Just as Tee braced herself for the impact, the weight that doubled her own crashed down upon her, sending the sword behind her shifting with a harsh scrape. A rush of tingling sensations shot through her face as blood flooded back into it. Her mind raced, scanning every inch of her body that was still intact. How was she still alive?

  "We need to get it off her," a voice shouted, followed by the unmistakable sound of multiple footsteps pounding against the uneven forest floor.

  Heat radiated through Tee's body, forcing her eyes open despite the instinct to remain shut. She knew the beast wasn’t literally cooking her—yet the sensation of oppressive pressure and heat made her muscles tense. Cautiously, she twisted her head to assess her surroundings.

  As the weight lifted, she cracked her eyes further and saw the billowing black smoke receding. Behind it, the beast’s unblinking eyes remained locked on her. A shiver raced down her spine, and she squeezed her eyes shut again, forcing the image of those piercing, soulless eyes out of her mind. She stayed still, muscles coiled like springs, refusing to move.

  "Is she okay?" Miko asked, her voice laced with worry as the others pulled the lifeless creature from atop Tee.

  Saeda stared silently at the corpse, now engulfed in black flames that writhed as if alive, licking the forest floor with their ephemeral tongues.

  A gentle tap on Tee's forehead broke her trance. She opened her eyes to see Zod crouched in front of her, his brow furrowed in impatience. "Why are you just lying there?" he asked. "Let's teleport and get out of here."

  “Ten minutes to spare,” Kie nodded, giving her the smallest hint of reassurance.

  Tee welcomed those words, drawing in a steadying breath. With effort, she rose to her feet, her legs shaking but determined to stand tall.

  Kie hurried to close the gap, stepping into the circle of their formation. Alongside his companions, he hovered his finger above the button, bracing for the precise moment of action. Despite lingering reservations, he could not resist the shared determination radiating from the group.

  "On two... One, two," Saeda counted down with calm authority.

  In perfect synchronization, they pressed the button. A surge of anticipation shot through Tee’s veins as the familiar hum of air conditioning washed over her, mingling with the echoing sounds of the mission base. Their eyes blinked against the sudden white light, a surreal glow bathing the pristine floors.

  “We did it!” Zod exclaimed, pumping a fist in triumph.

  Exhaustion weighed heavily on the others, leaving the room silent except for the soft, ragged breaths of the team.

  Their attention was quickly drawn to the approaching figures of the Lieutenant and the Commander, striding toward them with measured steps.

  Kie stepped forward, eager to deliver the good news. “We’ve completed all tests with eight minutes to spare,” he announced, pride lacing his tone.

  “Impressive,” the Commander replied, nodding with approval. “I’ll give you guys tomorrow morning off from training. That should give your minds a chance to rest before another practical session after the global curfew. You’ll be briefed when the time comes.”

  “Another one?” Zod mumbled under his breath, a mixture of fatigue and disbelief in his tone.

  The Commander’s gaze sharpened. “Those prior tests forced you to work together, to truly understand each other. Next, you’ll have to shed real human blood.” His words hung heavy in the air as he and the Lieutenant walked away.

  Later that day, after enjoying some refreshing drinks, Kie busied himself with washing breakfast dishes while Tee returned to her dorm. She was met with a pleasant surprise: a pink sticky note on her door, faintly scented with lavender. She recognized it instantly as Miko’s handwriting.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  ‘I’m unpacking my untouched luggage in my room. Please drop by if you want to help. PS. Remember to ring the buzzer; don’t knock, I may not hear you.

  -Miko.’

  The note fell from Tee’s hand as the words sank in. Untouched luggage? A wide smile spread across her face as excitement surged through her. She began rummaging through her room for a large bag—ready to help and perhaps acquire a few treasures along the way. Any day was a good day for free stuff.

  She pressed the buzzer next to Miko’s door. In less than a heartbeat, the door swung open, revealing Miko’s wide, gleaming smile.

  “Tee!” Miko shrieked, stepping aside. “How marvelous for you to join!” She lifted a hand, beckoning Tee inside.

  What Tee stepped into was not just a room—it was a mountain of belongings. Miko’s bed was barely visible beneath heaps of clothes, all fresh from unopened suitcases. The air carried a rich, new-clothing scent, like walking into a boutique.

  “So much clothes,” Saeda’s monotone voice observed before Tee even noticed her.

  Tee tipped onto her toes to glimpse Saeda’s curly black hair. She was stooping among the stacked suitcases, partially hidden.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here, Saeda,” Tee remarked casually, ignoring the unasked question. She hopped into the cleared space on the floor, moving toward five suitcases.

  “I wanted the guys to come too,” Miko said, lifting a shirt to shield her face, “but Saeda said they wouldn’t be interested…”

  “Anyway, Tee,” she continued, “we’re arranging everything by color first. My closet is color-coded, so it’s easier to pick out items. Take your time—rush, and you might ruin something delicate.”

  “Tee, you should check out those two metal suitcases near the bathroom door,” Saeda said, tossing clothes onto a pile of yellows. “They’re filled with boots. You like boots, right?”

  Tee smiled and headed to the suitcases, appreciating Saeda’s intuition. She couldn’t help feeling the small pang of guilt for not helping more often—Saeda clearly felt the same.

  Miko peeked from behind the shirt she held. Tee and Saeda’s wide grins made her chuckle.

  Tee held up two pairs of boots. “Miko, these are outdated. Wearing these anywhere will make you look like a cheapskate. Don’t worry—I’ll take care of them for you.”

  Saeda pushed Tee aside, presenting Miko with a large tablet and stylus. “Miko, can I have this? My dad couldn’t afford one, and I’ve always wanted it,” she said, eyes shining.

  Miko’s heart twisted. She couldn’t give only one friend what they wanted—Tee would feel undervalued. “Yes, you can both have them. Take whatever you want,” she said, closing her eyes to suppress the lump in her throat.

  Excitement erupted. The three set about unpacking and organizing Miko’s suitcases by color, each item finding its perfect place. In an hour, the task was complete.

  Miko closed her closet doors and turned to her helpers. “Thank you! Now I won’t have to wear the same outfit twice for six months.”

  Tee hefted her bag carefully, fearing the straps might snap under the weight. “No problem, Miko. Anytime.”

  Saeda grunted in agreement as she carried her items to their designated spots. “Yeah.”

  Later, Tee swapped her footwear for a pair of the new boots and, in high spirits, decided to help with dinner. Miko’s friendship meant the world to her, and she wanted to show it.

  Dinner prep didn’t go as smoothly as hoped. Saeda was absorbed by her tablet, sketching obsessively and only briefly entering the kitchen to photograph ingredients. Without her help, Tee felt like a high-speed assistant nurse in a chaotic emergency room. Zod and Miko gave relentless instructions, keeping her constantly on the move.

  When Saeda finally joined them at the dinner table, Tee couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Was that how Saeda felt when she didn’t help? She pushed the thought aside and focused on eating.

  Saeda never lifted her head from her tablet, lost in her own world. Zod, curious, peeked at the screen. His eyes widened. “Wow! Saeda, you could draw all this time? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Saeda shrugged, muttering, “It’s nothing.”

  Miko leaned over Saeda’s shoulder. “Are you an artist?” she asked, captivated.

  “I learned from my dad,” Saeda said softly, tucking hair behind her ears.

  Zod climbed onto his chair to get a better view. “Saeda, draw me with a cape blasting lasers from my eyes,” he challenged, flexing his arm.

  Miko interjected, “Can you draw clothes too? My dad might hire you for design sketches. You’d get paid well.”

  Saeda began swiping through her creations. Tee and Miko watched, astonished at the skill on display. Tee wondered how much she had drawn in just a few hours.

  “Oh look,” Saeda said mischievously, “I drew Tee—but with black hair.”

  “What? Without my permission? I’m suing you,” Tee exclaimed, dropping her fork and rushing to see. She stared at the image, stunned. She looked appealing, but she preferred her white hair.

  “Draw Kie without his scars,” she demanded next.

  Kie, taking offense, pushed his chair back with a loud scratch, leaving the room in frustration.

  “I think you offended him,” Zod said, nodding toward the doorway. “You should apologize.”