The students who passed the speed and endurance test were ushered into a luxurious lounge, where they could rest and recover for 20 minutes before the next test began. Aria, still feeling energized from his victory, walked in and took a seat on one of the plush couches. Some of the other students were still looking at him with disdain due to his dirty appearance. Aria could even feel some looking at him with jealousy and envy due to the position he got in the last test.
Kael, who had been watching Aria from across the room, approached him with a smile. "Hey, Aria, is it? You're really strong, you know that? I mean, I've never seen anyone with your type of fighting style before."
Aria barely acknowledged Kael, his eyes fixed on some distant point. "Yeah, I guess."
Kael sat down beside Aria, his eyes shining with excitement. "I want you to be my rival, Aria. I know we can push each other to our limits and see how far we can go. You know I have been watching you since the beginning of the exam, and I have to say, you're one of the most interesting recruits I've seen."
Aria raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
Kael continued, undeterred. "I mean, you're fighting style is so unique. It's like you're not even trying, but your still taking down your opponents left and right. I want to know what drives you, what makes you tick."
Aria shrugged, his eyes still distant. "I'm just doing what needs to be done."
Kael leaned in, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I know your hiding something, Aria. I can see it in your eyes. You're not just an ordinary recruit are you?"Aria's once distant gaze, then turned to look at Kael, his eyes shining a bright blue, with intensity
.…
"Hey look, Kael Blaize is talking to that unknown over there."
"Yeah! Do you think they know each other?"
Some of the students muttered to themselves as they saw Kael engaging Aria. Elara then looked in their direction with narrowed eyes before continuing her discussion with a girl with light blue hair. She was of average height with a busty body, but still incomparable with Elara's body, her light blue eyes left a striking impression, anyone who looked into them almost felt as if they were looking into the distant sea. A lot of guys had their eyes on both of them, some even tried to approach but where coldly turned down by Elara.
"Elara! If you want to go and meet them we can go, I know you and Kael go way back, so, it will be nice to talk to him again right?" The girl with light blue eyes said after seeing looking in Aria and Kael's direction over and over again.
"Let's just leave them be Nia, after all, I haven't talked to Kael in a long time" Elara said to the girl with blue eyes whose name was Nia, with closed eyes.
…
Kael sighed, his smile faltering for a moment. "Fine, be that way. But I'm not giving up on you, Aria. I'm going to keep trying to get to know you, to understand what makes you tick. And who knows, maybe one day you'll even consider me a friend."
Aria's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "I don't need friends, Kael. I just need to pass this examination."
Just then, a group of girls approached them, their eyes fixed on Aria and Kael with admiration. 'Hey, Kael! Hey, Aria! You guys were so amazing out there."
Kael smiled and chatted with them, his charm on full display. His smile matched with his bright orange eyes and black hair, all added with his athletic figure made him ladies' man. The girls blushed as they saw his smile that made his face glitter. Aria on the other hand, closed his eyes and ignored them, his mind focused on the next test.
The girls, however, where not deterred. They continued to flirt with Aria, trying to get his attention. But Aria's indifference seemed to make them more attracted to him. Aria sighed at the development, the wind blowing is long hair, his bright blue eyes cold and distant, and matching the cool aura he excreted subconsciously. The girls almost fainted as they saw this sight, some even began squealing at this heavenly sight.
Aria and Kael stark contrast based on looks really left an impact on the female recruits. As for the male recruits though, their anger, jealousy, and anger towards Aria only increased after seeing the attention he was getting. Lirien looked in their direction with one eye open before smiling and going back to his silent meditation. Some female recruits caught wind of this and were about to approach him, when the sergeant's voice boomed through the loud speaker. "Recruits, it's time to return to the field. The next phase of the examination is about to begin."
The students stood up, their faces filled with anticipation. Aria and Kael followed, their eyes locked in a fierce stare.
As they walked out onto the field, the sergeant explained the rules of the next and final phase. "This will be a battle royal, where you will face against recruits that passed from the other center in the academy. The last one standing will be declared winner and will take the most points."
The students gasped in shocked, their eyes wide with excitement and fear. For a school as big as a city, of course they had to have had to examination centers. But what surprised them the most was that they will have to face off in a battle royal, which brought a huge impact.
And then, in an instant, they were teleported to a massive arena, the technological advancement of the school on full display. The teleportation process was seamless, with the students being disassembled at a molecular level and reassembled in the arena in a matter of seconds. The process was so advanced that it felt like they had simply blinked and found themselves in a new location.
The arena was a marvel of modern technology, with holographic projections an advanced AI-powered obstacles. The students looked around in awe, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
Kael turned to aria, a look of anticipation in his eyes. "See you on the battle field Aria," he said, a hint of a smile on his lips.
Aria's eyes narrowed, his mind already focused on the battle ahead.
...