It's six in the morning when they've got back to the hotel. Upon arrival, they've noticed their clothes have already returned from the wash and are folded neatly onto a pile on the couch. The room service in this place is immaculate. The maid came by again with a breakfast cart after their hasty shower to take their current clothes to the wash. So, they've changed back to their original wear. It makes her realize, even without her hoodie, it's so much more uncomfortable given the fabric is unsuited for the heat.

Additionally, the temperature's also going up with the sun that's slowly rising in the horizon. So, they draw the curtains, blast the air conditioner and eat their breakfast by the television set. Cyan's starting to get bags beneath his eyes. It's especially prominent given how pale his skin is. That, and he nearly dozed off in the plate of eggs.

At the sight, Lilith stops herself suggesting to go back to the colosseum immediately to do the trial. She reckons they can wait a bit considering the red dot hasn't returned on the map yet. Indicating that the old man isn't even there. Instead, they've set the alarm for twelve in the afternoon to get some well-needed rest. It's only upon lying in bed, she too, realizes exactly how utterly exhausted she is.

She doesn't even remember when she's fallen asleep, only the last thoughts she had in mind appreciating how soft the mattress is, and how cozy the sheets are. Then, it's the heat that awakens her seemingly an eye's blink later to a very annoyed Cyan that's admonishing something at her bedside about how she sleeps like a dead log and how impossible it is to wake her.

It's scorching hot. Did he turn the air conditioner off?

When she brushes him off, refusing to get up, he unveils the curtains and starts pulling her to a sitting position. The blinding lights seeping in only makes her squint tighter from the red she's seeing beneath her eyelids. So, she slouches over and face plants into her knees.

Then he tosses the washed Kusma clothes over her neck and hurries her to get change.

Reaching for the hems of her camisole, she's about to tug it over her head when Cyan forcefully drags her out of bed and demanded her do it in the bathroom.

He's so naggy, just like Killian.

It's only after he dunks her face into a sink of cold water that she bats her eyes wide open. Coughing from inhaling a huge lung full and snapping at him,

"What the heck was that for?" and it makes her feel bad for him seeing how utterly flustered he looks when he breathlessly retaliates,

"You're such a pain in the ass!" it reminds her of a weary fox she's seen in the forest once, restlessly scampering after her hyperactive cubs to grab them by the scruff and bring them back into the den.

She reluctantly apologizes,

"I'm sorry! I'm bad at waking up in the mornings!"

"It's one in the afternoon!" he slams the door in her face.

Did she really take that long? He's already gotten changed and ready to go.

Hastily, she dunks her face into the sink once more to fully shake herself out of the drowsiness before brushing her teeth, untangling the mattes in her hair and switching back into her bralette and dancer's pants.

Cyan hollering at her from outside nearly makes her forget her ribbon. He's saying something about there seems to be more test takers at the cite today.

It peaks her interests to fling the door wide open, almost hitting him flat in the nose had he not dodged fast enough from his reflexes.

Still securing the accessory in her hair, she joins beside him to examine the map he's holding. He's right, there are seven green dots this time. Five of them are jittering about the flickering red dot. They're already in the game. Quickly, she straps on her axe, slips on her shoes and they head out.

Upon exiting the inn, she wonders out loud,

"Do you think it's the same bunch of people as yesterday?"

Beside her, he tucks the map away in his pocket before locking his hands behind his head, giving her a shrug,

"If we nail it right on the timer, it wouldn't matter what teammates we get." but she's already distracted again by the hustle and bustle of a busy Kusma afternoon. The distance seems much further when it's crowded, especially when there are shops and carts and customers every corner. She darts her eyes at every sparkly object, every intriguing object, every delicious object she sees. Just as she's about to run off to a table display of little copper lamps, Cyan stops her by the wrist and admonishes,

"You're such a kid!"

She whines,

"I can't help it! I haven't really left Gildamore before, everything's so new and cool!" then she requests,

"Hey, hey, do you think we can take a day off after this? Just to explore Kusma? It's always been a dream of mine!"

He scoffs at her,

"What? Seeing Kusma? That's such a simple-minded dream."

She corrects,

"No, stupid." how does he not know something so obvious, "to hang out! You know, like shopping and eating together!" she's always envied kids in her town doing that.

Cyan reminds her,

"Don't forget we're in the middle of an exam."

"I know! But, it's also important to have fun doing the things you do! Otherwise, why do it if you aren't having fun." then she laughs airily,

"Being around you is really fun, Cyan!"

He breaks eye contact with her, looking away and not answering her question,

"You're such an idiot." he's not berating her this time. Infact, he sounds a little abashed,

"Only an idiot would think a deadly exam is fun."

The way his tails are swishing suggests to her that he, ironically, seems happy. So, she puts on her cutest voice and best puppy eyes,

"Come on," and clasps his hand that's still holding onto her wrist between hers, beneath her chin,

"Please, please, please, please!"

He shoots her a look, before maneuvering them out of bumping into one of the colosseum arches, very reluctantly, he relents,

"Fine. Just one day, alright?"

Excitedly, she throws their arms up overhead,

"You're the best, Cyan!" and immediately walks into someone in front of her.

Cyan scoffs at her again,

"You should watch where you're going." before retreating his hand to shove into his pockets.

Straightening her gaze, she realizes it's the redhead she's ran into. He's turning around, smiling when he realizes,

"Oh! It's you guys!" she almost didn't recognize him with his hair tied up. It isn't long enough so it just spikes messily like a pineapple stem from the back. Not to mention he's changed out of his school uniform to a light weighted tank top with a palm tree print and loose beach shorts that stops above his knees.

It makes her wonder if he's gotten it from the local tourist store because it looks like it. The only thing he's missing is a pair of sunglasses, but she realizes, he does have one. Tucked into the loose cut collar, right above the necklace with a little lamp pendent she's seen the merchants sell on her way here. He certainly had fun. Although now, the aesthetics really mismatches the expensive looking ruby stud he has on an ear. That's the only constant she's seen him with from yesterday.

She returns a polite greeting and glances behind him.

There are five others already in the arena with the old man. Two of whom, Lilith recognizes. It's round fella and lab coat man with three other adults.

One of the new faces is a mythical woman, Vespertilio subclass. Her corset has a sharp divot at the back to make space for her bat wings to poke through. It looks battle worn, with some holes in the deep red membranes connecting her bone structures. The high stiletto boots tucked above her tight leather pants make Lilith think it must be hard for her to move about.

Then Lilith changes her mind realizing that, the bat lady just flies. She's soaring for the top right flag. But she's got tagged by the old man midway up.

Her comrade, a young blonde priest, after being launched, like a golf ball, by the giant hammer of the big armored berserker looking guy, un-tags her almost immediately before gravity exerts its pull on her.

The priest has an opened book in his hand, chanting some sort of a prayer that turned into a light blue barrier around himself right before he's hit. Probably to stop him from getting hurt from the berserker's hammer smite.

It also shoots the priest in the trajectory of the top left flag. So, the old man goes for the priest instead. Tagging him right before he's able to retrieve the flag. But the old man doesn't get back in time to stop the bat lady, who's now managed to retrieve her flag at the same exact time.

Impressed, Lilith excitedly comments,

"Wow! They're coordinating their movements!"

But bat lady gets immediately tagged again by the old man a second time. Freezing her at the top of the top right pillar.

Simultaneously, on the other side, rounded fella has rolled up the pillar to save the priest.

There's something different about the rounded fella, today, he has what looks like a marionette's cross brace on him. With four strings drawn downwards as if it's attached to his limbs. But spinning like a green bowling ball as he is, Lilith can't exactly be certain. At that, the priest retrieves the second flag, milliseconds the old man flickers before them. Freezing both of them on the top of the right pillar.

But it's strange because rounded fella's still able to move. He bumps into the priest again to un-tag him, before rolling for the center flag.

It's only then Lilith realizes, at the base of the top left pillar, lab coat man has the other cross brace in his hand, attached to a white wooden puppet resembling rounded fella.

He's controlling him.

"Yeah, they've been at it the entire morning!" the redhead beside her tells her enthusiastically, "this might be their run!"

Cyan disagrees, eyes glued on the match,

"No, at this point, they're already checkmated."

Before Lilith can ask why, she sees the old man teleporting behind lab coat man to tap him, freezing both round fella and lab coat man in their tracks. Flashing for the berserker guy next, who has jumped towards bat lady to freeze him midair.

Immediately after, he flickers back for the priest atop the top right pillar, to tag him too before he finishes chanting another spell. Ending the game even before gravity unceremoniously crashes berserker guy to the ground. Landing himself gracelessly, beside lab coat man with an echoing thud.

She exclaims,

"Woah! Cyan, that's amazing, how did you know?"

"They've only got one reliable flag capturer that has the mobility to move between the five pillars. The succubus looking woman. The others are reliant on their partners," he explains, pointing to the priest and berserker,

"Those two," and then to the lab coat man and round fella,

"And those two, can't move quick enough by themselves." she follows his gaze to watch the five adults huddled in some sort of a discussion, as though they're planning their next strategy,

"The geezer didn't go for scientist at first, probably because the berserker has some sort of an ability to guard him, and also, geezer's got higher priority targets. Namely, the people trying to capture the flags. But the moment those targets are stopped. The berserker's forced to be on the move to save a comrade. But that'll leave the scientist defenseless. Therefore, the geezer's able to get both scientist and fatty in one go."

Cyan folds his arms behind his head, concluding right as they begin another game,

"They too slow on that. The berserker needed to un-tag the succubus earlier for them to pull off another coordinated attack."

"Ohh!" she slaps her fist against her palm, acknowledging,

"You're right!" before the redhead beside her figures,

"Going by that explanation, then, wouldn't that mean, they won't pass this trial no matter how many attempts they make?"

Confused, Lilith asks,

"What makes you think that?" but she isn't looking at him. Instead, she's watching their match. Then she notices the assassin girl is here too. Opposite them, leaning her arms on the audience podium railing above. Now that she's standing, Lilith realizes, she's rather small in stature. She's definitely younger than them, possibly eleven or twelve.

The assassin girl, however, doesn't take notice of them. Instead, she's intensely studying the old man. Her pupils darting location to location, following precisely where he flickers.

Could it be, she's able to see his movements perfectly?

Then the redhead's explanation causes Lilith to lower her eyes down to the arena again,

"With their current strategy, they need the succubus to pull off combo captures. The berserker is too slow. However, each time she captures a flag. She immediately loses a life. So, realistically, she's only able to do the maximum of two combo captures before she's tagged out of the game completely. After that, they're free pickings for the geezer."

Cyan challenges,

"Not necessarily. The fatty is still able to move after being tagged as long as scientist is not tagged. And if fatty doesn't get un-tagged, he won't lose lives. If they can somehow protect the scientist from getting tagged out of the game. They can just use fatty to steamroll all five flags. That is, if they're well-coordinated enough."

In fact, that's precisely what they're attempting right now. The succubus, berserker and priest have lab coat man surrounded in a triangle.

Emitting from the berserker's forearm of his non hammer wielding arm, is a circular, shield resembling Magia. Blocking the old man's cane tap with it. It seems to counteract the old man's freeze Magia. Whereas the priest, chanting from his opened book, forces the old man back with a barrage of light spears, showering like arrow rain towards the old man.

But the old man is nonchalantly dodging. So quickly, all Lilith sees is the afterimage of the old man flickering from gap-to-gap of the priest's attacks, almost like he's duplicated himself.

Simultaneously, the rounded fella has just retrieved the two flags at the top left and right pillars. He's rolling for the center.

This plan is actually working.

Then the old man appears beside the priest's unguarded side. The berserker realizes, diving towards the priest to stop him. Breaking formation. But he's too slow, the priest is tapped. Halting him mid chant and stopping the projectile barrages, at that, the old man, now relocated behind the berserker, where his Magia shield doesn't protect him, taps him.

The succubus has managed to un-tap the priest, she's in process of reaching her arms out to un-tap the berserker too as the priest begins channeling his spells again. But they're simply not fast enough. In less than an eye's blink, both of them are tapped, followed by the undefended lab coat man.

The translucent barrier around the arena collapses.

The game ends.

They were so close! The round fella was one last flag away from winning.

Frustrated, the succubus looks about to attack the old man before the priest stops her with a hand on the shoulder, shaking his head. Instead, she turns her unbridled rage towards lab coat man. Gathering her Magia, her nails, red as blood, elongates from her fingertips,

"Impotent fool!" she swipes at the lab coat man. Leaving a photogene of scarlet claw marks in the trajectory where she's swung her arm.

It throws lab coat man to the ground, a white fog siphoning from his chest, to swirl in a mist in her hands, sucking the Vita out of him. He looks in pained, curled and clutching his chest, grasping for air. Helplessly muttering, a mix of stop, and it hurts.

But the succubus doesn't relent. Instead, she clutches her fist, swinging her arm back. Draining more white mist from him, it shrouds her hand in what looks like an energy ball. Slowly imbuing red and flashing with lightning sparks. It begins shrilling.

At the sight, the old man taps his walking stick on the ground,

"Enough!" the subtle gesture doesn't justify the thundering, whiplash of impact, blasting in a forceful radius around him. It even throws Lilith's hair, clothes, fluttering back that she had to brace her arms before her face to stop the sand from getting in her eyes. Only to disappear before it reaches the outer most beams of the colosseum. It freezes everyone in the arena. Dispelling the succubus's Magia into red swirls.

Sternly, he says,

"I will not tolerate unwarranted violence against any examinees under my supervision." before pointing his cane towards the succubus,

"You are hereby barred from attempting my trial."

At that, they're released from the old man's Magia.

The succubus woman scoffs, perching a hand on her hip,

"You can't do that, you're just a lowly division captain of Under Oath. Don't you know which guild's backing m-"

The old man interrupts, righting his hands on his cane again,

"I both acknowledge and disregard. You have been acting like a spoiled child for far too long, Wysera Morris. Alas, this is why, you have failed the adventurer's exam for three years in a row, and have lost to the same, lowly division captain for three years in a row. Instead of reflecting and improving upon your own short comings. You quickly turn your inadequacies into rage."

Indignant, she threatens, leaning forward,

"My father will hear about this, Rufus Ivory. I'm passing this year's exam with, or without completing your trial."

Then she turns, giving him a glance over the shoulders, her voice drowns low, menacing,

"Prepare to lose your territories in the next guild war." with that, she strides out of the arena, the priest and berserker, following each side of her like personal guards.

Passing them, Wysera drops a scorning glance, her eyes are redder than fire. It's so resentful, Lilith thinks, the flames are able to lick her. Before she straightens again, tossing her perfectly curled black hair over her shoulders and disappearing out of the colosseum.

Quickly, Lilith runs into the ring, approaching lab coat man. He's still writhing on the ground, as though in pain, she offers him a hand,

"Are you okay?"

Beside him, round fella quickly rushes to help him up,

"Hey buddy, you alright?" supporting lab coat man's arm over his shoulder. Lab coat man laboriously coughs,

"Yeah..." still clutching the middle of his chest. Beneath the seams of his shirt, there's a pink glow of what looks like a heart symbol, slowly dimming. Lilith assumes, It's the lingering traces of Wysera's Magia. Before he inhales deeply, and reassures his friend,

"I'm fine now." then lab coat turns to the old man again, just as Cyan nonchalantly joins beside her with his hands locked behind his head,

"May we continue the trial?"

After the old man agrees,

"Yes. Certainly." lab coat man requests of them sincerely,

"If the three of you wouldn't mind." flicking his gaze between her and Cyan and the redhead that's slightly behind,

"Would you team up with my buddy and I?" he's a lot more polite than her initial impression of him at the queue line.

At that, Lilith smiles,

"Of course!"