The sandstorm howled with a ferocity that could drown out even the loudest of voices. The trio moved cautiously through the blinding haze, every step accompanied by the sting of sand cutting across their skin. Lucius trudged ahead, his movements deliberate and unerring as if he could see through the storm. Behind him, Chester and Clara followed, their nerves frayed from the seemingly endless ordeal.
Lucius raised his hand, signaling for them to stop. His fingers shifted into a sharp motion—two downward swipes—indicating for them to crouch and take cover. Chester glanced at Clara, who nodded before they both dove behind a jagged outcropping of rock partially buried in the sand.
The faint outline of a monstrous figure shifted in the haze, its grotesque form barely discernible. Chester's grip on his rifle tightened, but Lucius didn't seem fazed. With practiced ease, he drew his handgun and fired a single, silent shot into the storm. The creature let out a guttural growl before collapsing into the sand, its grotesque outline fading from view.
Clara's mouth dropped open. "What the—how does he even see in this storm?!" she whispered to Chester.
Chester shook his head. "I have no idea, but this kid's moving like he's done this a thousand times."
"Or he's using soemthing to make him move like that," Clara muttered under her breath.
Lucius turned to them, his amber eyes gleaming even through the murkiness of the sandstorm. "Move," he said curtly, waving them forward.
...
As they continued, Chester and Clara couldn't help but exchange quiet remarks about their guide.
"Did you see the way he just took that thing out?" Chester whispered.
"And without so much as blinking," Clara added. "It's…unnerving. The way he moves—it's almost like his body isn't—"
"Human," Chester finished grimly.
Lucius's voice cut through their hushed conversation like a blade. "Stop talking and focus."
Chester frowned. "Hey, kid. We're trying to figure out what we're dealing with here. Mind giving us a straight answer for once?"
Lucius didn't slow down. "No."
"No?!" Clara repeated, her frustration bubbling over. "You've been dragging us through this nightmare, barking orders, and you won't even tell us who—or what—you really are?"
Lucius stopped abruptly, his hand moving to the handgun strapped to his waist. Chester immediately tensed, gripping his rifle, while Clara instinctively raised her own weapon.
Without a word, Lucius drew his handgun and fired.
The shot zipped past their heads with terrifying precision, the sound reverberating through the storm. Clara stumbled back, nearly dropping her rifle, while Chester flinched involuntarily.
Lucius lowered the handgun, his expression unreadable. "Next time, I won't miss."
For a moment, the only sound was the howling wind.
"Alright, alright," Chester said quickly, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "We'll back off. Just…relax, okay?"
Lucius rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath before gesturing for them to follow again. "We're low on ammo," he said. "So unless you're eager to fight another Ravager barehanded, stop wasting time and keep moving."
Clara opened her mouth to retort, but Chester shot her a warning glance. Reluctantly, she followed in silence.
Through the haze of the sandstorm, Lucius pointed ahead. Chester squinted, barely making out the faint outline of an opening in the rocky terrain.
"Is that…a cave?" Chester asked.
Lucius nodded. "We'll be safe there. For now."
....
The cave was damp and shadowy, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The gusting winds and the stinging sand were reduced to a dull roar in the distance. Clara immediately dropped to the ground, pulling off her boots and shaking out the accumulated sand with an exaggerated sigh of relief.
"Finally!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the cavern. "I thought I was going to drown in sand!"
"Would you keep it down?" Chester hissed, glancing nervously toward the entrance. "You're going to get us killed."
Clara waved him off dismissively. "Oh, relax. We're in a cave. Nothing's going to hear us over the storm."
Lucius leaned against the cave wall, watching the two of them bicker with a tired expression. As their voices faded into background noise, he subtly glanced down at his wrist, where a faintly glowing device shimmered—a small circular disk embedded in his glove.
The Aetheris.
Lucius frowned, his thoughts racing. He had pieced it together almost immediately after meeting Chester and Clara: he was in a distant past scenario. Their uniforms, the outdated technology, the lack of mana in their bodies—it all pointed to a time when humanity had yet to discover magic or the relics that would shape the far future.
And yet, something didn't add up.
The third phase of the admission tournament was designed to test survival and adaptability, but the optional objectives hinted at something deeper—something related to a forgotten piece of history. Lucius suspected this cave might hold a clue, but his priority was completing the main objective.
He let out a heavy sigh, cursing his luck. "Of course," he muttered under his breath. "It couldn't just be a simple survival test. No, it has to be tied to some cryptic historical mystery."
His amber eyes flicked toward Chester and Clara, who were still arguing—this time about who was to blame for their wrecked vehicle.
"They don't even know how screwed they are," he muttered.
As the two continued bickering, their voices rising in pitch, Lucius rubbed his temples in frustration. Finally, he snapped, "Would you two shut up?!"
Chester and Clara froze, both turning to look at him.
Lucius let out a long, exasperated sigh, his deadpan expression betraying his inner thoughts. I'm surrounded by two fools. If I fail this exam, it's because of them.
As the trio moved deeper into the cave, Lucius couldn't help but shake his head. With allies like these, who needs enemies?