Bale's eyes lingered on several recruits who had fled or made poor decisions in the simulation. Their faces paled.
"These simulations expose something more important than your fighting ability. They expose your character. How you think. How you react. How you decide. Every recruit learned something about themselves today, whether they want to admit it or not."
He took a slow sip of his coffee, letting the silence hang.
Then...
"Now," he said, turning to face all ninety-nine recruits at once, "I will address something important."
A tension gripped the room.
"The Guild does not expect perfection. We expect progress. Most of you showed that. And the Guild will provide resources to foster your growth moving forward."
Several recruits exhaled shakily in relief.
But then Bale's voice deepened.
"However, there were those among you who distinguished themselves so thoroughly that the Guild can no longer view them as ordinary recruits."
Everyone knew the first name that came to mind.
