The next morning, at exactly nine o'clock, Ezra entered the infirmary.
The air inside smelled faintly of herbs and disinfectant. White curtains swayed lightly beside each bed as a few injured candidates rested in silence. Ezra bowed slightly to the nurse on duty before walking toward the bed at the far end of the room.
Gena was sitting upright, chewing on slices of fruit when she noticed him approaching.
"Tsk."
She immediately turned her face away, puffing her cheeks in clear annoyance.
Ezra paused, then waved softly. "Hey."
He pulled a chair closer and sat beside her bed.
She didn't respond.
Ezra didn't rush her. He simply looked at her and smiled, the kind that didn't push or tease.
"Don't be angry," he said after a moment. "I did everything for your sake."
That made her snap back around.
Her brows furrowed; eyes sharp. "After you spent all that time lecturing me about not wasting Cognis," she snapped, her voice rising, "you still forced me to jog around the training yard fifteen times with a fifty-kilogram sandbag tied to my back… while reinforcing my body with Cognis! I fainted, you asshole!"
Ezra didn't flinch.
"First," he said calmly, raising one finger, "it was seven laps, not fifteen you ended up doing. Second, I didn't expect you to be that physically weak even after awakening. Third, you need that kind of pressure to build a foundation for the next stage."
Gena clenched her teeth.
She hated admitting it, but she could feel it. Her body felt different. Heavier, but steadier. Her Half-Star had grown, just a little. The flow of Cognis inside her was smoother than before.
So, she couldn't argue too much.
"…Even if you're right," she muttered, turning away again, "I don't care. I almost died because of you; you prick. Humph."
"Yeah. Sure."
Ezra stared at her plainly, then leaned forward and placed a small bag on his lap.
"I brought you something."
Her ears twitched.
She slowly turned back, eyes sparkling. "What did you bring?"
Ezra opened the bag and took out a neatly packed food container, then a thin jotter. He placed both on her bed.
Her eyes lit up the moment she saw the food. "For me?"
"Yes," he said, pushing the bag aside. "It'll help you recover."
"Thanks!" She immediately reached for it, then paused, staring at the jotter. "Food I get. But what's this?"
Ezra leaned back slightly. "Like I said yesterday, I'll be going into seclusion soon. I don't know how long I'll stay…maybe until close to the trial day. So, I prepared a training course for you. And a list of things you'll need before the next phase."
Gena stared at the jotter for a long moment.
"…Thank you."
She placed it aside and dug straight into the food.
Ezra watched her eat for a bit, then stood up.
"You're leaving already?" she asked, cheeks full. "Can't you stay longer?"
"Nah," he replied flatly. "I've got plans today. I'm thinking of entering seclusion tomorrow. Or the day after."
He picked up his bag and waved.
Gena watched him go, chewing slowly.
On his way out, Ezra bowed to the nurse again and left the infirmary.
As he walked through the hallway, he passed several members of Vera's group heading in the opposite direction. Nina was leading them.
He lowered his head slightly. The hood of his cloak hid his face, and he slipped past without being noticed.
Guess Gena has more friends than she lets on.
Ezra headed toward the newly added market area inside the base.
The place was wide and crowded, built with long stone paths and rows of wooden stalls on both sides. Everything an Alchemist might need was sold here—steel nuggets and steel bars, ropes and rubber ropes, Alchemy scrolls of different kinds, lighters, daggers, swords, protective helmets, shields, Alchemist space bags, and many other tools meant for survival.
Ezra moved slowly, scanning the area.
He went through each shop one after another. Every stall sold a specific type of equipment. As he walked, his eyes kept shifting between the items and the point tags beside them, calculating prices in his head and deciding where he should start.
Other children filled the market as well. Some walked alone, some in groups. All of them carried the same tense look, each buying materials for their own preparation.
Ezra stopped in front of a bookstore.
It sold Alchemy scrolls and books filled with pre-made Alchemy formulas and symbols.
These books were the proud research left behind by the old ancestors of Ashenlocke, along with famous Gun Alchemists who had created their own symbols and formulas for different types of Alchemy. Over time, these works had become guides. Most Alchemists relied on them to execute Alchemy faster and more safely.
Now, almost every Alchemist used these books as shortcuts… to grow faster, to make fewer mistakes.
Ezra stepped inside.
***
To execute an Alchemy, like creating a revolver or a bullet… you first needed materials. Steel bars were commonly used for revolvers, while steel nuggets were used for bullets. Steel wasn't mandatory, though. Any metal could be used, as long as one's Cognis level could handle it.
Then came the chemical aspect.
Creation and destruction weren't done by simply pouring Cognis into metal. The Alchemist had to convert the chemical formula of how the object was made into a symbol inside the mind realm. That symbol could take many forms; circles, triangles, stars. Something like a circle with two triangles and a smaller circle in the center, or two stars linked with two circles. Those were simplified versions of symbols used to create a full revolver.
Cognis was used to draw the symbol, then injected into the material. Only then would the Alchemy be executed.
Because it was extremely difficult for an Alchemist to randomly create their own symbols for specific formulas, most depended on these books. They were safer. Faster. Easier.
***
That was why the shop was packed.
People went in and out nonstop. It was the busiest place in the entire market—and also the most expensive. Not just anyone could afford to buy books here.
The point system made that clear.
Gold Card holders received one hundred thousand points. Silver Card holders got thirty thousand. Everyone else received Bronze cards—only five thousand points.
A single book costs between one thousand and two thousand five hundred points.
The difference was obvious.
Ezra scanned the shelves.
Only Novice- and Binder-ranked books were available. After a moment of thought, he bought one Novice-ranked book and one Binder-ranked book, then left the store.
From there, he moved through the metal shop, then the clothing stall, the rope shop, the Alchemist accessories shop, and finally the weapons vendor.
By the time he stopped, his space bag felt heavy.
Still, he had only spent seven thousand points.
"Twenty-three thousand points left," Ezra muttered, looking at his card as a faint image of the number floated above it.
He stroked his chin.
"Hmm… maybe I should rack up some points through betting in the arena."
Just as that thought crossed his mind, someone stepped into his path.
Ezra looked up.
Veda stood there, Bobby beside him, and a surprising third figure.
"Oh, hey, Veda," Ezra greeted, bowing slightly.
Veda returned the bow without hesitation, calm as always.
Bobby also bowed, a little stiff, clearly trying not to look awkward.
The last person with them greeted him as well.
Ezra's eyes lingered on him for a moment.
The boy had Vera's hair color, the same pale skin, and eyes that looked sharp even when relaxed. But the shape of his face, especially the calm line of his jaw, was unmistakably Veda's.
So, this should be Bale.
Veda noticed the silent staring between them. He smiled faintly and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. Bale stiffened a little but didn't pull away.
"Ezra, you must have heard of my younger brother," Veda said. "Bale, meet Ezra. Ezra, meet Bale."
Ezra studied Bale more closely.
He looks… ordinary. Compared to those two, at least.
Interesting.
"Nice to meet you," Bale said again. Then his lips curved slightly. "I've heard a bit about the boy my elder sister was stepping on during the third trial."
"Eh?" Ezra froze. Heat rushed to his face. "What?"
"Don't worry," Bale said quickly. He placed a hand on Ezra's shoulder and gave him a look filled with understanding. "I know your pain."
That look.
The look of someone who had suffered under Vera's bullying.
A comrade.
A tiny tear even formed at the corner of Bale's eye.
Ezra felt awkward at first. He didn't know how to react. But after a second, he smiled and nodded.
"Wow, the two of you are getting close pretty fast," Veda cut in, smiling as if amused.
"Yeah… I guess," Ezra replied. Then he glanced around the busy market. "Still, it's surprising to see you together like this. Two leaders, openly walking around the marketplace where everyone can see."
"I didn't even want to come with him," Bale complained. "He suddenly appeared in my room and dragged me out here."
"Ehn? How did I force you?" Veda waved it off. "I just wanted to spend time with my little brother. It's been a while."
"I get that," Bale said, rubbing his temple, "but this is a trial. We're supposed to be enemies. I can't let my people see me being all buddy-buddy with you."
"You're already out here," Veda replied calmly, pulling Bale closer with an arm around his shoulder. "People have already seen us. So, stop acting stiff and enjoy it. Besides, your big brother promised to buy you anything you want."
Bale sighed heavily but still didn't resist.
"Sir Veda really cares about his brother," Bobby whispered to Ezra.
Ezra watched the two of them in silence.
Something twisted in his chest.
He had never smiled with his own brother. Not once. There had only been hostility. Pain. Zara was always trying to hurt him—not as a joke, but to feed an ego. To prove he was the real golden child of the family.
Ezra didn't notice when his hands clenched into fists.
"Ezra?" Bobby tapped him lightly.
Ezra snapped out of it. "Yeah," he said, forcing a small, bitter smile.
"Guys, I'll head out," Ezra said. "I still have things to do. I didn't expect to spend over eight hours just buying equipment."
"The crowd here is heavy," Veda replied. "You have to wait in line for almost everything. That's why it's better to come early…or buy things slowly. But judging by your bag, it looks like you got everything you needed?"
"Yeah," Ezra said. "I plan to go into seclusion and work on my Alchemy strategy."
"That's good," Veda said, his tone steady and mature. "I wish I could do the same, but I still have to help the rest with theirs. Good luck."
He waved.
Bobby waved too.
Bale hesitated for a second, then waved as well.
"Yeah, bye," Ezra replied, lifting his hand.
He turned and walked away, blending back into the flow of the market.