The next morning.
"Arughhhh...." As Alex sat up, a searing agony pierced through his skull, causing him to wince and grasp his head tightly with both hands as if trying to keep it from exploding.
The excess of alcohol consumed the night before had taken a heavy toll on him, leaving him feeling as if a sledgehammer was repeatedly striking the insides of his skull.
With great effort, he lifted his head, and his bleary eyes struggled to focus until they settled on Ellia, who sat before him. Her legs were crossed, and her head was slouched back as if she were a beautiful marionette whose strings had been cut, her hair cascading down like a golden waterfall.
'How does she get blood flow to her legs?' Alex thought, finding Ellia's sitting position uncomfortable.
"Eh? Someone's awake?" Ellia's eyes burst open with a startling intensity, sending a jolt through her body. With a quick glance downwards, she locked eyes with Alex. "Oh, it's you."
With a graceful fluidity, Ellia slowly unfolded her legs, then rose to her feet.
"Everyone, wake up!" Ellia's voice erupted like a clap of thunder, the sound reverberating off the walls. The suddenness of her outburst sent shockwaves through the room, causing everyone present to jump in their seats.
Startled by the sudden burst of sound, every head in the room whipped around to the source of the noise, expecting to see something menacing or angry. Instead, they were met with a dazzling smile that lit up Ellia's face like a beacon, her eyes sparkling with an infectious joy that was impossible to resist.
"Wha?" Aerie looked at Ellia with confusion.
"The ranking test is going to start soon, so let's head to the chow hall to grab something to eat," Ellia spoke as she fixed her collar.
"Ahhh… why." Issac grabbed his head as he got up.
It looked like everyone was hung over from last night.
"Because there's probably something that will help with the hangover," Ellia spoke. "So tidy up. We're heading out."
Levi and Mike struggled to rise to their feet before trudging wearily toward the bathroom. With the weight of exhaustion bearing down on them, they pushed open the door and stumbled inside, their faces sweaty and dirt-streaked. Meanwhile, Aerie was gently cradling May in her arms, lifting her carefully from the ground.
'Come to think of it. It was May that forced that much alcohol down my mouth….' As Ellia contemplated, her forehead bulged with visible veins, but she soon sighed while shaking her head. 'She was drunk...'
After a few minutes, the group gathered themselves to head out. Though their clothing appeared pristine, each one of them bore a throbbing headache.
"Must be nice for not drinking," Levi spoke while glancing at Ellia as everyone walked out into the hallways of Everywhite and made their way toward the chow hall.
"Well, not really..." Ellia mumbled softly under her breath as she glanced towards Owen, his desolation as palpable as a dark storm cloud hovering over him.
"What's wrong?" Issac asked Owen.
"All my precious wine... gone," Owen's words quivered out of his mouth.
As Aerie surreptitiously stole a glimpse at Ellia, she couldn't help but notice the signs of guilt etched upon her face.
As they stepped into the chow hall, it was as if they had stumbled into a beehive buzzing with activity. The air was thick with the sounds of clinking utensils and murmurs of chatter that echoed off the walls. Every inch of space was occupied by groups of soldiers huddled around tables, their faces animated with excitement and anticipation. It was clear that the impending ranking test was the only topic on everyone's mind, and the energy in the room was palpable.
"Just get your food and meet up at this empty table," Issac spoke and pointed at an empty table.
In silent agreement, the group exchanged nods and dispersed like a flock of birds taking flight. They weaved their way through the crowds of people, the aroma of steaming hot dishes wafting around them as they approached the food stations. They filled their trays with heaping portions of nourishing sustenance, each dish a vibrant array of colors and textures that tempted their senses.
Unlike the others, Ellia had approached the buffet with a voracious hunger that seemed to mirror the insatiable appetite of a lioness on the hunt. It was as if she had created a miniature mountain range on her plate, with each peak and valley representing a different delicacy that had caught her eye.
Ellia's mountainous plate had become the unexpected centerpiece of the room, drawing the attention of those around her. The students of Everwhite gazed in awe at the petite, graceful figure that stood before them, her delicate frame belying the sheer volume of food that she had amassed.
They exchanged glances and murmurs of surprise, marveling at the contrast between Ellia's slight form and the weighty tray that she held in her hands.
"A lot for someone like you, Second Lieutenant." May fell into step with Ellia, her voice like the soothing murmur of a gentle stream as she began to speak. On her hand was a tray of food benefiting her small frame, unlike Ellia.
"Hmmm?" A wave of confusion washed over Ellia. As she gazed down at her tray, the realization hit her. As she scanned the food on her tray, she recognized the same servings that she used to consume when she was still a man. "Ah... right."
But it would be a waste to throw away such good food, so Ellia simply went along with it and sat at the table. May then sat beside Ellia.
As Ellia stood there, a sudden force jolted her head forwards.
Ellia turned around, looking for the cause. In the midst of the commotion, a girl with luscious brown hair caught her attention. Her deep orange eyes reminded Ellia of the morning sun.
"Oh, it's you!" Jessica parted her lips to speak as her face lit up like a blooming flower. "Sorry about that."
"Huh?" Ellia wore a puzzled expression on her face, unable to discern the identity of the stranger before her. "Who are you?"
"Ehhhh? You don't remember me?" Jessica spoke, quite offended. "Oh, you were really drunk at that time."
'Drunk? Ruth?' Ellia sought an explanation.
"She helped you reach the elevator when you were drunk yesterday..." Ruth replied.
'Is that so.' Ellia muttered inwardly while staring at Jessica.
"No, I remember," Ellia said, shaking her head. "Thanks for yesterday."
"Not a problem," With a clatter, Jessica dropped her tray onto the table and slid onto the seat across from Ellia and May. "By the way, you seem like completely different now."
"What is she talking about?" May's curious gaze wandered from Jessica to Ellia as she spoke up to inquire with a soft voice tinged with intrigue.
"Don't worry about it." With a dismissive flick of her hand, Ellia pushed the issue aside like a pesky insect buzzing around her head and turned her attention to her meal, eagerly plunging her fork into the savory dish.
"Now you're making me curious..." May's shoulders slumped in defeat as a heavy sigh escaped her lips while Jessica giggled softly from the side.
"Oi, it's you!" In the midst of her meal, causing Ellia to look upfront, her cheeks puffed out with a mouthful of food like a chipmunk hoarding its stash.
"Eh...?!" Ellia's face contorted in a look of bewilderment as she was met with a sudden realization. With the girl's long red hair, Ellia pieced together the puzzle. Ellia's once-confused expression transformed into one of confident recognition, mirroring the same haughty look of the person she had encountered in the depths of the nuclear facility.
"Yes, this is her..." Ruth's voice erupted like a volcano, spewing forth her irritation toward the girl before her. Her tone was sharp and biting, like a knife slicing through the air with precision. "To think this girl would show me so much fear... I'll remember to return it tenfold... no... a hundredfold!"
'Clam down...' Ellia attempted to pacify the storm of emotions raging within Ruth. 'Are you going to let this girl anger you like this?'
"Ah… I'm an A.I how could I let my emotions take over?" Ruth's voice barely rose above a whisper as she murmured.
"You're too loud, Jona," Jessica's lips parted with sharpness as she spoke, her eyes narrowing to slits as she directed her glare toward Jona. And there, standing beside Jona, were Sara and Kai.
"What was that…?" Jona's facial expression visibly soured.
"W-what's going on here?" Aerie's voice suddenly entered the fray.
Ellia wiped her head around and saw Aerie, along with the rest of squad 32.
"Oh! It's you!" Jona shouted, pointing at Alex.
"Again... you're too loud." Jessica let out a deep sigh as she twirled her delicate pinky finger in her ear.
"You...!" Jona's eyes winded with rage as she looked at Jessica.
"You know each other?" Mike's gaze darted over to Alex as he abruptly interjected into the conversation.
"Yea..." Alex spoke as he looked over at Jona with eyes that didn't seem too friendly.
"Looks like it's time for us to leave." Jessica chuckled as she got up from her seat, noticing that staying here wouldn't do any of them good. "Let's go." She said, pushing Jona away.
As Ellia sat there, she felt Kai's gaze lock onto her. She could sense the weight of his suspicion in his eyes.