Alexei.
Huh.
This was getting tiresome. I could feel their eyes on me, curious glances cast my way as if I wouldn't notice. Sure, I might look a little out of place, but that didn't make it any less irritating. The way they kept sneaking peeks made the entire situation all the more uncomfortable.
At least I was finally discharged. The incident with Daimian seemed to have been buried, for the most part. They likely didn't want to be the laughingstock of the academy after being found in the restricted area. But it was their own fault, and now they were paying for it, held in detention for a week. The drugs didn't help their case either, nor did the... questionable traces of other activities found there, you know the one completely prohibited. The investigation was still ongoing.
Bodyguard Rule Number III: Instructions and rules define us, and thus, we must follow them to the letter.
Serves them right.
It was 6:40 when the assembly began, and I watched as two instructors strode into the yard—Luther and Lady Cynthia. She wore her signature pink-tinted glasses, her military uniform pristine as always. Her cap was tucked neatly under her arm as she marched in perfect rhythm behind Luther, her movements precise and sharp.
There was something undeniably captivating about a disciplined woman. Lady Cynthia carried that air of command, and it was no surprise Luther had married her. A woman molded by responsibility and honor, guided by respect. What more could you ask for? The kind of woman who didn't talk too much, listened when necessary, and obeyed without question. A woman you could reason with. That, right there, was my ideal. Someone who could bring order and control, leaving you to enjoy the ride.
Behind them marched seven seniors—four men and three women—all wearing their ceremonial military uniforms, the same we'd wear at graduation, adorned with polished star ranks on their shoulders.
"Recruits! Formality, at stance!" The rep's command sliced through the air.
"All hail the state!" We shouted in unison, the stomp of our boots reverberating as we snapped from at ease to attention.
"Liberty of the family!"
"Glory to the system!" we echoed, our voices rolling over the courtyard like thunder.
Our chins lifted, hands steady at our sides. No one dared shift even a fraction, not until the formalities were complete.
"I trust you're all ready this morning!" Luther's voice boomed across the assembly. "I know you're eager for the ranking ceremony, but this time, there's more!" He began to pace, his boots striking the ground with purpose as the others remained still behind him.
"We all know why we're here, why we joined. Money—that's what everyone wants. It's natural. But before that, *before* anything else, there's something greater: *honor*."
"Live, protect, and die for the client!" we roared, reciting the oath that bound us all.
"That is our pride. The client's safety, their appreciation of our dedication—that's the real reward." He paused, his eyes scanning the ranks before he continued. "Well, gentlemen... ladies... here's your chance." He gestured behind him with a sharp motion. "These are the assets for the advancement test. You'll choose a partner—two at most. We have twenty-four groups, each one of us will oversee four. The tests? We decide how you'll be pushed. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" we answered in unison.
"Louder!"
"YES, SIR!"
"Now, go register your partners!" Luther commanded, drawing his gun in a quick, deliberate movement.
—-------
He looms over me, his towering frame casting a shadow that seems almost deliberate. His face remains impassive, but that damn smirk pulls at the corner of his lips, like he knows something he shouldn't.
"It's been a while, Lex. You look like you've healed up nicely," he says, his voice dripping with irony.
But I feel nothing. No fear, no nervousness. Benny doesn't hold the same weight as he once did. I've come to understand the nature of power—how it works, how it shifts. Right now, he's insignificant. Weaker. I meet his gaze, unblinking, and the silence stretches between us. There's no need for a response. His threats, his presence—they've lost their edge. Sure, he's taller by a few centimeters, but the aura he once had is gone, replaced by something far less intimidating.
What am I even doing wasting time with him?
He leans in, bringing his face dangerously close to mine, his breath warm against my skin.
"I know what you did to them," he whispers in that familiar, cold tone. The one that lacks any veneer of friendliness. "And I've got a message from Daimian. I'll be delivering it soon." His lips curl into a malicious grin, close enough to brush my ear.
I tilt my head slightly, my voice calm and steady. "You comfortable being his little errand boy?" I see the flicker of anger in his eyes. "You're stronger than him, or at least you should be. But I guess money talks." I push past him, my hand lingering on his shoulder for just a moment. "I get why you've made the choices you have, but don't ever assume the shortest route is the safest. You'll fall, Benny, and when you do, there'll be no coming back. You won't get a second chance."
His fists tighten at his sides, jaw clenched, but he won't make a scene. Not here, not in front of the crowd. Especially not with the girls he's probably fantasizing about. Everyone knows that certain 'indulgences' happen, though only if you're unlucky enough to get caught. But Benny? He's careful, always playing the long game.
I make my way to the corner of the gym, finding a seat on a weight bench. I start wrapping my knuckles, focusing on the rhythmic task of bandaging my hands, when I hear a voice cut through the ambient noise.
"Hey."
I glance up. The new girl. She's got an average height, curvy figure, and a bright smile that somehow feels out of place here. Her black and blue hair is the only thing remotely striking about her. I avert my gaze, returning to tying the bandage.
"Ouch!" she exclaims as she crouches beside me, casually taking the bandage from my hands and beginning to wrap it herself.
I pull back instinctively, but she holds on, her grip surprisingly firm.
"You should really keep your distance," I warn, my tone low and dismissive.
She looks at me with a playful tilt of her head, that infuriating smile still plastered on her face. "Why? Is there a reason I shouldn't be here?"
"If you're smart, you'll figure it out," I reply coldly, tugging my hand free. But before I can stand, she pulls me toward her, our bodies nearly colliding. She's closer now, too close. I push her gently back, keeping the distance.
"What do you want?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.
"You," she says without hesitation, the word leaving her lips as though it means nothing at all.
"Watch your mouth. People might get the wrong idea," I warn, my tone sharp.
"Alright," she shrugs. "How about this? Let's team up for the test. It's coming up soon."
"Not interested." I don't bother to give her a second glance.
"What? Why not?" She sounds genuinely baffled. "Do you even know who I am?"
"You're the new girl, and I still don't care." I stand to leave, but her hand darts out, gripping my arm with surprising strength, pulling me back toward her.
"If you know who I am, then you should know that pairing with me is the smart move."
I sigh, leaning back slightly, my eyes sweeping across the gym. We've attracted attention—whispers and stares follow us now. Even Benny looks ready to snap, his glare burning with unspoken threats.
"And what about your friend over there?" I ask, nodding toward another girl across the room.
"She's already paired up. I'm the one without a partner," she replies, her tone casual but firm.
I shake my head, still trying to figure her out. Something about her doesn't sit right with me. I don't remember her from my previous life, and that makes her unpredictable. Dangerous. There's no trust here. Also, even when I was assigned to Isabella, she never mentioned her. I never heard of any cousin with her name.
"What's your real angle?" I ask, my voice dropping as I try to read her.
She steps closer, hands slipping behind her back, her smile deepening into something far more calculating. "There's a team forming. A secret team. That's the real reason behind this test." She leans in, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "And if you want in, I'm your best shot at making it happen."