In the conference room, Jamil, Leona, and Briar are waiting patiently for their turn to come up. Briar is also feeling a bit uneasy and is also worried.

Jamil then says, "I wonder what they're making the other three do."

"I don't know. I'm worried about them, and I wonder what they'll do to us," Briar says.

"I'm not sure myself. We'll have to wait and find out once it's our turn," Jamil says.

Jamil turns to see Leona and says in thought, "Now he's just ignoring me. Not that I mind, I suppose."

Just then, Leona says, "...That radish sprout's talking too much."

"Radish sprout?" Briar questions.

Jamil quickly realizes, "Oh, you mean Idia."

He then says, "Now that you mention it, he is more talkative here than at school. Though that's just my impression, given that he never shows up to housewarden meetings in person."

"I've noticed it as well. He seems so different than he was at the school. I barely talk to him, unless it's through that tab of his. And talk with Ortho," Briar says.

"That's not what I mean," Leona says, "Look, isn't all this Styx stuff supposed to be top-secret? You can't guarantee someone's silence just by having them sign an NDA. Maybe it doesn't matter when they're dealing with Phantoms, but he's telling us way too much."

"Ah. You do have a point," Jamil says.

"And those Charon guys weren't exactly subtle when they blasted through campus to get us," Leona says.

"I believe you're right, Leona, especially from all the damages they caused," Briar says.

Jamil nods and says, "Other students might've recorded them and posted the video online."

"I can think of plenty of ways to control information, but... 'No mages have ever returned once they were taken to the Island of Woe.' ...Hmm," Leona replies.

Suddenly, Ortho walks into the conference room and says, "Subject B, Leona Kingscholar. Subject D, Jamil Viper. Subject H, Briar Hawthorne. We're ready to begin your tests. Come along with me."

"Yeah, sure. Go easy on me, 'kay?" Leona replies.

Sometime later, in the control room...

The Technician says, "Ortho has brought Subjects B, D, and H to the simulation room.

The second Technician says, "Instruments calibrated. Ready to collect data. Commencing recording at 2200."

"All subjects have been equipped with testing gear," Ortho says.

"Okay. Go ahead and start test one for Subjects B, D, and H," Idia says.

"Roger!" Ortho says, "Virtual enemy mode, standby. Commencing dive!"

Sometime later, Leona, Jamil, and Briar find themselves in the simulation room.

"Where are we?" Jamil asks.

"This is definitely not the same room anymore," Briar says.

Just then, Leona activates his Flora Magic.

"Looks like we can use magic now..." Leona says. Then realizes, "Oh, I get it. These headsets are showing us some kind of virtual space."

"So it's almost like we're in some strange video game or something?" Briar asks.

"Something like that, but it's mainly to test us," Leona says.

Just then, Ortho and the two soldiers appear.

"Glad to hear you've caught on! Let's get the test started!" Ortho says.

And with that, the simulation begins. Ortho and the Styx soldiers begin to fire their magic at Leona, Jamil, and Briar. The three quickly dodge and have no choice, but to use their magic to fight. The opponents from opposite sides continue to fight against one another as the data of Jamil, Leona, and Briar are being put in the database.