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Chapter 20 - Chapter 19– Midterm Evaluation Day 2: Written Exam

The exam hall was colder than the air outside.

White-paneled walls, silver floors, long rows of polished desks spaced with military precision. Holographic interfaces hovered above each one, flickering faintly as students filed in.

No one spoke.

Kael walked in with Levi and the others, eyes scanning the corners of the ceiling. Black domes housed WAA monitoring lenses. Above them, a row of operatives stood behind glass — arms folded, eyes sharp.

One of them lingered a little too long on Kael.

He didn't react.

---

"Begin."

The command echoed through the speakers. The holograms lit up.

Kael's fingers moved across the panel.

Section One: Desyre Theory

Define the emotional thresholds required for activation.

Explain Desyre entropy during extended use.

He answered with calm precision. But the moment he wrote "grief can trigger ignition in unconscious states," his mind flashed — blood on pavement, smoke, his mother's voice. Then silence.

He blinked. Focused.

---

Section Two: Rift Structure and Expansion

List the common markers of a Rift preparing to breach containment parameters.

He paused.

Smoke in alleys. Cracks in the sky. The air going thin.

He wrote the answers but his mind went back to his hometown, where no marker had mattered. Where help came too late.

---

Section Three: WAA Law and Civilian Protocols

What are the Four Doctrines?

Explain Intervention Limits in civilian zones.

Kael didn't hesitate.

"Intervention Limits. Chain of Command. Rift Clearance Protocol. Civilian Desyre Containment."

He wrote them down mechanically, but his jaw was tight.

"Limits," he thought. "They had rules. And she still died."

---

Across the room, Levi squinted like he was solving a murder.

David was chewing his stylus.

Charlotte scribbled fast, flipping digital pages like she'd memorized the manual.

And Cyrhelle?

Kael caught a glimpse of her beside a window — sitting straight, calm. She wasn't writing yet. Just sketching something in the corner of her page with her stylus. A swirl of ink and lines. Maybe a shield. Maybe a bird.

Then she started writing — fast, focused.

After the Written Exam…

The hall lights were still bright when the exam ended. Students poured out in uneven waves — some groaning, some grinning, most just drained.

Kael stepped out into the corridor with Levi, Charlotte, and David.

"That test just uppercutted my soul," Levi muttered. "Riftspawn biology? Seriously?"

"You were supposed to read that last week," Charlotte said without looking at him.

"I did," Levi said. "The title. And the part about Rift guts."

David shook his head. "I might've written fanfiction by the third section. We'll see what the WAA thinks about my Riftspace Karma Theory."

Kael didn't speak. His gaze flicked briefly toward the far end of the corridor oward the gym wing.

As the group split toward the main hall, Kael lingered for a second — just enough to feel the air shift.

Then a soft thud-thud-thud came from behind.

A small blur darted between students' legs and straight toward him.

Kael looked down.

"...You again?"

It was the cat — Cyrhelle's. Sleek, dark-furred, tail up like a flag. It circled his boots once, then sat right in front of him with a low, impatient meow.

Kael crouched down slowly, reaching to scratch behind its ear.

"You always do what you want, huh?"

"Sorry about that," a voice said behind him.

Cyrhelle jogged over, a little breathless. She stopped when she saw her cat already curled up against Kael's foot, completely content.

"She usually doesn't run off like that," Cyrhelle added, brushing stray hair from her face.

"Maybe she likes sharp, brooding types," Levi muttered nearby.

Cyrhelle smiled slightly, but her eyes didn't leave Kael.

"You looked... angry," she said softly. "During the WAA Law section."

Kael glanced at her.

"No. Just remembering"

Cyrhelle's smile faded, replaced by something quieter. She nodded once.

"I just wanted to check. That's all."

Kael stood.

"Thanks."

She hesitated, then gave a small bow of her head.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, bye."

She bent to scoop up her cat, who gave a low, unhappy protest, and turned to walk back toward the main hall.

Levi and David watched her go

Levi made a noise.

"So."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "Don't."

"Too late," Levi grinned, nudging David. "Alright Navarro, real question this time. You've got two girls hanging around you now."

"One's literally the most beautiful girl in the academy," David chimed in, nodding toward where Charlotte had walked off.

"And the other?" Levi continued, "Same personality as you, doesn't talk unless it matters, even has the same quiet death stare. And I'm not gonna lie… you two kinda look alike."

Kael gave them both a dry look, turning toward the gym doors.

"I came here to train," he muttered.

"Yeah, yeah. But don't think we won't revisit this," Levi called after him. "This arc's not over."

David laughed as they followed him inside, the gym lights humming to life ahead

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