Valencrest – Relational Evaluation Sector
Day 2 of the Examination / First Hour
Time Remaining: 02:59:59
The door closed again.
Same sound.
Same room.
But different people.
Not in their faces — in their intentions.
Kael took his seat in silence, resting his back against the chair.
Hands relaxed. Breath steady.
Now they know someone is lying, he thought.
But they don't know who.
FIRST HOUR – THE PREMATURE ACCUSATION
"We didn't reach any conclusion yesterday," said the tall boy, visibly irritated.
"Today we need to be more direct."
"Direct how?" asked the girl with short hair.
"By asking uncomfortable questions."
A quick glance swept across the group.
It stopped on Kael.
He didn't react.
"You," said the tall boy. "Yesterday you defended the one under accusation. Why?"
Silence.
Kael slowly lifted his gaze.
"Because a weak accusation is more dangerous than a lie," he replied.
"It weakens the one who makes it."
A few students nodded.
Others pressed their lips together.
Good, Kael thought.
Half the room against the other.
SECOND HOUR – THE FEAR OF LOSING POINTS
Valencrest – Relational Evaluation Sector
Day 2 / Second Hour
Time Remaining: 01:58:12
"We can't afford to make a mistake," someone said with a tense voice.
"We start with 1,000 points. If we eliminate the wrong person, we all lose a hundred."
"And if we don't vote for anyone?" a girl asked.
Everyone's wristband vibrated.
MANDATORY VOTING
The silence grew heavy.
Kael noticed who had started sweating.
Who kept obsessively checking their display.
The fear of losing points is stronger than the fear of the truth.
Kael spoke again.
Few words. Precise.
"Maybe we should ask ourselves who is willing to lose."
"What do you mean?" someone asked.
"Those who never talk about points," Kael said.
"Or those who seem unconcerned by them."
A female student stiffened.
She didn't speak again for the rest of the hour.
THIRD HOUR – THE FIRST MISTAKE
Valencrest – Relational Evaluation Sector
Day 2 / Third Hour
Time Remaining: 00:41:03
"I vote for her," the tall boy suddenly said, pointing at the silent girl.
"She's too calm."
"But she hasn't done anything!" someone protested.
"Exactly."
Kael observed.
He didn't intervene.
He didn't stop anything.
The seed he had planted the day before was sprouting.
The vote wasn't official — but the idea was.
When the door opened, the group was divided.
Kael's wristband vibrated as he stepped out.
NO POINT VARIATION
But a secondary notification appeared.
OBSERVED BEHAVIOR: HIGH PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT
Kael lowered his wrist.
So they're watching too, he thought.
Not just us.
TOWARD THE DORMITORIES
Valencrest – Outer Dormitory District
Day 2 / Evening
The dormitory buildings rose like silent blocks.
Lit libraries on every floor.
Long corridors, clean, impersonal.
Kael entered his room.
Single bed.
Desk.
A window overlooking a closed courtyard.
He sat down.
For the first time, he let the mask fall.
They're not ready, he thought.
And I'm not even using everything yet.
Tomorrow would be the decisive day.
The day when someone would truly lose.
End of episode 20