"My name is Eiden Wells"
"I'm Jason Hart, nice to meet you as well Chen".
Ignoring the first guy who seemed full of himself, the rest chatted and shared their experience when crossing the maze.
The next morning, the moment the clock struck 5 am, maids were distributed everywhere.
Gabbie's eyes opened immediately she heard the door click. Maintaining her sleeping position, she watched the maid who came through the door.
She wore a small smile. She placed the tray of fresh food and clothes on the table, looked around a bit and then left.
Gabbie heaved a sigh of relief, funnily, mei mei was smart enough to leave her clone lying on the top bed and herself in the lower bed…..or maybe it was the other way around.
She woke DoHyun and sadly, mei mei as well. They freshened up into the new clothes and had the meal before stepping out of the room.
The thirty were gathered in a spacious hall. Though they were waiting, they didn't know what or who they were waiting for.
The axe wielder who just happened to be close to DoHyun and Gabbie stifled a chuckle, "what's this?, So even pretty damsels are willing to risk their lives for a wish" he held back his mocking smile.
Although Gabbie knew he was referring to her and DoHyun, she didn't give him an eye.
He sighed out, "you know, they should have placed a gender restriction to this, you two are meant to be at home Washing dishes and cooking porridge" he mocked and the people around that heard, chuckled at his statement.
Gabbie glared at him, her anger and annoyance evident. He was huge compared to her but regardless, she could make him bow at her feet and plead her mercy easily.
DoHyun held her arm.
He snorted, seeing Gabbie all red with anger "what? You want to fight me now? Are you sure you want that?" He asked
Gabbie was just on the brink of using her powers when Jason suddenly cut in, "back off jerk" he came closer alongside Eiden.
He stared at them with wide eyes before the corner of his lips curled up "you…you guys made it out?" He was sure that some mealy kids wouldn't have been able to break through his thorns….but they proved him wrong.
"What you did back there was unnecessary" Eiden's eyes were serious
He shrugged, "what can I say kid, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, besides I said no hard feelings" he passed it on like a joke
"You guys know each other?" Asked Gabbie who was standing in between them, suppressed by the tension that their bodies exerted.
Still glaring, Jason answered "this dumbass tricked us in the maze"
He frowned "Hey kid, watch your language, I'm an adult you know, you don't speak to adults that way. I wouldn't want to be the one to teach you your manners"
DoHyun scoffed, "an adult? Yet you're here bullying the ones you refer to as kids" her voice was gentle, in complete contrast with the way she felt.
He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a loud voice "hey Kun! Let those kids be and come on!" The voice urged.
Kun left them.
"Stupid dumbass" Jason cursed as he walked away into the crowd that surrounded them.
"You guys slept well right?" Eiden asked as the tension reduced
Gabbie shrugged a response, "it was okay" DoHyun nodded.
He analyzed the fresh bandage that was tied around DoHyun's neck. It felt like they were the only ones in the place, or at least that was what DoHyun's heart felt.
After confirming that her seed was well hidden, he patted her hair with a gentle smile.
Murmurs increased as a set of people walked before them on a high platform.
The announcer from before, three well built men and one pretty woman stood before them in a straight line.
Everyone's attention was now set on the five.
"It's him" said Jason in a whisper, Eiden confirmed it too, it was him, the man who saved them that day using his teleportation crystals.
He stood tall in light armor, his waist bore a belt scabbard. He held his hands behind while standing, the rest did the same too. His hair wasn't loose like that time and he didn't have any glasses on.
His expression was serious and unmoving. Not just him, the other three had the same stone looks except the announcer whose face gleamed.
"Warriors!" He started with his signature intro, "the day of the trial has come, your strength, agility, IQ, bravery, will be tested from today onwards. I have only realized that some of you don't know who I am, I am professor Zhang Lei and these with me are going to be your trainers responsible for picking out the privileged Upper ten".
Exclamations of surprise and excitement lingered within the crowd. Those four were part of the best warriors that Jingwu had. They get to see and battle the monsters outside the protection of the walls.
Professor Zhang continued "each day for two weeks two course trials will be set, of which can sometimes involve sparring with other participants. Today's first course will be a test of durability, where one will have to—"
His speech was interrupted by the sudden entrance of the medical team. Gasps filled the air as injured soldiers were carried in. In wheelchairs, strollers and crutches, they were carried in.
Some were missing their legs, some, their arms, while others were injured badly.
All of a sudden, a loud cry was heard, it tore through the atmosphere of the room and echoed throughout.
A man was brought in on a stretcher, he kept shouting and screaming, and struggling on the stretcher. He had four men holding him down while he screamed and struggled.
"Stop!! Please no!!" He screamed out in pain, he had witnessed a traumatizing scene and had lost control of what reality was, it kept playing on and on in his head causing him to fidget and scream out.
Bloody bandages covered his eyes and one of his legs. Kicking and swinging, he struggled all while shouting and begging to stop.
The hair on Eiden's arms rose, goosebumps spreaded throughout his body. They hadn't just signed up for anything simple, they might actually get killed or lose their limbs.
He didn't want to die, at least not before seeing his mom.
Gabbie started to rethink everything, her ability which she had so much hope in to be her greatest asset, can it even work on the monsters? What If it's limited to only people, how will she ensure her safety?
The crowd grew cold, no one spoke after what they all witnessed. The real cruelty of being in the army, they all just jumped in because a wish was offered as a prize…..will it be worth it?
Eiden looked at the four, they were unmoving unlike the ones in the crowd who started to panic already. They were unshaken, almost as if they see things like this everyday.
Professor Zhang sighed openly, he may have been smiling before to make them feel comfortable but now that they've seen the monstrosity outside the walls, that smiley expression may not be needed anymore.
"We will not exert any kind of force, if you want to leave, do it now"