chapter 3: The trial behind the door.
"Was your first trial that had that you kept us waiting?!"
The cold acrid scent stung his nostrils, he flashed a scowl at the people before him.
Quinn's head jerked to the speaker, a cold frown stretched down his lips. The boy's copper hair trailed down his neck. Jagged ends ended it, a fracture of its former beauty. The boy- Sil Andre turned, walking towards the platform. Staring down at the abyss was the forest, where their trials were said to begin. The wind whistled behind him, his purple eyes flashed a cold look at them.
"let's go!" He barked. Without another thought, he jumped off the platform. Landing neatly on the platform, a wake of dust scattered upwards, blurring their visions. His eyes locked at him, a scowl plastered on his face.
Was her death and illusion? He brushed the thought. His main focus was his trial.
"I will survive, Henzai."
The team walked deeper into the forest, dark purple leaves scattered on the forest floor. The trees silhouettes were as clear as day, going unnoticed to him. The stale scent of crushed leaves tingled his nostrils, sweat crawled down his forehead. He glanced at the back. The purple abyss was slowly fading behind him, he tugged at his collar, a sweat trailed downwards.
"it's dense, such dense energy" he muttered.
The leader was still going forward, his eyes narrowing down at every thing he passed. Sil tapped his chin in thought as he did so. The dark curls twisted underneath his sleeves. Sil turned towards the right, others followed.
Quinn was behind, the fog slowly crept at him. Unlike others, every detail was essential. The squeaking of animals distant caught his hearing. His fingers trailed in the bark of trees.
"They are thick." He muttered.
His hands scratched a tree's bark. The metallic scent stung his nostrils. He nearly paused, he squinted, the faint silhouette of the tree got clearer. He tightened his lips, his mind wavered as he felt the liquid. He brought it closer to his nose, the metallic scent throbbed stronger.
"blood? A blood producing tree?" He uttered.
Quinn glanced around the forest, trees danced as silhouette before him. Moist twigs snapped beneath his feets. The others had given him a great distance. He felt the bark of a branch. He flinched back in pain. A mild scream parted his lips. The metallic scent stung his nostrils. Something drizzled out of his palms. Wet and sticky. He wiped his bloodied palm against his clothes. His eyes transfixed on the branch.
"A sharp tree, it cuts like a sword." He muttered.
He stopped, tearing a piece of his cloth flank wrapping his arm. He held the tree's branch, cutting it out. He wrapped the lower end with the torn piece of clothes. His shoulders dropped at the sword's weight.
The others were silhouettes at the distance. Quinn proceeded cautiously, using his palms to feel the bark till he came at the blood producing tree. He struck it with the makeshift sword. Blood spurted into his body. He placed the wooden sword there the blood coated it.
"from the looks of it, it must be poisonous."
Quinn quickened his pace. His steps echoed behind him, followed by snapping twigs.
The others turned seeing the silhouette dash at them.
"you really are doomed to die!" The self-acclaimed leader seethed.
Quinn feigned Indifference, the sword hidden behind his back. Quinn turned towards the carpet of grasses. A narrow path. Eyes followed him, each Indifferent.
Quinn trailed behind them, fidgeting on his sword.
-------
They crossed the narrow path, faced a red soiled ground, the purple had corroded off, leaving an orange frame. A metallic voice resounded in their heads.
[candidate 156 eliminated]
[Evolution beginning]
[candidate 46 eliminated]
[Evolution beginning]
[candidate 297 eliminated]
[evolution beginning]
Quinn shrugged at the message, the self acclaimed leader could be seen clearly now, Sil had copper hair that stopped below his neck. His eyes were beady, a scar cut x at his cheek. He was taller than Quinn, his eyes devoid of emotion. It was then, he pointed at a secluded path.
"We will move in that direction." Sil ordered, the others followed, Quinn assessed his team.
The other boy was also slender and short. His hair was a thick wave of black. He walked forlorn, detached from everything. The two girls were twins, each with gross brown hair packed up in a hair band.
"Not a royalty." He thought.
Fresh blood tingled his nostrils. His eyes jerked beyond the first leader. He could see prints, camouflaged with the red soil and twigs, he gripped his sword harder, bile trailed up his throat. They were treading a beast path. He slowly took his steps, widening the distance between them. They barely knew him, no harm if they died. Many died too. Quinn reminded himself. He was deeply engrossed in his thoughts, he barely noticed the shadow behind him.
Roar!
He jerked backwards as a talon swiped at him, he swung the sword, missing by a wide margin. The next talon slammed him into the ground, blood gushed from an open wound in his shoulder. His shoulders throbbed with pain. His teeth gritted as his face turned sour. Unlike his body, his mind was sane. Focused.
He stood up, the talon dove in again, he turned sharply, parried the attack with his sword. The talon retracted. The beast, a tall creature, glared at him. It's beak tore open with a scream. It's slick black wings expanded, and fluttered.
Wind strikes tore at him. Quinn dodged the first, the next connected through his stomach, phasing through. Blood spurted out of his stomach.
He glanced at his teammates. They had all hid. Watching the fight.
"teammates?" Quinn sucked.
He dashed forward, his sword strike upward but the bird parried it with it's talon, pushing him back. The talon struck back again, catching Quinn unprepared. He was slammed into the floor again, a crater dug in the red soil. His bones trembled, a splitting pain rattled his bones. His muscles refused movements.
He turned screaming for help. None twitched, watching his suffering.
The bird expanded its wings once more. This time, a tsunami was forming, lightning struck, leaves fluttered in the storm. Their hiding covers blew off simultaneously. The bird angled it's head at the others, cawing angrily. The bird noticed the others who were hiding, it left the resilient prey and dashed after the running others.
Quinn took the swift distraction, His limbs shot up, he slowly crept behind the bird, slamming up from behind. The sword clashed into the birds behind, dug in. The bird cawed in pain, the tsunami left it's orbit, destroying everything in its path. Quinn retracted his sword.
He paused for a breath and gave a running leap, he landed on the bird's tail, Climbing the bird streamlined back.
He dashed upwards, nearly falling, he dug his sword downwards Into the beast head. The head exploded into a fountain of blood, the bird's body vanished under a thick black smoke.
The tsunami vanished instantly.
"He did it." one of the twin gasped.
"He killed the predator."
Quinn stood, covered in different levels of injuries.He staggered towards the leader- Sil Andre.
"You coward, you couldn't help a bit and you led us here!" Quinn barked.
His sword inched closer, yet Sil didn't inch back a bit. He stood gallantly, his face cold and expressionless.
"You still did it, didn't you? let's move." Sil ordered.
The path had become lonesome once more, Silence led them forward, each heart thrummed within.
Quinn gritted his teeth, clenched the sword tighter and trailed behind them. Only this time, the silent slender boy was behind him, sweat creased his forehead.
"He's closer to his relic, his first trial is about to begin." Quinn thought. He knew this instinctively. Henzai had told him during their five days dialogue. He remained indifferent.
A small building was in sight.
"Let's wait here, I still don't know how we are supposed to know our relic." Sil mused. They reached the building seeing two doors, one Infront of Sil, the other at an extreme with a cold symbol.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. He placed his hand on the door, retracting Instantly. Heat scalded his palm, sweats trailed down his face. The scent of charring flesh stung his nostrils, Sil frowned.
"I can't enter." He thought.
The others refused to touch it, Quinn feigned Indifference, gawking at the silhouette trees, his heart leapt. The silhouettes moved, the shadows stirred. Their darkness warped Quinn's feets. Panic rise in his throat, but he sealed his lips. He narrowed his eyes, warm heat flushed through his face.
Sil gawked at another door at the extreme. An interesting effigy glistened at his face.
Quinn took a step, Sil did almost instantly, His steps faded behind them.
"Where are you going?" one of the twin called. Sil shrugged at him, focused on the door.
The silent boy moved up, his head sweat drenched. He shivered slightly, then as if a change in countenance, his lips parted.
"I can do it Maurice!" He yelled.
Sil and Quinn turned instinctively. The others expressed dignified shock.
"You speak!"
one twin blurted, they assumed him to be dumb. Quinn felt his lips stretching.
"Finally, the fun is about to start"
Sil returned his gaze to his door. He tightened his lips, and headed to the door.
The slender kid reached the door Sil previously touched. He clenched his fists solidly, his guts twisted. The remnants scent of charred flesh wavered past his nostrils. Everyone watched except Sil and Quinn. Both Transfixed on what had caught their attention.
The silent boy- Eve Cinderhort reached, his fingers met the brass door, phasing through it. His other fist clenched and he pushed his entire body through.
"I will survive Maurice!"
Like that he vanished behind the door.
Quinn smirked behind him,moving towards the swirling shadows. His eyes watched it, they twisted and turned. His once bloodied sword had turned peach black. The shadows Slowly crept towards Quinn's feet. He sank slowly, he turned to see the others.
Sil was already phasing through the door, Eve was gone. The remaining two girls stood there hidden behind the wall of shadows. Quinn turned to the shadows drowning him.
"What is behind this shadow?"