Neo washed up and changed into fresh clothes after what happened. By the time he was done with these things, a plate of hot breakfast was waiting for him, courtesy of Bryce's excellent chef skills.
As Neo ate his breakfast, Bryce blabbed about his life to him in an attempt to make a conversation.
"Since Senior will be coming to Gomas, we can get shared rooms. We'll go to orientation together and share the same classes. I can't wait to do everything with you. Then we'll graduate and get our license together."
"Mn." Neo hummed with disinterest.
"While you were in the bathroom, I told the president about your admission and he said he'd handle it. All we need to do is get you to Veritas so you can take a level test. Your results will be sent to Gomas, so they can start processing your entrance."
From Bryce's stream of words, Neo only managed to pick out a few useful points.
"Veritas?" he repeated the familiar word.
That annoying sync partner of his had mentioned the word before.
"Ah, yes. That's the president's guild. It's one of the best guilds on the planet despite the fact that it was built by a Wayne."
Neo wasn't sure if Bryce was bragging on behalf of Armin or mocking him indirectly.
"So that guy has a guild too…" Neo said in deep thought.
Currently, guilds were a big deal. To be a member of a guild was huge. To own one that was very successful was a different matter entirely.
Neo wouldn't admit it out loud but Armin was actually a capable person.
"Hm. When Senior is ready, we can go for the test. The academy's resumption date is in a week." Bryce explained.
"This test is just to know my class, isn't it?"
Bryce nodded.
"Since that's it, I don't think there's really a need for it. I'm S-Class." Neo spoke with strong conviction.
Since he was a child, being S-Class had defined his life. And at the time, only a handful of them were in existence. He was the strongest amongst them still.
He was the strongest. Period. There was no doubt about that.
"Yes. But sometimes, a person's initial class changes, so it's safe to check again every few years."
Neo's world-view of the matter broke because of a single sentence.
People's class could change…?
Neo didn't even bother to view the information with a positive light. The first thing that came to his head was the possibility of his class lowering.
The possibility of becoming an A-Class or worse, having no class at all.
Neo reminded himself that his ability was dormant and that he was no different from a civilian who had training currently.
With his powers gone, would the test read him as an ordinary person? Neo couldn't help but flick his thumbnail with his index finger as anxiety creeped into his heart.
"But Senior doesn't need to worry. I'm sure that your class might have even increased! You could be the world's first double S-Class!" Bryce flattered Neo with a cheerful voice.
Neo couldn't be bothered to believe his words. How could someone who couldn't use their abilities rank higher in class? Thinking about it dampened his mood and he lost his appetite, setting aside his food.
"Let's go." Neo pushed back his chair and stood up.
"Go where?" Bryce was puzzled.
"Veritas. To get the test done." Neo cleared his plate and moved impatiently.
Bryce didn't give himself time to process what was happening before following Neo.
"Okay. I'll grab my keys." Bryce stood up as well, gearing into action.
Neo couldn't draw his thoughts from the possible negative outcome of the test. That was why he wanted to do it as quickly as possible and get over with it.
Neo had been taught that the sooner one was aware of their situation, the easier it would be to act around it. He was in a hurry to know what situation he was in now.
A few moments passed and the two were ready to go. In the car ride to Veritas, Bryce tried to indulge Neo, seeing that the other was not in a very good mood.
"... When I get my license, I don't want to work under a guild. I only want to be side by side with Senior. We can go on missions with only the two of us. Can't we?"
When Neo decided to listen to what Bryce was going on about in the car, those were the words he heard.
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he said, "Would you replace the role of a Restorer? Or do you plan to clear the Dungeon yourself everytime?"
Hit by such a serious question, Bryce was silent for a time. Only for him to find his voice and say, "Whatever Senior chooses to do, I'll go along with it!"
Neo shook his head with a sigh and reminded himself to never again indulge the young alpha who had something wrong with his brain.
The drive to Veritas took a relatively long amount of time. But the delay didn't quench the anxiety in Neo's heart. In fact, it was heightened when he gazed at Veritas building.
The structure was a thousand times different from Ouroboros. The somber architecture gave off an air of seriousness. Also, unlike Ouroboros, the entrance of Veritas was clear and quiet.
This place was really what a person would picture when they thought of a center for professional hunters and restorers.
Neo and Bryce alighted the vehicle at the same time. Neo walked towards the entrance with confidence, like he had been here before on multiple occasions.
However, the entrance didn't have a door and there didn't seem to be a motion sensor that would get the place to open when people came close.
Neo looked back and was about to call Bryce's attention towards this but an open door appeared the moment Bryce stood beside him.
"It works on DNA recognition and facial scanning," Bryce explained after they both stepped into the building as he pointed at the door—the top of the door in particular where there was a small green dot.
The door closed upon their entry to be replaced by a steel wall, giving the impression that there had been no door at all in the first place.
"For better security." Bryce added.
Neo came over his initial confusion after that explanation and nodded. Then he looked around the floor and saw that there were no loiterers in the area.
The place was sparkling clean and white with only a steel bench at the left wall and an elevator across it.
Now, Neo was starting to wonder if this was a working environment or not, considering the emptiness and quietness.
But just when he had that thought, the doors of the lift opened with a ding sound.
The person who walked out was by no means friendly in his manner of speech as he said, "You finally made it here."