Mira Arvaith
We all took several glances at the items. This final decision was going to make it or break it when it came to escaping and passing this exam.
I scanned my surroundings one more time. A bus stop appeared down the road, along with a chained-up motorcycle. Why are they showing up now? I hope the proctor isn't preoccupied.
Then my attention went to the multipurpose kit right away. But in the current situation, I couldn't find a reason to pick it.
The motorcycle keys and the single bus ticket were viable only for one or two people.
There was a clear decision that had to be made. Everyone was silent. The only sound was the soft timer ticking down.
150 seconds.149 seconds. 148 seconds.
Is the academy telling us that we may have to sacrifice someone in a rift for us to succeed?
No. They wouldn't teach us that. They have been preaching teamwork this entire time.
This was harder than any engineering problem I was given. It wasn't black and white. The grey was all over the place.
"Anyone got any bright ideas?" I asked the group.
"Either the bus ticket or the motorcycle keys, so that at the very least a couple of us can get away and clear it," Voen said, his eyes darting from person to person.
"I think we should take the cell phone. We could call a cab or something." I said.
"But we are escaped prisoners," Sora said.
"Good point, princess."
"So…cell phone, bus ticket, and motorcycle keys are a no-go."
"Correct, all that's left is the map and multipurpose tool kit," Sora said.
"Screwhead and spark plug, any input?"
I looked over at Cyrus, and he was almost completely faded away. When he spoke, it felt like a ghost was whispering.
"It's taking all I can to maintain this. I don't care what we pick, just hurry."
Jace just tilted his head up to the sky.
"Well, I think we should go with the map," Nerena said.
"It at least allows us all to escape, and potentially find a way out of here. Even though I would be keen on the idea that Mira could use the toolkit to help us out."
Did I hear her right? Did she just compliment me? Even Sora's eyes widened at the comment.
"What's wrong?" Nerena asked, shifting her gaze back and forth between Sora and I.
Sora walked over to the items. "Nothing is wrong. But I think you finally helped me realize the purpose of this test."
"Do we all agree on taking the map?"
I shook my head in agreement, along with the others.
60 seconds, 59 seconds, 58seconds.
Sora picked the map and tossed it to Nerena. "Lead the way."
Nerena's eyes scanned the map for a quick moment, then she looked up at us and waved for us to follow her.
"Where are you taking us?" Voen asked.
"There is a tow lot up ahead. If we get there."
"We could hot-wire a vehicle," I shouted.
Nerena nodded, and a small smile grew on Sora's face.
Sprinting at full speed, we got to the tow yard. Now all that was left was to get a big enough vehicle.
40 seconds, 39 seconds.
In the tow yard, I found a large rusty old prison van.
Ugly, but it will do.
I pulled on the handle.
It was locked. Obviously.
"Sora, toss me the keys from the first zone." Without hesitation, she did as I asked. One of the keys worked and unlocked the vehicle.
Everyone filed in, but the van wouldn't start.
20 seconds. 19 seconds. 18 seconds.
I dropped down, looked under the steering wheel, and began messing around with the wires. It took a couple of tries, but I got the car to start.
"Does anyone know how to drive?" Voen asked. Everyone had a blank expression.
"Don't worry about it; it shouldn't be too hard," I shouted over the roar of the engine as I began to speed out of the tow yard. But then the van's tires got stuck, spinning in place. I looked in the rear-view mirror, and sure enough, the tires got stuck in some mud.
"Can someone go out and help push the van while I steer?" Sora, Voen, and Nerena jumped out and got to work. Using their augmented strength, it didn't take much to get us back on track.
10 seconds, 9 seconds.
As we escaped the tow yard, Nerena's directions told me to make a right, and as I was speeding down the road, the horizon started to change. The pixels of this virtual world started to darken.
"Where are you taking us, Nerena?"
"It says this where state lines change."
The darkened pixels grew larger, swallowing the virtual world into a realm of darkness.
I gripped the steering wheel as hard as I could, preparing myself for the worst. The worst did happen. The car began to stall until it could no longer go. I slammed my fist on the steering wheel and yelled. "We are gonna have to run for it!"
We all dashed out of the van, sprinting as if our lives depended on it.
5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds.
But then I felt something I hadn't felt before.
A tug on my tether.
It was subtle at first, then it grew stronger, snatching me away mid-sprint. I looked around me, but none of my teammates were there.
Then there was one more violent tug. It felt like I was being catapulted at blinding speeds through the virtual world.
Before I knew it, I was slammed into my physical body.
As I found my bearings, the walls of our building were blown away, sending everyone except the proctor flying.
When the debris settled, multiple buildings were rubble.
"What is Stravos doing?" Voen asked.
When my gaze fell on him, I saw he was doing what his clan always did.
Fight.
He was fighting a proctor. His titan was summoned and fought alongside him. All of the proctors were at the very least adept stage starbound.
He was mad for trying his luck.
But he was forcing a stalemate.
Amid the seismic activity in the ground, I felt calm and deliberate footsteps approach behind us.
It was the headmaster; he shook his head, walking slowly toward the battle in front of us.
Another proctor ran up to the headmaster to report on the situation.
"Why is a student brawling with a proctor?" The Headmaster said, looking at the out-of-breath proctor.
"Stravos refused to cooperate with his proctor. The proctor tried to force him, and then this happened."
"I see. I'll end this quickly."
"Headmaster, what about our test?"
Sora asked. The headmaster looked at her and paused.
"The test is finished; go back to your dorms."
I didn't like that response.
"Did we pass or not?" Cyrus asked, stepping to the Headmaster.
"Results will be finalized at a later moment. If you all excuse me, I have to administer some disciplinary actions today."
The Headmaster blinked away, now standing between the proctor and the duo of the Stravos and his War Titan.
The Headmaster didn't raise a finger. He flexed his cosmic energy. Its presence was sharp and quick, striking like a quick jab.
Stavros and the proctor both went flying.
We all heard rumors about the Headmaster's strength, but seeing a display of it, despite the scale, was terrifying.
"Hurrying on and head to your dorms, Headmaster Naga will inform you at a later date," the proctor said
"Fine by me," Jace said, and soon the others followed suit.
I followed, too, but with a bad taste in my mouth. I just hoped we did enough to pass.