
Kato spoke with a stony voice. The members of squad 7 glared toward Kuro and Han.
'The air is totally different than the time in first year.'
The faces and bodies of squad 7 sported many injuries. They repeatedly trained while holding actual combat matches.
Within the first years, no matter how distinguished a student was, he was only a young child. However, starting from second year, everyone's bodies became stronger and sturdier than a full grown adult.
This resulted in much more brutal training drills.
"Han Lee, you specialize in close combat. Kuro, you excel in psychic skills."
Kato spoke shortly. He looked down at Han. He had a coercive attitude.
"Should I call you squad leader? Kato."
"I heard you were transferred here from class B. Your psychic skills ranked the lowest. I'll be frank, I brought you into our team for Kuro's sake alone. You guys seemed to be one set. I don't have any expectations out of you Han. Just don't get in our way."
Han's brows quirked. This was blatant contempt. The squad members snickered.
"Ah, ah."
Kuro looked taken aback and looked to Han. The corner of Han's lips rose up as he laughed. He offered a handshake to Kato.
"I'll do my best not to get in your way. Kato."
"Call me Squad Commander Kato."
"I got it. Squad Commander Kato."
Han laughed coldly and walked to his room.
The second years used private rooms. They were also scheduled more free period time. During their first year, it had felt like school. However, second year focused on the military aspects.
"It's okay, there's no problem."
Han mumbled to himself. He put up a hologram photo onto his desk. It was a photo of his younger siblings in Korea.
'I just need to endure and my siblings won't need to worry about food.'
Han had nightmares regularly before he came to ark. His siblings who had died of starvation came to haunt his dreams. After he registered into Ark, those dreams had stopped altogether.
Han's door opened. Kuro stepped in.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh? There are high handed people like that everywhere. More so for people they don't welcome. Kuro, don't mind me. Display your skills with everything you got so that nobody can look down on you. You must show them just who you are."
Han could easily laugh off these moments. He had had to face these types of people within a hell-like environment while looking after his younger siblings from adults since he could remember.
'Kuro's weak minded. If Kuro were to fail his role in the team, they would pressure him a lot. His psychic skills weaken greatly under pressure. Many times, he fails completely.'
Han blankly looked to Kuro.
'To start, Kuro doesn't have the personality that fits with Ark.'
Han unpacked his belongings.
He could easily reach the cabinets that were higher up. He suddenly realized how much taller he had become.
Han glanced to the mirror that was by his closet. He had already become accustomed to his own body. Now, he was a second year.