《《《 ○《《《  [ Lucas ]  》》》○ 》》》

Thinking, Lucas walked through a wide corridor. His thoughts still on the talk that transpassed while he silently observed the mossy stone walls surrounding him. The only light present came from the torches evenly spaced on the walls.

When he reached this corridor everything just seemed to exist. No transitions, no sleepy state, just being here after his meeting with his new grayish friend.

The corridor had only one way foward, offering not much alternatives but his current path.

The end came abruptly, opening itself to a spacious room in the same style as the corridor. The big difference were the shelves. Ordely shelves were displayed, resembling a library. The difference being the weapons, that filled all of them.

When he entered the room, to his left, sitting in a chair behind a balcony was his new friend, Leslie, or so he thought.

"Welcome candidate Lucas!"

"Sonner than expected, right Leslie?"

"Oh, sorry to disappoint you but I am not this Leslie you speak off. Nice to meet you, I am the assigned guide for your survival." Survival? Lucas thought. The guide then opened his arms to the ordely shelves and proclaimed. "I present you the inital equipment storage! For now, choose a fitting weapon from the shelves. But remember: you may choose only one."

"Anything?" Lucas asked, just for confirmation.

"Sure. After you're done come back here and we will work out your training with the time we have left. If you wish you can also grab some linen clothes to change to when you're back."

"Ok, let's stop for a bit. You said something about 'survival' and 'training'. Even asking me to choose a weapon. As a guide I suppose you are able to explain a bit more to me about my situation."

"Sure." The guide shrugged. "You will face an enemy creature about half your height. I am here to train you for the upcoming fight."

"And...?" Lucas prompted him.

"And that's it. We have now only an hour and fifty five minutes left. Hurry up, go and grab a weapon from the shelves." The guide shooed him and Lucas soon left.

What an annoying guy. Lucas walked towards the shelves. Rows upon rows of weapons surrounded him. Training and survival...that surely is not my forte. There were only few kinds of weapons, but the sheer variety of sizes contributed to the scene.

Swords, spears, Axes, Bows, Halberds, Daggers, Staffs... All kinds of european medieval weapons were present. Lucas inspected them. Lifting some, swinging others and ignoring most. It should be easy to use and light enough so I am able to swing it around. He walked towards the short swords and daggers shelves but as he passed the front rows and entered towards the back, a particular shelf he didn't see before caught his attention. One full of papers rolled up and bound by strings. Scrolls? This particular shelf wasn't hidden, nor was it any different from others. He just didn't pay attention to it before.

Beneath each bundle of scrolls there were labels depicting their general purposes. Fire, Water, Air, Earth... Followed by, Strength, Cure, Poison, Flight... He grabbed some scrolls that interested him and walked back, but not before passing through some other weapon shelves.

Back in the balcony the guide was waiting for him. "Didn't I tell you to choose only one?"

Lucas appeared with a buch of scroll beneath his armpits, a dagger in his pants and a short sword in his free hand. "I didn't choose yet. I came here to ask your opinion on those. After all, you're the guide."

The guide considered his words for a while before stating. "The dagger despite being the best option for the physically weak ones is the most dangerous for the inexperienced. I expect you don't wish to get that close to your foes."

Lucas put the dagger aside and the guide continued. "The sword is a good choice, but due to a lack of shields I would recommend you a longer one. You will get used to the weight sooner than what you would expect."

"And the scrolls?" Asked Lucas, eager to find out if his expectations about them were indeed true.

"For using magic of course, isn't that fantastic?" The guide mocked with a smile and a sarcastic tone.

At this moment Lucas' face opened in happiness but he soon recovered a serious tone. "Too good to be true. Keep going, what's the catch?"

"You will be facing your first fight in about an hour and a half. The chances to succeed in harnessing luon are low. Despite that, there is also the fact that the scrolls are one time use only."

"Luon?" Lucas interjected. Completely glossing over his soon to be fight, too distracted with the prospect of magic.

"An energy form which permeates everything and is the primary source of magic."

"Good enough, time is tight. Can we start right now?"

"Sure, but choosing a scroll is ill advised. Failure in harnessing energy will result in your time of preparation being wasted. The chances of survival will diminish greatly."

"No matter." Lucas waved his hands in dismissal. "I've always dependended on my mind to get by. Trusting my chances of wielding a sword would be a dumb choice."

"As you wish, follow me." The guide, followed by Lucas, walked towards a mat which situated in a corner of the room, clean of shelves.

The guide turned to face Lucas and began his explanation. "For most, feeling luon is not simple and requires more training than what an hour can offer." He motioned to the mat. "Sit down and think about feeling your blood with your mind, that's the best analogy for beginners."

Lucas sat on the mat and concentrated. Thinking about perceiving this luon with his mind, flowing through his body. It should be an existence that wasn't present before, something amiss in my body. He focused on his skin, bones, muscles, veins and organs... Losing track of time in his task.

He spent several minutes in this state, continuously scanning and focusing on each layer of his body. Nothing seemed to change, until... it did.

An almost undistinguishable small glow at first, that started being more and more noticeable with time. It kept flowing around his body with no fixed path, sometimes compressed, sometimes sparse... but ever flowing. Beautiful.

He kept paying attention to the glow. It crept to his head, then visiting his fingers, heart... No place in his body was too far for it to reach. Soon, Lucas wished to start playing with it and along with the patterns in his mind, the glow flowed. It jumped, twisted, stretched and divided. It learnt new things and was confortable in doing so. Lucas' lost himself in the feeling. In the moment. Such experience was rare to find to him. But it could only last so much. It ended.

"Time is over." Hearing the guide's voice Lucas came back to his senses. "There are only five minutes left. Since you still didn't manage to feel it we can only grab something else for you and hope the worst won't come to fruition."

Lucas patted his legs, got up, then replied with a smug face. "Oh, but I did."

"What?" The surprise in the guide's tone was apparent. "How come you didn't warn me?"

"I lost track of time there, but there is no problem right? In the end I did it, didn't I?"

A hasty subdued anger now took over the guide's voice. "What? Do you take yourself as some kind of genius?" He walked in a fast pace towards the balcony and then said, in a much calmer tone. "There is still another step before you can truly use the scroll, pay attention, we have no more time to waste."

Lucas' straightened himself and followed him close, his mood taking a serious turn. Damn, got cocky much too soon. The guide kept explaining. "That was the first step, feeling. The second step is called persuasion. Always remember, the luon present inside living beings is ever flowing. You should never order it. You may only gently ask it to flow trough a different path which is convenient to you."

Hope filled Lucas' mind. Lucky. I already played around with it for a bit. Perceiving his cheerful mood the guide scolded. "We will have no time for training, you will be soon facing a creature in a prepared instance." He grabbed a scroll and instructed. "This is the most effective scroll for your situation, point it to the creature, bring the luon to your fingers then fill the scroll with it."

The scroll was shoved in Lucas' hands, the concern apparent in the guides voice. "Good luck candidate and remember, enjoy."

With the guide's parting words the surroundings faded again. He had no time to ponder the scroll received or his options. Now, he could only trust the guide's words and have faith in his talent.

A gentle breeze flowed through the forest at night. The tall trees towered above the numerous bushes that filled the ground. Lucas found himself in a clearing with the soft moon light serving as his only beacon of hope.

The surroundings were calm. To the point that they seemed eerie, as if the whole forest was devoid of life. The sound of the wind being the only company to his increasing heartbeat. He looked at the scroll in his right hand. His knuckles white from the force exerted. A sweaty drop from his forehead fell on it, making his heart jump in surprise before he could calm himself once again.

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He inspected the clearing and bushes, ever so attencious to any advances. His arm now pointing foward. His mind focused. The glow inside him completely prepared to burst outside with all his strength at the smallest sign of the creature, or at least he hoped so.

Time passed and he waited. His foe did not make a move and neither did he, stubbornly maintaining his place at the safe clearing beneath the moonlight. His arms became heavy but his mind was still sharp. A single penetrating screech changed it all. Behind me. All his alertness paid off because as soon as the screech came the creature was but a few feet away from him. He turned around and not even paying a single glance to what was attacking him he shoved all the bottled up luon to the scroll.

Inside the scroll a weak light shined and not long after a fire ball formed in front of it, launching itself towards the creature. Not expecting such a turn of events the creature was hit square in the chest. The fire exploded and enveloped his small body.

Lucas' face was plastered with surprise. He didn't expect such showy display of power. So incredible, if that's my first spell how much more will I be able to do?

The ever louder screams got his attention back from his musings. A small creature about half his size contorted in pain, screamed in agony and clawed the ground with despair. All of it was in vain because before long its pleads stopped. All that was left of him after the fire subsided was a charred body dirtying the ground.

_ ___ _ ___ _ ___ _

In a gray room, two beings conversed.

"That was almost... anti-climatic. I really thought he would fail."

"You should stop wishing for others to suffer."

"I didn't wish for him to suffer, I'm just surprised. Got offended because I thought your new friend would die...Leslie?"

"You should stop talking non-sense. You and I both know that's not the case. My only expectation is for the human race to thrive."

"I won't argue with you in that then."

《《《 ○《《《  [ Maya ]  》》》○ 》》》

"Now that you are aware of the situation you are in let's discuss about your equipment." The guide scurried through the balcony. "Will you be needing clothes?"

"Give me." She took it from the guide's hands then procceeded to rip the shirt. She spent around twenty minutes just to make a woven string from it.

"I don't think it is the best use of your time... you still have to choose your weapon and train." The guide remembered her in concern.

"How long do I have left?" Maya looked up.

"About an hour and a half."

"Then time is plenty." She finished the string and shoved one leg of the pants inside the other. She made a knot in the foot's end then fixed the string on both sides of the pants. She threw the makeshift bag behind her back. "Sorry for the delay, lost my previous bag and it just won't do without one."

"I... understand. Look through the shelves, grab something that suits you and come back here so we can discuss about your training."

The choice is easy, because there will ever be a sole weapon for me. Maya walked through the room with an obvious purpose in mind. She went directly to the shelf filled with bows and spent nearly an hour examining each of them until she found one that satisfied her. A longbow made from a tree she did not recognize, its body brown with a light orange hue and a string made from sinew.

Happy with her choice she also grabbed a leather quiver and filled it with arrows from a nearby wooden box, pleased with the worksmanship on their steel heads and the alignment of their soft feathers.

A worried guide approached her. "Candidate, decided yet? We are almost out of time and-"

"There is no need for training, I will be doing that by myself. Is there anything I should watch out for?"

Nodding, the guide relented. "The forest, don't enter it. The creature will come to get you eventually."

In the same clearing, facing the same challenge, this time perceived in a different manner. The challenger was alert yet calm. Experience evident in her demeanor.

Sensing it wouldn't have an opening a pitch black creature straight out of a nightmare came out of the forest. Its body, with a meter in length, resembled a malnourished humanoid. A huge mouth filled with sharp teeth covered half of its elongated face which had no other feature present. Long arms with sharp claws dangled from it bony torso. Rushing towards its only food source the creature screeched. Little did it know that would be his doom.

To the left. The sound of an arrow being released interrupted the high-pitched scream. As fast as it came it was gone. With an arrow lodged in its head the creature fell backwards, oozing black blood on the soil, to never stand again.

《《《 ○《《《  [ Carlos ]  》》》○ 》》》

The guide lowered himself and searched through the balcony. "Here, put some clothes on. It won't do having you walk around naked."

Carlos with a hint of shame grabbed the linen brown pants and white shirt, wearing them in a hurry, missing the right leg hole multiple times. The guide watched the scene without a hint of disappointment. "When you are done, choose a weapon from the shelves."

"A weapon?"

"Yes. For protection."

"Do I truly need to fight? isn't there a way out? 'There is always another choice' doesn't everyone say that?"

"Death is indeed a choice but I hope that you choose to live."

What kind of crazy scheme is this? Annoyed Carlos resigned himself to look through the shelves. First they trap me in an empty gray room, then in this mossy stone one, who knows what else will come in the fight. Carlos passed absentminded through the bigger weapons. Is that the fate of a protagonist from a fantasy book? Being part of a scheme from gods? Shouldn't I have some kind of special power here?

He continued looking, shelf after shelf, searching for something light that suited him. When he was almost giving up, hope filled his eyes. In a corner of the room was a concealed shelf filled with scrolls. I knew it! I was sure there was something special for those that look further than others! A hidden shelf full of scrolls.

Minutes later Carlos walked back, with his carefully chosen lighting scroll in hands while whistling in a happy mood. Finding the guide he said excited. "Here, that's my choice."

"Are you sure? That's-"

"A magical scroll right?" Carlos interrupted, too excited with the prospect of learning magic.

"Yes, but they are one time use only."

"It doesn't matter, it still enables me to learn magic, right?"

With a defeated sigh the guide persuaded. "Right and wrong. It usually takes a long time to learn how to harness your internal energy, much longer than what we have left. I recommend you to find an alternative weapon and use your time wisely. You'll have plenty of time to learn it later."

Isn't that all the more reason for me to learn now? All the signs are here: a hidden shelf, special knowledge, internal energy... If I wasn't able to learn it why would it be there? With his mind set in his new special role Carlos affirmed. "I'm sure of it, don't worry, I won't disappoint you."

"Ok. Then... come with me." Relenting the guide walked towards a mat not too far from the balcony.

After thirty minutes Carlos started to get concerned. Past fifty his hands started sweating. Reaching an hour his legs started moving up and down. His whole body exhuded the nervousness he was feeling. When there was only fifteen minutes left the guide intervened. "Candidate, we still have time for some last minute preparations. I have already grabbed one weapon that I think suits you."

"No!" Carlos shouted, with much more intensity than intended. "Let me stay here a bit longer I think I got the hang of it." I have to persist, that's the test, to know how long I can keep going and how much will I risk for it. Luon... internal energy... feel it!

When there was only five more minutes left the guide spoke once more. "Candidate, I think it's for the best that we-"

"A bit longer. I'm almost there!" How much longer will it take? Carlos persisted in his last few minutes. Half of him already knew he had been wrong. The other half still insisted on the idea of it being a test because he didn't want to believe in his own failure.

When time was approaching an end the guide suddenly pulled the scroll from his hands and put a dagger on it, closing his hand around the hilt. "Sorry for being forceful candidate, but that was for the best. Try not to die."

A tear flowed through Carlos' cheeks and with a sad smile he replied. "Thank you." He thanked the guide for doing what he was too ashamed and narrow-minded to do in his last minutes. "Thank you." Crying he thanked the guide once again for having now a dagger to face whatever comes to him. In a prayer his world faded away.

Carlos stood alone in the middle of a clearing, trembling while holding his dagger with both hands. Sensing his fear the creature advanced towards him without delay. The screech that filled the air was his definite savior because as soon as he heard that he turned around in a jolt, out from his stupor.

The creatured ran towards him in a fast pace. Carlos mustered all his courage and with closed eyes stabbed at the creature's path. His initial surprise for the lack of resistance was overtaken by the sharp pain that travelled through his left arm. The creature had its huge mouth lodged on it. It sucked so hard on him that no blood dripped anywhere. Seeing that, Carlos screamed and with the rest of his sanity he stabbed with his free hand towards the creature's head. As if sensing the imminent danger the creature let go of his arms and fell to the ground. Scared and finally free from the clutches of the creature, Carlos ran. Following his instincts he ran. Away from this madness and away from his certain death.

Carlos ran until his legs and lungs started burning out, but the nonstop screaming behind him announced that the creature still didn't give up on him. His vision started to blur. It's all or nothing. I can't go on much longer. He turned around and pointed the dagger fowards to guard himself but the sudden change of direction made his legs wobble, bringing him to the ground. Astonished he felt his life almost gone from up close, because as soon as he fell a creature passed above his head, with its mouth wide open. A dull and wet sound travelled to his ears.

Turning back around to face his foe and possible death Carlos tried to get up again only to see it dead. It's head perforated by a sharp rock. Lucky... Exhausted he fell to the ground and passed out. The smell of urine filling the air.

《《《 ○《《《  [ Ulysses ]  》》》○ 》》》

"Not a dream?"

"No."

Ulysses passed the next few minutes baffled by the outcome. How can all that shit be real? It makes no sense!He pulled his hair and shouted. "What about my sister? When will I be able to see her again?"

"I don't know. Maybe tomorrow, in a few months or... never? Depends if you both survive."

"What? Is that happening to her too?" Ulysses exclaimed in surprise. His mood taking a turn.

"Highly probable. She may be fighting to survive as we talk."

In a fit of anger Ulysses jumped through the balcony and strangled the gray being. In anger he shouted. "Survive? Who the fuck you want to survive? Bring me my sister, you asshole! I won't leave you alive to do any of this to her!"

The guide then replied, in an almost bored tone, characteristic of someone who has worked with angry stupid customers in retail all his life. "Calm yourself candidate. You won't be able to do anything to me and even if you could it wouldn't matter either way."

"How can I calm myself down when you just told me my sister will have to fight some damn monster?" Ulysses fumed, his face completely red, tears forming in his eyes. "Bring me to her, now!" That can't be happening. I cannot let this happen. "Take me to her." He couldn't countain his tears anymore. "You can't do this." In the end he collapsed in front of the guide, sobbing, his hands letting go of its throat.

The guide lectured him, just like a stern father would his child. "Do you want to meet her?" Ulysses looked up at him and nodded, his face a mess from tears and mucus. The guide kept going. "Then survive, grab a weapon and survive. Get strong enough to protect her and reach her from wherever you are.

In a clearing Ulysses stood alone. A determined look on his face and a tight grip on the hilt of his long sword.

The creature, hidden in the dark, stared at the human in front. Waiting for the perfect moment to act. Not finding a hint even after a long time his hunger won over his patience and in a mad dash it ran with all his strength towards its prey.

Hearing the high-pitched rough scream Ulysses turned backwards and in a single motion of his arms slashed diagonally, just as instructed by the guide. The creature tried to dodge but its small body, with all the previous momentum bottled up, couldn't escape the wide swing of his longsword.

A big gash opened in the creature's chest and black blood spurted out of it, staining the soil.