After listening to the hostess some people started to cuss her. She was called different things, some of them were quite imaginative.
Even some people threw the food they had with them. But everything hit against an invisible wall and never reached her.
Seeing the reaction of the crowd relaxed me.
—While you calm down, I will continue explaining.
I had the feeling that she was like a wave ravaging with everything, and with everyone, and we cannot do nothing to stop it. I felt frustrated.
—The next point is something no one achieve by the moment. The awakening. When you reach this point, you will be awake one of the eight possibilities. You can awake an element of nature: water, fire, wind, or stone. Or you can awake a phenomenon of nature: lighting, shadows, ice, or plant. Each has its own pros and cons. You will have time to learn about it so no worries.
I really feel that I was in a fantasy book, the orc, the Gods, an awakening… I sighed without knowing what to think. It would not surprise me if this were a hidden camera joke. Probably, I will be glad.
—The last thing I want to talk about is the trials. You all see that, in your status window, you have 5 basic states: Strong, Agility, Vitality, Senses and Intelligence. The trials will be based on these characteristics, I mean, each trial will be based on one of them. And some of them will be on groups while others will be individual.
Even if people were still angry you can hear some of them talking about what the hostess was saying.
—And you will be living in this island. At your back two buildings with 447 rooms. On your right you can see a facility where you will be able to practice sports. At your left you have two facilities with more rooms and the common areas: a library, augmented reality rooms, the dining room, and a flat roof you can visit. The last facility is in the other side of the island, is the training building. There you will be able to practice that skills of yours between you or with this four people.
Everyone was a bit shocked.
First, they leave us in a maze for a week and now we have all this for us. This does not make any kind of sense, wtf.
—Where are we?
Someone shouted the question above the murmur of the crowd.
—I've already said that. You are in a bunker, in a special one, but in a bunker. Forget about trying to run away from this place. Ah! I almost forgot. There are no rules in this place. Hope you have fun this month, see you in the first trial.
And the 5 people disappeared with the stage.
'PLEASE, STOP THE CLOCK! WTF IS GOING ON! I NEED A MOMENT TO UNDERSTAND ALL THIS.'
I wish I could shout all that, instead I sigh.
Around me some people started clearing the place. I guess everybody's curious to know where we're supposed to spend the next 30 days.
The three around me stared at me. What? Now I'm the boss or what?
Give me a break, will you?
—You! Who are you?
Now what? Really this place gets on my nerves.
I looked at the person and he was one of the three Mason told me. He was approaching me a little enraged.
—You three stay behind me.
—But—
—Don't worry Mason. It's going to be good to de-stress me a little bit.
I winked at him. Mason seemed to relax a bit and went back to the others.
The de-stress came and faced me. It was quite unpleasant to smell such a disgusting breath.
—Who are you? Why the hostess called you honey?
—I don't know why she call me like that. And if you want to know my name, give yours first.
He was an older man with strong arms and scars on them.
He's a fighter.
I remembered a scene where I faced a bunch of fighters.
Good times those.
—Why you smile?
Ups.
—Sorry. I was remembering something of my past. What is your question again?
—Give me back that boy.
I looked where he was pointing and there was Mason. As expected, he is here for him. Is Mason using me to fight them?
It's not like I really care but it was a good move. Good job Mason.
'I guess with this I also can stand up for someone who is not me.'
—You see, he is a friend of mine. And I can't let you to use people as objects you can throw away whenever you want, that's something really inhuman. Don't you think so, dickhead?
The one in front of me didn't seem to want to talk anymore. Angry, he punched me quickly and hard, but it didn't hurt as much as I expected, he didn't even move me an inch.
Thank you, 'Hardened skin (D)'. I owe you one.
I spit some blood at his feet. He was shocked to see that his fist barely affected me.
I smiled at him.
I'm going to enjoy this punch.
—I guess now is my turn.
I turned on 'Intimidation (E)' and, with 'Karate (D)', 'Strong Punch (E)' and 'Hardened skin (D)', I am sure this is going to hurt.
When I hit him, he fell to his knees spitting blood, and I think I saw some piece of tooth.
I think I went too hard, hehe, but it felt good. I poured in that fist the accumulated anger.
—Don't annoy us more. The next time won't be a single punch.
Around me I saw several people who seemed to smile satisfied by what they saw.
'Psychotics.'
I need a break.
I turned to the other three.
—Let's go to the common areas.
After a while walking, Mason decided to talk to me.
—Th- Thank you for that. I'm not sure if I am worth it.
He looked at the ground and seemed quite nervous.
I took a big breath before answering him.
—You know, we all have a past that we'll be proud of or remorseful about, but what's important is what you do in the present to change your future.
Mason looked at me with surprised eyes and hugged me.
—Thank you, thank you, thank you! Really, thank you.
Well, I just repeated what I was once said.
—Now stop crying. We are going to the common areas.
Basma took Mason's hand and pulled him forward.
Igor stood by my side watching the scene.
—Caelum, why did you do that for someone you barely know?
Igor caught me by surprise with the question.
When I turned to see him, he was looking at the other two with a serious face.
Are you intense too, Igor? A myth has fallen.
I guess I can't answer 'Because I wanted to do it', can I?
—If this had happened when I was little, I wouldn't have.
I grabbed the rings of my necklace tightly and decided to respond with the real reason.
I stood up for a moment while I saw Basma's blonde hair in the air imagining it was a black hair from another girl.
—There was a person who came into my life suddenly and made me change a little bit. That person knew I was fighting for whatever reason influenced me, but I didn't care about the rest. But that person kept telling me 'Become my hero', 'Become my hero'. But, at the end, I couldn't become a hero. At the time I realized that I didn't have what it took to be a hero, but nevertheless, thanks to that person, I started fighting for others and that, even a little bit, I can be what I promised.
When I stop talking, I realized what I said.
—Sorry. Sometimes I am a bit intense.
'What I'm saying to a stranger?'
But for my surprise Igor was almost crying.
—Are you going to cry?
Igor reacted and walked towards the other two.
—Why you said 'that person' all the time? Its clear that, that person, is a girl... And sometime, tell me the whole story. I will tell you mine.
And Igor continue walking.
Aren't Russians supposed to be cold-hearted? Man, all the myths keep falling.
But I was happy. I found someone trustworthy.
After that, we were going back and forth for the rest of the day.
We were on an island with 5 zones. The area of the rooms, the central area, the training area, the sports area, and the common area.
There was even a beach but living in an island and not having a beach would be strange.
At lunchtime you could go to the dining room in the common areas or just eat what was in the fridge.
There's even a place where you can take clothes to take away.
Everything looked so good.
But in my mind the hostess's words resounded.
A Goddess and a God that fight between them. We, in charge of fighting in name of the Goddess and humanity. The awaken and the trials.
Is, really, all she said true?
We were at the beach watching the sunset. I let go of Basma's hand and go to the sand.
—What are you doing Cam?
Ignoring the question, I made a karate move. At the end I closed my hand with force.
Is not that bad, is it?
Basma started putting and removing her finger from my stomach.
—Do you want me to practice my 'Stab' skill in you?
Ah? What is this little girl saying?
The other two laughed at her comment.
I think I have found people worth of my protection, Eli.