"You passed the mark, henceforth you survived." Thane's voice cut through the air, cold and detached. "Now that you have caught a glimpse of what goes on here, it's best you understand your situation." He surveyed the children, his gaze lingering on each one. "How long you live depends solely on you. You can still join your mates who have perished."
With that, Thane turned and walked away, leaving the children to their sorrow. Chet followed him, his expression troubled. "You're quite cruel," he said, his voice low.
Thane's response was nonchalant. "I beg to differ, although master's orders, everyone met the same."
Chet's eyes narrowed. "True. By the way, what assignment were you given for you to arrive at dawn?"
Thane's silence was deafening. Chet's eyes probed for answers, but Thane's face remained impassive.
"Chet!" a warrior called out, his voice urgent. "Master is looking for you."
Chet ignored him, his focus still on Thane. "You will get in trouble, Chet. You better go now," Thane said, his voice firm.
A streak of light shot past Chet's ear, embedding itself in the ground behind him. Thane pliked up the arrow and handed it to Chet. "For you," he said, his expression unreadable.
Chet took the arrow, his eyes scanning the message. His face darkened, and he let out a grumble. "Go. I will tell you about it later," Thane said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Chet nodded, vanishing from where he stood. Thane eyed the spot where Chet had been, his expression thoughtful.
The healer's tent was a somber place, the sounds of muffled cries and sobs filling the air. Warriors and healers tended to the children's wounds, their faces grim. Some of the children refused care, their minds still trapped in the trauma of what happened. The children had to be knocked out, before being relocated to their sleeping area.
Kira woke up to a searing pain in her arm. Her eyes snapped open. She sprang up from the bed, her gaze darting around the tent. The other children were stirring, their faces etched with pain and fear.
Kira's eyes fell on her arm, the mark glowing with a dark, pulsating light. The pain intensified, and she gritted her teeth.
A voice echoed in her mind, calm and commanding. "Boys in the east, girls to the west. Get dressed and don't be the last to arrive on the ground."
The voice ceased, leaving the children scrambling to their feet. Kira joined the throng, her eyes fixed on the designated area for the girls. The pain in her arm was a constant, burning reminder of the day ahead.
As she washed and cleaned herself, the pain grew stronger, her tears mingling with the water. She stumbled to the training ground, Dawn setting in. her eyes scanning the rows of children looking for Sapphire and the others, just when she spotted them and was already leaving her line, she dove right back in.
A man stepped forward onto the platform, his gaze sweeping over the assembly. "Today, you'll be commencing your training, and I'll be testing your physical prowess."
His hand emitted a soft glow, and Kira's face met the ground as the pressure crushed her. She gasped, her vision blurring at the edges.
The other children around her groaned, their bodies straining against the weight. Kira's vision narrowed, her world shrinking to the pain and the pressure.
"Get up," the instructor barked, his voice devoid of emotion. The children struggled to their feet, their eyes fixed on the ground. The instructor's gaze swept over them, his expression unreadable. "Weak," he muttered to himself, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
He sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Let's try something else. Run around those three buildings, then back here." He pointed to the circuitous route, his finger tracing the path.
The children took off, their footsteps pounding the ground. Kira wanted to keep pace with the others, but a hand on her shoulder held her back. She looked up to see Nirro, his eyes warning her to stay back.
She nodded, continuing at her own pace. As they rounded the second building, the others had slowed, allowing her to catch up. They ran together, a huddled group, their breathing labored.
As they approached the third building, Kira's legs began to ache. Her stomach grumbled, and her vision blurred. She stumbled, her feet heavy with exhaustion. Soon they reached the platform where their instructor was settled. They stop to catch their breath.
The instructor's voice cut through the air, "Did I tell you to stop?" The children's eyes flew open, their faces filled with confusion.
"I said run," the instructor repeated, his aura flinging them backwards. "Don't make me repeat myself."
The children scrambled to their feet, their movements desperate. They ran, their bodies pushed to the limit. Kira fell, her vision fading. Kealor noticed and reached out to grab Kira's hand but Nirro grabbed him pulling back, as if on cue a transparent force cut through the part where Kealor initially stood, forming a wall between them and Kira, ground dust scattered around with the only traces of something there was the thick deep mark scared on the ground.
"Well at least one of you is sensible enough" the man's voice echoed,
"Come on, let's go" Sapphire, already by Kealor's side, whispered , adding him up from the ground, "we will come back for Kira" he continued, then continued running.
Nirro and Kealor stood nearby, their eyes fixed on her. "Don't worry, Kira," Kealor shouted, "we'll come back for you." They took off, leaving her behind. Kira had already fainted.
Upon circling the third building to the large space where the platform was the remaining children collapsed, their bodies exhausted.
As Kira opened her eyes, she saw the instructor's foot, his gaze sweeping over the children. He noted their progress, his expression unreadable then continued forward.
Back at the training ground, Lucian and Sapphire some distance between. Lucian, already sitting, looked as the instructor passed by walking towards Sapphire. Sapphire laid sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving. His view was obstructed by a bulk shadow. The instructor was staring down at him. Not knowing what to do, Sapphire looked back at the man. They stared at each other for a few seconds. The man looked up. The instructor said, "Gather everyone. Your food should be ready. Clean up and meet back here."