Silence ruled during the Psychological Screening as Kai sat there, staring into the nurse's eyes.
The nurse picked up her pen the moment she broke eye contact. She traced the tip of the pen to the next question and lifted her gaze to the boy.
After twenty minutes, Kai exited the room, sweat dripping down his chest, wetting his shirt. His palms turned watery, but his hands showed no sign of shaking.
In the training yard that had been cleared of its debris, a crowd lingered, taking in the combat assessment.
Soldiers, volunteers, and medics who had finished their shifts all gathered around the chain-like fence. They waited, leaning against the barrier, arms folded on their chests, watching.
Kai stopped the moment he reached the center of the yard, where there was packed dirt.
From the far edge of the yard, Merlin lifted his gaze. In his palms, a report containing Kai's name, date of birth, place of birth, and other personal information glowed on the screen.
