š®šššššš 3: "š·šš"
I know I'm being reckless at the moment, but I just can't resist. The dog is so elegantly attractive. I'm not following it just because it's good-looking, but there was something that nagged me about it. I've heard abilities can also be transferred to animals. I followed it deeper down a slide, but it just disappeared into the bushes. I wondered if that dog was a prodigy too, because such features can't be owned by a normal being. I looked around a little further to see where it vanished, but the place was all leaves and no beings.
"Seriously bud, I just wanted to be friends," I muttered in disappointment.
"Even if you're hostile to death," I added.
I exasperatedly sighed and lifted my head, hanging it backwards.
"Lee, enough with your sarcasm. It's not necessary every time," I talked to myself.
I turned around, deflated that I couldn't get to interact with it.
At the moment, a leaf flicked at my nose, teasing me, as if to grab my attention. I tried to grab it, but it flew around me, encircling my body.
A leaf flying like that?
It flew right behind me as I followed it with my gaze, and I spotted a young lady standing in a red Japanese dress out of nowhere, manipulating the leaf with her katana. My eyes widened as she controlled an army of leaves, and they all fell down.
She'sā¦ familiar.
"You're weird, you know that," she spoke.
Well, that wasn't the most pleasant greeting, now was it?
Did she hear me talking to myself?
But I know who she is.
She stepped forward with a smile. I didn't step back, knowing full well they were from the opposing team and could harm me.
"Maple, my name isā¦ When I saw the new member of the Ashens, I was intrigued that after a year, there's finally a new face."
"You're not here to fight?" I asked, quirking my eyebrow.
"No, of course not. I'm here to learn about you. I didn't tell the others because they wouldn't let me, soā¦ your name, Lee? Right?"
"Yesā¦" I confirmed. She probably heard from the owner of the arena.
"And...?"
I quirk my eyebrow again, frowning this time.
"Oh come on now, I'm not here to mock you or anything. Really, I'm interested."
I turn to face her properly. "And what exactlyā" I uttered, when my gaze fell on the one who burnt my arm, coming right behind her.
"Maple! Why are you here? I was lookingā"
A frown appeared on his face as soon as he saw me.
"...What is she doing here with you?" he asked, frowning at Maple.
I frowned back as Maple confirmed, "I came here myself. I wanted to know what's new happening."
He felt sudden anger and almost pulled out his sword from his scabbardāwhen Maple stopped him.
"Kitt, please. I'm not here to fight. Just because she's from the opponent's team doesn't mean we're actually enemies."
"Yes, we are! She literally almost defeated us! Can't youā" he yelled.
"Victory doesn't always belong to us. Come back to earth," she shot back.
He sighed, irritated. "Fine, only if you say so," he muttered, letting his hand fall back to his sides.
"Soā¦" she said, turning her attention to me with a smile, "We cool?"
"No," I said bluntly.
She sighed. "Well then, it will not be easy," she mumbled to herself.
Right at that moment, Nik and the others arrived, running toward us with a sense of urgency, and got a little shocked as they saw Kitt and Maple standing before me.
"You alright?" Nik asked in a low tone.
I nodded.
Maple excused Nik from addressing the draw we had. She seems nice thoughānot as cocky as that fire roaster standing next to her. The way she's being kindā¦
"We all can hunt together, if you're looking for tonight's dinner," Maple offered politely.
"Absolutely not!" a voice crackled from a distance. A boy walked toward the two.
I know this one too. Andā¦ again, not quite the friendly kind of introduction I was expecting.
Ethan. I remember his name.
"There you are, buddy," Kitt said. "I was convincing Maple of the sameā"
"Ow!" Kitt spat as Ethan poked him with the quill in his hand.
"No excuses. I know you're just as culpable," Ethan added.
"Do you both even know what would happen ifā¦ Eva came to know about thisā¦ reunion?" he grumbled to Kitt and Maple.
Reunion? I feel like there's something I don't know about all of themāthe Ashens and the Reapersā¦ That portraitāNone of my business anyway.
"Well, you're not here to fight again or anythingā¦" I spoke to them, trying to understand their point of view.
Ethan curled his eyebrow at me.
"ā¦In case you think we're hostile," I added.
"Then we should head back," he said to his troop, adjusting his tie as he turned.
I was silentāuntil I wasn't. He stopped at my voice.
"You forgot yourā¦" I gestured at the piece of paper that had fallen on the ground out of his pocket. I assumed it belonged to him, as he was holding a quill too.
"Ah, yesā¦ thank you," he said with a frown, picking up his property.
It was getting dark, and they had a lot more ground to coverāfirst back to their side of the village, and then all the way to the castle. They stopped a few feet ahead of us, likely discussing the dangers that might be lurking around. It wasn't safe for them to walk either, especially through a forest like this at night, where stray canines roamed freely.
"Lee, we should head back to the camp. It's dangerous hereā" Nik began, but I cut her off.
"Should we help them?"
She looked at me, expressionless. "Shouldā"
"Ayeee!!!" she yelled, interrupting herself as I tried to repeat the question.
"NO WAY!!! Even if they're not openly hostile towards usā"
"Then what's the matter?" I broke in.
She sighed as I walked up to them.
"Heyā" My brows lifted in mild surprise as Kitt suddenly placed his dagger against my throat.Ā
"What theā"
"This is not happening again. First Maple, and now Ethan!" he spat, gritting his teeth. "Don't think you can manipulate us with that ability of yours," he added, mumbling the last words under his breath.
"Where's this hatred coming from?" I asked, frowning up at him as the dagger pressed a little deeper into my skin. "Still mourning over the fell short?" I added.
"Don't think we're gonna end up giving you half of the resources we've had since the last year of the Trialsājust because you made us feel pity for you weaklings."
My brows lifted again. "Last year?"
These Trials have been happening since last year? But why?
That's not normalāespecially for a kingdom falling apart in two pieces over an unfoundā¦ proof ofā¦ what?
"And what ability? I don't have one like yours," I retorted.
His anger flared, and he raised his dagger to strikeābut in that instant, Ethan grabbed his arm and yanked him back.
"You what?" Ethan asked, frowning.
"Aānon," I said, confused.
Hadn't they noticed throughout the fight?
Everyone went silent until Nik finally broke it.
"You're a mundane?" she asked in a low, shocked voice.
"I meanā¦ not a Forcan..." My heartbeat spiked. I hoped they wouldn't ask about my origins. But that feeling... It was embarrassing.
Ethan stared at me with a deep, skeptical frown, as if trying to predict my intentions. I know he is.
"You're reading me," I stated bluntly, frowning backāsecretly tapping my toe near his edge.
He froze for a moment, then composed himself.
"Then Kitt really should be ashamed of threatening you," Ethan taunted, glancing back at him.
Kitt raised his dagger again at me. "Butā"
"I did not train you to be doing such inexcusable acts," Ethan scolded sharply. "Dishonoring our realm's valuesāwe don't raise our blades against mundanes."
Kitt turned into a red, sheepish tomato.
Let them think whatever they want about me. I don't like being called mundane.
"Andā¦ Kakolya, you'll be dealt with later for lying," he threatened her.
"Wait! What is that for?" I retorted. "And listen to me for a momentā"
I grabbed Kitt's wrist, pulling the dagger away from my neck where it had dug in again, leaving a mark.
"Will you guys tell me what's happening in your village?!"
I turned my face sharply, "Nik?!" I knew she was still hiding something.
"Trials are not something that could be happening like a festival event every month!" I added, my voice dropping into a growl.
"Youā" Kitt began, but didn't finish.
"Later with your accusations," I cut him off, turning my attention toward Ethanābecause he's the only one who seems sane here.
"I need an answer. Now," I said firmly.
Ethan looked at me with a stern expression before sighing and running a hand through his already-messed hair.
"It'sā¦ complicated."
"That wasn't an answer."
Maple stepped in. "Listen, why don't we sit and have a peaceful chat rather thanā¦ this."
Kade chimed in as well. "Y'all can come to our barn house. No one'll see us there, and it's dangerous for y'all to walk back to the dorms right now."
Kitt's stomach growled at that exact momentāso did ours.
"We're gonna hunt together and find food, then we'll talk," Maple offered, while Nik nodded and began leading the way.
They all agreed quietly, under my tone, even though it was clear how much they disliked each other. Strange how survival forces peace.
The forest was still alive with the fading rays of sunset, and the distant calls of returning birds echoed faintly through the trees.
We split into pairs, each taking a different route to increase our chances.
We made it quick. In the end, Kade returned with a turkey, Kitt with a rabbit, and Zawi carried a fish. They gathered back, hands full, proud without saying a word.
The forest, though still rich with sound, seemed to settle as we made our way back toward camp. But after a few steps, it was getting so dark and foggy that the bridge we were crossing was barely visible.
Kitt broke a branch from a tree and lit it. The flames flickered wildlyācasting wavering shadows across our path, painting the forest in orange and gold. It made quite the sight.
Escaping the forest onto the greenland, we reached the barn house. The nighttime sight of the village gave quite a cozy atmosphereāthe starry, foggy sky with lanterns burning and fire smoking out of the houses' chimneys. The Reapers stayed at a decent distance from us, not quite having even a bit of trust. They walked over to the sides and sat down at the edges from each other on the wooden logs, while Kitt set the fire in the ring of logs using the torch.
Nik and I sat the food to cook up while the others stayed quiet, taking in all the ingredientsāthe aroma serving its own kind of peace. We took the wooden platters and served all of them equally, with calm and silence.
"It's a... strange feeling, being together after a year," Kade said to all of them, sitting sheepishly, trying to break the silence. Everyone responded in the same quiet tone.
While I was done giving the platter to Maple at last, as they all ate, I smiled and then turned aroundāspotting Ethan sitting away, a little cornered. His hand was on his lap, elbow propped up, reading a letter. Maybe his daily paperwork had caught up to him at this time too, but he seemedā¦ a little tense.
I picked up his platter and walked over to him. I cleared my throat to get his attention, but he was so engrossed in it that he barely realized I had been standing in front of him for a moment now. He looked up at me, still a little lost.
"You're not gonna eat?" I asked politely.
"Uhā¦ noā¦ not hungry..." he uttered. "...Thanks," he added, looking back at the paper in his hand.
I nodded, setting the platter aside on the wooden plank. "May I?" I gestured at the empty spot on the log beside him.
He looked up at me for a second, then nodded, adjusting his positionā¦ such a gentleman.
I sat a little distanced from him. "Soā¦ you alright?"
He paused for a long time before sighing.
"It'sā¦ not easy to go through all this," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes closed with a frown.
"I'm all ears," I said quietly.
He set the paper aside.
"Long story short, it wasn't like this before. We're still trying to solve the murder mystery of Abel's death," he said, looking up with a sigh, before side-peeking at me.
"You even know who Abel is?" he mumbled softly.
I slowly shook my head, butā¦ a murder mystery sounds familiar.
Is it the same person Kade was investigating too?
He looked back up at the night sky.
"He was the royal's librarian, the one under whose knowledge and supervision all the libraries and books of the castle fell."
After a moment, he added,
"He was murdered a year agoā¦ and a key that led to the royal library's restricted area was also stolen from his belongings. Still, no one knows who the culprit was. No oneānot even their motives. But they're definitely sinister, judging by how crucial the item they have now is. That's why the king ordered trials to be held in the arenaā¦ the one who loses is to be sentenced to death."
"What's in the restricted area?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Only him and the king know," he said.
"Andā¦ trials? That's too far. That's not fair. What if the one who loses is innocentā" I complained.
"You do know the motives of trials," he said, looking at me. "There's no fair in it."
"Then how did they even know who the suspects were?"
"There were no suspects. The kingdom itself split in half due to economic distress. That's why he suspected the other sideāthe one that stood against his rules."
I frowned. "Soā¦ not just a death, but there were already conflicts before? And the king knows about their arguments?" I asked.
"There isn't anything that can be kept secret from the rulers, especially such a big matter. The king himself decided to let them be, and the trialsā¦ became a monthly gambling event."
So absurd. The greed for power and wealth will be the undoing of this kingdom. People here toss their shillings into the arena, seeking bloodshed each month, indifferent to the fate of their loved ones. Their hearts are numb, consumed by the thrill of violence.
"And there's probably no way to stop it?" I knew it was a stupid question, butā¦
He lets out a bitter chuckle, hanging his head. He runs a hand through his hair, all the way to the nape of his neck. "Of course notā¦ follow the rules, or be executed," he says, his voice tinged with pain.
I leaned back, propping my arms on the wood's rough bark, and looked up at the night sky.
That's a twisted situation. How can a king be this absurd? It reminds me of someoneā¦ similarā¦
After a moment, I thought of the same words I used to tell myself in childhood: similar wounds share similar bonds. I blurted out without another thought, "Friends?"
He looked up at me, bewildered. "What?" he murmured. I could see it in his eyesāhis eye bags telling me all the answersābut then he realized I was sincere.
"Ammā¦?"
"What? You despise me or something?" I asked nonchalantly, looking at him.
"Noā¦ It's just weā"
"Barely know each other? Oh, c'mon now. People don't become friends just because they know each other; they create boundaries instead. 'Friend' is just a label, used for someone closer to them," I added, before looking at the bonfire illuminating my face. "At least, that's how it's always been for me. And I was just thinking we shouldā"
"Don't finish that sentence," he warned.
I fell silent, then looked away. "Alright."
He looked at me, reconsidering his words, before looking straight at the others, cheering with each other as if nothing had happened between themāas if they had always been like thisā¦
"We're always like that. Why does it have to be this hardā¦ to be like that again?" he muttered, talking more to himself than to me.
For a moment, we both watched Kitt's and Zawi's banter from afar, roasting each other as if they'd always had this easy camaraderie.
"Seems like the ghost stillā¦ misses y'all," I said.
His eyes widened in wonder. He swiveled his head to look at me and asked, "Wait, how do you know weāweren't rivals?"
"I knew Nik was hiding something until I saw a portrait back at the barn houseā¦ of all of you together, looking pretty youngāprobably in your early teens. And the way you guys interact with each other nowā¦ Kitt would've sliced my neck the moment I missed, but he didn't. Not many times, anyway."
After a moment, I added, "You all were friends?"
"More than that," he revealed, his voice low, whispered, with a hint of pain. "I agree," he spoke again, his tone heavier. "To this union," he added.
I looked at him and smiled, raising my hand to shake his. He smiled back, standing up as his hand met mine, returning the gesture.
"May this covenant stand the test of time," he vowed.
I nodded. "And we're gonna help you get out of this corruption," I vowed as well. "We'll locate the area of the librarian's death for clues first, then leave the rest to yourā¦ predictions," I revealed.
He blinked. "May I ask, what's your ability? And how do you know I'mā?" he asked, once again bewildered.
I froze for a moment. "NoāI don't have one like all of you, andā¦ there's a reason why you shared all of this. You can read through me, right?" I said, looking at him sincerely.
He looked at me in awe before looking away once I gestured to pull my hand back, clearing his throat. He wrapped his belongings from the bark and walked towards the others.
"Everyone!" The others snapped to attention, turning their focus to Ethan as he announced the new alliance. Everyone was shocked by the sudden reveal.
"Can we stillā¦ make it out?" He asked, a little pleadingly, while everyone cheered with a loud 'yes.'
"Okay, I need your help," Ethan said, exhaling deeply. "I have a plan. I andā¦" He looked at me, confirming my name.
"Lee," I said.
"Lee will go and explore the restricted area under the cliff of the castle, while Maple and Kitt inform the formals of the castle. Nik and Zawi will distract the guards, and we're leaving at dawn. Go prepare for it. Kade will explain the rest of the situation and why we're doing this," Ethan said, his gaze steady as he looked at him.
Kade nodded.
Ethan smiled at all of them while Nik headed to the barn house to grab some things. As night wore on, we all rested by the fireplace. It was still dark when we sharpened our blades and prepared maps for escaping in case of collapsing situations. It's a damn cave, after all.
As dawn broke, we made our way to our assigned positions. They split off, leaving me and Ethan alone. We walked down the carved stairs on the cliff's edge, reaching the base.
Looking at the huge, dark hole waiting to devour us, a whistle escaped from my lips. Ethan cocked an eyebrow at me.
Okay, that was embarrassing.
"Let's go," he said, moving forward. But then he stopped, turning his face around to look at me, only to realize why I hadn't moved from the spot. "You scared of such places or something?"
"Dark," I muttered, brushing a strand of hair that had strayed across my face.
"You won't be alone," he reassured me.
I took a deep breath and walked in, following him closely behind. The dark hole loomed before us, its gaping maw waiting to swallow us whole, as if it had been hungry for years. That's what it felt.