---
The courtyard buzzed with muted chatter as the kathlok went through their morning drills. Sunlight streamed over the palace walls, casting long shadows across the cracked stone. For the orphans, this was their new normal: endless training under the watchful eyes of overseers.
Athlair moved through his sword forms with sharp precision, beads of sweat rolling down his brow. Nearby, Reeta sparred with Ergor, her strikes fast and deliberate, forcing the wiry boy onto the defensive.
"Stop holding back, Ergor," she barked.
"I'm not!" he shot back, though his footing faltered.
"You'll never last in the games like this," she said, landing a blow on his arm.
Ergor winced but didn't reply.
From the sidelines, Tobias and Mukt observed the sparring session. Tobias frowned, his arms crossed over his chest.
"They're improving," Mukt signed, his dark eyes flicking between the fighters.
"They need to be faster," Tobias replied. "We all do. Ryker won't accept mediocrity."
Mukt nodded, but his gaze lingered on the overseer pacing near the edge of the courtyard. Something about the man's posture felt... off.
The overseer stopped abruptly, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
"Athlair. Ergor. Reeta."
The names hung in the air, heavy and ominous.
Athlair froze mid-strike, his wooden blade clattering to the ground. Reeta stiffened, her hands curling into fists. Ergor looked around nervously, as if hoping someone would explain the summons.
"Step forward," the overseer barked.
The trio exchanged uneasy glances before obeying.
"What's going on?" Elair asked, breaking the silence.
"Quiet," the overseer snapped. "The rest of you, continue your training."
As Athlair, Ergor, and Reeta followed the overseer out of the courtyard, a tense hush fell over the remaining orphans.
---
The training session dissolved into chaos as soon as the overseer and the trio disappeared.
"Where are they taking them?" Shera asked, her voice trembling.
"Maybe it's just another test," Tobias said, though his tone lacked conviction.
"But why only them?" Elair countered. "They've been doing well in the games. Why pick them?"
"Maybe that's why," Rin said darkly.
The group exchanged uneasy glances. The unspoken fear among them was almost palpable: what if this wasn't just a test?
"I don't like this," Shera muttered, pacing. "What if... what if Ryker—"
"No," Tobias interrupted. "He wouldn't. They're not going to kill them."
"Are you sure about that?" Rin asked, his tone sharp. "Because I'm not."
---
Hours passed, the sun inching toward the horizon. Tension coiled around the courtyard like a serpent.
Finally, a guard appeared. He carried a sealed scroll, which he handed to Tobias without a word before turning and walking away.
The kathlok gathered around Tobias as he broke the seal. His hands trembled slightly, but his voice was steady as he read aloud:
"Athlair, Ergor, and Reeta have been taken. They are locked in airless cells hidden within the palace. You have seven hours to find them. If you fail, they will die."
For a moment, there was only silence. Then the courtyard erupted.
"What?" Shera gasped. "That can't be real!"
"They're bluffing," Elair said, though his voice wavered. "They wouldn't kill them. Not for failing a stupid test."
"You think Ryker cares about fairness?" Rin snapped. "This isn't a bluff. They'll die if we don't do something!"
"What are we supposed to do?" another orphan demanded. "We don't even know where to start!"
"We need to stay calm," Tobias said, his voice rising above the commotion. "Listen to me—"
"No!" Rin interrupted. "You don't get to take charge! We're wasting time just standing here!"
"Rin, enough!" Tobias snapped. "Panicking won't help them. If we split into groups, we can cover more ground—"
"Split up?" Rin's voice rose, incredulous. "That's your plan? Scatter like headless chickens and hope we get lucky?"
"Do you have a better idea?" Tobias shot back, his patience fraying.
Rin hesitated, then scowled. "Anything's better than this."
"Then either help, or get out of the way," Tobias said coldly.
---
The group fell into uneasy silence, the tension between Tobias and Rin like a live wire.
Mukt stepped forward, his hands moving quickly as he signed.
"What's he saying?" Shera asked.
"He's saying we need to start searching now," Tobias translated.
Rin scoffed. "Obviously. But where? This palace is a labyrinth. If we pick the wrong direction, we'll waste hours we don't have."
"Which is why we need to split up," Tobias said.
"That's too risky," Elair interjected. "What if we miss something important because one group wasn't there?"
"And what if we stay together and don't find anything in time?" Shera countered. "We don't have a choice."
"I'm going with Tobias," Mukt signed firmly.
"I'll go too," Shera said.
"And me," Elair added, though he shot Rin a wary glance.
Rin crossed his arms, glaring at Tobias. "Fine. You want to play leader? Let's see how far that gets you."
---
The kathlok split into groups, each assigned a section of the palace to search. Tobias led Mukt, Shera, Elair, and a handful of others into the western wing. The air grew heavier as they ventured deeper into the shadowed corridors.
"We need to look for anything out of place," Tobias said. "Scratches on the floor, fresh marks on the walls—anything that could lead us to them."
"Or we could just keep walking in circles," Rin muttered from the back of the group.
"Do you have something useful to say?" Tobias snapped, spinning to face him.
"Yeah," Rin shot back. "This is a waste of time."
"Then leave," Tobias said coldly.
Rin scowled but said nothing, falling into sullen silence as the group pressed on.
---
Mukt stopped abruptly, holding up a hand. She pointed to faint scratches on the stone floor leading toward a sealed grate.
"That could be something," Tobias said, crouching to inspect the marks.
"Or it could be nothing," Rin muttered.
Tobias ignored him, motioning for the group to follow as he pried open the grate. The air inside was stifling, the narrow passage barely wide enough to fit one person at a time.
Shera coughed, covering her mouth. "It reeks down here."
"Keep moving," Tobias urged.
The passage opened into a dimly lit chamber. At its center, slumped against a wall, was a figure.
"Athlair!" Tobias called, rushing forward.
Athlair stirred weakly, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. His lips were dry and cracked, his face pale.
"He's alive," Tobias said, relief flooding his voice. "Shera, help me get him up—"
"I'll do it," Shera said, stepping forward. But as she moved, a section of the floor crumbled beneath her feet.
"Shera!" Elair shouted, grabbing her arm just in time.
"I'm fine," Shera said through gritted teeth, though blood streaked her arm where the jagged stones had cut her.
---
Two hours passed with no sign of Ergor or Reeta. The kathlok regrouped in the courtyard, the atmosphere thick with frustration and fear.
"What now?" Shera asked. "We've got Athlair, but we're running out of time."
"We keep looking," Tobias said firmly.
"And where do we look, genius?" Rin demanded. "You don't have a clue what you're doing!"
"I'm doing my best," Tobias shot back.
"Your best isn't good enough!" Rin shouted. "Reeta's still out there, and so is Ergor!"
"Then stop wasting time yelling and start helping!" Tobias snapped.
"I will," Rin said coldly. "But not with you."
---