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Chapter 50: Rite of Passage

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The sun was high in the sky, gracing the earth with His Majesty.

Sunlight kept a boy's closed eyes blinking, energizing them.

“Ugh, what,”

Ron moved his hands, covering his face.

Opening his eyes, he observed his surroundings. All around him, everyone was lying on the ground, unconscious. They had somehow fainted and were gathered here, an unfamiliar place. Looking around, it seemed like a village by the mountain, located at the side of a cliff.

The village was more of a fortification, enclosed by log walls with corridors on it. Watch towers surrounded the village, giving off the vibe that this could very well be a remote military base.

A poor and antiqued one, though.

Soon, the sound of youngsters growling reached his ears.

His peers were waking up one by one.

“…Ugh, what happened?”

“My head, spinning,”

“Did something knock us out?”

“Where, are we?”

“That Krone, what he’s up to this time?”

The twins, Thiana and Liliana woke up as well.

“Oww my head… Sis?”

“Lily, where, are we,”

“Not sure, eh, Kristy?”

Noticing Kristine beside them, they shook her up. Drool was flowing from her mouth, yet awake, she was quick to wipe it off. She had a confused look, yet the twins shook their head.

There was no explanation.

They observed around them. All forty recruits were there, but Krone was nowhere. Soon Doran, Athea, Kyril woke up as well. Not too long, everyone did.

Ron stood up, examining their surroundings.

Looking around, it seemed the village was desolate, void of people. There were around two dozen houses within the area. Build quite close to each other, they were clearly made to fit within the small fortification.

…But where did the villagers go?

Or was a training camp instead, and not—

“Wait, training camp?”

His mind recalled. That’s right, they were supposed to still be, in Krone’s training camp.

But how did they end up here, all of a sudden.

‘How, when did we,’

He tried hard to remember, yet as if something was blocking his memory.

Unable to remember, he did what was second best.

He examined the whole fortification. Logs were formed into a square, with corridors on top, connected to the ground with stairs. There were two guard towers on each four sides, in addition to one for each corner, making it all twelve.

He could see crossbows and arrows arranged near the stairs, with water bags and a pool with seemingly fresh water to the side. A stash of weapons was nearby.

Why were they here, he pondered again.

His memory seemed to recollect, yet it was still hazy.

‘Weren’t we, in the cabin…? Gathered, ugh,’

Headache hit him.

He had a bad feeling, soon a certain familiar voice reached him.

Three waves, survive.

Hearing that irritating voice, he shuddered.

The owner of the voice might be devious, wicked, infuriating, the epitome of human madness, but for Ron, whatever he said, there would always be a solid reason. That, he had no doubt.

 This voice, was it from his memory?

He closed his eyes, considering his options.

Opening it moment later, he made his decision.

He clapped his hands, loudly. Everyone turned their attention to him.

Then, he raised his right.

“Guys, please gather,”

Hearing his call, they gathered.

Team leaders to the front, all seven of them facing him.

‘Lisha, Ford, Carl, Kyril, Wein, Sasha, Kristine and me, everyone’s here, yet he… Where’s he?’

All eight, each with their members at their back. Ron search his surroundings for Krone, to no avail.

Athea stood behind Ron, for he was the leader of Team Seven. To her back, the twins and Doran. Kristine was there as well, representing the eighth team; logistic team.

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Ron did not hesitate. He was the de facto leader of all teams. Whether everyone liked it or not, he could not care much at the time. Somehow, his bad feeling was screaming within him, telling him to take action.

He addressed;

“Alright everyone, listen. First of all, we need to recall and examine what actually happened, and how come all of us are here. Can anyone remember, or had any idea?”

He waited for anyone to respond.

Exchanging glances, it seemed everyone was as confused as the one next to him or her.

I looked at you, you looked at me, we all looked at each other.

There was no explanation, no recollection, no nothing.

“If no one had any idea, then I’ll just give you guys my theory, treat it as such.”

He explained to all of them.

Seeing that they could not remember, then it was likely being done deliberately. On how it was possible, he could not explain. Yet;

“Everyone here should know already, Krone had ways beyond our understanding.”

That ridiculous speed of him, that mastery of Aurelian Arte.

That reaction speed, that battle instinct, that awe-inspiring presence. 

And when he slid on water, and took ashore that giant squid with his harpoon.

Everyone remembered those details, so they could relate when Ron told them his early deduction;

“It was possible for him to use a kind of hypnosis, and gathered us here,”

Even the word hypnosis was not far-fetched to them. Krone had become an existence they could not deny, an existence they could not relate normal to it.

Him, normal?

Calling heavy rain hot would sound more plausible.

“But, for what reason, we all had no idea. It’s possible he’ll be throwing something ridiculous our way. Maybe a beast or two, we don’t know. Thus, we can only do the next best thing,”

The next best thing.

That was, to examine and evaluate the situation as accurately as possible, and to prepare for any eventualities. It was possible that all of this was Krone’s doing, and that it was a kind of test. Ron and everyone were sure that it was already the end of the one week training camp, so it was possible that this marked the end of it all.

The Rite of Passage, somewhat.

They expected him to throw at them a few bison he caught, maybe even a bear.

Ron discussed what to do with all the leaders.

All of them were confused. Some wanted to move away from the place right away. Somehow, it felt like they were to be butchered should they stay. However, they put aside such thought.

It was crucial to grasp the situation first, and only then to see what direction to take.

Instructing them to ignore conjectures, Ron listened to suggestions and what things they could do. After listening to everyone’s input, he finally spoke;

“Lisha,”

“Huh, yes?”

“We’ll need information on our surroundings. Can your team fulfill this task?”

“That’s our role. Anything specific?”

“Yes, I need all of you to occupy high positions behind this fort. You guys will have to get wide view of the surroundings, gather important information. You will also act as a warning, just in case,”

“Warning, ah, beasts…?”

“Yes, but be careful, and do not go far for now. Take water, weapons, especially crossbows and arrows with you. Ah, check the water first.”

“Got it, shall I move now?”

“Yes, please,”

She nodded, gesturing her team to move.

Equipping themselves with knives, crossbows and arrows, they took water bags from the container. After checking that the water was fine, they began filling the bags with it.

Lisha’s team, consisted of five members including herself, moved to the back of the fort. She sent two pairs to the high ground up the mountain, each to left and right. As for herself, she occupied a high tree in the middle of the two directions, in order to accept detailed report faster and gave immediate command.

“Ford, attend to Lisha’s team and secure the back of the fort. Take those weapons and water first. Use the watch towers.”

“Got it,”

Ron instructed Team Two, to receive information and also to move if need be. As for Team Three, he instructed them to search the whole houses for weapons and anything useful, including food.

“We’ll have to examine what’s available as soon as possible. Gather them all here, I will wait for you,”

“Alright, we’ll move now.”

“Thanks, please.”

He turned to Kristine.

Noticing his gaze, she smiled, tilting her head a bit.

Seeing her innocent eyes, his worry eased a bit.

Somehow, her presence was soothing. It was as if an insurance, that things would not go downhill fast. She was akin to hope, knowing well that crazy Krone would not abandon his own sister in this desolate place. Even if he was to send something ridiculous to them, it would not be so overwhelming, yes?

Because something overwhelming, could cost them their lives.

He was certain, no matter how crazy he was, Krone would not put her in danger.

“Kristine, hate to trouble you, but please attend to our provisions. Hopefully there’s some food in those houses,”

“Alright, leave it to us. My team will search for food and prepare the fire place,”              

“Please do,”

He turned to Team Four to Six.

“Kyril, Wein, Sasha. I need each of your team to attend to each side of the fort, use the watch towers.”

“Alright,”

The three teams moved out, leaving only Team Seven behind, behind Ron.

He turned to them.

“Alright, as for our team, I’ll need all of you to move around, and give me situational report on each front whenever there’s any need. Use the signal mirror if your message is simple, but come here if it’s complicated. The faster, Athea, you’re responsible for the back. Thiana, Liliana, to each side. As for Doran…”

He turned to look at the big boy, blinking.

Ron almost sighed, but held himself.

“Stay here in the front with me, and ah, take your weapon, shield.”

“Oh, okay.”

Being this close to the front gate, there was no need for Doran to do the same.

Kyril’s team was responsible for the front side, with them now checking on the crossbows and arrows. It seemed there were not enough for everyone, so he had to divide them equally to the three teams. After equipping other weapons, they manned the watch towers and the walls.

“Athea, Thiana, Liliana, I’ll be counting on you three. Equip yourself first,”

“Mm,”

“We’ll move now then,”

Athea nodded as she received the command, going straight to the stash of weapons. She picked up two slim swords, a knife, and a set of small throwing knives. The twins followed her, taking a knife each, just in case. They would be using their magic if need be, but having a knife was like an assurance.

Something they rather not use, but still, having one would ease their mind a bit.

Ron waited, with members of Team Three coming now and then, delivering old weapons. There were spears, swords, maces, bows and arrows. While most were worn out and rusty, they could still be useful as backup weapons.

Later, he saw Kristine, hands holding some bags.

As it turned out, there was some food in those houses, but not much. From what they could see, it would only last them for just one day, normally. Thus, he was a bit troubled.

For this, he asked her.

“Should we save? Should we use only half today, or should we go out and hunt?”

“If possible, let’s hunt. We shouldn’t halve our food, else everyone would be worn out,”

“You’re right. I’ll organize a hunting party after—”

His words stuck in his mouth, he noticed signal lights from the back.

It was Lisha’s signal, emergency signal.

“Enemies?”

More lights coming, detailing their observation.

The scouts had specific information they had to transmit should they notice threat. The information they needed to send would be whether enemy came from land or air, fast or slow, the direction, their number and estimate threat level.

From the blinking light, he deduced.

Land threat, coming in fast. Direction, south, west and east. Number around ten, estimate threat level…

High.

Ron froze, for a moment.

A high threat level, what did she see actually?

“…Impossible,”

A high threat level would mean it was enough to kill some of them. The fort was not much, but it was still a fort. Wolves, bears or tigers would not be able to destroy or climb over it, not with them on watch.

Why would Lisha’s team transmit such information? Was it possible for them to make a mistake?

Or was it a beast like a Wyvern?

“Recall Team Three!”

He commanded the members of the logistics.

Running up the watch towers, he tried to take a look of what the scouts noticed. However, it was in vain. While being in watch tower was quite high, it was nowhere enough to notice movement within the pine forest in front of him.

To his side, Kyril asked;

“Hey, the signal just now, did it say threat level High?”

“No doubt,”

“We can’t see anything here. Even if there’s a pack of wolves coming, would the threat level register as high?”

“…We don’t know what’s coming, but,”

He knew.

Lisha’s team was not a professional team, but it was best for him not to ignore their warning. Soon, he had Team Three took the bows and arrows, and equipped themselves close-range weapons. Adding a member from the logistics, he divided them equally to the east and west side.

Taking the remaining bows and arrows, he and the remaining four members of the logistic team went up the front wall.

He left Doran behind, to aid Kristine should she needed anything.

As they took guard of the walls, they finally noticed movements.

Slithering movements, as if lizards. Silhouettes of green and brown kept moving around the forests, coming in close. Yet the size of such movements, puzzled them.

The youngsters moved around the wall, anxious.

“An overgrown lizard?”

“It can’t be a wyvern,”

“No, but it could be its distant cousin.”

“Isn’t this dangerous?”

“Seriously? I thought we’ll be pit with some bulls at most,”

They were alarmed.

Hands readied their crossbows, bows and arrows. They all thought the same thing, they would prefer to kill it further away from their being. Hey, that thing could jump on them from metres away, or sprayed poisonous venom right on their face. Who knows?

One on one with that?

No, thank you!

Not long, Ron’s eyes caught a movement.

Opposite to him, on top of a tree down the hill, one of them.

Dark green skin, its eyes gleamed a little.

Its head was similar to that of a snake, but from comparing with the trees, its size as large as a horse’s. Body like a lizard, its four legs with claws were clinching on the tree trunk.

For a moment, Ron felt like their eyes met.

One man, one beast.

The eyes clearly told him, these creatures were no fools.

Yet for whatever reasons, they had them as targets.

‘Is, is this really, Krone’s doing? No, what the heck. What’s happening here?”

Within him, the usually calm teen, had doubts.

Anxiety gripped him, suffocating. The others also felt the same. As crazy as Krone could be, this could not be real. Yet thinking about the giant squid he took ashore that day, dread filled their being.

Could this really, be real?

As dread did its work, more movements slithered through the ground. Their colours changed as they moved. Barely noticeable, they crept forward.

Nearer.

…

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Chapter 50 ‘Rite of Passage’ End.