Author's note: This chapter marks the introduction (well, more the mention) of two of my friend's characters, Skye, Dante and Shin - belonging to Seph, Holly and Cat. Welcome to the saga, you guys!
"SeeD exam! SeeD exam! SeeD exam!"
"I'm glad you're so confident about this whole thing…" Lianne said, watching her friend bounding up and down the corridor with her characteristic enthusiasm.
"Don't tell me you're scared." Alix smiled to her.
"Not really…" Lianne lied. She was clenching her fists to stop her hands from shaking, and was chewing her lip to try and unknot her stomach.
"SeeD exam! SeeD exam! SeeD exam!" Leali was still chanting, skipping up and down the corridor.
All the other candidates looked at her in annoyance. Everyone was concentrating, mentally trying to prepare themselves for their big exam.
The sight of a Garden Faculty at the other end of the corridor stopped Leali in her tracks. All the other candidates fell quiet also. All eyes were on the Faculty.
"I will now be announcing the team assignments for this mission. You must take this exam seriously – treat it as you would a real mission. Everything you do from this point onwards will determine your future at Garden. Now, squad A will be Shin Akito, Dante Mastic…"
Lianne tried to keep her mind on the teams the Faculty was reading out, but it was proving difficult thanks to her nerves. She had no knowledge of what was being said, until she heard, "Squad C will be Lianne Leonhart, Leali Kinneas, Alix Shuray, and the squad leader will be Skye Zephyr."
Lianne smiled upon hearing her friends' names, but as she heard the name of the squad leader, she had to stop and think. "Skye Zephyr? Who's he?" she wondered.
Alix shrugged. "Dunno. But, hey, we got real lucky being put in the same squad."
Leali grinned. "Yeah! Now come on, let's go!"
Lianne took a second to steady her nerves again, then nodded, following Leali and Alix past the Garden Faculty, towards their deployment car.
