The sun rises, and I wake up to see Aurelia sleeping on the other bed. Looking down, I see bandages wrapped around my waist. The healers must have patched me up while I was asleep.
I get up and check on Aurelia. She looks peaceful. Her face is soft, her black hair fanned across the pillow. She really is beautiful. She honestly looks Greek in terms of her features.
Then I hear a loud commotion outside. I wake Aurelia up as she groans. She rubs her eyes. "What is it?" Her voice is raspy. Low.
"Something's going on outside. I can't leave you here alone."
She looks at me and blinks. Then she smiles. "Seems like no one voted you out. I'm glad."
I smile back. "I'm also glad. Means there's still a chance of becoming adventurers."
She gets up, and we walk out of the infirmary. As we walk, the commotion grows louder until we reach the cafeteria. Everyone's gathered near the wall.
I look around and see Dominio leaning against a pillar, his eyes closed.
"Looks like you can finally walk."
I smile brightly and flex my bicep. "Those medicines and bandages are quite efficient."
He smiles. "You recovered just in time. The results of the psychopath exam are in. And I didn't see a single Eighty member here."
I squint to see the names of the four eliminated rookies. I don't recognize them—nor their faces. A rookie bashes the wall in frustration. Another's eyes are wide. A mix of shock, contentment, and fear.
"So Rowan and Zora haven't been eliminated?"
"They lead factions. They could have told their men to vote for some poor rookie."
I sit on a seat and lean back against the table behind me. "So what now?"
Aurelia sits on the table. "We go to the Highlands... or maybe there will be another exam. Judging by the fact we aren't halfway there."
"We're not halfway there?"
Aurelia rests her chin on her hand, looking out the window. "We haven't even reached the Rock Archipelago yet."
"Rock Archipelago?"
Dominio moves swiftly and sits on the table. "An archipelago of rock islands. The place is so dangerous that traders and merchants change their routes to avoid it."
"And we're going there?"
Aurelia and Dominio look at each other and nod in unison.
I'm not surprised. If they had us killing each other over ribbons, then letting rookies kill each other without suspicion—now we're going to a dangerous archipelago even traders won't cross?
My nose wrinkles. I catch something wet and familiar. Rain. And faint thunder.
I get out of the cafeteria and walk to the upper decks. I see it—dark grey clouds in the distance, faint lightning flickering behind them. A thick fog hangs below the clouds, hiding the islands, though I can make out faint rock-like silhouettes.
Dominio follows and looks at the view. "What are you looking at, Zain?"
"The dark clouds and strong fog. Can't you see it?"
He places his hand on my back and chuckles. "I'm a rogue, Zain. I don't have strong senses like you berserkers. But if you can see that place—that's where we're going."
I close my eyes and rub them. I forgot I have heightened senses. If I can hear thunder from this distance... the archipelago could be fifty kilometers away.
I can see from that far. My senses have heightened again. I wonder what caused it?
Dominio leaves, and I walk to the edge of the ship, holding the railing as I look at the view.
Another voice interrupts. "Zain!" Explosive. Sharp.
I turn around. Zora stands alone. Shirtless. He walks up beside me, close. I narrow my eyes.
"How have you been?" He glances at my bandaged forearms and side. His smirk is almost smug.
"Your friend did a number on me." I meet his eyes. "What is he? Because that—that's not human."
Zora's face shifts almost immediately. That smug, confident smile fades. His eyes narrow. Serious. Like I said something that triggered him.
"How does that concern you?"
"It concerns me because he attacked Aurelia and me. Don't I have the right to question him?"
"I told your mage friend not to come out at midnight. But clearly, she didn't listen." His voice drops. "She's a noble, correct? I can see it. The way she's so nosy."
"Don't say shit like that."
"And don't call my accomplice that way."
He steps closer—dangerously close—and leans forward to look me at eye level. Green Lumin glows from his eyes.
"You want to fight now?" I clench my fist. "I may not have a weapon, but I'm deadly enough on my own."
"You're threatening your potential ally." His voice is low. "Day by day, your group pisses me off, kid."
He moves fast—a punch. I roll back and drop into my stance.
He dashes forward, throwing a barrage of punches. But he's slow. I dodge as quickly as I can, then kick his chin. I twist my body and kick his chest—but he doesn't move.
I hate tanks.
He grabs my face and throws me far. Mid-air, I catch myself and land on my feet.
His hand glows emerald green, covering his forearm.
He dashes at me again. I dodge back, avoiding his punch, and hit his face. But he doesn't flinch. He grabs my arm tightly, picks me up with one arm, and throws me even further.
Is he playing with me? He could have punched more, used techniques—but he hasn't. Is this his way of showing superiority? Domination?
A soft, warm surface catches me. I look back—a massive golden hand. I turn to see Rowan in a white vest and pants, his golden arms extending from his missing limbs, muscular and solid. A brown flat cap sits on his head.
He looks at me, then at Zora.
"The only one that gets to kill this bastard, Zora..." His voice is cold. "...is me."