The room was smaller. Colder. Deliberately so. Seven doors. One by one—they opened.
Erza stepped in first. The door shut behind her with a heavy thud. She didn't turn. Didn't react. Her eyes had already moved—scanning. Counting. Seven beds. Minimal spacing. No windows. One camera. Dead center.
"A room designed for observation," she murmured.
A second door opened. Footsteps. Heavy. Controlled. Kael. He stepped in, eyes sweeping the room—sharp, efficient. They landed on Erza. Silence.
"You talk to yourself often?" he asked, tone flat.
Erza didn't look at him. "Only when the answer matters."
He studied her a moment longer, then walked past. "Good," he said quietly. "Means you're thinking."
Another door slid open. A girl walked in, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve. Mira. She glanced around, then at the camera.
"Wow. Minimalist torture chamber aesthetic. Very on-brand."
Kael frowned. "You joke too much."
"You don't joke enough," Mira shot back. Her eyes shifted to Erza. "You were counting cameras back there, weren't you?"
Erza finally looked at her. "Yes.
"Thought so," Mira smirked.
A soft sound. Another door opened. Yuki slipped in. Almost silently. She didn't greet anyone. Didn't speak. She moved to the far corner—where the camera angle was weakest.
Erza, Mira and Kael noticed it.
"Well," Mira muttered under her breath, "that's not creepy at all."
Yuki didn't respond.
Another door—and a boy stumbled in. Zane. Eyes wide. "Okay—so this is definitely not a summer camp. Just confirming."
No one replied. He blinked. "…Right. Tough crowd."
Next, Tala entered. Her eyes immediately moved to the others. Not scanning. Not analyzing. Checking.
"Is anyone hurt?" she asked softly.
Zane raised a hand halfway. "Emotionally? Yes."
She gave him a small, tired smile. "That counts too."
The final door opened. Noor walked in like she belonged there. Composed. Graceful. Unbothered. Her gaze swept across the room—paused briefly on each of them. Assessing. Measuring. Then she smiled.
"Well," she said smoothly, "this is… an interesting selection."
Kael crossed his arms. "You talk like you chose us."
Noor tilted her head. "Didn't I?"
Mira let out a quiet laugh. "Oh, I like her."
Silence settled. Seven strangers. One room. No escape.
Then—a sharp sound. A speaker crackled to life.
"Unit designation confirmed."
The same cold voice. Controlled. Watching.
"You seven have been selected."
Zane muttered, "Lucky us…"
"You will train together."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Why?"
"Because your combined potential exceeds individual specialization."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "Translation?"
Erza spoke. "They think we're stronger together."
All eyes shifted to her.
"Correct," the speaker said.
A faint shift in the room. Something unspoken.
Zane pointed lightly. "Okay, that's mildly terrifying."
"You will eat together. You will train together. You will succeed together."
Then the tone sharpened.
"Or you will fail."
Tala stepped forward slightly. "What happens if we fail?"
Silence. Too long. Then—"You will be replaced."
No one spoke for a moment. The weight of it settled.
Zane exhaled slowly. "Wow. They really don't do motivational speeches here, huh?"
Kael looked at the group. Then at Erza. "You figured it out fast back there."
Not a question. A statement.
Erza met his gaze. "They're predictable."
Mira leaned against the wall. "That's bold. Considering where we are."
"Not bold. Logical," Erza said.
Noor stepped closer. Not too close. Just enough. "And what's your logic telling you now?"
Erza looked at all of them. One by one. Measured. Careful.
"That we weren't chosen randomly. That we're being built."
Yuki spoke for the first time. Quiet. Sharp. "For what?"
Erza didn't hesitate. "For something they can't control alone."
Silence. Again. But this time—different.
Zane rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't like the sound of that."
Mira smirked. "You don't like anything that doesn't explode."
"Hey—untrue," Zane said defensively. "I like snacks too."
Tala looked between them. Then softly—"We should at least know each other's names."
Kael hesitated. Then—"Kael."
"Mira."
"Tala."
"Zane," he said, giving a small wave.
"Professional survivor."
A pause. Yuki spoke quietly. "Yuki."
Noor smiled faintly. "Noor."
All eyes turned to Erza. She held their gaze. Steady. "Erza."
Another silence. But this time—it wasn't empty. It was the beginning of something.
Outside the room—behind reinforced walls and glass—Nexus observed. Recorded. Analyzed.
"Unit stability?"
"Unconfirmed."
"Continue observation."
Inside—seven children stood in a room meant to contain them. Break them. Control them. But something had already shifted. Not trust. Not yet. But awareness. They weren't alone anymore. And that—was dangerous.