The night went on
"Today, we will test your physical limits," announced Dr. Havel, still as imposing in his white coat and glasses reflecting cold light. "You will run. For a long time. Then follow up with several specific assessments. We want numbers."
The track was long, divided into multiple lanes. Each group stood in line.
"Push yourselves to complete exhaustion," he added. "Those who stop will be recorded. Observe your classmates. Spot the weak."
A whistle sliced through the air. Footsteps immediately echoed on the track.
Luca started running, focused. Kai was up ahead, as always. Alexei, however, kept a steady pace right beside Luca. He seemed... calm. Not tired. Not even sweating.
Is he even human...? thought Luca, breathless. Even Daniel looks more affected...
Daniel jogged leisurely, a faint smile on his face, as if enjoying the moment. But it was Alexei who troubled Luca. His expression remained blank. No emotion. Not even a furrowed brow.
Half an hour passed. Then an hour.
Some gave up, collapsed, or finished on their knees. Dr. Havel wrote in silence. Drones hovered overhead, recording every movement, every breath.
Finally, the whistle blew again.
"Break. Ten minutes."
Students dropped to their knees or lay on the ground, panting. Luca sat against a wall, heart pounding. That's when a soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts:
"You run well. Honestly, you lasted a long time."
He turned his head. A girl with hazel eyes and shoulder-length brown hair smiled at him. Class D uniform.
"Thanks..." he said, still panting.
"I'm Lyn. Lyn Ounari. You helped me find the exam room on admission day, remember?"
Luca blinked, intrigued.
"Wait... oh yeah! You had a bracelet with your name engraved on it, right? That stuck with me."
"Exactly!" she said with a light laugh. "I thought no one noticed…"
"I did, I thought it was cool. And useful."
A comfortable silence settled in. Then, without warning, a cold presence interrupted them.
Alexei had arrived.
He said nothing, stared at Lyn with a neutral gaze, then lightly pushed her aside — not aggressively, but firmly.
"What do you want?" he asked Luca, grabbing his wrist.
"Huh?" Luca responded, confused.
Alexei leaned slightly toward him.
"We don't hang around with just anyone here. Come."
"Wait, but—" Luca tried to say.
Lyn, confused, looked between Alexei and Luca, then their hands.
"Is that... is that your girlfriend?" she asked hesitantly, slightly disappointed.
Alexei stopped abruptly, turned slightly.
"I'm a boy."
Lyn's eyes widened, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Oh... I... I'm sorry…"
Alexei ignored her completely and walked off, still holding Luca.
"You don't need to be sorry," Luca called back, still a bit confused.
They walked off while Lyn stood there, awkwardly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
The students were then called for the next tests.
The first setup: a metallic cylinder with sensors on the sides.
"Measuring raw strength," Havel announced. "Hit it. Hard. You get three tries."
Kai stepped up, clenched his fists, and struck with all his strength.
— BEEP – 614 units.
"Not bad," Havel's assistant commented while writing it down.
Daniel moved surprisingly fast. BEEP – 780.
Alexei approached silently. He placed a hand, took a step back… and struck.
BEEP – 873.
A hush fell over the group. Even Kai glanced sideways.
"Is he a machine or what…" someone whispered.
Then came the speed test: a starting line, sensors on the sides, and a finish line 50 meters away.
Luca ran, giving it his all. 6.2 seconds.
Kai: 5.3 seconds.
Alexei: 4.9 seconds.
Then agility: a course full of obstacles, jumps, shifting traps, and slippery platforms.
Luca finished in 1 minute 32, nearly twisting his ankle twice.
Kai did it in 1 minute flat, Daniel in 1:04.
Alexei? 51 seconds. No words. No stumbles. As if he had memorized every inch.
The students started whispering. This wasn't just about endurance or strength. He was dominating every test.
Finally, after the last set of pull-ups, balance trials, and a reaction test in pairs, Dr. Havel spoke again:
"That's all for today. Tomorrow, classes will start at 11 a.m. Rest well. Genesis may be demanding, but we're not monsters."
A soft laugh rippled through the group. Kai, soaked in sweat, joked:
"Well… maybe these Genesis psychos aren't that cruel after all."
Some tired laughter echoed from a few students.
But deep down, they had all understood one thing: Genesis would either break them... or reveal them.
Meet the characters revealed so far.
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #D-044]
Name: Lyn Ounari
Age: 13
Height: 1m63
Weight: 52 kg
Eyes: Soft hazel, often observant and kind
Hair: Mid-length chestnut brown, usually half-tied
Class: D Class
Nationality: Thai-Swedish
Type of Student: Empathetic Observer / Quiet Strategist
Hobbies: Sketching, reading psychological novels, analyzing behavior
Dislikes: Harsh judgment, loud environments, being ignored
Notable Traits: Wears a thin silver bracelet engraved with her name; calm and empathetic demeanor; often underestimated, but possesses a sharp memory and high emotional intelligence
Quote: "Sometimes, listening tells you more than a thousand questions."