Lucas laid in bed awake long after his confrontation with Kerri Allium and the Student Council president. The adrenaline was gone, but he remained conscious of the strength that had been so casually displayed. He knew there were other strong students here, Sou Rudbeckia for instance, but confronting it first-hand was another matter. With her level, Echo Dianthus would have been mentioned in the media at some point. He opened his phone and began his research.

The sun was up by the time he put his phone down in disappointment. He couldn't find any additional coverage on Echo Dianthus at all. As if she did not exist. With her strength, the lack of media attention was surprising. A tightly guarded secret within Hollyhock? Or the Student Council president may have deliberately avoided attention. Why?

On the opposite bed parallel to his, Za stirred awake and rose to start his morning routine.

Pushing his phone under his pillow, Lucas watched the shadow that was his roommate moving around in the darkness. Za's steady movements around the room made no creaks or sound. Another person that the world should have been aware of, Lucas thought.

Block 1 and Block 3 had a joint training session in the morning. To start, students would run to a factory ten miles out of Celaeno. There were no rest stops along the way and no eyes to monitor the students. Lucas from Block 1, Polar Iris from Block 3, and a few were the first to arrive at the meeting point under the first hour. The instructor for this section of the training was waiting for them.

“The second stage begins as you arrive,” the instructor said.

A pile of granite blocks had been deposited in front of the factory. Each block was at least half the size of an average student and weighed a ton. For this stage, each student had to transport a granite block back to Area 3 of the Hollyhock grounds.

“There is one criterion to succeed. Your block must reach Hollyhock undamaged.”

“That’s impossible!” one of the earlier boys said.

The instructor nodded. “Not even half of your group today will complete this stage of the training. Not within the time limit. But do try your best. The last stage will begin once you have your block in Area 3.”

The first arrivals got to work as others soon reached the factory and received their instructions. Materials and tools found around the factory were collected for use, a free-for-all based on whoever chanced upon it first. They grabbed wheels, carts, sleds, ropes, and sticks. Anyone arriving late would have to make do with leftovers or nothing.

While everyone was figuring out how to begin, Polar Iris took the lead. Her block had been hoisted onto a metal panel wrapped with wire, and she’d wound the end of the wires around herself. Her yellow eyes flickered as she transformed. A menacing, ash white polar bear stood where the girl had been. Slowly but with steady steps, the polar bear began tugging the panel and its block in the direction of Hollyhock.

As the first student to make progress, she drew the attention of the rest. Lucas watched her with similar awe and appreciation. Polar Iris had the perfect physical strength and Attribute to put her ahead in this training. However, he couldn't let himself fall too far behind.

Some of the boys approached him. One of them said, “I don’t think I can do this alone.”

Following the flow, several other students moved in. A small circle formed around him, looking for him to take the lead. Lucas realized he could use them. Individually they may not be born with the perfect Attributes for this stage, but a combination of some students here might just work.

He said, “Let's work together. What can each of you do?”

A little under two hours later, Erina and another boy were the last to reach the factory. Unwilling to be dead last with a gap, she had forced herself to match his pace so that they both arrived at the finish line together. Pushing her body beyond its limit had magnified her exhaustion. She was low on stamina. Everything within her vision was unfocused. She regretted skipping breakfast that morning, even if it might have come back up during the run.

A few students who had arrived a few minutes before were receiving their instructions. Erina was too tired to make herself move and join them. Although she already had an idea of the second stage of the training, having witnessed many other students passing by on their way back to Hollyhock pulling along their blocks. Understandably, Lucas was already gone. In fact, a majority of students were headed back towards Hollyhock. Only a handful remained at the factory struggling with the second task.

Erina saw the boy who had arrived with her approach the last of the blocks awaiting them in the pile. Just looking at the gigantic mass, she felt dizzy. How did any student get it moving at all? She needed an extended break. Her uneven breaths were becoming more erratic instead of settling down. If running the ten-mile was difficult, returning with a ton of weight would be nearly impossible.

She thought she and the last boy were on similar level. He surprised her by stripping off the top of his uniform and pulling out a pocketknife. He bit down on a sleeve as he dug the blade into his chest and cut one long gash into his chest and down his stomach. The act looked painful and it showed, his eyes glazing over. He was bleeding heavily, and she thought she may have to get the instructor's attention, but he staggered towards a block and the shape of the large granite piece began to contort and dissolve. Slowly, a dark mark spread across the boy’s torso until the block completely disappeared. The gash sealed and the entire front and back of his body was filled with a solid dark mark. He was an i-VORY.

However, absorbing a ton of mass was one thing, but holding the weight was another. The boy hugged his chest and dragged his feet as he turned towards Hollyhock. He broke out in sweat and was already panting in several steps. He fell on all fours, but was determined to keep going.

Erina was envious. It was painful, but the boy was one step ahead. He was still moving forward. Only she was so powerless and weak.

The longer she stood under the sun, the more her dizziness intensified. She should have eaten that breakfast, no what if's. Her stomach lurched and her body swayed, and she sat down to keep her balance steady. From head to toe, she felt terrible.

The instructor approached her and spoke, and she made an effort to lift her head. She couldn’t make out what he said. He stood directly under the sun, casting a shadow over her. She couldn’t focus on his face.

Erina woke up in the medical ward. She pulled back the curtain around the bed and saw an older girl sitting at the front desk. One of the student medics under Nurse Julienne. The girl was reading a thick textbook but she saw Erina and grabbed a file from a stack.

“Marigold. How’re you feeling?”

Erina realized she must have fainted. How much time had passed? Was the training over? Feeling stupid, she replied, “I’m fine.” 

The girl nodded. “Any dizziness?”

Erina shook her head once. Although the tiredness still lingered, the nausea was gone.

"Good. I gave you a vitamins booster and fluids drip earlier." The student medic took Erina’s temperature and measured her blood pressure, and made a note in the file. “Eat and stay hydrated. As an EN-hancer, you must pay more attention to your body. Try not to skip any meals.”

Even as an EN-hancer, Erina knew she was no good. The difference between her and the EN-hancer student medic must be vast. She looked around searching for a clock. “What time is it?”

“Afternoon classes are over. If you’re feeling better, you can leave.”

Erina remembered this afternoon was the dissection with Instructor Rosa. After making the effort to review the first part, she shouldn’t have missed the follow up.

Most students were headed to the cafeteria or out into Celaeno. Erina left the medical ward and went straight to the lab. No one else should be there now. But as she half expected, Instructor Rosa was still present, seated at the front table with several stacks of paper spread around her. Erina entered from the back door and walked to the front.

The instructor looked up from her papers. “Can I help you?” she asked.

“Erina Marigold from Block 1. I missed today’s dissection,” she said.

Dion Rosa searched for the attendance list and reviewed the names. She’d made a note at the bottom. “Ah. I was notified of your absence by your previous instructor.”

“But I should have been here,” Erina replied. Her eyes were downcast.

Instructor Rosa observed the girl's state and her tone softened. “It happens. With our curriculum, absences can’t be avoided. Injuries from training, private ranking sessions, field tasks. You’re graded on what you do. Not what you don’t.”

Erina understood, but all the same this dissection was something she had told herself that she must do. She needed to grow stronger. She said, “It's because I’m too weak.”

“Hm…” Instructor Rosa wore an intrigued expression. She set aside her papers and leaned forward in her seat. “Marigold. Do you understand the divisions of the Prime Military? The system at Hollyhock?”

Erina shook her head. With the Marigold name, getting into the institute was just expected of her. Before her Awakening and after, she had no interest in Hollyhock.

Instructor Rosa clasped her hands in front of her on the table as she prepared to give a long statement. Staring back at Erina calmly, she explained, “The Training Division recruits potential ForeGuards, but not only for combat. The Armed Front Lines is responsible for the protection of society and all of mankind. Behind them, they are supported by the Science, Intelligence, and Medical Division. These departments and many more makes up the Prime Military.”

“Your mandatory two years of Hollyhock will primarily focus on combat training and your quints. Beyond that, you’re given the option to become Free Agents. You’ll have to fulfill your two required private ranking sessions, but Free Agents can study to enter into the other divisions."

"I chose this field because I believe in the work of the Science Division. We specialize in analyzing the creatures of MotherEarth and Attributes. Our knowledge is essential to the survival of many out in the battlefield and the progress of humanity. We lost hundreds of years in the Awakening of MotherEarth.”

“The truth is, not all of you students will successfully complete your two years of training here. And not everyone is cut out for the front lines. There are many paths for ForeGuards beyond the battlefield. Think beyond that and cultivate your unique skills."

Erina heard her, but she couldn't see a clear future anywhere with her current level and motivation.

In the quiet evening when most students were away, Erina packed her clothes into a suitcase. She didn’t have much, contrary to expectations. The only apparel she left in her closet was the Hollyhock uniform. All of her essentials, notebooks and academic work, and the odd tools and gadgets went into her suitcase or accompanying pack. When she finished, any evidence of her presence seemed to be erased from the room. Except for her mattress and desk.

Erina pulled back the chair and sat at her desk, leaning forward to prop her elbows on the smooth surface. She took out her phone and stared at it. A complicated set of emotions gnawed at her. She turned the screen on and off until the tinker clock, at the top of the North Building, rang throughout the grounds to specify a new hour. Then she powered off her phone and set it on the desk. Erina picked up her suitcase and pack, and she walked out of the dorm room.