— This guy can only be from...
— Shut up! — Kine interrupted Slezzy's speech — We'll make it! Just focus! He's just teasing us!
Slezzy was somewhat dissatisfied with the fact that that child gave him orders. However, he just continued his run.
*
After almost half an hour, the group was almost completing the endurance race. They had just completed the eighteenth lap.
— I will not... endure... this more! — complained Clay, panting, almost stumbling on himself.
— Hey! Calm down! — Kine, incredibly, managed to help Clay stay in balance with his arms, even tired.
Jean was ahead. He didn't seem to be as exhausted as the others.
Just behind, Slezzy and Clay began to slow down their strides at short intervals of time.
Kine was at the rear of the two older agents. She was steadfastly trying to keep them in balance so that the group would not suffer any disqualification.
At a given second, Jean glanced back, with the gaze directed at Kine. Then the boy nodded. Even almost dead from fatigue, Slezzy still managed to observe that scene.
It was then that, suddenly, Slezzy and Clay felt an energy on their back, a freezing sensation, that came from Kine's hands.
After this, mysteriously, the two boys returned to maximum rhythm. It was something magical. They even overtook the blond boy.
"Han? What was that? Kine?" Slezzy was confused by what he had just witnessed.
As he ran, the young man remembered the Sam Brothers and soon began to associate those facts.
"Is that possible? I actually just witnessed one of the powers of someone who has signed one of these contracts!? No... No! I need to concentrate... maybe it's some technique she learned in that Blue Order. Why would a demon offer a contract to... just a little child?"
"Come to think of it... How are these children running smoothly? How are they not dying from foot pain or just from tiredness?"
— Keep going! Don't stop until you finish this damn race! — Jean caught the group's attention.
Everyone in the field cheered and shouted, as if it were some kind of competition.
On completion of the last lap, the candidates collapsed to the ground.
Most of the military around cheered them on their feet.
Roy and Santos then approached the group.
— What's the matter, no? I always knew what their real limits were! — Roy provoked them with a positive sign with his hand.
— Congratulations to you, boys! I'm sure you have the potential to be one of the wonders the FMA is looking for — said the General, abandoning you then walking towards the main building soon after.
Roy, content with the situation, ran to the cabin. Within seconds, he returned with some plastic boxes.
— I... I can not feel... my feet! — complained Slezzy, panting.
— Old man... — Jean coughed and resumed his speech. — Until you did well!
— How funny... — The boy replied, ironically.
Still lying, the members could hear Roy's footsteps.
— Look what I brought! — Roy carried with him four red boxes, which he then distributed to each of the four — a special meal for each of you! Then you can even thank me!
Kine watched the Captain with an angry expression, causing him chills.
Everyone sat down, still tired, and began to devour the meal that was inside each of those boxes — a big burger and fried beans, plus a sauce. There were also juice boxes.
— Take it easy! They will end up devouring even the boxes! — warned Roy. He also helped himself with one of those boxes. — The next training is in three hours. If you want, you can...
Before Roy completed his speech, Clay, who had already devoured all that meal, ran with his remaining feet toward one of the beds inside the hut.
The Captain opened a formidable smile.
— ...rest! — completed. — Well, I think it's better to check if everything is right for the next and last training of the day. Take care, on!
The Captain stood up and walked to the other side of the field, towards the shooting range surrounded by a large number of military personnel.
After finishing his meal, Slezzy did not think twice about going to bed as soon as possible. Soon, he went into the cabin and laid to rest in one of those bunks.
The boy still took a while to fall asleep, since Clay snored a lot at that moment.