"You would like to be my friend?"
Atticus repeated Colonel Zenon's words carefully, as though trying to make the man hear how absurd it sounded.
'Be careful. He might be into… that.'
Ozeroth's voice sounded very cautious. He was probably giving Zenon a side glance right now if he were in his solid form.
"Are you sure you know what you're talking about?" Atticus decided to be more direct. It seemed he was speaking with a crazy person.
But Zenon's smile only widened even further as he nodded.
"Yes, yes, I know perfectly well what I'm talking about."
Seeing Atticus's impassive stare, he continued.
"I am well aware of your current situation with the other races. But that does not concern me. One of the quirks of being strong is being able to do whatever the hell you want."
As Zenon finished speaking, he stretched his hand further, as though urging Atticus to accept it.
Atticus maintained eye contact, locking eyes with Zenon. He accepted the handshake but remained silent.
Both their arms were firm. The air around the handshake trembled, and there was no doubt that anything placed between their grasp would be turned to dust.
There was only one emotion that Atticus could sense when he observed Zenon.
Curiosity.
To him, it wasn't a bad thing.
"Good, good. I would say you made the right choice, but I'll let actions speak instead." Zenon appeared happy, like a child who had just been given candy.
"Do you know why you were sent here with the others?" Zenon asked.
Atticus was, without a doubt, a paragon, a being that could comprehend knowledge and information at a pace others would find impossible.
It was simply a matter of giving him that information. Yet, they had still sent him to the training camp, where he was to spend a year training with other recruits.
"A show of power," Atticus said succinctly. He didn't seem bothered by the revelation in the slightest.
Zenon nodded. "Yes. Your potential is unlike anything ever seen before. As such, they want to make sure you can be controlled."
Zenon took a step back before turning, walking toward nowhere in particular.
"Isn't it a curiosity?" He didn't wait for Atticus before continuing.
"The alliance was created to stand against an alien race threatening to invade and destroy our planet, and yet, they decided to limit someone who is likely their hope because of their pride or egos."
"Sentient beings are difficult to understand. I believe you cannot truly understand them. Aren't they fascinating?"
Atticus shook his head.
"Stupidity doesn't interest me. Neither does the thought process of fools."
Zenon laughed. "Just as I expected you to say. Your words aren't far from the truth."
Zenon fell silent for a brief moment, as if setting the mood.
"Unfortunately, my friend, while I'm already sure of the answer, I am obligated to ask. I hope this won't ruin our newly formed friendship." He turned toward Atticus.
"Our Queen is interested in you. Your talent, how you reached your current level at such a young age, everything. She would like to study you, and in return, the Evolari will give you any backing and support you need—"
"No."
Zenon had only just finished speaking before Atticus blatantly refused. He would not be turned into a lab subject.
Zenon smiled. "Alright. I will not ask again. As compensation, I shall give you a hand. Sergeant Viktor."
A blur of motion and speed, Viktor appeared in front of Zenon like a phantom, his form straight and rigid as he saluted.
"Colonel Zenon."
"At ease."
Despite his words, Viktor didn't seem to listen. He stood with his back even straighter than before.
"If he passes all his basic training, you can leave him to train alone unless he asks for you specifically."
"Yes, Colonel!"
With that, Colonel Zenon flashed Atticus a wide smile. "I'll respectfully excuse myself now. If you need me, just yell my name."
Zenon waved before disappearing as quickly as he had arrived.
'That's a first.'
'How sad.' Ozeroth snickered inside his head.
'What's sad about it?' Atticus retorted with a frown.
'You're very shocked that one of those self-absorbed idiots actually wants to befriend you… You've been so used to making enemies you've forgotten how to make friends.'
Atticus fell silent for a moment.
'I liked it better when you were too prideful to go through my thoughts.'
'Tsk. Ungrateful brat. You should be happy to have your mind read by someone of my greatness.'
'Your shamelessness is out of this world. You still don't want to admit that you care.'
'Of course I care.'
Atticus raised a brow.
'Oh?'
'Yes. About my bond making a complete fool of himself and, by extension, me.'
Atticus scoffed. 'When have I ever done that?'
'A few minutes ago!'
Atticus frowned. 'What are you even talking about?'
Ozeroth snorted.
'If I hadn't spoken up, you would've approached that purple-haired pretty face like an idiot while the whole world watched. Looks like one rejection wasn't enough…'
Atticus froze. His throat bobbed.
He opened his mouth. Closed it.
Then, he cleared his throat aggressively.
Ozeroth cackled.
'Oh, what's this? No witty retort? No scathing remark? Could it be that I've finally won?'
Atticus turned away, choosing not to say anything. There was nothing he could say.
Ozeroth grinned.
'Silence. That's what I thought.'
Atticus could feel a surge of happiness rippling through him, but it wasn't his.
In every battle of words, Atticus had always been the victor, with Ozeroth ending up getting angry.
But now, Ozeroth had won.
He was glad. Happy. And nothing could ruin it.
Atticus chose to completely ignore the insane spirit and turned to Viktor.
"I'd like to take the other tests now."
He needed something to take his mind off everything.
Viktor nodded, not daring to refute. The Colonel himself had basically instructed him to follow Atticus, it meant it was his new law.
Viktor took out the tab-like device, tapping a few buttons. Then…
The training field shifted. The floor beneath Atticus transformed into a smooth, reinforced platform.
The air became charged with energy as a new combat unit materialized before him.