The very day after the exam, at midday, all second year students were called upon. They were fed in the place they would train, where after the Amber Test, they were lead. Already set up, long tables stretching to both ends of the hall filled with different kinds of high quality food ranging from salads, fruit and vegetables to meat, sugar and fat. A lot of them could remember the feast from last year, barely anybody knew each other because all their time was spent mass amounts of mythical knowledge and revising it for their written exam - also because second and third years seemed so cool. Like an admiration cycle, first years goggled and ogled the second years, whilst the second years goggled and ogled the third years. When the second years came in, the first years were already seated and waiting impatiently to eat. Black and Alex, along with the other uninjured of the thirty-nine parked themselves with spare seats for their missing teammates, who came in not too long after, some in crutches or in casts they filled in the rest of the seats - bar one.

Scarlet had been fitted with a cast for her left shoulder, which she was more embarrassed by than proud of - saving her friend in such a way was one of the many topics of the lengthy table. The admirably heroic, hilariously stupid and enviously cool acts of each and every student travelled up and down the table; first years would eavesdrop and fantasize about their second-year crushes saving them from deadly situations whilst third years would eavesdrop to compare their encounters and reminisce the times they had previously. Sat beside Jack, Kat gave many grumpy glances of spite and dislike, but she would refuse to lock eyes with him when he tried to smile politely to her. To the other side of him, Scarlet suspiciously glared back. Maybe that's why Kat would look away. Amidst Alex's self-boasting, there were one or two aggressive compliments that boasted his teammates to other students, Black ate quietly. The hall buzzed with life, happy and relaxed, finally. The teams congratulated their leaders, which would often follow in a short selfless speech that complimented the other members except for them. Jack fell victim to the trope hard, making his friends want to burst into laughter at how hard he tried to express thankfulness. Hazel gave the selfless-leader speech, Kat was too busy glaring down her competition. Only Alex and Scarlet had the audacity to glare back - Alex mockingly more than anything. The aching in their muscles were healed with the mountains of food they wore down to mole holes. After the majority had given up on finishing it all, Headmistress Anne elevated herself above the heads of the students and cleared her throat, the teacher's pointer she always kept in her blazer held against her mouth like a microphone. She announced, "Students of the grand Protector's Academy. You have all worked very hard to earn your place at this table, and all of you deserve to be here. Though a celebration of your exam completion, this is not the end. First years - you have two years of trying exams ahead of you, your knowledge may be vast but you are far from becoming a Protector. Second years - although halfway there, you have your third and final exam to find and push your limits beyond known biology. Third years - your time at this academy is complete, but your time in this world is not. Pass or fail, life will call upon your gained abilities and knowledge to allow you and the ones you love to succeed. Everything is a test, everything has a purpose. Girls and boys, whether you pass or fail this year, you have rightly equipped yourself with the knowledge, the strength, or the power to protect. Use it wisely, selflessly. It has been decided that second years will be granted two months of recovery, on the last week you shall receive your year's results. Third years shall in two weeks time. As for first years, you shall return here in four weeks time, to begin your second year, the physical year. You will leave in the order you entered. Well done, everyone." Her speech wasn't like Headmaster's. They didn't feel at all inspired or fueled, last year Headmaster had the entire school cheering for the end of the year. There was a clear change in tone, it was even a little scary for some of them. It felt like things were changing, for the unstable and worse rather than the better.

However, the years left one by one in a two-by-two line. They were left to return to their own dorms, where they would be expected to pack. Sending very little in advance at the beginning of the year in a relatively small suitcase, Jack hadn't a lot to do and instead helped Scarlet pack her horse load of unused bags and suitcases. Black and Alex had nothing. After a half hour of tiring work, the four sat against their four beds, all in complete silence. To some astonishment, the once emotionless and quiet ex-heir spoke first: "feels like we're never going to see each other again, doesn't it?"
  There was some more silence, then Jack answered. "Teams here are temporary, so I've heard. They're just to ensure that actual graduates can play nice with others."
  Scarlet had curled up into a small ball, visibly upset, "so, all of our bonding was for nothing? That's just sad..."
  Black assured her before anyone. "Doesn't change it happened, and though it feels like we won't see each other again, we will. We still have another year."
  "Besides, I'm in Stir a few days of the week working the lunch or evening shift. If not a team meet, we might see each other around individually." Jack further soothed her from across the room.
  "I guess. I'll miss bunking with you guys, despite how many close calls we've had." The three each felt themselves heat up in the face before chuckling awkwardly together.
  "Uh, hello?" Alex intruded, "if you're all teary-eyed about breaking up, just plan meet ups ahead of time."
  To all their amazement, he was right. They must've been so caught up in the moment that the clearest answer was blurred out to them. It was so clear even Alex had thought of it! It seemed it was a good thing he was desperately still holding cold-hearted exterior - or was he? "Holy User, the man's right! We can just decide on days to meet, when are we all free?"
  "I'm homeless and besides the judge that tried to have me exiled, I don't know anyone else, so...everyday." Black stated flatly.
  "My parents are going away at some point over the next couple of months so I'll have to stay in for my brother's, but other than that I believe I'm pretty free." The brightened girl pondered aloud.
  "My family's still half dead so I think I'll be busy with that." Alex abruptly thrust the mood of the conversation into a dark depression. They fell silent, staring somewhat apologetically but also scoldingly at him.
  Jack attempted to relight the overall tone. "We'll all need to get together to get our results too, couldn't hurt to see each other before that." He beamed to them.

Blue-Sabre planned twelve separate meet-ups for the next fifty-to-sixty days. The extensively long conversation rid them of the depressing feeling of the year ending. It wasn't just them - there was a dark change vibe present in many of the students and even teachers. There was no reason for it, or evidence to suggest anything grave would happen, but it was still very thick in the air. Some ignored it, other's stressed over it as they misunderstood it's meaning. Either way, they'd all just have to wait until the third year - the Power Year. Even then, it was just a feeling. Feelings can't predict the future. Though, they can act as a warning.