Tess's eyes flickered open in the midst of the night, instantly drawn to the piercing scream that had shattered the tranquility of their slumber. Szedra's cry had jolted the other recruits awake, their senses abruptly heightened.
Zino, ever aware of the time, informed them that it was a mere four o'clock in the morning. As if by some fortuitous coincidence, Lanse quickly reminded them of their impending training session, a stroke of luck amidst the confusion.
Tess, ever mindful of her own comfort, had made the choice to don an extra shirt beneath her training garment. The subtle amusement dancing across L's face made it evident that he had found something whimsical in her decision.
And yet, amidst their preparations, uncertainty clouded their minds as to where precisely the white bandages should be placed. It was L, with his characteristic air of condescension, who took it upon himself to enlighten them, his words laced with a hint of belittlement.
Adding further anxiety to the air, there were instructions in the box on how to find the training vicinity. All it took was one elevator, a floor coordinate that could not be from a regular elevator, and treading down a lonely hallway with one large two-sided door.
As they mustered the courage to enter, their senses were jolted by the presence of the commander, already poised within the room. A momentary paralysis gripped them, unsure of how to proceed. Eventually, they positioned themselves in close proximity, forming a line, yet the commander remained fixated upon his wristwatch.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the commander leisurely raised his piercing green eyes from the confines of his timepiece. Tess's heart skipped a beat in response, causing her to hastily avert her gaze to the farthest reaches of the room, momentarily evading the intensity of his penetrating stare. The clock struck precisely 6 AM, an hour that loomed with trepidation, shrouded in the unsettling memories of the previous night's hazy events.
Sensei's voice broke the silence as he spoke, and the group of teenagers obediently followed his unspoken command, falling in line behind him. Their eyes multitasked, alternating between scanning the room's surroundings and ensuring they moved in perfect sync with the commander's footsteps.
They proceeded along the middle path that divided the room into two halves, their synchronized steps echoing in the vast space. Tess couldn't help but notice the towering ceiling, a characteristic she presumed was common in important rooms like this. Square glass windows adorned one side of the room near the ceiling, running parallel to the length of the wall. The morning light filtering through the windows was still dim, and circular bulbs mounted on the ceiling and walls provided additional illumination.
The room was filled with an assortment of training equipment, arranged in distinct sections delineated by fences and slender, dark-blue walls. Tess and her fellow teenagers had to constantly shift their gaze from side to side, their eyes darting to take in the multitude of training stations and equipment that surrounded them. The sight was overwhelming, as if every corner of the room held a new opportunity for growth and challenge.
The expansive ceiling housed a series of gymnastic rings suspended from long ropes, along with rows of treadmills, punching bags, and weightlifting equipment. Tess recognized these from her stamina classes back at the Academy. However, amidst the familiar equipment, there were other contraptions that appeared more mechanical and peculiar, their purpose not immediately discernible at a casual glance.
As the commander's firm strides came to a halt, he pivoted to face the group of teenagers. Tess instinctively averted her gaze from his stern expression, instead fixing her attention on the black whistle dangling from a chain around his neck. He wore the same long dark-blue pants adorned with vibrant yellow lines running along the sides, paired with a crisp white t-shirt.
Tess, on the other hand, had opted to wear an additional turtleneck shirt underneath, concealing her neck. Like the commander, they all had white bandages wrapped around their elbows and hands, including Sensei. Tess couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction seeing the commander donning the bandages in those exact places. Lanse's earlier speculation had proven correct, a fact that elicited a low growl of frustration within her thoughts.
The commander commenced his purposeful stride, pacing back and forth along the line of teenagers that stood before him. His penetrating gaze scrutinized each of them from head to toe as he spoke, his words carrying weight and authority.
"Perhaps it's a good thing the new guardians are teens. I don't have to worry about breaking your bones and any joint dislocation will snap right back into place." A smile played across his lips, though it was evident that he alone found amusement in his words.
Bringing his walk to a halt, the commander turned to face them, his head held high, exuding an aura of unwavering confidence. "While this may be your first training session, there is a level of performance that I expect none of you to fall below. Now, I assume you all had a restful night's sleep..."
As Tess absorbed Sensei's fading words, her mind painted whimsical images of the commander's visage morphing into absurdity. She envisioned his goatee elongating like a stretchy piece of gum, cascading until it reached the ground. A vivid pink clown hat materialized atop his head, injecting an element of playfulness, while his feet swelled to colossal proportions, growing six times larger than before.
With a blink, Tess banished the illusion, but it served as a catalyst for her recollection of the previous night's escapades. After indulging in the delectable feast prepared by Zino, laughter had enveloped their small gathering as they spun a web of cheesy jokes, all aimed playfully at the commander.
A smile tugged at the corners of Tess's lips, but she quickly pressed them together, restraining the impending laughter. The thought of erupting into laughter at that moment seemed uninviting. They would all think she was crazy.
None of them dared to go back to their rooms last night. She, like them, had woken up in the dark of the telegram emitter room. The left side of Tess's lip twitched in annoyance remembering the smirk Lanse gave her before shutting his eyes and pretending to be fast asleep. It was because of him that she slept on the ground. What a despicable human being.
But just like then, Tess kept her composure and suppressed her bad feelings for him. She held back any inclination to become upset over trivial matters. Afterall, he had only scored two points in her bad book and wanted to give him time to redeem himself.
She harbored a deep-seated determination to prevent a recurrence of her past actions, specifically, the incident involving a Mid-Sentry official from years ago. The haunting screams of pain from that encounter still reverberated within her nightmares, serving as a chilling reminder of what she was capable of. She was resolute in avoiding any further outbursts, knowing that if she were to lose control, the consequences would only draw unwanted attention to herself.
The commander's once motionless figure underwent a noticeable transformation as he raised his hand, instantly capturing Tess's attention and compelling her to focus on his words. It was as if a switch had been flipped, commanding her full engagement.
"Now I know you're wondering what this is," he commented as he kept his hand raised wearing the glove. The glove was different from the one he usually wore and was made of thick material.
Tess didn't give that obvious answer. There was such a thing as s stupid question and that was one. Worse, answering such a question would make her a stupid person and she was not one.
"This is not just a glove," the commander added, prompting Tess to wonder if he had read her thoughts. "This is a summoning glove. It is made from the most advanced cutting-edge technology that is rarely found in the reaches of GeoSaun. It will serve as your main weapon on your missions and you will cherish it with your life. At your stage, losing it means you die."
Szedra's hushed whisper reached Tess's ears, injecting a momentary touch of humor amidst the seriousness of the situation. "I get it," Szedra quipped, her voice barely audible. "He expects us to slap someone with it."
A faint smile tugged at Tess's lips, appreciating the lighthearted remark. However, before the smile could fully form, the commander closed the distance, stepping forward until he stood directly in front of Szedra.
The weight of his serious gaze bore down on Szedra, causing them both to instinctively take a step back. Yikes!