《Daybreak》


 Chapter 1: The Grin and the Frown

    The Grin and the Frown


    Her eyes were starting to blur, her limbs were aching. She was sweating like crazy. Her stomach growled. She was hungry. Her throat has been burning with the lack of water for the past hours. She didn''t know how much time had passed.


    The girl walked on and on walking over foliage, ferns, and snaking roots. The roots lay lazily obstructing the way, trying to stop her. The jungle looming around her had started to hiss and growl as the darkness of the night spread over its canopy while the crickets chirped, announcing night''s arrival. The chirps could have sounded quite peaceful otherwise, if only her situation hadn''t been so dire.


    She had been walking since she had seen the blue sky between the gaps in the canopy. But now, she didn''t know if the darkness that hung over her head was that of the canopy or of the night sky. There wasn''t a single sign of civilization around. Not even a single footprint. With every step she took, it felt to her, as if hope itself was slipping out of her palm like sand. She could feel the loud thumping of her heartbeats counting the seconds passing by. It was quite late and dark. She did not know what creatures were sheltered by this forest, alert for any intruder.


    Just beyond a ray of light appeared in the darkness, both metaphorically and visually. The beam landed on her face blinding her momentarily. Her face had become a dusty grey due to all the dust that had settled over her dark skin. She covered her eyes with her hands to shield herself from the oppressive light that made her eyes feel like they were being stabbed.


    A light!... A light from a torch!


    The girl didn''t even think about who could be holding the torch and what their intentions would be. Here was the sign of civilization she''d been desperate for the past unrecorded hours. She had lost track of time, she didn''t know if she ever had tracked it in the first place. She hollered out tactlessly, "Hello! Anybody there?!" Her voice was weaker and more distorted than she had expected it to be, for she had no energy left in her. She dropped to the ground, sitting down, having convinced herself that the source of the beam of light was indeed good news. She let herself grab a few precious seconds of rest.


    There was a sound of shuffling of feet. Two people now stood before her and looked down at her. They muttered something. The girl couldn''t make sense of it because she had been swept by the moment of the much desired human contact after hours of desperation. All she could make out was that there was a female and a male voice. She was handed some sort of a wrap in glinting foil to eat and a bottle that contained clean water.


    The girl was in no state to care about how she looked when she replenished herself. Perhaps a brute, a wild beast, gobbling up its meal. She licked her fingers, which had dirt plastered on them and the wrap''s mashed content on the foil too. She proceeded to drink the water, finishing off the last of the drops from the bottle. For someone in her condition, this meal would have been the most fulfilling one ever. The water felt like a holy liquid fallen from the heavens above.


    She took a deep breath to calm herself down when she was finished with replenishment. She looked up slowly now, recovering bit by bits from the wild survival state to rationality until she could hear her own thoughts ring through her head again.


    The faces that peered down on her were a female''s extremely pale, frowning face and a male''s dark, grinning face with glinting white teeth, the two faces contrasting each other to a great extent¡­They both harboured a thoughtless expression as if they were accustomed to seeing people like her: people fighting for their survival in this accursed forest.


    The two had harboured a knowing expression on their faces yet the female asked.


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    "What happened to you?" Her eyes scanned the lost girl from her head to her toe and then fixed on her ripped and scratched clothes which looked like the work of brambles.


    "I''ve been here¡­since morning¡­alone¡­help me." The other girl''s barely audible voice cracked into a wail. Her shaky hands reached her face to cover it from their gaze and the glare of the torch,"I don''t know why." She was so weak that even pushing the words out of her mouth felt like a great task.


    This time the dark male spoke in a rough, heavy voice.


    "Stop asking questions, Skadi. Let''s just take her to the Institution." Despite his hoarse voice, he didn''t seem sinister or perhaps if noticed, even empathetic. His companion chose not to reply and instead enacted. The glare of the torch shifted away from her face to the earth below as they stepped to her.


    The dusty girl felt hands on her shoulders pulling her up from both sides, being raised up on her feet. Disappointment crossed her face not wanting to put her aching feet to work again.


    It was a relief as while the two held her, they supported most of her weight and her feet half dangled over the dark ground and half dragged. The strange girl was being ushered now through the enigmatic forest by equally enigmatic strangers, the girl named Skadi, on her right and the boy on her left. Now that she could see their faces much more clearly from up close in the dispersed light of the torch that the boy held, they looked about the same age as her.


    The beam of light from the torch shone on the path before them and abruptly reflected off an object seemingly half buried in the earth. The sudden glare from the metallic object made the girl narrow her eyes. Trying to comprehend the object, she half opened her dark eyes.


    A pipe?


    A part of what seemed to be a metallic pipe was protruding out of the earth. It seemed that they were following it, walking alongside it.


    It was the first, much needed sign of any kind of human civilization the girl had seen that day. The light from the torch trailed over the pipe as their feet were placed one after the other on the forest floor. Suddenly, the two stopped in unison and the girl almost fell over from the jerk. The boy slowly angled the torch upward and it bounded off a much larger object.


    Now that Arca''s eyes had adjusted to the blinding light of the torch, she could see that what stood against the ray of light was a glinting bronze-coloured door, overgrown with shrubbery.


    The ushered girl felt a pair of hands letting go of her shoulder as the boy headed to the door shifting the light all over the object covered in leaves and vines.


    "Urgh will we keep uprooting this up every time? Why don''t they send them people here?¡±


    The boy complained, ripping out a patch of ferns that had been nestling next to the door. Under the now gone ferns was what seemed to be a button. The boy turned back to look at Skadi as if seeking permission.


    "Do the honours Skald." Skadi spoke, letting go of the other girl too. The girl had recovered enough energy to stand and walk on her own. Or perhaps it was the curiosity that was fueling her. She had evident confusion on her face. However neither Skadi nor Skald tried to clear her confusion.


    "Sure." Skald, the boy spoke with a smirk, raised his palm and pressed down the button dramatically.


    Nothing happened. They stood in before the metallic door with only the sound of the forest echoing.


    A sudden ring echoed through the forest.


    Ding!


    The glinting door slid open slowly and jerkily sideways and it was then that the girl realised what it was, staring at the reflection behind the door.


    Ah! A lift¡­ here?

 Chapter 2: Gateway

    Gateway


    She looked at the lift before them and then at the two for any reaction or perhaps even an explanation. She received none.


    The trio entered the open metallic chamber in silence and its door rumbled, closing behind them. As the lift made its way up, it shuddered and croaked and rasped.


    "It''s alright I can stand on my own." The girl spoke, watching the three¡¯s hazy reflections in the closed metallic door.


    Skadi and Skald looked at each other in silent communication and withdrew their hands which had been supporting the girl. That was all the conversation that had happened in the awkward climb of the lift.


    A few moments passed in silence. A bulb that she didn''t know existed, lit up on top of the closed door. The lift stopped.


    When the door creaked open, she found herself standing right before a middle-aged man looking down at them, looming over the three. Behind him was a dark cavern.


    The man before them wore old-fashioned clothes complete with an eye patch and leather boots which stretched till right below his knee to top it off.


    His only visible eye narrowed as he inspected her for a moment.


    The girl stayed still, afraid to breathe.


    The man suddenly barked, "Take her to the Newcomers Dorm." The girl looked at Skadi and Skald who seemed to have predicted this outcome from their expressions. Skadi nodded and motioned at the girl to follow. However, Skald didn''t come with them, staying back with the man. She was led up a small spiralling staircase made of grey stone which led to an opening on the ceiling of the cave above. Eventually, her head was above the ground, her hair being ruffled by the wind, followed by the rest of her.


    When she had climbed past the last step, found herself on a windy plateau. The girl was quite grateful for the wind as it seemed to be taking away all of her fatigue up into the sky with it. The blades of grass bent their heads in waves around her, dancing to welcoming her. When she looked around at the seemingly endless top of the plateau, she could see the star-studded sky. Skadi stood there waiting for her. Oblivious to the impatience of Skadi, the other girl turned to take in the sight behind her. A gloomy forest encircled the plateau as far as her eyes could see.


    "Woah. So I came from there?" The girl asked, pointing at it. It was a strange feeling that she felt when looking at the forest. Something akin to pride for having survived in something that looked that desolate.


    "Yes. And so does everyone." Skadi answered in a flat voice and the other girl''s confidence crashed to the ground.


    "Everyone else?" She asked in an attempt to make the other girl explain further however it was to no avail as the pale girl had already started walking the other way. Disappointed, she quickly followed.


    Up ahead was a silhouette of a structure which grew clearer as the two walked towards it. It wasn''t inspiringly massive, however here in the wilderness where there was nothing else made out of a human''s hands to overshadow it, it seemed towering to her. It was dotted with windows from which bright yellow lights emanated like fireflies. What was most fascinating about the structure was that it was constructed in a spiral that rose up to the sky. It had a silent and mysterious feel about it.


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    Skadi had led her to the entrance which could be found from where the spiral of the structure would begin as it rose from the earth. The entrance was a plain, yet large wooden door on which hung two metal door knockers. Skadi lifted one of them and rattled it against the door.


    The other''s eye however was taking in the sight of the two menacing statues next to the door carved out of rock. The statues featured a pair of winged deers, with their eerie gaze fixed down on the two. Perhaps that was the desired effect for which the statues were placed there for. To know that one is being watched when one enters the building. Unsettled, the girl turned her attention away to the rest of the structure.


    The Institution looked simple yet majestic, from the rising columns to the elegant arches, the large wooden door and the sharply sloping roofs on which red tiles rested.


    The door creaked catching the two¡¯s attention as it swung open. Behind it was a young boy who seemed no more than ten years old. Unlike what the ushered girl had expected, there was no conversation and the boy left.


    The girl had noticed that the boy who had left, had been wearing the same clothes as Skadi and Skald. A black shirt and green pants.


    She decided to ask one of the questions out of the million that had formed in her mind, unable to keep the bursting dam of questions in anymore:


    " Who are you? And what is this place?"


    "I''m Skadi and the one you met before is Skald," The other answered bluntly from beside her without one single expression on her face.


    That was not what I asked.


    Skadi continued moving onward to answer the second question as she entered through the door and looked back at her, ¡°We are at the Institution."


    Behind her was a high ceiling and a huge hall enclosed within walls of a soft pale yellow shade adorned with neatly carved wooden furnishings.


    While the newcomer feasted her eyes on the ''Institution'' which radiated a strange mix of simplicity and elegance, she couldn''t help but wonder,


    The Institution? For what?


    She was too tired to pester Skadi with her questions further as Skadi had shot annoyed looks at her all the time on the way to the Institution.


    She followed Skadi as the girl led her through the corridors, climbed up wooden stairs and then entered yet another corridor. Skadi abruptly stopped before another wooden door.


    "This right here is the Newcomers'' dorm," Skadi announced, turned and strolled away just like that. The pale girl left so quickly that the other didn''t have enough time to react and now she stood there, confused, awkward and pulling lightly at the hem of her shirt. Perhaps it occurred to her in a while that standing there would produce no results hence she mustered up the courage to enter the ''Newcomers'' dorm.'' When she laid a hand on the door, pushed it open slightly and peeked in gingerly, she found it open and entirely empty.


    Both relieved and disappointed at the discovery, she walked in. It was a clean room, furnished with nothing but multiple rows of beds and a small wooden shelf beside each bed. A wall clock watched her as it hung from the walls. There was not a single soul in sight.


    All my fears and I are going to have a little party tonight.


    But then she had more pressing worries to think about, even if she was exhausted.


    She lay down on the bed staring at the ceiling on which stretched an orange beam, its origin possibly another room facing the one she was in.


    Her thoughts were far too scattered as every single thing here was a mystery. Dread crawled in and conquered her thoughts like an uninvited guest. One can''t help but fear the unknown.


    Breathe. Try to focus and think. And gather all that you''ve understood so far.


    She wanted to make sure that it really was the reality. That''s all a pitiful human in darkness can do: Grasp onto any and all pieces of knowledge, facts and recollection when nothing really makes sense.


    What is this strange place?


    What was I doing in the forest?


    And more importantly


    Who am I?

 Chapter 3: Name

    Name


    Muttering. Muttering of people. A white cloth fluttered about. The surroundings cleared and then they were blurry again, cleared again and blurred again. Wires. She could see wires. And darkness. There was a quiet kind of darkness. A darkness that wrapped itself around her and comforted her. Yet upon looking at the deeper shadows it spread in her, a sense of foreboding.  A muted sound of beeping and bubbles emanated from somewhere she couldn''t quite pinpoint. Eventually, a high-pitched wail clawed its way into the choir of the beeping and the bubbles and it kept growing louder and louder until all she could hear was the wailing itself.


    Awoken by the loud noise, she had forgotten to breathe until it dawned upon her that she was no longer in the oppressive room. She was back in reality.


    The source of the sudden noise had been a glinting gold bell fixed beside the clock on the wall. The girl sat up and as she did so, she felt a coarse texture on her arms. She observed herself and now that a good rest had returned her ability to think, the realisation struck her that she had been wearing the same filthy clothes all this time. Beside her bed on a cabinet, lay neatly folded clothing. Reaching out, she unfurled the garments. It was the uniform. Everyone she had come across the day before had been wearing it. A black shirt and green pants.


    Except the middle-aged man in high boots.


    The girl looked around. There was no other soul in the room other than her, even after the night had passed. Beds similar to the one she was sitting on, were neatly lined up all around the room with their little wooden partners beside them, the cabinets. A large window framed a view of the outer world in the room. There were two bookshelves on each of its sides. They were almost empty, with only a few books lying about on the shelf. The books were scatters of colours against the dull, dusty mahogany of the bookshelves.


    I suppose they called it the ''Newcomer''s Room''? Am I the only newcomer?


    Newcomer? Not a guest?


    The girl wondered if she had a place to return to. A strange twinge of sadness arose in her chest.


    What is it?


    A wistful part of her who wanted a place to return to, appeared and surprised her.


    Her dark eyes looked around and then latched themself on a book on the bookshelf without her consent as she thought about what she should do from here on.


    I have to start from somewhere!


    The present state of affairs was a big mystery and also even more so was her forgotten past.


    She sighed. As clueless as she was, the dirt on her skin was getting quite prickly.


    That was her starting point.


    With a resolute face, she wrapped the uniform around her arm. Another door stood in the room other than the one she had entered from the day before. Sure enough, upon turning the doorknob, a room stretched behind it seemed to be a bathroom. A towel hung from the rod fixed on one of the walls. She entered and closed the door behind her.


    The girl was trying to dry her renewed glossy black hair with the towel in the main room as she sat on the bed. Now all clean and having changed into a much cleaner uniform, her eyes noticed two shadows on the floor and her gaze shifted up to the owners of these shadows. Skadi and Skald.


    "You''re gonna have the Naming ceremony soon!" The dark boy named Skald announced cheerfully.


    "A what?" However, there was no reply given to the girl''s question and instead, the two were on her side and she found herself standing up and being ushered out of the room by Skald. Skadi offered to keep the towel in its place which she gladly complied with after thanking her.


    "Remember to choose a name from ''S''," Skald informed with a grin on his face, that by now she was used to seeing. Sitharca wondered if the grin ever went away or if it was omnipresent. But she had more important questions to ask,


    "Wait a minute! What ceremony? What name? Why S?!" she stammered, stamped her feet and stopped. The three were in the passageway now. Other children appeared to be doing their daily chores; one by the pillar was scrubbing the floor, another by the window was pretending to dust the windows, whereas another had given up on pretending was simply chatting with his friends. All of them turned to look at the commotion, however, their interest was quite short-lived and they went back to whatever they had been doing.


    Skadi sighed. Skald''s formal grin turned to a self-important grin (it is really fascinating how many types of grins exist, she thought). He was about to answer and assert his dominance over the confused poor human by showcasing his knowledge, however Skadi interrupted,"You''re too noisy." She turned to look at the newcomer. "You see he likes to flaunt his knowledge since he barely has any."


    "Hey, that was very unnecessary." Skald looked quite offended and a dramatic hurt expression was plastered on his face.


    The girl laughed for the first time as far as she remembered but then it turned into a sad smile,"You two remind me of¡­something."


    She wasn''t quite sure what she was being reminded of but there was an empty darkness in her mind in which no light of remembrance shone.


    However, her thoughts were put in words by Skadi.


    "You don''t remember anything about yourself don''t you?"


    It was true indeed. The girl remembered absolutely nothing about herself, not even something as basic as a name. She would have felt extremely lost were it not for the constant company of the two ever since she stepped out of the forest. She looked back again to the sources of the companionship.


    "Yes, but how do you know that?" She considered it better to be on guard due to the statement, for her vulnerable position had just been brought to light.


    Skadi¡¯s hazel eyes looked directly at her with utmost seriousness and she spoke, "You''re not the only one."


    Skald, who was annoyed by the interruption before, rested his elbow on Skadi¡¯s head as Skadi was very short. "So you see, ''they'' give us a name while we''re here." He continued with a flourish of one of his other hand, "A new identity. A rebirth!"


    A new identity¡­A rebirth?!


    All of it sounded great and noble however none of it really helped in clearing the fog in her head.


    Skadi raised Skald''s arm from her head and glared at him before continuing to walk. Skald chuckled and followed. Yet again Sitharca had had no choice but to follow.


    "Who''s ''they''?" she asked.


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    "Peryton, the man with the eyepatch whom you saw yesterday, is the head of The Institution. He''ll be with other people in suits who call themselves The Spectres. They-."


    Skald''s sentence was broken off when interrupted by an ominous presence. His eyes narrowed and he looked straight up ahead. From what she could see it was a shadow just at the arched exit, round the corner, "Well, here''s a Spectre. You can see one for yourself." Even though Skald still had a sly smile, his watchful eyes hadn''t moved away from the Spectre. The silhouette was eerily quiet and stiff. Upon taking a few more steps to get closer to the exit, she could see a short man wearing a black coat, trousers and a grey tie. His face was covered by an angular mask which after some deciphering, she realised was supposed to resemble a mouse.


    "Newcomer, your naming Ceremony is about to begin." He announced, standing there. She couldn''t see the Spectre''s face at all, but she, for some unknown reason, felt his eyes staring into her soul, watching her every move. It was quite eerie and she knew now why Skald had stopped mid-sentence in his presence.


    "Follow me." The man turned around in a quick and elegant motion and she looked back at the other two. Skald nodded and Skadi proceeded to walk alongside her.


    The girl found herself standing before the man with the eye patch whom she had seen the day before, at the Lift''s Cavern. His name was Peryton if Skald was to be believed. He held in his gloved hands, a tome. Peryton was a fully grown adult much like the Spectres and even so, he towered over everyone in the Institution, even the Spectres.


    There were several masked people at both of Peryton''s sides each wearing a mask resembling an animal, none of them the same. However, they all wore identical suits, although the colours of their ties were yet again unique to one. The Man with the Mouse Mask was also one of them. They were all so still that not even the grass beneath them appeared to be disturbed by them. If they wore clothes that could camouflage them, they would disappear completely from one''s senses since they didn''t even make a single sound.


    So they are the Spectres¡­


    The Man with the Mouse Mask had led them to the ground which was encircled by the Institution''s building. It was a bright day and the white walls reflected back to the sky in their own brilliance. Children in uniforms stood in rows behind her, forming an audience who muttered and whispered among themselves. Skadi and Skald had joined the audience while she was being led to Peryton and the Spectres.


    She could feel the immense pressure of everyone''s gaze on her.


    She wiped her sweaty hands on her green pants.


    Peryton opened his mouth to speak. His voice was so loud that she flinched, "Let us commence the Naming Ceremony." He pushed the tome in her direction. Peyton''s voice had spread a wave of silence over the crowd.


    Am I supposed to take it?


    "Take the Tome of Entitlement."


    He instructed when she just stood there, unsure of what to do. He looked down, his one visible sharp eye fixed on her and spoke again, "Choose your name."


    Choose a name? My name?!


    The next moment the book was placed in her hands and to her it felt heavy both tangibly and spiritually. Her arm and her confidence swayed under its weight. Upon regaining balance she flipped through its pages, careful not to damage the moth-eaten, fragile pages. It was quite a huge list. It was a list of what seemed like names. Some were striked through, some had both strikes and circles over them whereas some were plainly written names. She wondered if she had to choose one of the names which neither were circled nor striked and she started reading through the names which were written in plain text.


    Coffey


    Igna


    Kairo


    Quickstorm


    Such strange names. They aren''t divided into feminine, masculine or gender-neutral names.


    She flipped that page.


    That''s right¡­Skald told me to choose a name beginning with S.


    As the girl flipped more pages, she also noticed another thing.


    They''re arranged¡­alphabetically. Like a dictionary¡­


    She paused and looked up from the tome.


    Why do I know what a dictionary is?


    When the realisation hit her with full force, she felt a hollow in her from where the information had come from. She wasn''t sure where she felt it, the head or the heart.


    Why do I not remember something¡­more important?


    Her breaths echoed in her mind as she could hear them loud and clear. Her dark eyes skimmed from the face of Peryton to the audience and then back to the list on which she couldn''t focus anymore.


    Breathe.


    I should focus on the present, The Naming Ceremony.


    Focus.


    Focus.


    Focus.


    She kept chanting.


    I need to look for a name that begins with an ''S''.


    She started flipping through the pages faster and even more so when she reached the section of the alphabet ''S'' that she''d been looking for. She started flipping the pages faster and along with it, her heartbeat grew rapid too.


    This can''t be. Why?


    Every single name beginning with ''S'' was struck out.


    There should be at least one, right?


    She considered choosing a name from other letters but Skald and Skadi were the only acquaintances she had. She had no idea what would happen if she chose a name beginning with something else. And she didn''t want to wager on it, especially because currently, nothing made sense to her. Her memories started back when she was running in the forest. Everything was unclear and confusing. Her decisions had nothing to be based on except the two unfamiliar acquaintances.


    She looked back at the list of struck-out names.


    What is a name? Something to be called by. A particular sound one reacts to. Is that all that a name is?


    She didn''t remember being called by any particular name. Then why did it feel that a name was something much deeper than just plain letters or a sound? Why did it feel that there was an emotion and a sense of belonging attached to it?


    Why does it feel like a huge decision?


    She finally found one single name after flipping back and forth multiple times which fulfilled all the criteria which was that it wasn''t struck out and it began with ''S''. Only one single name left.


    "Selis. I choose Selis." She announced with uncertainty.


    What a strange name. It doesn''t even mean anything as far as I know. Which is not a lot in my current state.


    Peryton nodded and asked in a slow serious voice, "Are...you¡­sure?"


    She didn''t like how he sounded.


    This process is irreversible. I won''t perhaps ever come across an opportunity to choose another name again. This name would be my identity forever and it will stay with me no matter what happens to me. If I fall down the darkest depths or walk up the stairs in the sky.


    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.


    "Yes." She nodded, opening her eyes, "Yes. Selis shall be my name." She looked up from the book, meeting the eye of Peryton with considerable confidence in her words and her glinting eyes.


    How long would she remain just a ''she''? A nameless girl. She needed a name. She needed this name.


    She looked at the silent Man in the Mouse Mask and then at the audience. Her eyes instinctively searched for familiar faces in the crowd to approve of her actions; however, she could spot neither Skald nor Skadi.


    "Very well. Henceforth you shall be known as Selis." Peyton boomed, closing the huge book.


    There was no cheer or applause or anything resembling it. Rather, everyone was dead silent and only the calls of a distant bird from the forest below could be heard. She didn''t even know why or what she had expected. Finally, Selis spotted Skald and Skadi looking at her from within the crowd. They were almost hidden from view because Skald was quite short and even more so was Skadi. From what she could understand, Skald was grinning and Skadi had a small frown on her face. She didn''t know what to think of that.


    Were they happy or unhappy? What did they think about her following their advice? Did they have ulterior motives?


    "Dismissed!" Peryton announced abruptly breaking her chain of thoughts. The Spectres had disappeared without a trace when she had turned to look back at them from the audience.


    Just how?! They were standing there just a second ago!


    Strange¡­Everyone is very strange over here.


    The ones in the uniforms dispersed eventually.


    Only Skadi and Skald stood there waiting for her to walk up to them.


    She¡­Selis¡­yes she was Selis now. Selis walked towards them. As she looked at the two and their very different expressions, she couldn''t help but wonder what a strange place this was and what would happen next.

 Chapter 4: Cold

    Cold


    "You can ask any questions, Selis." Skald said with a smirk, that showed he was proud to be the tutor in charge here.


    The naming Ceremony had taken place in the morning and now it was extremely warm. The light outside made all the eyes either narrow or shut due to its sheer brightness. It was afternoon. The trio was currently having food in the Pavilion. The seating place was circular nested on the ground floors of the three towers wherein the residents of the towers ate. Where the boundaries of the Pavilion ended the grass began, dancing in the wind as if teasing the children for staying sheltered from the sun. It was quite windy within the Pavilion too as it, for the most part, was open to the outside world. The three of them had seated next to each other on the marble slabs at the periphery of the pavilion. Selis sat facing outside while the other two were next to her and looking at her.


    "Why from S?"


    Selis asked. It was still strange to her, being called a name she didn''t even know existed an hour before.


    "Because they put Neophytes into groups alphabetically. That is if our assumption is correct. We did a little research about the groups that exist in this camp." He answered.


    Oh, their names are Skadi and Skald so¡­


    "The so-called research was just talking to people in other groups and knowing their names." Skadi cleared the question Arca hadn''t even asked.


    "Come on, talking to people is hard." Skald defended his use of words.


    Selis had learned that Neophytes were what the uniformed children were called in The Institution.


    Why not use a simpler word like¡­noob?


    Guessing from the structure of the Institution and the antics of Peryton and The Spectres, they must have wanted to use a word as flamboyant as them. An image of people crossed her mind. Peryton in the vintage clothes she had seen him in and the masked ones in black suits calling all the children, including her, noobs in a serious tone.


    Neophyte. Neophyte is better.


    "So you guys aren''t in a group yet?" Selis asked unsure if two people could make up a group.


    Skadi shook her head, twirling an impaled carrot on her fork.


    "What are the groups exactly?"


    Selis thought she saw something. It was extremely subtle but Skadi''s eyes narrowed at her.


    I think¡­she wants me to shut up.


    They must''ve been annoyed by all the questions I''m bombarding them with.


    But she really needed answers right now.


    I''m sorry, bear with me for a bit.


    Even though Skadi had not communicated her annoyance, Selis couldn''t help with the quiet apologetic expression that descended on her face.


    Skald answered this time, taking over for Skadi, perhaps sensing her annoyance too. "The institution gives us tasks in groups."


    Tasks?


    Before she could ask, Skald interrupted.


    He had been cleaning his knife with a cloth and then brandished it in the air, the knife glinting.


    "Isn''t it a beauty? I honed it to perfect sharpness and glint."


    Selis was a little worried by the eerie joy on Skald¡¯s face. She wondered if it was okay to keep a knife here and sharpen it that way. Perhaps her discomfort was visible and Skald explained.


    ¡°They take away these things, but I keep it hidden.¡± Skald explained with a proud grin as a reaction to which, Selis only looked more alarmed.


    ¡°He likes to carve out of wood.¡± Skadi explained with a sigh.


    Oh.


    Selis didn''t know if Skald was actually enjoying confusing her or he genuinely thought he didn''t come off as unnerving as he had the same self-important expression on him all the time. Somewhat relieved about the purpose of the knife, she turned her gaze to look back at the plate in her lap to dismiss the thought of them lying. Salted Salad, boiled eggs and bread. She didn''t know how she knew the names of the food but not her own real name. A void yawned in her head, as if some parts of her memory were sealed somewhere far away.


    Huh.


    Chomping on the tomato in the salad and then finally managed to ask, "Missions?" before continuing to dine. Even a simple meal felt like a luxury after a whole day of having very little food. It had been probably a whole day. She wasn''t sure about how much time she had spent in the forest after all.


    "They make us do the work they''d rather not do. For instance, gathering food, setting up a fire, cooking meals, inspecting an area to be clear of dangers and so on. They send us into the forest at times." Skadi said looking more annoyed however it was clear that the annoyance this time wasn''t directed at Selis but at Skald who was still smirking at his knife.


    "We''re assuming we''ll soon be sent on missions too, now that you''re here. We think the authorities didn''t have enough people so far named from ''S'' to form a group." Skald said. He''d already finished his meal a while ago.


    "How so? Practically all the names from S were taken."


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    "And most of them were striked through weren''t they?"


    "Yes, I was just going to ask about that."


    "Those were the names of those who never returned after going out to the forest. Or died because of some reason or the other." Skald''s eyes darkened, however, his voice hadn''t wavered, rather he spoke it absolutely normally. It sent a chill down her spine.


    Died or disappeared? Just like that?! And nobody cares?!


    Selis looked at the canopy forest below the Institution. It looked like a perfectly normal forest, cheerful birdsong emanating from it. The forest¡¯s liveliness made it even more ominous. She had been there and had managed to get out alive thanks to the two. But as far as she remembered she hadn''t encountered anything dangerous in it, except maybe having no known food or water source.


    Strange.


    Abruptly Skadi got up and left.


    Selis was concerned that Skadi had enough of her but the reason Skadi had walked away was as simple as Skadi''s plate was empty and she''d walked off towards the plate disposal counter.


    The three were now walking outside, "So what do we do now? Please nothing that revolves around more knowledge." Selis said. All of the new information shared with her in the past few hours felt like it was cascading on her, sweeping away what she had learnt before.


    Skadi tapped her chin with a thoughtful expression. ¡°I think we should look for the other Neophytes from S. They could soon be grouped with us since you''re here.¡¯¡¯ Her hazel eyes turned to Selis. "Even if no group is formed, we may learn something new. "


    "Sounds good but how would we start looking for those who are named like that?" Selis asked.


    It was a valid question, for even now there were about twenty other Neophytes dining among them. It was brought to their attention that asking for each and every one of their names would come off as being very odd.


    "Hmm," Skald looked like he was thinking hard, the expression reflected on the others. After a few moments of silence and looking around,


    Selis quietly suggested, "Do most Neophytes already have their groups?"


    The other two nodded.


    "If so, they would prefer to be with their own group. There would be very few who would be alone or in pairs like you two so I guess we could ask them."


    The two looked at her with a contemplative expression before Skald raised his fist, "Yes let''s do that!"


    Skadi nodded, agreeing.


    Selis smiled. She was glad she had contributed in some way after all the help she had received from the two. Though she didn''t let it be known, she felt quite in debt to the two.


    In the following hour, the trio were all around the Institution, peeking in open rooms, going up and down the stairs, asking in passageways and talking with solitary Neophytes. It was all to no avail. They hadn''t come across a single person fitting the criteria that they were searching for so far. It was mostly Skadi and Skald who were doing the talking gladly for Selis. The place still felt alien to Selis and she had been nervous all the time. Strangely enough, nobody cared if she was new to the place when she was introduced by the other two.


    Are there newcomers all the time?


    The three were now at the entrance of a dorm. Selis had thought the dorms would be something different but it was exactly like the Newcomer''s Room with a few exceptions. The dorms at least had someone in them. She looked at the cabinets beside the beds of the Neophytes, at their belongings placed on the cabinets to be precise. It fascinated her how every single cabinet looked unique, some scattered, some neat, some covered in cute things, some scribbled and vandalised, while some didn''t have anything on them at all.


    As her eyes looked over every unique customization, there was an extremely loud and terrible cough that startled the three. None of the others in the dorms had reacted, perhaps used to the coughing.


    Two kids were sitting beside the pile of bed sheets from which the sound had seemed to originate. Their large eyes were fixed on whoever was underneath the bedsheets in concern.


    This caught the three''s attention too."Hey something wrong, man?" Skald said, walking to them. She and Skadi followed.


    One of the little boys answered in a trembling voice, "Brother''s caught a cold."


    The boy called ''brother'' had a lifeless face as his hands clutched his bedsheets in desperation. He was evidently shivering and his eyes were teary from the sickness. The tissue box on the cabinet was empty and crumbled tissues were scattered about. The other younger one wiped the ''brother''s'' face with a cloth.


    Sensing the atmosphere everyone turned dead quiet and solemn. A deeply concerned Selis asked.


    "Surely that''s not just a cold?"


    There was no answer to her question and neither was anything comforting. One does not often know how to react to someone''s suffering in a way that could coax. Others fear saying something would produce a contrary effect hence they choose to be silent. Yet the silence seemed worse than an answer.


    The brother was surely older than them. He had a thin but tall frame now frail from the disease. His jaw had scattered facial hair. The only sound in the dorm was of the sneezing and the coughing of the unwell young man.


    Skald had a grave expression on his face.


    "It''s¡­just a common cold right?" Selis asked hesitantly again, trying to save herself from the discomfort of ignorance and silence.


    "You don''t know? A cold can kill you."


    Huh?


    An awkward chuckled escape Selis. Surely he was joking? She observed Skald''s expression.


    Skald''s looks so grim that Selis wasn''t sure of it being a joke anymore.


    The two younger boys looked up at Skald for he had spoken the forbidden words.


    "Mind what and where you say something, Skald." Skadi warned from beside him.


    Selis was still trying to process what she''d learnt.


    Can a cold kill people here?


    It didn''t feel right.


    Was it always like that? Is it like this everywhere?


    The tinier boy who looked to be about five years old, started to cry upon hearing Skald¡¯s words. The older one patted his head.


    "Isn''t there¡­a cure or¡­or¡­or¡­something?" Selis asked now in a hushed voice to Skadi and Skald. She knew her questions were the cause of the crying. Yet she wanted to know.


    There must be something!


    The older boy looked at them, having heard it. "I have heard that there is a herb out in the forest that can help brother.¡± His eyes drifted away to the ground again. ¡°I am not sure what kind it is or how to find it though. It could just be a rumour."


    "Oh." That was all Selis could muster the courage to say as much as she wanted to comfort the two little kids. But hollow promises would do no good and she knew the kids knew it too. They must have heard it a lot of times before. She looked at the diseased boy struggling on the bed and she felt frustrated and as helpless as the little kids. The others looked at Selis quietly with a strange look. A hopeless look as if they had been through this before. Everyone of them. Arca felt a shiver run down her spine.


    What''s up with this place?


    "Why don''t we try to ask around for it?" Selis suggested fighting against the tired look.


    The boy shook his head slowly, "We''ve tried before but all of them just shake their heads. None of them try to look for it. They think we''re just making things up.I don''t like the pitying glances and I cannot face the hopelessness in their eyes.¡± Yet as the kid said so, Selis saw the same look he seemed to be describing in his eyes.


    The boy curled on the brother''s bed with his back to them. A feeble hand reached out and barely touched his younger sibling''s arm. The brother tried to say something but the words erupted into coughs.


    The brother is trying to tell the kid something.


    "We will get it for you!" Skald suddenly announced the idea that had appeared to crash in his head out of nowhere. He ruffled the younger kid''s hair with a confident smirk. Selis froze.


    Eh?! Will we?

 Chapter 5: Beyond the Triad

    Beyond the triad


    "Do you guys know them?" Selis asked.


    "Yes, those three always accompany each other." Skadi was picking at her perfectly done nails.


    "They consider themselves as siblings. The oldest one, who was sick, was named Cyress. He used to be in good shape years ago but he started getting thinner and one day he just¡­fell sick. Nobody knows when. The other two are Quil and Riime. Quil is the older one." Skald said quietly. His eyes were looking up ahead or perhaps he wasn''t looking anywhere after all.


    Where Skald was in that moment, was in the good bygone times when he was no taller than Cyress¡¯ knees and he looked up to Cyress both actually and emotionally.


    Little Skald had held aloft proudly, a stick which he had picked up from the ground after which he had challenged Cyress to a battle. A grin spread across Cyress¡¯ face and he accepted the battle invitation picking up a petite stick from the ground. Occasionally one could find sticks lying about on the plateau, travellers from the forest below. The battle had ended in Skald crying because of an easy defeat in spite of the opponent having a weaker weapon. Little Skald had sworn to defeat him in a stick battle again. Older Skald never got the chance. Cyress was bedridden.


    Selis¡¯ unsure expression suggested that she was still wrapping her head around the fact that a cold could kill someone here.


    It''s like..it''s like this place is in the past¡­ either that or there''s no resources here¡­


    The latter made more sense as even from up here on the plateau she hadn''t seen any part of the forest having been cleared to harvest its resources. Selis looked around, taking in the surroundings of the Dormitory they were in. It suddenly occurred to her that she hadn''t come across a single Neophyte who was older than them except Cyress himself.


    She found it rather strange.


    ¡°Why is no one older than us?¡± She asked the other two.


    Skadi looked at her quietly for a moment. It appeared that she would rather not answer the question. Upon waiting for a while and Skald not taking the lead, she eventually answered.


    ¡°Many went missing in the forest and others got killed there. The Spectres bring back the remains of those whom they can find and conduct a Funeral. Others fell ill just like Cyress and died.¡±


    One finds it inappropriate to speak when the topic of death in their lives is brought up. As such there was a moment of silence which followed.


    ¡°...Why?¡± Selis asked after the moment of mourning passed.


    ¡°We don''t know.¡± Skald answered.


    The three had been sitting in Dormitory 1, which was assigned to Skadi and Skald after they shifted from Newcomer¡¯s dorms. The dormitory was, for the most part, empty simply because it was morning, the prime working hours. The Dormitories were located in the main towers of the building. These were circular rooms divided into four sections. Each section was triangular and had four doors, two leading to the other sections of the dormitory on each side, one leading to the passageway outside. As for the other door, she wasn''t so sure as the door had been closed ever since she had stepped into that dormitory. Maybe it was the door to the boy¡¯s dormitory to which Skald was assigned or perhaps simply a restroom. Selis wondered if the architect had been eating a pizza while designing and was inspired by it. Or perhaps a cake.


    The one they were sitting in currently was the girls¡¯ dormitory. It wasn''t painted in pink as one would expect. It was just a normal room occupied by adorable little girls ranging from toddlers to preschoolers studying, talking or playing with each other.


    Skadi and Selis were seated next to each other, facing Skald who was talking.


    ¡°Where do we start looking from?¡± Skald asked.


    ¡°You tell us, Mr. Hero. You seem to have great decision-making skills to have decided for all of us.¡± Skadi sneered as Skald hadn''t even asked what the rest thought before agreeing to help Cyress.


    ¡°Give me time to think.¡± Skald said defensively and the expression shifted on his face to one which looked like he was really trying to think.


    These two always keep bantering.


    A sigh escaped from Skadi, already having expected him to have no plan at all, "I know someone who knows everyone. She has multiple contacts. Looking for the herb would be much easier if we have a lot of Neophytes looking for it.¡±


    ¡°Sounds fine .¡±


    Skald, who looked relieved to be free from the pressure of doing the thinking, agreed. Selis simply nodded, going along. She didn''t know about the reason why she was at the Institution and she thought that it was better to be around these two.


    "Well then..."  Skald said and tapped Selis¡¯


    shoulder motioning her to remain seated with a smirk. Confused, she did as was asked of her. Skadi had already headed towards the door and when she realised they hadn''t stood up. She stopped and looked back at them with a confused expression, "You guys coming right?¡±


    It was the first time she''d seen Skadi looking confused. Seeing the bewildered expression Selis'' couldn''t help but chuckle. By now she felt quite comfortable around the two¡¯s antics.


    ¡°Do you need us to talk to other Neophytes?¡± Skald teased with an arched eyebrow and an air of superiority.


    ¡°No! I can do it alone!¡± Skadi barked, walking out and the door was shut.


    ¡°Did we offend her?¡± Selis asked in a guilty tone, worried to have done so.


    His smirk grew wider and he shook his head, ¡°I bet she''ll be waiting outside.¡± Just as was predicted by him, she was waiting right outside as she looked out the window. Skald chuckled and pointed at Selis,¡± She thought we were actually arguing.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Skadi asked with a serious expression before proceeding to cover her mouth, ¡°Pfft¡­¡±


    It was then that Selis could find a label for their silliness when around each other. It had just appeared to her out of nowhere.


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    I think I understand now. They''re like¡­siblings.


    ¡°Follow me.¡± The frown on Skadi¡¯s face resumed as they walked up to her. ¡°I shall forgive you this time.¡± She scoffed, regaining her regal air and leading the way


    Selis would have believed they were seriously fighting had Skald not pointed it out.


    And that is also why they must really want to help Cyress, Quil and Riime.


    Selis couldn''t help but imagine a warmly lit room where it could''ve been that Quil and Rimme were running around. Cyress would call them and surprise them with the silly thumb magic trick. Little Quil and Rimme would be in awe, asking Cyress how he''d managed to separate his thumb into two and join it again.


    She felt a pang in her heart and she quickly cleared the scene from her head.


    The little group headed off towards Dormitory 3.


    All the dormitories sat at the first floors of the three towers of the Institute so they had to use the passageway.


    When they had been passing Dormitory 2, Skadi explained, "I was keeping an eye on Sora since she''s also going to be a member of our group in the future. Of course only if Peryton thinks there are enough people to make one. She talks a lot¡­¡± Skadi trailed away, not seeming much excited about it.


    Selis knew not why Skadi hadn''t brought her up before as a possible member of the group.


    Her mind however turned to something else. ¡°Peryton?¡± Selis had evidently forgotten.


    ¡°The man with the eye patch? The owner of the Institution?¡± Skald recalled pointing at his eye.


    ¡°So the man I met when I came here Peryton¡­he makes the groups?¡± Selis asked.


    ¡°We don''t know.¡± Skald shrugged.


    ¡°He does announce the groups though.¡± Skadi added and then continued,


    ¡°Anyways, Sora seems to be a useful information resource. She knows a lot when it comes to people."


    "So practically she loves to gossip?" Selis asked flatly.


    There was no negation to that question.


    Sora¡¯s name also starts from S. These are a lot of Ss I''ve met in the past few days. How does one pronounce ''Ss''?


    That was pretty much irrelevant. Time is money and henceforth, one must stay on the topic which was why Selis proceeded ahead. She proceeded to think of more relevant topics. Why did Peryton, the head of the Institution, arrange groups according to the letter of the names? For her it was quite silly and childish. There were also many similar names to learn, including her own.


    Selis


    Skadi


    Skald


    Sora


    They entered Dormitory 3 finally, and the few little girls in the room looked up at them and returned to whatever they were doing. It was structured like the others. Each cabinet was also decorated differently here too.


    Perhaps the Neophytes felt that the cabinet was the only thing that they could call their own.


    However the dorm was a little different as it had been quite a while since Selis had heard the sound of chatting and giggles. Her eyes turned to a group of girls who looked about the same age, talking amongst themselves.


    There was a chubby girl with a mahogany bob who appeared to be older than the rest of the group, talking with sunny laughter and replying to everyone in the group. Her peers were probably Neophytes like them who still didn''t have a group.


    Skadi was leading them straight to the group.


    Oh no.


    Selis would have to introduce herself and talk with everyone¡¯s eyes on her which she would definitely struggle with. She still didn''t know about the unsaid rules of this place. Just like  a while ago, she wouldn''t have known talking about colds was such an ominous topic.


    The brown-haired girl cheerfully excused herself from the group when she saw Skadi approach. Selis sighed in relief.


    The others continued talking in the backdrop.


    The girl had a huge smile on her face and she called out energetically, "Hey! Skadi! What are you doing here? And I see you bought two new friends!¡± She offered a handshake to Skadi and as soon as she raised her hands slightly, Sora shook her hands excitedly. Skadi looked mortified. ¡°I''m Sora.¡± She said to Skald and shook his hands the same way.


    The girl''s enthusiasm at the first meeting made Selis feel like an antisocial dark, dark black blob. She plastered a smile on her face like wearing armour to the social battlefield and raised her communication weapon, speaking, "Hello." Sora offered her a handshake too. Sora looked pretty bulky. Selis was sure she''d be shaken like a twig and that came out to be true.


    I am going to avoid this girl henceforth.


    She understood Skadi¡¯s reluctance to meet Sora more than before now.


    "I want your help.¡± Skadi said, cutting straight to the point with a serious expression. However, she always had a serious expression but somehow Sora sensed the urgency in her tone and the smile on the girl¡¯s face faded


    There were a couple of empty beds on which the group of four sat down in different positions.


    ¡°What''s it?¡± Sora was the only one sitting upright. She did look like someone who could help with her observant eyes and a confident smile. It was this confidence which seemed to have helped her in being surrounded by people.


    Skadi briefed about the situation with Cyress and how his condition seemed to be deteriorating every day.


    The sparkle in Sora¡¯s eyes had faded and she looked pensive as Skadi proceeded with the accounts.


    ¡°I have heard about the herb too. I think I might know someone who could help.¡±


    "You do?" Skald asked.


    ¡°Yes, he seems rather knowledgeable about plants. He is one of the people in charge of the Nursery.¡±


    ¡°Nursery?¡± Selis asked.


    ¡°Plant Nursery of course. Oh right, she hasn''t been to the Nursery yet.¡± Skald realised.


    ¡°We''ll go there later anyways.¡± Skadi dismissed and turned back to Sora.


    It made Selis feel annoyed that no explanation was offered and she shifted back in the bed and leaned against the headrest of the bed trying to get into a comfortable position.


    In any case, Cyress¡¯s life is more important. This is the first lead we''ve got.


    ¡°He spends most of his time in the Nursery itself according to hearsay, so we''re more likely to find him there, especially in the evenings. I have heard that he doesn''t talk much and is not easy to talk to. I have never talked to him  or seen him myself before though.¡± Sora frowned.


    Sora is truly like an information source. She knows the place and the time to find an individual she hasn''t even seen before.


    Selis looked at the other three, all of them harbouring serious expressions. She still couldn''t wrap her head around the fact that someone''s life was in danger.  Perhaps it was because she didn''t know Cyress personally, which was rather cruel. She felt like a cold wasn''t dangerous and it felt wrong to see Cyress suffer so much from it. She couldn''t shake off the uneasy feeling that there was something darker at work here. She had seen him suffer though and she knew whatever it was, it was killing him.


    Did they ever take him to a doctor? Are there doctors here? What do Peryton and the Spectres even do?


    "Let''s go together." Sora suggested. ¡°After all, we are gonna be working together soon.¡±


    Sora is the next member, isn''t she?


    Her eyes looked up at the watch fixed on the wall,¡± It''s still afternoon though.¡±


    "So we wait." Skadi said.


    For a while it was so quiet in the room that one could hear the clock on the wall above the bookshelves, ticking. Unlike the bookshelves from the Newcomer''s room, the two bookshelves here were actually full. The door was open and the four were looking outside, waiting.


    Don''t get your hopes up. This lead may or may not help us at all. For now, all we can do is wait.


    Selis now had her back resting against the headrest of the bed and was a few moments away from the land of dreams.


    I''m tired.


    She yawned.


    Just a nap won''t hurt, right?


    And soon enough her eyes closed the curtain on the world around her and she was asleep.

 Chapter 6: The Fifth

    The Fifth


    She heard a loud beep. Bubbles. Rhythmic beeping of machines when she opened her eyes she was in a seating position. Selis was in a perfectly normal looking room but the eerie noises she had been hearing seemed to come from behind her. As much as she commanded it to turn and look at the source of the noise, her body was stiff and wouldn''t listen to her.


    I can''t.


    Selis eventually gave up and looked at a large glass panel before her. Her vision was quite distorted. She could barely see someone¡­something being carried on a hospital stretcher.


    Cyress?


    She tried to focus, she tried to stare at the person who was being carried.


    Is that?


    It was Cyress indeed.


    Why??...


    The strange scene before her started to slip away from her vision before everything turned into darkness and silence again.


    She woke up. Blinking the sleep out of her eyes she saw a brown haired girl tapping her shoulder gently to wake her up.


    Who?


    That''s right, Sora.


    ¡°You coming with us? You can go back to sleep if you want.¡± Sora suggested. Here was the first kind and empathetic person that Selis had seen in the Institution. Selis was very much glad.


    Behind Sora on each side, Skald and Skadi were standing and looking down at her.


    ¡°No, I''ll come.¡± Selis attempted to wipe the drowsiness out of her face. There was a dull throbbing at the back of her head but she didn''t want to go back to sleep, fearing she''d have that oppressive dream again. Perhaps fresh air would be able to clear her head and make her forget about the dream.


    It did work. Now they were in the Fields and the Fields were nothing but those farms from where the food of the Institution came. It was a pleasant place and a pleasant day. The Fields were located in the leeward side of the Institute protected from the worst winds by the building itself. It was a serene evening which didn''t give justice to the matter at hand. Yet, one couldn''t help but relax a little. Perhaps it was much needed.


    There were various insects flitting around the farm which Selis guessed were pollinators of the field and she preferred to stay away from them.


    Selis looked around to see the same curiosity on the other¡¯s expression that she had.


    ¡°Does anyone see anybody?¡±


    There was no reply as there wasn''t a single soul in sight except the critters moving about over and among the plants.


    There was only one other structure in sight where a person could be.


    ¡°Let''s go to the Plant Nursery.¡± Skadi decided and the others followed.


    The only thing like a shelter about the Nursery was its roof under which rows of containers of saplings were stacked on top of each other in the shelves. The rest were all wide arches. As much as Selis wanted to check out the place, being the curious being she was, she didn''t know what was appropriate in this situation. However when Sora turned to look closely at the plants, encouraged, Selis joined her. She did know a few of them and that fact comforted her. She sometimes feared she was losing the information she seemed to have gained before from where her memories began.


    The place wasn''t as dark as she''d expected. Selis looked up. There was a dome above which seemed to be made of green coloured glass from which sunlight filtered through.


    ¡°How long are you going to watch us?¡± Skald said, looking with narrowed eyes at what seemed to be a shelf of plants. The shelf of plants replied, ¡°I thought all of you would leave if I didn''t come out.¡±


    That was so straight to the face.


    A brown haired boy about their age walked out from behind the shelf and blinked at the others.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±, the boy asked.


    Skald, who looked annoyed at the other¡¯s tone, was stopped from speaking by Skadi.


    ¡°We need your help.¡± Sora said, taking over the wheel of the conversation.


    ¡°We''re looking for a herb that can cure colds. Cyress, one of the Neophytes from the last generation, is extremely sick.¡±


    He stared at the empty space behind Sora for a while before answering flatly, ¡°We only grow food in the Fields.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we were hoping you would know about it.¡± Sora continued with a smile on her face as natural as she could muster.


    ¡°I would consider myself lucky if I ever came across it. So should you.¡± He said and then looked at them for a bit before blinking and walking away and out to the fields.


    What?


    The four had nothing else to do other than to watch him disappear and then go back to the main building of the Institution, with uncertain steps. As they walked through the passageway, all the lamps were out as the Institution was asleep. Sora retreated to Dormitory 3 on the way.


    ¡°Bye bye. See you tomorrow. Don''t worry we will figure something out together.¡± That was what she had said when she had disappeared behind the door with a smile. She dropped to her bed with only little sleeping girls in the dormitory. Her brows were tense and the smile was gone.


    Eventually Selis parted ways with Skald and Skadi too.


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    ¡°Later.¡± Skald said and Skadi waved at her.


    She made her way past the second floor passageway. She had to pass by it to go to the closest flight of stairs that led to the Newcomer¡¯s dorm which was on the third floor. Selis was surprised to find a lone lit entrance, the light flickering on the floor.


    Who could be awake at this hour?


    Except me of course.


    She looked into the arch as she passed by and as she couldn''t see anyone, she didn''t inquire further. Furthermore it was a room that she hadn''t been to before.


    Strange.


    The next day Selis woke up to find a letter on the cabinet next to her bed. It was an old styled envelope complete with yellowing paper and a wax seal that had a symbol of deer with wings on. She knew who it was from even before she opened the letter. It was from Peryton and the entire content of the letter was just one line written in elegant writing that looked like calligraphy.


    ¡®You have been assigned to Dorm 3.¡¯


    Selis wondered if there was anything else written as the letter, checking the other side as it seemed important with how elegantly it was written and delivered. But there was nothing else written on it.


    As flamboyant as ever.


    In the evening the four visited Cyress. He was still the same as the day before, covered in sheets, his coughing rendering him unable to do anything. Selis next to Sora on the empty bed on one side whereas Skadi and Skald were standing on the other side because the other side¡¯s bed had been occupied by the Quil and Riime who lay soundly asleep.


    There was a sudden screech and Selis looked around for the source tracing it to the wall. A second later a speaker on that wall came to life. Selis hadn''t even known about its existence until it had shrieked to life. It announced,"Neophytes Sera, Skald, Skadi, Selis and Sunne are requested to come to the Grounds."


    Selis looked at the others on how to react. Was it good news or was it bad for them?


    She saw a reflection of her own cluelessness on the other¡¯s faces and there were two questions asked.


    ¡°Who''s Sunne?¡± Skald wondered.


    ¡°There¡¯s a Speaker?¡± Skadi reflected.


    The three reached the Grounds and it was exactly what it was named. It was a plain grassy ground. The Institution snaked around two tracts of land, one was the Nursery and the other where they were standing now from where the main building rose. Sora seemed to be itching her arm as she stood waiting.


    ¡°You''re here already?¡± Skald exclaimed looking surprised. Sora¡¯s Dorm was quite far from the Grounds.


    ¡°Yes, I walk really fast.¡± Sora said, looking away and then looked back at Skald who looked confused. She laughed and then dismissed any theories of her having her having speed walking superpowers,¡±I was outside the Institution today. They gave me the job of hanging clothes for drying.¡±


    ¡°Oh that''s right you guys have to work.¡± Selis remembered what she''d learned about tasks.


    Why would they call daily chores something as dramatic as tasks? Perhaps for the same reason Peryton sent out letters just to announce the dorm. Selis had come to know later that it was actually a little girl from her dormitory who had gotten the task to deliver the letter to her.


    Oh that''s right.


    ¡°I got assigned a dormitory.¡± She said looking at the others.


    ¡°Really? Which one?¡± Skald asked.


    ¡°Oh so you''re the Newcomer!¡± Sora looked excited, ¡®I bet she''s with me.¡± She declared looking at Skald competitively.


    ¡°No, I bet she''s with us. You guys have gotten too many Newcomers recently.¡± It was Skadi who had accepted her competitive bet.


    All of their enthusiasm made Selis excited to announce too as she watched them with an amused smile appearing on her face.


    ¡°What dorm are you in? If you''re in mine, I would totally make you pretty accessories.¡± Sora winked.


    ¡°You make accessories? Alright alright. I''m sold. I''m in your dorm.¡± Selis conceded.


    ¡°Is it a joke?¡± Skadi asked and Selis shook her head showing them the letter she had been carrying in her pocket. She didn''t have a place to keep it and neither did she want to stash it irresponsibly, still unsure about its significance.. Sora punched the air excitedly in victory.


    ¡°Too bad.¡± Skald mourned accepting Dormitory 1¡¯s defeat.


    She wondered why they were so excited about the dorm she was assigned to


    ¡°Do you not get many Newcomers?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Nope, you are the first one in years.¡± Sora explained.


    ¡°Oh.¡± So it was a little celebratory thing of theirs.


    Sora turned to Skadi. "Did you find out anything else about the herb?"


    Skadi shook her head and a silence followed.


    "Who''s the fifth person?" Selis asked, breaking the silence as it made her uncomfortable and she also sensed the discomfort of the others. It stood between everyone like an invisible wall.


    ¡°I think it was someone named Sunne,¡± Skadi recalled.


    Selis wasn''t sure though if she didn''t know this fifth person or if she had simply forgotten that she had met them. She had met a lot of people whose names begin with an S so she was not to blame.


    How does Peryton expect us to remember them?


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s-¡± Sora was broken off by the arrival of someone. A boy with brown hair and eyes about their age.


    ¡°Yeah, Sunne is the one we met yesterday.¡± Sora finished. Skadi narrowed her eyes.


    He walked and just stood there and looked at the grass. His demeanour seemed less haughty and more of avoidance. The uneasy silence from before had returned like an uninvited guest.


    They knew that they couldn¡¯t blame him for not knowing about the plant but his way to address the rather serious situation had left them with an unpleasant impression of him.


    He is the fifth member of our group.


    There was a sudden whoosh and a short man in a fox mask and a suit appeared before them, seemingly out of nowhere behind Sunne who turned to look at the Spectre. Selis was visibly startled and so were the others.


    "Group S, this is your first mission. Follow me." He spoke in a gruff tone.


    So five members was the minimum requirement.


    Selis noted.


    The five followed after the masked man. Upon closer inspection it was evident that the mask resembled a fennec fox with its huge ears. The man itself fit the creature as he was rather short yet had the elegance fitting of a Spectre.


    He led them to the lift. It was the same lift from which Selis had been led by Skald and Skadi to the Institution.


    I can''t believe only three days have passed and so much is happening already.


    There was a keyhole beside the lift with a small but intricate beautiful design on it. It was laced with metallic patterns of metal flowers, vines and birds. The lift¡¯s door itself was covered with the lively version of the art, overgrown with vines and ferns with birds nestling among its flowers. The man took out a key from somewhere behind his sandy coloured tie. Inserting the key, he turned it seemingly having summoned a low rumbling which kept growing louder and louder as the lift closed distance. Soon enough the elevator door hissed and a clear ringing sound was heard as it waited for them, yawning to lead them into the depths, back to where they came from.

 Chapter 7: Survival

    Survival


    The lift had descended and when the door opened the forest loomed before it.


    ¡°Step out quickly, the lift doesn''t have a sensor.¡± The Spectre instructed and walked towards the verdure.


    This made them quickly walk out and save their awe for when they were in the forest.


    Selis scanned the place, watching the criss-crossed branches, the enormous trunks and the cluttered forest floor and finally at the others. The others were as quiet as mice. Anyone would feel like a prey in an ominous territory such as this where many people had disappeared.


    We are going back to where I¡­ no,


    ¡­where we came from?


    Perhaps she could find answers related to her past here. It was not that bad after all.


    A long time was spent silently walking over tangled roots and bushes, under the dense unlit canopy. The copper sky was starting to fade away into a darker violet shade and cawing could be heard as the crows were settling down. So far nothing seemed like answers to Selis.


    The man stopped, so did Selis and the others. He turned to face the five and spoke with as monotone a voice as ever,


    "Your mission is to survive until dawn."


    There was a whoosh and a dark blur. Just like that, he was gone and the five were alone in the ominous forest.


    They stood in the forest in pitch darkness with no equipment, tools or a single weapon to protect themselves. It was just them and the cacophony of invisible toads, birds and insects.


    ¡°I can''t believe this! The first mission we get is to survive in a damn forest, all on our own?¡± Skald gritted his teeth,¡±Dammit!¡±


    ¡°On top of that there''s Cyress¡¯ situation.¡± Sora had covered her mouth with her palm, her eyes on the ground tense.


    Sunne, the newest addition to the group, stared at them while Skald glared at him.


    When Sunne noticed the glaring, he finally spoke,"I''ll¡­I''ll just leave?" It sounded more like a question. When only a silence met him, he walked into the dark undergrowth while the other four looked at each other to see what the other would do. None of them wanted to make a decision.


    This doesn''t feel right. Why treat him this way for Cyress being sick?


    However, Selis couldn''t muster the strength to speak when she looked at Skald and Skadi¡¯s expressions. Selis felt an ominous feeling gnawing on her when she saw the apathy in their eyes, as the last member of the group had disappeared into the unfamiliar darkness beyond. It was the first time she had realised there was something very much wrong here, under the guise of young Neophytes just living a peaceful solitary life away from society.


    Sora¡¯s shrill voice finally broke the silence. It wasn''t as much as speaking up as it was a frightful yelling, ¡°Wait. It''s too dangerous to go alone!¡± She took a few hurried steps in the direction however there was nothing but darkness in the undergrowth. He was gone and the decision had been taken too late.


    Looking at the darkness before them, a thought she would rather have not thought about, appeared in her head.


    What if the next time we see him, he''s no longer alive?


    She shook her head. No, the Spectres wouldn''t have sent them here if it was really that dangerous.


    Wouldn¡¯t they?


    But then the stern eyes of Skald and Skadi and Sora¡¯s frightful eyes told a different story. Furthermore Skald and Skadi had told her that Neophytes did disappear now and then.


    Silence had the little group in its agonising clutches again. The forest had rendered everyone uneasy and the four everyone was on their nerves. Selis looked at the shadows stretching beyond the trunks and the branches and her mind lingered uncooperatively on what could be lurking there.


    "I think we should set up a fire." Selis whispered as if scared to disturb anything lurking about. It was also getting quite cold and she found herself wrapping her arms around herself.


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    "But how?" Sora questioned, looking at Skadi and Skald.


    They seemed to think for a bit before Skald would speak up,"This is a stupid idea."


    "What is?" Selis urged him to go on. Stupid idea or not, they needed everything that they had in the unsettling situation they were in.


    "We should try looking for flint."


    Selis didn''t know what to think about it so she looked at the others. It appeared that none of them had any other ideas.


    "Let''s pick up kindling while we''re at it." Skadi added to the discussion.


    What''s a kindling?


    She realised what it was when Skadi started to pick some dried leaves and twigs..


    "Stay close." Skald warned before he sauntered away, his eyes scanning the ground.


    Everyone else started looking for flints and foliage too, assigning up areas to themselves. Selis had no idea what a flint looked like but she did pick up dry leaves.


    As Selis discarded the moist leaves, she thought she heard something but she couldn''t particularly single it out from the soft murmur of the forest. After collecting a good amount of leaves, she returned to the others rather quickly, unsettled by the sound from before.


    There was the sound of stones banging against each other as she neared the group. Skald was trying to get the leaves and twig they had gathered to burn. Skadi had found the flints and was looking at Skald with disappointment.


    "So incompetent. And you talk about arson." Skadi muttered as she looked down at him. Both literally and figuratively.


    "Just wait and watch!" Skald¡¯s nose wrinkled as he continued to strike the flints against each other.


    The sparks flew hither and thither leaving absolutely no marks on the foliage.


    "I''m starting to respect primitive people." He complained.


    "Your ancestors are disappointed in you." Skadi sighed.


    Skald ignored her.


    Finally this time when he struck the flint, a spark flew over the kindling, landing on a leaf. He would wait for it to conquer more area in the leaves before Skald started blowing the little ember. It burst into a tiny flame and spread over the kindling. The area around them soon was aglow in the hues of orange and red as the flames rose. A wave of warmth spread over them.


    "Yesss!" Skald jumped up punching the air above him, celebrating.


    "See? I''m not a disappointment to apes!" He declared. Of course it was evolutionarily wrong however nobody there was going to correct him.


    Skadi sighed again. Selis put the leaves she had bought on the ground next to their little fire and applauded, chuckling.


    ¡°This definitely feels better.¡± Sora¡¯s voice was drowsy as she warmed her hands over the fire.


    Selis seated herself on the ground facing the others.


    ¡°Oh! That''s right.¡± Selis looked at Sora,¡±You said that Cyress was a Neophyte from the previous generation. What does that mean?¡± She didn''t particularly know why she was reminded of it now, but it had been nagging her at the back of her head ever since she had heard about it.


    The fire was cracking and Selis visibly looked grateful for it. Her palms tended to grow cold really quick and so did they warm up just as quick.


    Sora explained looking at her, ¡°A large number of neophytes usually show up from this forest at the same time after years. You see we are the oldest Neophytes here. The only Neophyte older than us is Cyress. He is the only one left now from the previous generation of Neophytes. ¡°


    Skadi watched Sora as she spoke and then took over,¡±Usually the oldest ones determine what kind of generation it would be as neither Peryton nor the Spectres interfere with the matters of the Neophytes. The Institution wasn''t always as peaceful as it appears now. That''s what the previous generations said anyway.¡±


    ¡°Cyress was among the Neophytes from the previous generations who sought a change in the ways of the ruling neophytes. He wanted the Neophytes to have egalitarian values regardless of age and was a part of the Opposition to the ruling Neophytes.¡± As Skadi informed, Skald looked at the forest harbouring a blank expression on his face.


    ¡°Cyress and the Opposition took over as the Ruling Neophytes disappeared or died one by one as they grew up. However there was still some trouble at the beginning of our generation from those who still followed the Rulers. Cyress tried to wipe the darkness out as long as he was able to.¡± Skald was looking at the forest. It was the first time she had seen him look so serious. The omnipresent smile on his face was gone.


    So that''s why they are trying so hard to help him. He is like a hero to the Institution.


    No matter what, Cyress didn''t deserve what he was going through. They had to find a cure.


    "I never knew the forest was so noisy from the Institution." Skald said, trying to change the topic. Perhaps he realised that they had to first survive till dawn before helping anybody let alone ailing Cyress.


    "I''d use the word creepy, instead of noisy." Skadi spoke as she flicked a bug away from her uniform¡¯s sleeve.


    The night showed no signs of ending. It was still pitch dark and the forest creatures were as noisy as ever. The campfire crackled and it seemed as if it was laughing at them.


    ¡°Do you have any-¡± Sora began in the process of adding firewood to the flames but none of them knew what the rest of the sentence had been as none of them knew what really happened next. A sound of cracking branches in the undergrowth, followed by a loud thump.


    More thumps, each one more and more rapid. Glinting large horns. They stood up. The only thing they were able to see was a huge bull leaping from the bushes and running at them. And what followed was Panicking, Running, Charging, Bellowing, Screaming, Yelling, Chaos.

 Chapter 8: Down the Watering-hole

    Down the Watering-hole


    Sora cautiously lifted up a burning branch from the fire as she had been adding firewood just a moment ago. The light from this temporary torch made the two horns glint up ahead. Before Sora could react, the torch from Sora''s hands was grabbed by Skadi who waved it at the beast in a desperate attempt to scare it off.


    The beast halted and watched them. Its jet-black eyes were fixed on the four humans before it. Its tail flicked.


    Please retreat.


    Selis couldn''t recognise the beast. It was a great bull but it had a large hump on its back followed by another smaller one.


    The huge beast shook its head, breathing out forcefully. Skadi took a step back, terrified by the aura of the creature. It was at that moment that they understood what ¡®wild¡¯ meant. It was untamed, much more powerful than them and there was no telling what it would do next. One wrong move and that would be the end for them.


    The fire''s reflection in the eyes of the beast grew larger as it lowered its head and dashed at them again. Skald pulled a screaming Sora out of the bull''s range at the last moment. It was an admirable reflex that Skald had shown. He would have gotten more credit if only they weren''t being occupied by being chased by an enormous horned bull. Selis wasn''t sure how she was even running ahead of a creature as fast as it. Her body seemed to have a mind of its own, which was not her.


    "This way!" A voice yelled.


    And it wasn''t until the four had taken a sudden right turn, branches whipping their faces as they followed the voice. When one cannot think, in their vulnerability and desperation, one grasps the smallest hope of reason and advice. There was a gentle slope which they skidded down, the urgency making them quickly get to the end of it. A cavern lay in wait for them past the slope and it was then they realised that the voice had been familiar.


    It was Sunne. He signalled everyone to keep quiet.


    The hooves dashed past the cave and the noise of trampling of the undergrowth stopped a distance away. There were a few poundings on the ground followed by a snort. None of the four had noticed the cave while they had been running as the cave''s mouth was overgrown with creepers clinging onto the stone walls.


    The entrance was quite narrow. The insides of the cave were hidden by a veil woven from shadows.


    "How''d you know it was us?!" Sora was surprised to see him again after he had left the group before, without any explanation.


    "Shhh! Keep it down. The beast¡­It could still be out there." He whispered and then answered in a low voice, "You scream very loudly."


    He had emphasised on the ''very''.


    Sora emitted a sort of guilty low chuckle.


    ¡°Pfft.¡± The voice seemed to be Skadi''s.


    Sora perhaps had realised her screams could have risked everyone¡¯s lives by attracting more creatures from the dark forest as there was no reply.


    "Why did you help us?" Skald didn''t even try to hide the suspicion in his voice.


    A moment of silence followed. Sunne didn''t know what to say.


    "Because I..have the ability to help? I realised I could help others." Sunne''s intention wasn''t to argue back as it was said very plainly. Perhaps he hadn''t even realised that it was such a good comeback.


    "Thanks," Selis dropped to the cave floor trying to catch her breath after the dreadful encounter. She couldn''t help but let out a chuckle even in the darkness she could see that Skald looked very confused.


    Skald, not wanting to linger on the defeat, proceeded to change the subject, "Trying to survive in a damn forest, setting up fire, getting chased by an animal and hiding in a cave from the beast! I can''t believe this! The caveman joke turned out to be true! I should start muttering mysterious prophecies." Skald folded his arms and uttered a few curse words.


    "I''m tired." That was all Skadi as she retreated to the corner of the cave as if she no longer wanted to be a part of it.


    "Come to think of it. Where''s the torch?" Selis  asked. The darkness was starting to get oppressive.


    A guilty Sora spoke up, "It fell from Skadi''s hand while running.¡±


    She didn''t mention the other part which was the reason for the guilt in her voice. It was her own arm that had bumped into Skadi¡¯s elbow, making the torch fall as they ran.


    Sora sounded like she wanted to run out of the cavern back into the forest.


    "Oh."


    Another moment of silence followed before it was broken.


    "I''m sorry," Selis¡¯ voice was quiet.


    ¡°For what?¡± Skadi asked.


    ¡°I think I heard the thing before it started chasing after us. I think I was the one who disturbed it.¡±


    There were no comforting words in reply to her confession. There was no ¡®it¡¯s alright¡¯ or ¡®it''s not your fault¡¯. But she had brought the trouble so perhaps it was important to feel guilty for it. Nevertheless, it felt colder and she wrapped her arms around her legs as she sat.


    The five were sitting in darkness without any notion of how much time had passed. They were to survive in the forest in the middle of the night, without a forewarning, when they could have been asleep, warm and cosy in their beds.


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    "Urgh why are there mosquitoes here?¡± Skadi seemed annoyed. A whoosh and a clap followed¡­


    "I don''t really own the cave¡­or the mosquitoes."


    Sunne said so genuinely that they weren''t sure if it was sarcasm or if he was trying to sound helpful.


    There was a noise that sounded like leaves swishing and a thud.


    "A plant?" Sora had knocked over one reaching out to put it back upright.


    "It''s the herb that you were after." Sunne answered.


    They were dumbstruck, ¡°What? How?!¡± Sora exclaimed.


    ¡°I..did some reading yesterday. It''s not a miracle cure like the one you were looking for but I''ll see what I can do. "


    "Why didn''t you tell us before?"


    ¡°Was I supposed to report to you?" He fidgeted with a stone that he picked up from the ground.


    Sunne¡¯s demeanour wasn''t particularly offensive or even strange to the ones living for a long time in the Institute. They had heard worse. Sunne gave off an aura that seemed as if he was more confused than angry. The atmosphere of the Institution had always been rather strange. Neophytes interacted in unusual ways as if everyone was holding back something far more sinister. Situations often took sinister turns too without the mediation of an adult. Peryton and the Spectres barely interacted with the children. This was precisely why Sora tried so hard to talk and get along with everyone.


    She craved genuine interactions among the


    indifferent looks and suspicious glares which she had grown up with. Their dark exhausted gazes. She didn''t hate the owners of the gazes for she knew it was the atmosphere of the Institution that did it to them, without knowing they were contributing to it. That was why she tried so hard to form connections. She wanted to know their sides which were hidden away for years as they feared the exploitation of their softer sides. She wanted to see hope in their other faces.


    "Sorry, I''m just not¡­good at talking. To people." Sunne spoke after what seemed like a few moments to do a lot of thinking.


    Skald''s excited voice split through the heavy mood prevailing in the cavern¡­


    "Hey guys there''s water inside. There¡¯s a spring here!" They looked up to see where the voice was coming from but saw nothing. It was then that he walked out from what seemed like the walls, dramatically. ¡°Surprise!¡± The omnipresent grin on his face was still there, however, it wasn''t fake as he really did look enthralled this time.


    "Oh my god. There''s an entrance there!" Sora stood up and inspected the dark patch among the walls, peeking into the dark opening.


    The five found themselves crouched around the water and drinking till they could no longer drink any more. Water had never tasted so amazing or looked so beautiful ever in their lives. Or as far as they remembered anyway. It is when one is deprived of something that one experiences the otherwise hidden life entwined in it.


    The water in the cavern was a clear blue and it sparkled. A pristine reflection of the moon danced on the waves. Selis'' eyes squinted as she looked up. She could barely make out the edges of a hole in the roof from which the moon shone through.


    "It looks almost like an inverted night sky." Selis, now looking at the lake, took in the sight of the glittering lake, her eyes sparkling in quiet admiration.


    "It does." Skadi nodded in agreement. She had seated herself on a rock. It was such a mesmerising sight. Perhaps it made running around the forest at night worth it. However, as beautiful as it was, Skadi really looked like she wanted to go back to the safety and comfort of the Institution and let out a soft sigh.


    There was a sudden splash. It was Skald who had jumped in the water.


    "What the heck?!" Skadi almost fell down the rock, startled by the sudden splash.


    ¡°What? Is swimming such a sin? " He chuckled and disappeared under the water with only his blurry dark silhouette visible, leaving his only remains, his black shirt stashed on the rocky floor.


    ¡°How is he not scared to swim in such darkness in a deserted place he has never visited before?¡± Sora asked after Skald was gone.


    The ceiling of the cavern wasn''t visible away from the ellipse where the moon shone through if one was swimming on their back. The water was rather salty. It was strange because no sea could be seen from the plateau of the Institution.


    Swimming felt natural to Skald for some reason and he had known it since a mission long ago. While swimming the peace in his mind reflected the muted murmurs of the water outside. It wasn''t long before this peace was disturbed. He heard sounds of splashing coming from up ahead. Wading in the direction of the noise, he proceeded to check what the noise was.


    He could barely make out something disturbing the calm surface of the water. He followed where the waves were coming from cautiously. He did have a knife tucked in a pocket of his pants in case things took a wrong turn.


    The source of the sound was nothing as sinister as he had thought. It was just a fish stuck in a net. The fish was somewhat big and had a large sail. He narrowed his eyes to make sure he was right. The colour, the long bill and the tapering main body, built for speed and power.


    A sailfish? What''s it doing here?


    The water was somewhat salty but he knew this was no place for it to live in. It was meant to glide in the open waters of the sea. Swimming closer, his aquamarine eyes inspected the net. A lot of hooks had pinned the creature down yet it continued to wriggle with all of its strength. From the blood on the fish where it was hooked, he guessed it had been struggling for a long time.


    ¡°You know how to deal with fishing nets!?¡± Sora exclaimed and Selis watched carefully.


    Skald, who was now fully dressed, didn''t reply as he concentrated on pulling out the hooks and cutting the net that had pinned the Sailfish to the rocks with his pocket knife. Bruises had started to appear on his hands. He wasn''t sure why he was working so hard for just a fish. Perhaps he pitied it as it splashed uselessly in this dark cavern, all alone, its eyes blank. The other four helped him pin the creature down as much as they could. They had carefully pulled the net with its victim into shallow water.


    ¡°There goes the last one.¡± He cut the last stretching net and started gathering the net. He didn''t know why he knew these things yet he wasn''t surprised. Nobody living long in the Institution was surprised when a new skill surfaced out of nowhere.


    ¡°I will have to sharpen my knife again.¡± He complained, checking his knife. It had become blunt.


    The sailfish was let go and it snaked slowly into deeper waters before its cobalt blue sail could be seen halting next to the deeper edges of the lake. The four looked at Skald.


    ¡°Alright, I''ll check.¡± He nodded and walked up ahead.


    ¡°What''s up mate?¡±


    He bent down and as soon as he did, it swam ahead a few paces before stopping again. Skald looked back at the others with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°I think it wants us to follow it,¡± Sora spoke as her eyes struggled to see the fish clearly in the dark.


    As silly as it sounded, none of them had any other explanations. As such the group, having decided without any discussion, followed the fish alongside the edges of the lake. Sure enough, its sail cut through the water at a pace that they could keep up with even though it could be gone without leaving any clue of its existence if it wanted to.


    Sometimes they couldn''t see the fish but just followed the noise of the water and at others, they just followed from mere instinct. The breadth of the edge of the lake kept shifting from just enough space to keep one foot to so wide that the five of them could walk together. The rocks, being covered with moss near the water, were extremely slippery and whoever was a step ahead, helped the others to catch up, making sure no one fell into the water. There was no guarantee which one of them could swim and neither there was any about whether the water was deep or not.


    The sailfish quietly waited while they crossed. It was quite eerie; the creature seemed sentient as it had a strange wiseness in its dark eyes. It watched the rippling figures of the five teenagers from beneath the waters at its side. They supported each other on the treacherous path led by the creature, into the depths of the cave.

 Chapter 9: Liberation

    Liberation


    The sailfish stopped. The bank was barely just thick enough to follow one after another in a line. Up ahead, there was an exit that was aglow with the onsetting dawn from outside.


    It''s Day already?


    It was evident that none of them had noticed the passing of time since all of them had surprised expressions when they lay their eyes on the exit.


    I don''t feel tired at all though.


    She looked at the others and sure enough the others also harboured expressions ranging from confused to mesmerised.


    The light of the exit blinded their eyes after their prolonged stay in the cave. Selis¡¯ hand was raised to shield her eyes. There was a tiny silhouette, a dark spot moving strangely at the exit. A sudden splash distracted them and Selis looked behind to see the fish¡¯s silver tail disappearing into the water.


    ¡°Why did it lead us here?¡± Sora¡¯s eyes glittered bewitched by the series of events which felt as if it was straight out of a fairytale.


    Skald, who had been looking at the water, looked up at Sora and simply shrugged.


    His gaze shifted to look at the others. He nodded and there was an unsaid agreement as the five walked towards the exit. When they got close, it dawned upon them that the eerie dark silhouette at the exit of the cavern was just a black butterfly with bright patterns stretched on its wings. The insect appeared to be waiting for them as it danced in the air. It had a similar mystical aura as the sailfish, an immense gravity in spite of being such a small creature that one would feel as if it was the centre of everything. As soon as they stepped into the light of the entrance, the butterfly fluttered away into the glare.


    It took a while for their eyes to adjust to the blinding brightness and see what lay beyond the exit. Standing all around them were tall shrubs and as they looked up, they realised they were sunflowers so tall that the flower heads hung feet above Sunne, the tallest in the group. He looked up, the plants dwarfing him and all of them. As imposing as they were with their majestic height, the bright shades of yellow had a certain cheerfulness as if they were musing about the five lost children. All of them seemed to face a particular direction. The butterfly meandered right into the field.


    ¡°I think the little creature is our new guide now.¡± Selis observed.


    Into the fields they went, walking between the available space and parting the flora as they went on their way in their chase.


    The sky wasn''t visible as it was blotted out by the humongous green stalks. The butterfly could barely be seen weaving in and around the stalks.


    Just like the hundred times it had done so, the butterfly disappeared among the greens again however unlike those hundred times it didn''t reappear.


    ¡°Can anyone see it?¡± Standing on her tiptoes, and raising her head, Skadi tried to look for the vanished butterfly. The only reply was silence and shaking of heads.


    ¡°I..I noticed something.¡± Sunne spoke, looking up at the face of the sunflowers.


    This caught the other four¡¯s attention and they looked at him. However no elaboration followed as Sunne looked startled when four pairs of eyes looked at him, as if he was not accustomed to it.


    ¡°....And? What is it?¡± Sora urged him to go on with an empathetic smile.


    ¡°The butterfly was flying in the same direction as the sunflowers are facing.¡±


    ¡°It was?¡± Instinctively, Selis looked up to check and he was indeed right. The butterfly had indeed disappeared in the direction the flowers were facing. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°Well then what are we waiting for? Onwards!¡± declaring so, Skald turned and pointed up ahead, enjoying his little game of playing the Captain.


    ¡°This feels like a wild goose chase.¡± Skadi muttered.


    ¡°Or rather like a dream.¡± Sora said her eyes star-struck.


    Eventually the sunflowers grew parser in numbers and here they were more scattered. The grass around them had dwindled to barely as high as their feet.


    Thump!


    From their previous accursed experience, it was definitely the won''t of a hoof which had thumped on the ground.


    They looked at each other instantly on their guard.


    ¡°Not again.¡± Skald complained in a low voice, having taken out his knife and ready standing in his defensive stance.


    There were two huge horns right before them. However these horns spread from the creature¡¯s head branching towards the sky. Dark, calm eyes with large eyelashes looked at them with a strange wit hidden in them.


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    The deer¡¯s ears flicked.


    Selis, who looked like she would have run at the first sign of danger, sighed in relief. Skald tucked back the dagger in his pockets.


    ¡°I suppose this is the next guide?¡± Skadi concluded and as a reply, the deer blinked and turned. It had a bird sitting on one of its horns which flapped its wings as if it was startled just like everyone else.


    ¡°Hello.¡± Sora giggled.


    The deer raised its head as if in a form of greeting and started sprinting over the grass, rocks and the little flowers in the field. The bird bounced along with its springing.


    ¡°No wait!¡± Selis exclaimed but the deer kept gaining distance.


    Selis took to her feet and so did the others.


    The bouncing silhouette of the deer was just in sight however they couldn''t really catch up to it and neither did it grow distant. It was at a constant distance before them.


    They ran and ran after the deer. Selis saw the grass blurring beneath her. A sense of freedom arose in her as she looked at the endless violet fields stretching beyond to the mountains at the far side. The world lay before them and she felt she could go anywhere. There were infinite possibilities before her. She broke into laughter. The others joined in one after the other, their laughter a choir, as the grass blurred at their feet. It was a primitive pleasure. As if it was the first time mankind learnt to run after escaping from trees.


    They were chasing an animal for a reason they didn''t know yet. They felt like they could run all the way upto the horizon.


    Eventually the deer slowed down and the five¡¯s  running turned to a walk, their laughter dispersing into the air and turning to wheezing. The deer halted and so did the humans.


    Skald who had reached first looked focused on regaining control of his breath. Sunne was bent over, trying to catch his breath. Selis had her hands on her waist. Skadi, whose hands were folded, watched Sora, the last to drop to the ground as soon as she caught up with them. Eventually all of them sat on the ground following suit.


    When they had finished catching their breaths


    Selis asked, looking at the people around her, realising that there were so many and all of them looked and even were different. She didn''t have her memories so she didn''t know if they had ever been important for her but she felt delighted,¡± So what now? Is this where we were being led?¡± Her gaze scanned around the empty landscape.


    The finch on the horns of the deer flapped its wings and chirped as if in a denial. It spread its tiny wings and took to the sky.


    The deer swung its little tail looking up at the bird. ¡°So we follow the bird now?¡± Sora said in dismay upon having convinced herself she wasn''t going to move an inch.


    A sigh of annoyance escaped from Skadi.


    ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of nowhere.¡± Sunne refuted unsympathetically, whose argument was reinforced by Skald,¡±We definitely can''t stop here in the open. What if there''s a dangerous creature lurking nearby?¡±


    ¡°Do you still feel tired?¡± Selis asked, blinking at Sora.


    ¡°Alright alright. I''m not tired but why would you want to overexert yourself? We are not even sure where we are headed to.¡±


    ¡°I guess we can''t stop now.¡± Selis shrugged and stood up and so did Sora, dusting herself.


    The bird circled overhead in the lilac sky while its shadow circled around them. Sunne looked at the others,¡± What¡­What if we are heading to somewhere dangerous.¡±


    There was no reply. None of them wanted to believe that what Sunne said could be true for they were stuck in a beautiful dream.


    The deer had watched them leave in silence as the bird led them over the grassland. The bird flew a pace ahead and circled whenever it waited for them to catch up. This continued for a while. After what seemed like ages, something seemed to have caught the bird¡¯s attention. Its wings angled and it swooped down, landing on a weathered stone. It chirped and turned its head watching the five parts of the grass and reached the platform below.


    The finch had seated itself on a throne made of stone. The throne was layered in three steps


    on which five rocks stood in a circle and looked down at the group who had just climbed on the platform before them. Algae appeared to be taking part in conquest over the throne and the rocks. The throne appeared to have a spring below it, as the throne was overflowing with water which lapped around the five rocks and, like a waterfall, flowed down the steps and into the platform. The platform, carved with spiral patterns, had channels for the water to flow out to the fields.  It seemed that there was a small lake underneath the group¡¯s feet over which the platform floated almost entirely covered by it. There was a single symbol carved on the throne. A triangle right above it an inverted triangle.


    As soon as Selis reached the centre of the platform, she was in awe. There was something gloriously hypnotising about the rocks standing tall against the dreamy bands of colours of the sky. It was an indescribable feeling of amazement. The mere sight of the stones was like a lullaby except that instead of descending into sleep they were spiralling into reverence.


    Selis¡¯ dark eyes were fixed on the rocks before them and her feet started feeling heavy as if the platform itself was dragging them down.


    We are here to seek an audience.


    She shook her head


    Wait? What was that?


    Her gaze fixed on the rock


    They are looking upon us expectantly.


    Her head had started to feel hazy as soon as she had set her foot on the platform. Excitement and elation made her giddy. There was no room for fear. The heaviness in her feet grew and she gave in.


    She bowed before them. And eerily all of them bowed down at the same time too as if there were an inaudible song and they all were performing to it.


    What''s happening?


    Spoke a side of her.


    This other newer side said comforting herself.


    It doesn''t matter. Hushhh.


    The last thing they heard was the bird chirping and the beating of its wings as it flew away. The last thing they saw was the shadowed stone platform before the shadows loomed and stretched in their vision and took over their minds.

 Chapter 10: Late

    Late


    Selis¡¯s eyes opened to see the dark cavern ceiling hung high above her. The girl sat up, pressing her palm against her forehead, her eyes closing again. A fog of obscurity swirled in her head. She desperately tried to understand the scattered information that had started to resurface in her head from the fog; as if trying to fit pieces of a broken glass into a mirror again. The girl looked around, for she knew somehow that she hadn''t been alone before she had forgotten what had happened.


    Let''s see¡­The last thing I remember is this cave. Skald called for us¡­ and what happened after that?


    She was relieved when she heard familiar voices and saw four people sitting in a circle. Sora, who had been the first one to wake up, was conversing with Sunne, "That was spooky." Sora looked tense, her hand covering her mouth as she spoke.


    Sunne, who was checking the condition of the herb for Cyress¡¯ illness, replied,¡± We ended back at this place too¡­ Good thing I left this here. I don''t know where I would have found another one.¡±


    That''s right Cyress¡¯ is gravely ill while we are on this strange ¡®mission¡¯ here.


    The frail and sick Neophyte had almost slipped from her mind. They had promised his younger brothers that they''d find a cure. Until they were thrown in this ¡®mission¡¯. But Sunne seemed to have found something.


    Does that mean Cyress will be fine now?


    She didn''t know Cyress personally and only had been tagging along with Skald and Skadi.


    Another question rang through her head.


    How did we end back here?


    Selis vaguely remembered a black butterfly with bright spots.


    The fog in her head started to clear and she saw a vision. No, it was more of a memory that had flashed in her mind. She had been standing in a field and before her were the five hypnotic rocks looking down at them from their watery throne. She had bowed down and touched her head to the platform. She felt dread climb in her chest. Was it real or a dream? Why had she done so? And what had occurred later?


    And what later?!!


    The group had somehow found themself at the cavern where they first entered to shelter from the beast.


    As Skald had been speaking, his eyes focused behind Sora and he spotted Selis. He announced, gleefully, ¡°Oh look, she''s finally awake.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes had turned looking at her. It made her wonder if she had kept them waiting for too long.


    "Great. We can leave this place now." Skadi stood up and dusted her uniform. Selis realised that they just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.


    ¡°Uhm.. sorry.¡± Selis quickly spoke.


    However, there was no reply as Skadi had been frozen up, staring up ahead with narrowed eyes.


    A sudden silence spread among the five. There was a heavy feeling that had eventually swirled and found its way into the conversation. They were being watched and it was a feeling they were very familiar with. Only they emitted this aura.


    A Spectre.


    Selis followed Skadi¡¯s gaze to see a silhouette waiting at the entrance of the cave.


    ¡°It''s the Panther.¡± Sunne muttered in a low voice, breaking the silence.


    When one narrowed their eyes they could see the Panther mask on their face.


    When they spoke, it was the voice of a woman, as cold as what was fitting of a Spectre." Well done in completing your assigned mission. Report all occurings to me.¡±


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    And so the five narrated to the Spectre about what happened in hopes of having even the slightest bit of understanding for what had occurred. The Specter gaze silently from behind her mask, listening to them. At times she was so silent that they weren''t even sure if she was listening. Something seemed off as the five recounted the tale, standing in a circle around the Spectre as they filled in for each other while the Spectre watched them. The entrance started to glow behind her with the flaming colours of onsetting dawn.


    ¡°Well done. I shall escort you back to the Institution. Peryton has requested an Assembly." The Panther spoke briefly, when the strange tale had ended, without a glint of surprise or anything resembling it.


    Selis looked at the others. They weren''t surprised by The Spectre¡¯s reaction. Selis hadn''t ever held a conversation with a Spectre before. She felt anxious whenever her eyes fell on the eerie mask.


    "Why? Has something occurred?" Sora asked her voice not giving away the worry that was on her face.


    Sora received no reply as the Panther had turned already and started walking out of the cave. They were left with no other option but to look at each other and follow without any questions, lest they be left behind.


    *--_-_-_-*--*_


    The doors of the lift opened and they found themselves standing atop the windy plateau. Far beyond, near the Grounds of the Institution where Selis¡¯ Naming Ceremony took place, they could see that the residents of the Institution had already gathered in an orderly fashion. Sunne had held onto the plant he''d dug up from the forest all the while.


    Sora looked at the others seeking an answer,


    ¡°What''s going on? And why an Assembly now?¡±


    There was no reply as everyone¡¯s faces matched the confusion on Sora¡¯s.


    ¡°Assemblies are not common?¡± Selis asked. She had been under the impression that everyone gathered every now and then.


    ¡°No, Assemblies are only announced while naming, giving collective instructions¡­or¡­¡± Sora trailed off looking at the gathered crowd again. It appeared that there were things that even Sora could not speak.


    ¡°Or if someone dies.¡± Skadi completed.


    A feeling of dread spread through the group. Selis looked at Skald and Skadi.


    ¡°Surely not¡­?¡± Selis chuckled, half-heartedly. She looked hopefully at the others.


    Sora¡¯s eyes were still fixed on the crowd. Sunne was looking at the ground. Skadi had turned to look at the forest. As for Skald, he wasn''t looking anywhere. He seemed to be in a daze.


    They knew. Somewhere, they all knew it.


    How could this end before even doing anything?


    She clearly remembered Skald ruffling Rimme''s hair with a bright smile and telling him that they would help. Even Sora and Sunne had joined them to help.


    No, I must not overthink.


    The group made its way to the crowd and joined on the sides of the rows.


    Sora also said a meeting occurs when groups are to receive collective instructions. It could be that too.


    The Panther had already taken her place next to the other Spectres.


    "Peryton hasn''t arrived yet." Someone whispered within the crowd.


    As they waited for Peryton, the uneasiness in them kept rising with every second that passed. The other Neophytes whispered around them


    ¡°Do you think there''s a collective mission?¡±


    ¡°Noooo I don''t want to work with other groups.¡±


    ¡°Have you heard of it..¡±


    ¡°Of what?¡±


    ¡°Last night¡­¡±


    Eventually the whispers blurred into the background noise. Until all the noise was in Selis''s head.


    Did Cyress die? This quickly? Before we could do anything? He wouldn''t would he? He was alive the last time I saw him.


    Selis looked around at the distraught expressions on the other four¡¯s faces. All of them had reached out to each other and had been working together to help Cyress in this lonely place, the Institution. They had perhaps begun to trust each other as well.


    If he goes, would he take away all of that with him?


    It was a selfish thought. She only cared about his death because it mattered to the ones she knew.


    But perhaps, had I arrived at the Institution before, I would''ve known him and just like them I would have been devastated too.


    The crowd suddenly grew quiet with only Peryton¡¯s footsteps being heard on the stone platform before the Assembly. He turned to the Neophytes looking up at him with expectant eyes. Peryton¡¯s gaze was fixed on the sky as if he was looking for something in the clouds. He took in a deep breath and spoke quietly yet loud enough for everyone to hear.


    "I regret to say that Cyress¡­has passed away."


    A wave of shocked whispers ran through the assembled Neophytes. It felt like a glass shattering. A glass of illusion that death was not real. That death was just right around the corner and no one knew which corner.

 Chapter 12: Ripple

    Ripple


    A leaf, shaken by the cold wind, fell down from a great tree onto the wooden floor of the platform. Peryton was still speaking on the raised wooden platform.


    "His contribution to the Institution shall always be remembered. Anyone who wants to pay their respects do so at the memorials." It was the first time Selis had seen Peryton with a dejected expression not having taken the head of the Institution to be someone who expressed sadness so openly. He really did look sad as he turned and walked down the platform. He was followed by the Spectres, the latter¡¯s emotions covered by the mask.


    The crowd was still whispering.


    Selis looked at the others not knowing what to feel. All she felt was confusion and disbelief that Cyress had passed from a cold. She felt like she didn''t belong here with those truly grieving. Her gaze turned to look at the others as if trying to find out what she was supposed to feel.


    Sunne had grasped the plant tighter and his other hand had tightened in a fist. He looked like he was frozen in place.


    Selis watched the precious leaves from the herb which could''ve saved Cyress had they arrived early, falling to the ground.


    She felt frustrated at the Spectres and at Peryton for sending them out on a mission at such a crucial time. But it turned to hopelessness as she realised that Sunne would probably never have found the herb had they not been sent to the forest as a mission.


    "Let''s pay our respects." Skadi spoke, her voice even quieter than usual. Sora was weeping softly, her face covered with her hands. Skald''s jaw was tight shut as if he was holding back from showing any emotion. Selis didn''t want to speak as she knew that her emotions weren''t as strong as them. She had only met Cyress once before. Her mind decided to turn her into a shadow as she followed after the group quietly.


    They headed towards where a stretcher was placed on the temporary wooden platform. It was the same one on which Peryton had announced Cyress'' death. Cyress or what was remaining of him lay on the stretcher with his pale, bone-thin face, and his mouth slightly open. A horrifying thought crossed her mind upon seeing the heart wrenching sight.


    Was his last breath also a cough?


    A wail emanated from beside the stretcher where the deceased''s younger brothers, Quil and Rimme were crouched next to him. The soundless crying along with occasional sudden ear piercing wails, indicated that Quil must have been crying for a long time and his throat must have started to hurt. Rimme still looked shocked, his gaze fixed on Cyress'' face as if unable to understand that he would never awaken again. Skald clenched his hands into a fist.


    Selis realised that it must have been a long while since Cyress had rested soundlessly. She was in no position to believe, but she did believe that death had set him free.


    You have suffered a lot in this life. May you find peace beyond.


    Some sat in silence, some wept while some wailed.


    The five sat in a circle on the fresh grass of The Grounds. The stretcher had been taken away by the Spectres who did such kinds of work around the Institution. The body was then set alight to send his soul to the heavens above.


    ¡°The last one of the previous generation is gone too.¡± Skald looked up at the flaming sky.


    Selis looked up at him. She didn''t want to push him to continue but thankfully Skald did elaborate.


    ¡°The previous generation, the ones right before us were the ones who changed how things were around the Institution.¡± He sighed.


    Skadi took over, ¡°The Institution used to be worse back in the days. The Neophytes to be precise. People ranging from toddlers to adolescents with no adults keeping an eye on them. What do you think would happen?¡±


    ¡°Although we didn''t live through the Institution as it was back in the day, everyone knows the stories.¡± Sora added.


    ¡°The previous generation took it upon themselves to establish rules among the Neophytes instead of simply pushing the weaker and younger Neophytes around. They punish those who hurt others and labelled ¡®crime¡¯, based on books of morals and justice in the library, playing cops.¡± Skald said, wincing.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Skald also was caught thieving as a kid once." Skadi chuckled. ¡°Luckily, his punishment wasn''t too severe.¡±


    ¡°Oh I now I remember! YOU were the one who was tied to the tree.¡± Sora chuckled in a raspy voice, her eyes now having dried.


    ¡°You sure were lucky. The punishments weren''t all good though. Our generation did see clashes between wrongdoers and the punishers and those got very ugly at times. I couldn''t even look at the fight at times. Neophytes were gravely injured at times¡­¡± Sora trailed off.


    Surprised, Selis asked another question quietly, ¡°What if someone was falsely accused?¡±


    No one answered her which seemed to her an answer in itself. It seemed it had happened before and all of the others had a haze fallen on their eyes. As if they were replaying something. Sensing the tension in the air, no further questions were asked.


    -*-_-_-_¡ª*-_


    The moon was high overhead and it was quite a clear moonlit night as the breeze gently blew over the plateau as if to carry Cyress¡¯ soul into heaven. Deaths in the Institution always shook every Neophyte and fear spread among the Neophytes. Nobody knew who the next one to go would be. They could be the next. Or even worse, the ones they cherished. And they had no way to stop it.


    Sunne was sitting on the grass, staring at the herb which he''d planted before him a while ago. He figured he may as well plant it as it might be of some use. The soil was still disturbed.


    "How can you not feel even an ounce of guilt?" A voice spoke from behind Sunne.


    Sunne quickly stood up and turned around, staring at the one who spoke. It was Skald.


    Sunne didn''t reply.


    The one before him had his jaw shut tight and was gritting his teeth.


    "If you''d only agreed to help before, Cyress would''ve been alive now. You knew he was sick! Everyone did! You knew the remedy and yet you did nothing but watch!" Skald spoke again, his voice shaking in frustration.


    "You never put in your efforts did you?" Skald spat.


    For Sunne, Cyress had always been a nobody. A nobody that he heard and saw when he passed by Dormitory 2 which was very rare in itself. However when the four had come to The Nursery asking for help, he wasn''t sure what he was thinking when he decided to help. It was the first time someone had come to him for help. So he had actually put in efforts to use what he knew and could manage, aside from his work at the Institution. And the result was failure. He dreaded the feeling that he was feeling now. The guilt that someone had died because he was too late. He had done it again. The mistake of putting in effort.


    Sunne watched Skald with an expressionless face, unsure of what to do.


    ¡°Scared? Not going to defend yourselves?¡± Skald taunted.


    He''s trying to pick a fight.


    Sunne knew Skald just wanted a punch bag and he had no intention to fill in that role. Skald was only a bit shorter than him. However Skald was extremely athletic, was built well and had the reputation of getting into fights often. Sunne wasn''t going to start a fight which he knew he was going to lose.


    Sunne took a few steps back trying to disengage from the fight but Skald stepped ahead and crushed the plant with his foot.


    A shrill ringing sound rang in his head like a distorted scream which deeply unsettled Sunne.


    Suddenly he felt a strong surge of emotion overcome him. He couldn''t label the emotion but it felt like¡­helplessness followed by nothingness. It felt like floating in a sea with only one ray of light but then getting suddenly swallowed by a giant whale and left with nothing but darkness around. The similarity of the helplessness emotion to what he was just feeling was too startling. However he was sure it wasn''t his feelings as he felt it from somewhere else and it was too intense¡­ Like a dying moment.


    Overcome by the intensity of the emotion, which had morphed into anger now, Without thinking, he ran at Skald.


    Sunne rammed into Skald from his shoulder, however in one swift move, the world turned and Sunne couldn''t see Skald anymore but his arm was tightly wrapped around Sunne''s neck. Sunne¡¯s head was locked in a hold.


    As Sunne tried to struggle against it, he realised where the emotions had invaded his mind from.


    He looked at the crushed plant.


    Surely not from the plant?


    Puzzled, he forgot his frustration momentarily.


    ¡°Knock it off Skald.¡± A soft yet sharp voice slit through the air. It was Skadi. She hit Skald hard at the base of his neck.


    Skald quickly let go and rubbed the base of his own neck,¡±Ow! What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I should be the one asking that considering the beautiful scene I walked to. You should really work on your habit of picking on people whenever you can''t deal with yourself.¡± She replied, her words cold and attacking. She sighed and stopped firing words. ¡°I just came to have a walk because I couldn''t sleep.¡±


    ¡°Yeah sure. You couldn''t sleep? Pfft-¡± Skald rolled his eyes, trying to get on her wrong side as well.


    However, something else had caught Skadi''s eye, which made her completely ignore Skald.


    ¡°Hey¡­wait what''s that-'''' Skadi stepped closer to Sunne and looked down at him. Skald let go of Sunne, puzzled, trying to see what Skadi was looking at. As soon as Sunne was released, he dropped to the ground, relieved, trying to catch his breath.


    He looked up and stared at Skadi,¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You have a strange green strand on your head.¡±