CHAPTER 99: THE HARDEST PART

Lexa glanced over at Leon, who was now busy reviewing another line of applicants. No one else seemed to notice it. Just her.

Theo finished the obstacle course. His time was above average but not top-tier. The instructors made a few notes. One even gave him a nod. "Solid effort. Room to grow."

Theo offered a small, polite smile and stepped off to the side with the others who had completed the run.

But Lexa’s eyes followed him like a hawk. ’Why pretend to be weaker than you are?’

The answer gnawed at her, and her expression dimmed with quiet suspicion and curiosity.

Was Theo hiding his true strength from AMSO? Or from someone else?

After the obstacle and reaction tests, the instructor raised his voice again.

"We’ll now proceed to one-on-one sparring matches. Controlled combat. Non-lethal force. Use of minor abilities allowed depending on your type. No full-on activation unless instructed."

Theo’s brow twitched slightly. Perfect...

"Initiate Theodore Luther," the instructor called, glancing down at his clipboard. "You’re up next."

Theo exhaled and stepped onto the padded sparring floor, flexing his fingers loosely. He already planned how to keep the fight even, not too fast, not too strong. Just good enough to pass.

Then another voice cut in.

"I’ll take this one," Lexa announced.

The instructor blinked. "Commander Lexa? You want to spar with the recruit?"

She was already walking to the center, removing her jacket and rolling her sleeves. "It’ll be a quick one. I’ll be careful."

The entire room went quiet.

Theo’s eyes widened. "Lexa..."

"I’m sure you don’t mind," she said coolly, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

He stepped onto the mat with her, adjusting his stance. "You really want to do this?"

"You passed the physicals easily," she replied. "But I know what you’re doing."

He didn’t respond.

"You’re holding back," Lexa said quietly, low enough for just the two of them to hear. "Why?"

The instructor raised a hand. "Begin!"

Lexa didn’t hesitate. She moved first, swift and fluid. Her foot lashed out, aiming for his side.

Theo blocked with ease but staggered back two steps, pretending to recover.

She frowned.

"I’m not playing, Theo. Fight me seriously."

"I don’t want to hurt you," he said calmly, keeping his hands up.

Lexa grit her teeth. "I’m a Commander Class .1 I can handle it. Or... are you scared of what AMSO will see?"

Theo lunged forward then, just enough to test her. Lexa blocked, twisted, and tried to sweep his legs but he flipped backward with sharp precision and landed like a cat.

The room murmured.

"That was not a Class 4 move," one recruit whispered.

Lexa stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Why are you pretending to be average?"

Theo didn’t answer right away. Instead, he feinted another strike and let her catch his wrist, flipping him hard toward the mat. He didn’t resist. The room erupted with surprise as Theo landed with a loud thud.

The instructor raised his hand. "Match over. Commander wins."

Lexa held onto Theo’s hand a second longer, her face tight. "You could have countered that."

He looked up at her. "I know."

"You owe me an answer later," she whispered sharply, then let go.

Theo stood, brushed himself off, and gave a respectful nod. But in his mind, he was already troubled. ’She’s not going to let this go...’ he thought with a sigh.

***

Later that afternoon, after the screening trials had wrapped up and most recruits dispersed, Theo walked alone toward the edge of the AMSO training grounds. He wanted air and maybe space from the whispers and stares he’d earned after the spar.

He sensed her before he saw her.

"You held back on purpose," Lexa’s voice came from behind, calm but unreadable.

Theo stopped but didn’t turn. "You’re still on that?"

"Because it matters." She stepped beside him, not meeting his gaze right away. "But... I’m not here to push that now."

He blinked and looked at her, surprised.

Lexa inhaled deeply and finally turned to face him. "I never said it properly. But thank you for saving me at the stadium. I thought I was going to die."

There was a beat of silence before Theo offered a small smile. "I’m glad I got there in time."

Lexa stared at him for a moment, then let out a quiet, short laugh. "I didn’t expect you to smile."

"I don’t do it often," he muttered with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "You kind of startled it out of me."

From a distance, Beatrice froze mid-step. She had been walking toward the office wing when she caught sight of Lexa and Theo standing close... his head slightly lowered to hers, and that smile... the first she’d seen on him in days.

Her lips parted slightly. Then pressed into a thin line. ’He never smiled like that around me now,’ she thought bitterly.

On the opposite side of the field, Shine was balancing a training baton over her shoulder when she caught sight of the same scene.

Her brow twitched. "Excuse me?" she muttered, voice rising. She narrowed her eyes and scoffed loudly, drawing attention from a few cadets nearby.

Lexa, unaware of the brewing storm from two directions, cleared her throat and stepped back slightly from Theo. "So... are you really joining AMSO?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"I see," she said softly, then hesitated before adding, "Maybe it’s selfish... but I’m glad."

Theo tilted his head. "Selfish?"

She looked away with the faintest hint of a smile. "So I don’t have to wait for you to randomly show up again just to disappear."

That made Theo laugh under his breath. "I’ll try not to disappear so easily next time."

Their eyes met for one lingering second and then the spell was broken.

"Lexa!" a sharp voice rang from behind. Beatrice stood with arms crossed, expression unreadable. "We’ve been looking for you."

"Oh?" Lexa turned, her smile fading. "I was just-"

"Catching up," Beatrice cut in, walking over. "I see."

From the other side, Shine suddenly bounded over with a dramatic huff. "Ugh! It’s hot and I’m starving. Theo! Walk with me to the mess hall?" she chirped, slipping her arm through his.

Lexa’s brows raised slightly, and Beatrice’s nostrils flared.

Theo stood awkwardly, caught between three women and more emotional tension than he’d like.

’...And I thought surviving Meteorborn was the hardest part.’