Later, back in her assigned room, Iris stretched and glanced around. She noticed the change in her outfit — a simple white gown paired with black shoes and pink shorts underneath. She tugged lightly at the hem.
"Guess they changed me while I was asleep," she muttered to herself.
Her attention quickly shifted to a nearby table stacked high with colorful pastries and candies. With a gleeful giggle, she skipped over and began devouring them like a starved child, her previous fear long forgotten.
It wasn't long before she felt a familiar presence nearby. Without even turning, she spoke.
"Alka, what happened while I was asleep?" she asked, her voice calm and flat, her dead-eyed stare fixed on the wall in front of her.
Alka, standing silently near the corner, crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "Well, you've officially passed," she said, her voice dry but slightly impressed. "You're now recognized as their main test subject for continuous research and experimentation."
