The entire group of teenagers was already seated in the dining area, eating quietly.
The hall was wide, structured in long rows of tables, but the silence inside it always made it feel smaller than it really was. The sound of spoons against plates was controlled, almost mechanical.
A short woman with neatly cut hair stood in the hallway, watching them carefully. She made sure everything was in order that no one spoke too loudly, no one delayed their meals, and no one broke the silent discipline of breakfast.
Pinned on her chest was a name tag: Stephen.
Miss Stephen called by the children. She moved slowly from table to table, observing without emotion. Her eyes were sharp, scanning every detail like nothing was ever minor.
Soon, she reached the table where Hadizah, Tina, and Belle were seated. Their table was near the counter, slightly separated from the others.
The three girls were talking softly among themselves, their voices low but still active compared to the rest of the hall.
Miss Stephen stopped beside them.
She cleared her throat lightly. "Hmm hmm."
The sound was enough.
All three girls turned immediately. Tina and Hadizah looked up at once. Belle, however, only glanced at her briefly, still chewing.
"Good morning, Miss Stephen," Tina and Hadizah said together. Belle stayed quiet.
Miss Stephen didn't respond immediately. She simply stood there, looking at them, as though she was deciding something.
A minute passed.
Then she smiled faintly. "Hmm… I see cat has taken your tongue this morning."
Her eyes shifted between them. "Or did you forget how to greet me today?"
Tina straightened slightly. "Ma'am, we were..." Miss Stephen raised her hand sharply, cutting her off without even looking at her.
"I'm not talking about you," she said, her voice calm but firm. Her eyes moved to Belle.
That silence hit differently.
Belle finally looked up properly. Her expression tightened, but she still spoke.
"Ma'am, I thought my friend greeted you. I was waiting for you to reach our table before I speak." Her tone was controlled, but there was a small edge to it.
Miss Stephen stared at her for a second, then simply turned her face away, as if Belle's explanation didn't matter at all. It was dismissal without words.
Her attention shifted again. "What are you having, Hadizah?"
Hadizah looked down at her plate and then back at her.
"What does it look like?"
Miss Stephen leaned slightly closer. "It looks like leaves to me. Last time I checked, goats eat those."
A faint discomfort crossed Hadizah's face, but she didn't respond emotionally.
Instead, she lifted her glass. "It's a smoothie. And this is a salad."
She pointed at the plate with her spoon.
Miss Stephen tilted her head. "And why exactly are you eating that?"
Hadizah paused, then answered carefully. "I visited the infirmary this morning. They said I should lose weight. That I've been gaining."
Miss Stephen's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she was assessing her body differently now.
"But you look like you've lost weight already," she said. Then added, almost casually, "And you do know you need strength to use a sniper rifle, don't you?"
Hadizah frowned slightly. "That depends on the brain, not food."
Miss Stephen exhaled softly, as if unimpressed by the response.
Before she could move away, she added, "I see your friend here is very obsessed with weight."
Her eyes briefly flicked toward Tina.
"Tina, good job switching to hacking. At least that suits you. Computers don't complain about discipline."bTina gave a small, polite nod.
Then Miss Stephen continued, "You should all try harder in your grades. You're not children anymore."
With that, she turned and walked toward the next table, where several boys were seated.
The tension around Hadizah's table slowly released.
Belle leaned back slightly, her expression sharp. "I don't like her."
She took a sip of her milk in one long gulp, still staring in the direction Miss Stephen left.
Tina let out a small breath. "No one does."
Hadizah didn't speak. She simply continued eating.
The atmosphere in the hall shifted suddenly.
A different kind of silence entered.
Not the controlled silence of discipline, but the fearful kind. Footsteps echoed softly. Every teenager straightened immediately. The entrance doors opened.
A woman stepped inside. Everything about her presence changed the room at once.
She wore a black dress that fit her perfectly, black heels, and a matching bag held loosely at her side. A black sunshade covered her eyes, and her long hair was neatly styled, falling with controlled elegance.
But it wasn't her appearance that made everyone rise. It was her, Sonia, the Lady.
Every teenager stood instantly. In unison, they greeted, "Good morning, Your Highness."
She lifted one hand gently, smiling as she walked in. "Good morning, my children. Please, sit."
They obeyed immediately. Not out of comfort, but conditioning.
Sonia moved slowly through the hall, her steps calm and precise. Her smile never faded.
"I'm happy to see you all eating well," she said. "I hope the kitchen is taking good care of you."
"Yes, ma'am," they replied together.
Her gaze moved across them like she was inspecting something she owned, and in truth, she was. Not all of them liked her presence. In fact, most didn't. But on this island, liking or disliking was irrelevant.
You smiled when she was around. Always.
That was the rule.
"I can see it on your faces," she said gently. "Good nutrition is important. I'll make sure the kitchen staff are rewarded."
She turned slightly toward the hallway. "Increase their pay."
A soft murmur of gratitude followed. Heads bowed slightly in appreciation.
Sonia raised her hand lightly. "No need for that. I should be the one thanking you."
The kitchen staff stood quietly, heads lowered. Then her expression changed.
It softened, but only slightly.
"I've heard," she said slowly, "that many of you have been lost. For different reasons."
The room became heavier.
Her voice lowered. "It's unfortunate. Very unfortunate."
A pause. "I know some of you lost siblings. Friends. People you cared about."
Her eyes scanned the room gently.
"But don't let that hold you back."
Another pause.
"Attachment makes people weak. And weakness… is dangerous here." The silence deepened.
"Nothing lasts forever," she added. "So don't hold on too tightly to anything or anyone."
The words settled into the room like dust. Hadizah felt it but didn't show it.
Sonia continued smoothly, as if shifting away from emotion.
"Sir Sam has informed me that your departments are progressing well. Your instructors are pushing you hard."
A faint smile returned to her face.
"That is good." She looked around the hall.
"Your first mission will be assigned soon."
That sentence changed the air again.
A mission. Not training anymore.
Something final.
"How many of you think you will succeed?" she asked lightly. No one answered.
She lifted a glass of water from the counter nearby and took a slow sip. Then she set it down.
"Hmm…" she said softly, as if collecting her thoughts.
"I want you all to increase your effort. Twice as much as before."
Her tone sharpened slightly.
"You already know the consequences if you fail."
A pause.
"You will be divided into groups. Each group will train together. And each group will have supervision."
She scanned them again. Every face remained still. Controlled. Trained not to react. Satisfied, she nodded.
"That is all for today."
Then she added, casually, "No questions will be answered."
She turned slightly. "Your supervisors will brief you in two days."
A final smile. "Enjoy your breakfast."
And with that, she walked out.
Just like that. The hall remained silent for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Then slowly, the tension loosened.
But not completely, because on this island, nothing ever truly relaxed. Not even breakfast.