Elaria, Alex, and Jacob all held their breath.
Mirina's eyes slid over them, unreadable.
"You have passed."
Elaria exhaled, only then realizing she'd been holding her breath.
Alex didn't move.
Jacob swallowed.
Mirina's gaze lingered.
"…Barely."
Her attention swept over the three, finally settling on Alex.
"While it was entertaining to watch," she said, "it was not the only path you could have taken. You even killed innocents with your own hand."
Her eyes shifted briefly to Elaria and Jacob.
"And you two simply went along with his decision, without once judging the situation for yourselves."
Elaria and Jacob fell silent, stunned.
Mirina looked back at Alex. "Tell me, Alex. You killed people without blinking. How did it feel? Even knowing they were being manipulated."
Alex met her gaze without flinching.
"I felt nothing," he said.
Elaria and Jacob stared at him, shocked.
