We followed him and soon found ourselves traversing towards the core of the planet- meaning we were descending deep underground. We weren't alone either, many other people traveled alongside our entourage.
Other candidates, most definitely. The atmosphere was charged with tension as teams examined each other. Only a couple of us would emerge victorious from the Trials, the rest would be considered lucky if they were still alive once the tests were officially concluded.
I was surprised to see that barely anyone wore masks. Not many people chose to make use of the Phenom rank's special privacy privileges. It made some sense on multiple levels.