Kail wasn't sure if he had fallen asleep or if the darkness had simply thickened around him, but the sharp, resounding sound of boots striking stone jolted him upright. His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes snapped open to find the others stirring as well, their unease flickering like dying embers. Fear, once dormant, flared back to life.
Masked guards stormed into the chamber, their presence commanding and oppressive.
"Up!" one of them barked, his voice low and menacing, bouncing off the jagged walls. "Move!"
The children scrambled to their feet in a flurry of clumsy movements, panic stealing their coordination. Their legs shook, and their eyes darted around, searching for any hint of escape. Elara, wide-eyed and trembling, clung to Dial, burying her face against his side.
"What now?" Kail muttered under his breath, his jaw locked tight as his hands curled into fists. His pulse thrummed in his ears, but he refused to show any sign of weakness.
The guards didn't wait for an answer. They prodded the children forward ruthlessly, pushing them down a narrow, winding tunnel. The sound of their heavy boots against the stone floor drowned out the nervous whispers of the group. Each footstep felt like a countdown, taking them deeper into the heart of the cave, further away from the faint semblance of safety they had clung to moments before.
The tunnel curved sharply, swallowing the light, and Kail felt the air grow thicker, colder. They were being herded deeper into the labyrinth, each twist and turn tightening the grip of fear around their chests.
Suddenly it opened into a massive chamber, larger than the one they had first entered. The walls were smooth and polished, the floor etched with strange, glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light. At the center stood one of the masked figures—the jagged-grin mask.
"Sit," the figure commanded, their voice sharp and commanding.
The children hesitated, but the guards' menacing stances left no room for defiance. They sank to the floor, forming a loose circle around the figure.
"Welcome to your new reality," the figure said, their tone mocking. "For the next year, training will be your world. Training will be your life. There is no escape, no respite, and no mercy."
Kail's fists clenched, but he stayed silent.
The figure extended a hand, and the air around them seemed to shimmer. A faint, glowing mist began to swirl, coalescing around their fingers like smoke.
"This," they said, "is
The children watched in stunned silence as Mist flowed and twisted, forming intricate patterns in the air.
"You will learn to harness it," the jagged grin mask continued. "Refine it; make it yours. those who fail...
..."
Dial raised his hand cautiously. "What happens to those who fail?"
The figure tilted their head, the jagged grin of their mask catching the light. "You've seen what happens."
The image of the mangled remains flashed through Kail's mind, and his stomach trembled.
"Begin now," the figure said. "Close your eyes. Feel the air around you. Feel Mist."
The children exchanged uncertain glances but complied. Kail shut his eyes, focusing on his breath. The air felt cold and heavy, but he couldn't sense anything unusual.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as Kail concentrated, his frustration mounting. The figure's voice droned on, explaining the principles of cultivation,
Feel Mist... Right. Kail gritted his teeth. Sure, like it's that easy,.. doesn't even make sense.
Beside him, Dial let out a frustrated sigh. "This is impossible."
"Quiet," Jagged Grin snapped. "Focus."
Kail took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He let his mind drift, his senses extending outward. For a brief moment, he thought he felt... something—a faint, tingling sensation in the air. But it was gone as quickly as it came.
...
After what felt like an eternity, Jagged Grin clapped his hands, snapping the children out of their concentration. "Enough for now. You've taken your first step, however pathetic it may be."
He gestured to the guards. "Take them to the break room. You'll need to eat for your next assignment."
As the guards herded them out of the chamber, Kail glanced at Dial. "Did you feel anything?"
"I don't know," Dial admitted. "Maybe. Did you?"
Kail hesitated. "Maybe."
Elara looked up at them, her eyes wide. "Do you think we can really do this?"
Kail didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked ahead, his jaw set. "We have no choice but to do this."