Chapter 31: Mixed Opinions
Near the corner of the room stood a young woman with short blond hair, her uniform a mix of military practicality and personal flair. The black and dark green outfit was reinforced with chest armor and kneepads, though the fit and polish hinted at her meticulous nature.
Her sharp gaze flicked to Elias as he entered, sizing him up with the detached focus of someone who had already judged him unworthy. Her stance was straight-backed and formal, yet there was an intensity in her eyes that made it clear she wasn't just following rules—she was the rules.
Dot hovered just over Elias's shoulder, her small form darting from one figure to the next. "Oh, look! That one's Ikona is waving at me," she giggled, pointing to a glowing, snake-like entity coiled lazily around its shard bearer's arm. Another Ikona—a small, bird-like creature—hopped on the shoulder of a red-haired woman who leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her dark eyeliner making her glare even more piercing.
Elias could feel the weight of their attention, though no one spoke outright. Their eyes betrayed curiosity, skepticism, and perhaps a tinge of boredom. It was clear this wasn't their first time meeting a newcomer.
"Alright, listen up," Oliver said, his tone sharp as he addressed the group. "This is Elias Kael. He'll be joining A Block as the eighth member. Treat him like any of you over the last two weeks since meeting."
He glanced at Elias. "Go ahead and go around introducing yourselves or whatever. Elias, you have your exams in an hour, so move all of your junk into your pod and be ready to go at the top of the hour. It's only a ten-minute walk."
"Right, sounds good, sir," Elias replied, giving a small nod.
As Oliver walked toward the door, he spoke over his shoulder. "The other guy who left has been moved to D Block, by the way. There should be an increase in people coming in the next week, and once we get to forty, some further trials will begin. So keep up with the workout regimen I set up for you all—especially those who haven't worked out in a while—and make use of your downtime."
There was a small grunt and a nod from someone in the group as Oliver exited. Elias dropped his bags at the center of the room, giving a small stretch before saying, "Man, I really need to get out of these clothes."
The woman with blond hair approached him, her stride confident. "The name's Kikaru Yirazawa," she said, her voice steady and direct. "I'm the strongest Ikona user as of right now. If you'd like to fight me, go ahead. I'll be the strongest no matter what—and I'll put Prime at peace."