[Scene: Gate 13 – The Trial Chamber]
The atmosphere thickened.
Some candidates clenched their fists. Others kept blinking like their nerves had short-circuited. A few stood perfectly still — not out of strength, but paralysis.
No one spoke.
The speaker adjusted his robes and raised his hand.
Speaker (calmly):
"But as the power of pirates and rogue guilds grows… so does their number."
A murmur stirred — brief, uneasy.
Speaker:
"The government is watching. They want the Adventurer's License Exam to help in recruitment of Marines."
He let the words drop like heavy stones into still water.
Speaker:
"So… candidates. I have an offer."
Silence.
Tighter than before. Like the whole room had forgotten how to breathe.
Speaker:
"You can receive your license without taking the exam… if you agree to join the government's forces."
"However… you must leave your guild to do so."
Spines stiffened. Pupils shrank.
Speaker (flatly):
"You will each be given a device."
"Two buttons:
'YES' — leave your guild, join the government, get your license.
'NO' — take the exam with no guarantee of survival.
"If you do not press either, it will be marked as a 'NO.'"
He paused once more.
Speaker:
"You will have two minutes. Use them wisely."
[Scene: Hall in Motion]
Officials moved swiftly, handing out small black devices that glowed faintly — thumb-sized pads with glowing buttons.
Green for YES.
Red for NO.
Panda's hands were trembling.
He stared at the device in his palm like it was a bomb.
Panda (whispering to himself):
"I don't wanna die…"
"I just… I'm not cut out for this."
"Maybe this is a way out."
The timer on his device blinked. 01:57.
He hesitated only a second—
And then raised his thumb toward the green button.
But before he could press it—
CRUNCH.
A sharp noise tore through the silence.
Dozens of heads turned.
So did Panda.
Katrina's boot hovered over a shattered device — hers — now splintered across the polished stone floor.
Wires, glass, and crystal fragments spread like glittering dust.
Katrina (coldly):
"Shameful."
Her voice carried farther than it should have.
Katrina:
"People who leave their guild for a mere license don't deserve one."
The entire room froze.
She bent slightly, dusted her hands off, and turned toward Panda.
Met his eyes.
A faint smile.
One hand behind her head, sheepish.
Katrina:
"Sorry for the noise."
Panda's face drained of color. Then filled with it.
His finger hovered over the green button—
Then slipped.
He swallowed hard.
Panda (Internal):
"I… can't press yes in front of her."
"It'd kill any chance I have with her."
"Even my ancestors would disown me."
His thumb tapped the red button instead.
Device:
[NO – Confirmed]
[Scene: Around the Room]
Other candidates started hesitating too.
Some still clicked YES.
And Katrina?
She just stood there.
Arms crossed.
Eyes forward.
Katrina (Internal):
"If your loyalty folds now… how will you survive outside?"