We walked to the dining hall. Countless rookies were eating. The noise of chatter, chewing, and clattering utensils filled the room. Rows of long tables and seats stretched before us, filled with people of different sizes, races, and classes. Some ate in groups. Some ate alone.
We walked through the crowd, noticing glares from other rookies. Guess they knew I killed the priest.
Then I saw a familiar figure. Four arms. White bob hair.
Rela.
I rushed toward her. She was eating breakfast. Eight plates. Four bowls.
"Rela! Rela! We need to talk to you."
She looked up, her face brightening as she saw me. "Zain! Are you feeling better?"
"Much better. How about you?"
She flexed her bicep and smiled brightly. "Feeling brand new. These healers are the best."
Her face immediately fell as Dominio and Aurelia approached. She continued eating, shooting them a glare.
"What do you two want?"
Aurelia crossed her arms. "Look, we're sorry about the whole fight, but we need you."
Rela placed her spoon down. Her black aura radiated from her body. "You need me for what?"
"Dominio, Zain, and I made an alliance. We need a powerhouse like you to join."
"Zain joined you?" She stood and walked toward Aurelia. The height difference was astronomical. It was like a child standing next to a grown adult.
Aurelia looked up at her. "It was a test, Rela. You need to understand that. We did what we had to do."
"Then why did you attack Zain and me?" Rela spread her arms wide. "There are plenty of weaklings on this ship, and you chose us."
The cafeteria fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the commotion. Even the cooks stopped cooking.
More attention? Great.
Rela looked at the crowd and smiled. "You heard me. Most of you are weaklings. Why are you all looking at me like I'm wrong? The battle royale proved my point. The weak get cut. But I guess there are still some weeds in the garden." She raised her voice. "If you think I'm lying, then COME FIGHT ME!"
I scanned the crowd. A young mage looked furious. A burly middle-aged man narrowed his eyes. A swordsman looked worried, his hand hovering over his hilt. Others looked anxious.
"Violence is strictly prohibited."
A familiar voice.
Rowan sat on a bench, his Lumin arm feeding him. His companions watched us. A man with spiked gauntlets sat to his left. A woman in massive armor smoked beside him, a gigantic axe leaning against the wall behind her. Both of them had strong auras.
Rowan's hat sat beside him, his short silver hair loose. His dusk skin glowed faintly. His silver eyes narrowed, calculating.
"Your weapons are already confiscated, Zain." His voice carried across the room. "You and your friends are at a disadvantage."
Murmurs rippled through the cafeteria. Expressions shifted. Fury became excitement. Worry became relief. Hope flickered in some eyes.
Rowan had just exposed us.
We were no longer safe. Aurelia's hand spells and Dominio's unarmed skills wouldn't be enough.
I clenched my fists. My jaw tightened.
Rowan looked directly at me. "What is it, Zain? Scared? Worried? Angry? What will that do? What is a dog without its fangs? I wonder what that dog is."
Dominio grabbed my shoulder. "It's not worth it, Zain."
Aurelia and Rela continued arguing. I stepped between them. "Let's talk somewhere private."
Rela opened her mouth, then closed it. Aurelia nodded, noticing the stares.
We quickly walked out, followed by dozens of eyes.
---
We went upstairs and entered my room. Rela sat on my bed. Aurelia leaned against the window. Dominio sat on the floor.
"Alright, listen." I sat on the bedside table. "Let's not fight. We literally skipped breakfast for this."
This was stressful. Rela's words. Rowan's exposure. We were prime targets now. And Rela seemed ready to go rogue instead of joining us.
"Listen, Rela. We really, really need you."
"I understand your urgency, Zain. But they are the enemy."
Aurelia crossed her arms, her gaze calculating. "We were just following the rules of the exam. You probably killed more than us."
Rela's voice was cold. "And you're not one of them."
Silence.
My body tensed. Goosebumps crawled up my arms.
Dominio laughed. Loud and sharp. A tear trickled down his cheek. "Oh, you ogres keep interesting me."
He stroked his goatee, thoughtful even as he smiled. "You say that, yet we beat you."
Rela's face twisted with annoyance. "It was not an honorable fight."
"Honor this, honor that." Dominio's voice turned serious. "People use honor as an excuse for their losses when they simply got outplayed."
He looked Rela straight in the eye. "Let me tell you something, Rela. In this world, honor is a myth. It's nothing but a stupid myth that will get you killed. You'll look at a man and call him honorable, but deep down, he knows he's a murderer. You've taken lives. I've taken lives. We've all taken lives. Yet we still have the audacity to say that word—honor."
He stood and walked to the door. "Continue this alliance mambo jumbo without me. I'm getting my shoulder patched up."
He left.
Silence.
"Fine," Rela said. "I'll join this alliance. But all of you have to do your part. As the elders say: in every rhiko herd, everyone is a fighter and a provider."
Aurelia's shoulders relaxed. She exhaled. "Thank you, Rela. We really appreciate it."
"I'm only doing this because Zain is here."
"Thank you, Rela. Truly."
---
Hours passed. Night fell.
I sat in the cafeteria with Dominio. A massive prime rib steak sat on my plate. Juicy. Well-seasoned. I ate quickly. It was the best thing I'd tasted in this world.
At least this moment was calm. We were targets now, but the violence restriction protected us. I was still worried about the future. But with the alliance, we might stand a chance.
"Calm down, man. The rib's not going anywhere." Dominio ate his sausages with bread and gravy.
I kept eating.
Then a scream erupted from upstairs.
Both of us jumped. Everyone rushed toward the stairs.
"Wonder what's going on," Dominio said, drinking from his goblet.
I stood and followed the crowd. Gasps. Murmurs. Worried faces. Concerned whispers.
I pushed through the crowd to a door.
Inside the room lay a dead body.