Rebirth: The Shadow Of Greed

...Arlene shouted, arms folded as she shook her head. 

"Let's work hard Odrunn, Soli! Since it's self-training up to the trials let's work hard to break through our current limitations. Do you have any idea what are the topics for the exams?"

Z tried to hype them up but unfortunately, he had a lack of knowledge in that field. 

"Erm, every year the topics will differ and you will only know what the exam is at the trials. So last year for the offence team it was an assault, breaking into a Fortress to assassinate someone. And for the vanguard, it was to defend an area for a set amount of time. I'm not exactly sure how it will pan out, but let's wait and see."

Ashli replied softly. 

Z nodded his head as Soli continued with her tour around the compound, bringing them to the dining area, the kitchen, the sickbay and finally their rooms. 

Once again, it was a sharing room, but this time it was equipped with its own bathroom. Seeing that it was a proper room Odrunn was extremely pleased. He never did like to sleep in a tent, having a room was great to him. 

Z and Odrunn soon settled down in the room as they closed their eyes and prepared for bed. For the next few weeks, training went as planned for each training for their specific departments. Although the topic of the exams hasn't been released they were certain that they wouldn't have any problem passing the exams. 

The days rolled by and it was finally the day of the mock trials if students failed the mock trials they wouldn't be able to qualify to take the exams and have to either repeat a year where they were or get expelled from the academy entirely. 

Because the academy had that many people, they can't host the mock trials all at once. Therefore they thought, since the different departments will have different ways of evaluation, the days of the mock trials are split with the departments. 

Today was the day of Odrunn's mock trial, the vanguards were the first to be scheduled for a mock trial, the mock trial was open to all who want to come to spectate, giving a bit more pressure on the people taking it. 

Z walked through the gate of the stadium with Odrunn, who was pretty nervous but had calmed himself down ready to participate in the trials. Walking through the gate, they immediately saw many familiar faces and many faces that were completely new to them that were giving antagonizing looks. 

A huge figure walked towards the duo as he stopped them in their tracks. 

"Zero, it's good to see you again! I'm thankful that you managed to survive and even more thankful that you managed to come back with Soli."

Vero laughed as he approached Z and Odrunn, shaking Z's hand hard. 

"It's nice to meet you, it's rare to see someone else who puts the emphasis on building the body, you are?"

Vero turned to Odrunn extending his hand. 

"I'm Odrunn, did you forget about me already?"

Odrunn replied a look of confusion plastered all over his face as he stared at Vero, while his hand automatically responded with a handshake. 

"Oh my, apologies Odrunn, you were previously so different, you of the past and you now are like two entirely different people. That's a good mistake to make, haha."

Vero didn't show any signs of awkwardness as he easily diffused the situation. He turned his head and shouted for someone else. 

"David! Come over! Look at this, can you believe it! This is Odrunn the change is immense! To think he had a body of muscle hidden behind the fats."

David looked at Odrunn and can hardly take in the situation. 

"The change is too drastic! What the hell did you do over the past couple of months? Did you go on a diet or something?" 

David asked, refusing to believe that it was the same person as he was previously.

"Don't praise him too much, otherwise it would get to his head."

Z laughed. 

Odrunn looked around, it seemed like he was looking for someone else. 

"Where's Kyzil? I don't see him around."

Odrunn asked it had been his dream to come back and rub his survival in the face of Kyzil for being mean to him previously, but he couldn't find any sign of his nemesis. 

"Didn't you hear? Kyzil's mother was the one who hired people to try to assassinate Soli, so she was promptly executed. Kyzil wasn't taking it too well so he withdrew from the school and his dad brought him back. 

I've been trying to reach out to him to see what's happening and to see if he's alright, but it seems like he's gone into hiding and I really just can't get him at all."

Vero sighed, he was upset that he just couldn't reach out to a friend in need. 

"But, the assassins they weren't…"

Before Odrunn could finish his sentence Z gave him a tug and shook his head. Understanding the meaning Odrunn stopped himself and nodded towards Z. 

"I heard this year's trial is quite difficult and both of you haven't attended many lessons, I'm wishing you good luck and hopefully we can attend the exams together."

Vero said, his sincerity was felt by Odrunn and Z. 

"Today is Odrunn's show, I'm not participating in the mock trials."

Z calmly replied. 

"Maybe it's for the best, but from what I saw in the forest, your abilities definitely would allow you to pass with ease. Why would you give up without even attempting it?"

Vero tried to persuade Z. Only to receive a vacant smile, 

"I'm not participating in the trial today, I've already transferred departments, so I'm participating in a couple of days time." 

Vero smiled as he pats Z on the back, he was happy that this guy finally had something good happen to him.