The fire crackled, casting an orange glow on the faces of the three sitting around it. Zach sat with his legs crossed, staring at the flickering flames as Ivory poked at the fire with a stick. Ivonah, her arms wrapped around her knees, glanced between them, clearly deep in thought.

"So," Ivory said, breaking the silence, "what did you mean earlier, Zach? You said you thought this was simulated?"

Zach blinked, confused for a moment. "Well, yeah," he replied. "This... all of it. It’s just a test, right? We're not actually supposed to be killing each other. It's just risky. But if it was an actual survival race, the officer wouldn’t be telling us we can’t kill each other. It would be a free-for-all. Do whatever you need to survive, no rules, no limits."

Ivonah raised an eyebrow. "But everything here—everything except our fellow mates—can kill us. Didn't you realize that?"

Zach furrowed his brows. "I did. I just thought we'd be beaten to near death, not actually killed."

Ivonah gave a small sigh, her eyes narrowing at the fire. "That's where you’re wrong. I came to that conclusion a while ago, just from going up against these beasts. It’s not a test. It’s survival."

Zach nodded slowly, his mind still working through it all. "I guess I’m still not used to this. I thought we’d be kept alive for the test to see how we handle it. Like... what’s the point of killing someone during a race?"

Ivory chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not everyone plays by the same rules, Zach."

"It's whatever." Zach was already fighting like his life was on the line, so this was no different.

The silence stretched for a moment before Ivonah spoke again, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Speaking of which, what’s up with your speed? Every time we fight, you keep getting faster, stronger. What is that about?"

Zach blinked, surprised by the question. "My... speed?"

"Yeah," Ivonah said, leaning forward slightly. "It’s... kind of ridiculous. You’re faster than us by leaps and bounds. Inhumanly fast. Have you already figured out how to tap into your ‘inner self’?"

Zach looked puzzled. "Inner self? Shit sounds like... like therapy talk?" He paused, then added, "I mean, maybe by accident? I don’t really know what that is."

Ivory furrowed his brows. "How do you not know what it is?"

Ivonah shot Ivory a look before turning back to Zach. "He’s got amnesia. Real bad."

Zach nodded. "Yup, that's me."

Ivonah nodded. "It’s your life force. Everyone has it. It’s like a part of you that builds up over time. And when it’s strong enough, it can evolve into something... special. Something that makes you faster, stronger. Maybe even... more than that."

Zach thought about it, mentally clicking his tongue. So no Kamehameha blasts then? He shifted his weight on the ground. "So... no fireballs? I mean, I was kinda hoping for that."

Ivory let out a short laugh. "Well, you can definitely become a mage if you want to throw fireballs. Just gotta go on your great journey, find a forbidden book and start casting spells."

Zach's eyes widened in disbelief. "Mages? Wait, there’s magic? When do we learn that?"

Ivory froze mid-laugh, the humor draining from his face like water from a cracked dam. His expression morphed into one of confusion, almost a flicker of caution in his eyes. "Magic? I was joking about that." He let out a small chuckle that quickly died. "No, man. Mages are... they’re not something we do." He shook his head slowly, the words heavy in his tone. "Mages are to be killed. They don’t get to exist. It’s not a joke."

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Zach blinked, trying to process it. "Wait, hold up—killed? You’re saying magic’s a death sentence?"

Ivonah leaned forward, her gaze sharp and unwavering. "It’s not about magic," she said, her voice laced with a quiet frustration. "Mages aren’t just magic users. They’re called World Books Practitioners. They don’t just cast spells. They manipulate the very fabric of the world with these damn books." She paused, her lips tightening. "And those books? They don’t create anything good. They breed greed. And greed..." She let the sentence hang in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. "Greed leads to chaos."

Zach looked between them, trying to grasp the weight of what they were saying. "But... why hunt them down? What’s so bad about it? I mean, if they can really control the world... isn’t that kind of... useful?"

Ivonah’s expression darkened, her voice dropping to a quieter.. "Useful? Yeah, maybe. But it’s not just power for the sake of power. Those books... they don’t just change the world, they twist it. They make people obsessed, power-hungry, and willing to burn everything down just to get more. They don’t want peace, they want control." She shook her head, almost disgusted. "That’s why they hunt them. That’s why they kill them. Because those who wield those books... they don’t stop until everything’s destroyed."

Zach asked, "So they’re like... what? Villains? Or... just people who got corrupted by power?"

Ivonah’s lips curled into a bitter smile. "It’s not that simple. They’re not just villains. They’re human—but they’re also dangerous. And once they start down that path, there’s no going back."

Ivory, who had been silent for a moment, spoke up with a grim edge to his voice. "And that’s why we stay the hell away from anything that smells like those books. If you’re lucky, you’ll never even cross paths with one."

Zach felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The idea of someone having the power to change the world at their fingertips, only to be hunted down for it, was... unsettling.

He glanced at Ivory, then at Ivonah. "So... if I had one of those books... I’d be a target? Just for having it?"

Ivonah didn’t hesitate. "Yes. You wouldn’t just be a target. You’d be dead."

Zach swallowed hard, his thoughts racing. A book that can change the world... and it gets you killed. Seems like a hell of a price for power. He glanced down at his hands, the weight of their words settling heavily on his chest. "I’m glad I don’t have one of those books then."

Ivonah’s eyes softened for just a moment, but her voice remained firm. "Just keep it that way. Trust me, the last thing you want is to get caught up in that kind of mess."

Ivory’s voice, gruff but steady, added, "We don’t need that kind of power. Not here. Not now."

Zach paused, taking in the weight of her words. He glanced at his hands, the thought of being hunted because of a book... or the system that gives him such powers.

Hell, what's the difference? I’ve got a system, not a book. He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. At least I have a damn reason to keep my powers quiet.

A long, uneasy silence followed. The fire crackled, its warmth a sharp contrast to the tension now lingering in the air. Finally, Ivonah stood up, stretching her legs. "Enough of that for now. We should get some rest."

Zach nodded, still lost in thought. Ivory stood as well, picking up a nearby branch and tossing it onto the fire. "I’ll take first watch," he said, his voice unusually quiet.

"I’ll join you," Ivonah said, her voice softening. She glanced at Zach. "Get some sleep."

Zach nodded, trying to clear his thoughts, but sleep didn’t come easily. The night was cold, the stars above barely visible through the thick canopy of trees. He lay still, his eyes open as he listened to the sounds of the forest—until a sudden burst of noise pierced the stillness.

It sounded like missiles, whistling through the air, followed by the ground shaking beneath him.

Zach shot up, heart racing. He barely had time to react before the sound of something massive slamming into the ground near them made the earth tremble. A long, iron spear, glistening in the firelight, stabbed into the dirt just feet away from them.

"Move!" Ivonah shouted, her voice urgent as she grabbed Zach’s arm. "Run!"

Before he could even process it, another spear shot through the air, narrowly missing Ivory as he scrambled to his feet.

The three of them bolted, hearts pounding, the sound of the spears’ impacts still ringing in their ears. Zach’s mind raced. What the hell is happening?

A third spear shot toward them, its tip gleaming as it tore through the air. This time, it came close enough that Zach could feel the heat of it slicing the air, narrowly missing Ivory by inches.

"Faster!" Ivonah barked.

Zach didn’t need any more encouragement. They kept running, deeper into the forest, with the sound of the missiles growing louder.