I was floating in this darkness. It wasn't that hard to figure out the limits of this place, though. I could tell, when my feet could touch the bottom. It didn't look endless.
It was suffocating to be here, caged where there's no trace of light.
I was probably dreaming, this could no way be real.
Of course, now that I've been here for more than half an hour or so, I've gotten used to it.
But it still is scary, because it felt so empty in here.
What if I could just reach out and escape this darkness?
I gasped, sitting upright on a bed. I was awake, finally.
I'm not in home?
Oh, right, I'm not in home.
"God, Quinn, did I over-do it? Judah sat on the floor next to the bunker. Wait, was I on Wallace's bunker? He let me on it?
It took me a second to get used to my surroundings.
"No, no, it's not you." I looked at my fingers. They were getting itchy and I have no idea why. "This has happened before. It's not you."
"What do you mean it's happened before?" Wallace walked in, throwing a bottle of water on my lap. "You can't just go around falling like that. What if that happens when-"
"Wait, Wallace," Judah sighed. "Give him some time, can you?"
"Master Enoch is waiting." Wallace informed, while he nodded discreetly. "He said Quinn can rest, others should be there."
"But I'm okay!" I said. I didn't feel sick like last time. No headaches, no nausea, nothing harmful. Just tired from today's training.
The door to our room opened, and Ronan walked in. "No, how about you rest? Master Enoch wants you guys there."
I have had a hunch about this darkness, but I can't really point out if it might turn out to be true. I can't let this slide either when this'd happened the second time.
The three of them eventually left me all alone to rest. I climbed up to my own bunker and decided I'll probably just take rest.
Who knew this would turn into an actual issue?
I'd find myself on the floor at random times. It didn't stop at the second time. And considering how Judah was the one training me, he constantly looked like he was blaming himself for my blackouts.
A couple of days had passed, and even though I'd have to deal with my blackouts, I gave my best in the training. Judah told me that if I kept this up for few more days, I could actually wield the sword however I wanted to.
Some other day, I saw few men from the basement being trained and the others were being sent back home, including Alfred.
I didn't really know what word was I supposed to send them, so I would send letters to the basement, giving them a view on the situation outside. It had been ages, and half of them who were in basement were never let out.
Today, Master Abel sat on a chair instead of walking around and commenting on everyone's training and correcting them.
"Alright, alright, gather up." He said, and we did just as we were told.
"What's he doing?" I asked to the person next to me, expecting it to be Judah, but it rather was Wallace.
"Do I look like I fucking know?" He was sweating and looked intimidating, so I didn't go to tug on his strings longer.
Wallace and Ronan have been going at it for a while now. Neither of them gave up until it was time to finish up the training.
I was surprised to see Vanola here in the line, usually she worked alone during the training. Of course, people came in all shapes and sizes and there wasn't a way to avoid it, more like why would you try to?
"I've been watching you ever since day one." Master Abel said, letting our a hearty laugh. "It is time to see how you've progressed the past twelve days."
"What does that mean?" Wallace asked, and he clearly didn't look cheerful at all.
"It's a one on one battle." The old man lifted his pointer finger up. "No abilities allowed."
This man, this old man was definitely out of his mind. I hadn't trained as much as he thought I had. I can only do about a hundred pushups but that's not something that I can use against nobles.
"But of course, the call is mine on who steps up." Master Abel informed. "Please, stand in either sides of the training ground. This is going to be an actual fight, and master Enoch will make the judgements."
No, I hated this.
"No abilities." Master Enoch warned.
It wasn't like I could use any, but I could feel his words in my bones, the way he said it.
"First call, Ronan and Eden."
Ronan and Eden knew each other too well. They'd apparently practice together back in the capital. But lately, Ronan had been dueting with Wallace a lot.
It felt like there was some unsaid insane level of competitiveness among those two.
I looked at Wallace through the corners of my eyes and he looked ready to throw Eden out and start the battle himself.
"Are you ready?" Master Enoch asked, once Eden and Ronan had taken their positions with their respective weapons.
I once watched Eden use her abilities during a session, but it lasted only few seconds. Judah explained, she used the prevailing energy around her and stored it up for healing and recovery from a hit. I learned later on that, the energy she stored if let loose in the form of ultrasound, could cause any level damages.
I wanted to watch her do it, but I'd rather not ask.
"Fight!"
Ronan was the one who attacked first, getting blocked immediately. He only walked back and smirked at Eden for her defence.
The blades clinked together, striking and drawing at each other furiously. They still managed to flash a grin here and there.
The fight ended when Eden took an advantage of the opening that Ronan had accidentally gave out. Her sword hit his, and he lost. His sword slipped out of his hands and fell onto the ground.
"That was entertaining." Master Abel snickered in his place.
"Eden won." Master Enoch announced, and it surely was obvious. The two of them walked out of the training ground.
"Next call, Wallace and Judah."
The way Wallace's face was plastered with a huge grin the moment his name was called with Judah only made me glad that it wasn't me who he was up against.
That'd have been horrible.
But this only meant, it was Vanola who I was going to fight.