Lovel was startled at how he had never heard any of this information up until now.
"Weird."
He said as cold as the marble flooring. The instant the word left his lips a simultaneous scream echoed through the eerie halls.
...
"lets go."
Voiced out kin in a haste. He bolted towards the scream they had just heard up the halls.
"Fine."
Without a second thought replied Lovel, not wanting to be left behind. It wasn't far, but just enough for the boys to begin to breakout into a sweat. When arriving to what they perceived to be the scene. A single statue lay, of what appears to be a young girl. Only being able to see the silhouette while still running, kin focused his eyes on the statue. A similar stat window popped up from before like when looking at Lovel, It read.
-
[Kaiya Hope]
Health - 4
Strength - 2
Speed - 4
Vitality - 1
Stamina - 6
-
Innate skill - None
-
Before Kin could even acknowledge that this young girl didn't even have an Innate skill. He was distracted by the fact another stat window appeared.
-
[Elgin Erwin]
Health - 8
Strength - 4
Speed - 2
Vitality - 3
Stamina - 4
-
Innate skill - Camouflage
-
Almost as if it was a reflex Kin stopped almost causing Lovel to crash into him. Lovel side swiped the castle wall to further slow himself down. Luckily they were both running at the same speed so he was never able to close the distance from the beginning.
"I know you're here, come out!"
Kin said directly looking at the unmoving statue. In the next second it was almost as if you could see the wall begin to peel away. A figure head and shoulders taller than kin came forth scaring the two for the battle ahead. When the creature met the second of the boys eyes, he began to feel a sinister chill run down his long spine.
"I don't want to fight, please just let me go."
Elgin pleaded with the two young men.
"First what's up with that statue? Why does it look scared?"
Kin said seeing if he squinted any harder any more stat windows would appear around them.
"She was found. Luckily for me, I was able to hide just in time so it wouldn't see me."
Elgin looked down and breathed a sigh of relief it wasn't him. He felt he could only be a coward with the innate skill he was given. To live in the shadows of all those around him. He gloomily looked back at the boys only to be hit by those same two piercing daggers instilling almost as much fear as it did.
"Found, it. What are you talking about?"
Kin pondered even more confusedly.
"Hide and seek!"
"Hide and seek."
They both said. Although it was a weird skill, Kin was a good hider, he needed it when trying to escape his dads hateful eyes and heavy fists. Kin quickly pushed the thought back to a part in his brain his mind couldn't reach.
"Hide and seek?"
Lovel scratched the back of his head.
"I think the 1st trial is a big game of hide and seek. We need to avoid the senses of a black knight. It sadly already found Kaiya."
Elgin answered Lovel's question.
"Ok, ok. So does that mean we just have to wait until he finds everyone for the trial to be over?"
Kin quickly added.
"No. If you look at your Pod you'll notice the times going down 70:32:54. That's how much time I think we have left, here link with me just incase if we get split up."
"Link?"
The boys both looked at each other, each more confused than the other.
"It's one of the most common features on the Pod. Are you guys from Durbol or something?"
Elgin now feeling ashamed for even talking with the guys clearly from last place, however it was a fleeting feeling as the familiar silver eyes of Lovel looked up at him. He linked them just incase.
"Yeah, we are!"
Kin said for the both of them.
"I'm from 5th place Myarr, although i'm not a champion my previous instructor complimented my swordsman skills."
Elgin looking up to the sky arrogantly. Now confidant he would at least be able to survive a fight with these two if things went south. Before the boys could continue talking Elgin heard the familiar scraping of an insidious obsidian blade.
"We need to get out of here, quick!"
All three headed down where the other two came from. Not wanting to see the wielder of such a haunting sound. Taking many turns and getting lost they found themselves in a room with a single entrance, no windows, and stare air. A sleek table in the middle with four chairs and a chandelier above, with a lair of dust covering everything. One after the other they all begin to sit down after running for what felt like hours. Breaking the silence Kin asked.
"Does everyone have Innate abilities?"
After deciding whether or not Elgin wanted to answer, a look from a certain chair forced his hand.
"No, not everyone has them. However they are the key to growing and becoming a pillar within your world ranking, but it also may be the key to your downfall."
After Elgin's words it really got the gears turning for Kin, what did he mean downfall?
A question was said from a specific corner in the room where Elgin didn't want to look.
"What's yours?"
...
Elgin's mind racing as he had no weapon or a means of escape in a fight.
Before he could the other boy answered for him.
"Camouflage"
"How do you know my Innate ability?"
Elgins guard was now up, he was already planning a fight. Extremely unconfident as now his ace was out in the open and still not knowing anything about the two mysterious powerhouses calmly sitting in front of him. He knew he wasn't walking out unharmed.
"Mine's Inspect"
"Mine's Intimidate"
These boys both don't understanding the severity of what they just recklessly answered, and why are they looking at me so imperturbed.