[center][h1][b][color=red]A[/color][/b][/h1][/center][hr]
[indent][color=#ffffff]A’s eyes remained locked on the 3D rendering of her heart. She couldn’t help but notice how the dark, pulsing shape seemed to throb with a life of its own, as if it were a separate entity that had taken up residence within her chest. The doctor's expository words added to her discomfort, and she couldn't shake the feeling that this vital organ, once hers alone, now belonged to someone or something else.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]And yet, as quickly as it had swelled, the overwhelming worry began to dissipate. The feeling didn’t vanish entirely—it lingered, distant and muffled, as though her own emotions were being held at arm’s length.[/color]

[b][color=#ffffff]“Much easier than Umbra, I'll tell ya what,” [/color][/b][color=#ffffff]VV[/color][color=#ffffff] said then with a relaxed smile. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]A looked away from the tablet, catching sight of her partner sitting up and moving with effortless ease. VV’s calm, composed demeanor stood in sharp contrast to A’s tense posture, which remained rigid despite the medication’s effects. She nodded faintly, but her lips refused to curl into anything resembling a real smile. Instead, the faintest twitch of acknowledgment crossed her face before she turned her attention elsewhere.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Val’s voice snapped her focus to the tense exchange between him and General Solen. Their conversation felt like a verbal sparring match, each demand and concession layered with unspoken stakes. The general’s begrudging promises of dignity and respect were undercut by his insistence on determining whether A and VV were threats. A’s jaw tightened, the sting of resentment flaring briefly before the medication muted it, tamping the fire down to a dull ember. Still, the proposal that they demonstrate their powers grated on her nerves, digging into the raw memories of being prodded, studied, and treated like an experiment.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Managing to hold herself together still, she forced her feet to follow as the group moved deeper into the facility. As they stepped into the vast courtyard, the rough gravel beneath A’s feet scraped against her boots. The vast open space was almost overwhelming, with not a single blade of grass or tree to provide any cover. Her eyes darted around, taking in every detail, as if searching for a potential escape route or a way to defend herself.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Le Frey’s voice broke the silence, his tone oddly cheerful. [/color][color=#ffffff][b]“Ah, my favourite place. Lots of sweat shed here.”[/b][/color]

[color=#ffffff]A barely registered his words, her attention snapping to the designated corners the general pointed out. VV, as usual, appeared completely unfazed. She moved with a casual confidence, her easy stance and faint smirk radiating the kind of assurance A envied.[/color]

[color=#ffffff][b]“Not gonna be much of a fight,” [/b][/color][color=#ffffff]VV said with a half-chuckle, her words light and teasing as she took a defensive position. [/color][color=#ffffff][b]“A can have me out flat in thirty seconds.”[/b][/color]

[color=#ffffff]The comment was meant to calm A down, but it had the opposite effect. Meanwhile, Doctor Willfreed approached with an air of excitement, her eyes shining with anticipation.[/color]

[color=#ffffff][b]“Oh, how exciting. This will be the first time I’ll have seen a new type of subjugation in action.” [/b][/color][color=#ffffff]Her hands clasped together, her gaze darting between A and VV with an intensity that bordered on eagerness. Perhaps a bit too much. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]A struggled to muster a convincing smile, her lips curling up in a brief, half-hearted attempt at friendliness. As she made her way to the designated corner, the crunch of sand beneath her boots seemed to echo her stiff and awkward movements, as if her body was resisting the situation just as much as her mind was. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her chest, and squared her shoulders in a futile attempt to appear more confident. Meanwhile, a faint buzzing sensation began to emanate from her fingers, a sign that her power was stirring in response to her nervous energy. With a sense of resignation, she opened her mouth to begin the proceedings.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Alright. Let’s get this over with then.” As A spoke, the words came out surprisingly level, almost convincing even herself that she was in control.  VV's heartbeat resonated within her, and A focused her energy on the rhythmic pulsations, attempting to harness the hum of her own power. However, it faltered and stuttered, refusing to respond to her efforts. The tension mounted as she gritted her teeth and pushed harder, sweat dripping down her forehead as her chest grew heavy with an aching intensity.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]Just when it seemed like she was on the verge of collapse, the rhythm shifted - not VV's heartbeat, but her own.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]A sudden, piercing ache shot through A’s temples, making her gasp for air as blood began to trickle from her nose. The metallic taste filled the back of her throat, leaving a bitter aftertaste, and she stumbled as her vision began to blur. The world started to spin, and she felt herself falling, her legs buckling beneath her as the warm sand rushed up to meet her face.[/color][/indent]