Dr. Alon Harven’s office was cold and the air felt heavy, making Ark sway slightly as he stood at attention. Sylvia Leen stood beside him, hands behind her back, even though the Doctor had given her permission to be at ease.

“So, you think there’s been progress, Strider?” The head of the Maze flipped through a stack of papers, multitasking as he spoke with Sylvia.

“Yes, Doctor. I have had discussions with both Ark and Mino on their futures. I believe that a civil service program would suit them both, although joining a guild program might also be beneficial.”

“I see. MidCity affiliates, I presume?”

“Yes, Doctor.”

Harven seemed to ponder this as continued working. Ark noted the glow in his eye that told him the man was also working his netlink at the same time.

Finally, he looked up from his work, the light in his eyes fading as he stared directly at Ark for the first time. “And you, 042, what do you think?”

Frozen in place, Ark looked into the dispassionate eyes of the man who held his fate. For all his life, Harven had been a shadow in the background, observing and judging their every move, and now—standing right in front of him—Ark felt overwhelmed by his proximity.

“Ark? Are you feeling well?” Sylvia’s voice was gentle, bringing him back to reality.

“Yes, Sir,” he blurted, answering the Doctor’s query, “I would like to support Vanguard any way I can.”

The void of emotion in front of him receded slightly, as Harven’s mouth turned upward for a fraction of an inch. “Very good. I applaud the initiative, 042, and your work as well, Strider. It has been a pleasure to follow.” His attention returned to the papers on his desk as he continued. “Let me know when you’ve selected an institution. I’ll have it approved as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Ark managed to stammer out a response, before Sylvia took him gently by the shoulder and let him outside the office. Once he was outside, he felt warmth seeping back into his fingers, and his breath became lighter.

“You did well, Ark,” Sylvia said, patting him on the back, “I think you will do well wherever we send you.”

“Thanks,” Ark said, managing a smile.

“I’ll prepare some options for us to look through later. I’d also like Mino’s input for this. It would be good if you could end up in the same place, after all. Could you go find him and report back to my office in an hour?”

Ark thought on the big boy, who had been his silent companion for several months now. Though they worked well together in Sylvia’s presence, there was a distance between them outside of these lessons that had never waned. Ark thought he knew why, and the knowledge had started to gnaw at him.

“I’ll get him,” Ark said, nodding.

Sylvia smiled and tousled his hair with gentle stroked of her soft hands. “Good, I’ll see you later.” Then she turned and walked down the hallway. Ark followed her with his eyes, then turned in the other direction, looking for Mino.

Pulling up his schedule, Ark determined the most likely area where he might find the giant. Weaving through the labyrinthine corridors and hallways, Ark searched the general area thoroughly, starting with the training grounds. Finding no one there, Ark began looking down side corridors, until he heard a familiar ‘thud’.

Following the sound, Ark spotted Mino standing down a narrow hallway, but he was not alone. The sound of fist on flesh was an anthem within the Maze, and Ark had recognized it long before he saw what was going on.

Around the big boy, three boys were seemingly training their punches, taking turns to deliver blows to Mino’s stomach and sides, all while he merely held up his arms to protect his face.

Off to the side, Ark saw two girls sitting and chatting while the violence was going on before them, completely indifferent to it. They even laughed, at times, whether from their discussion or because of what was happening to Mino, Ark could not tell.

Ark felt his mouth go dry. He tried to swallow, but nearly gagged instead. He knew it was wrong—the rules prohibited violence outside of training—but that was not what disturbed him. What made sweat start to run down his spine was the small fire he had begun to feel in his chest, as it reacted to the scene in front of him.

He felt hot. This was wrong. It was not just about rules, it was about the look on Mino’s face, as he placidly accepted the blows. That hollow look of acceptance made sparks light up all across Ark’s body, and he began to twitch.

One of the girls noticed him and called, “Hey, we got a looker.”

The boys stopped their hammering and turned, eying Ark. “So?” One of the bigger one’s said. He had black hair and stark blue eyes that stood out in his tanned face. He waved Ark off with a hand and turned back toward Mino. “Piss off, Midget. We’re training here.”

As he and the other resumed their pummeling, Ark imagined the weight of a heavy backpack settling on his shoulders. It threatened to tilt him over backward, enough to make him turn around and walk away—even as the fire in his chest told him it was wrong. It would be easier, though. He could just come back later.

In that moment, he met Mino’s eyes. Though his eyes were full of acceptance, Ark also saw the fear and pain hidden in there. Then he felt a hand lifting up the imagined pack on his back, helping him to stand tall. A kindness offered without the thought of reward.

Closing his eyes, Ark knew what he was about to do was stupid. The fire told him it was right, though, and listening to it felt good. Opening his eyes again, Ark marched forward and called out, “Trainee 009! You’ve been called to Strider Leen’s office.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Everyone stopped. The boys looked back at Ark with dark looks in their eyes, but no one said anything. The girls began whispering off to the side, but Ark ignored them. “The order was to appear immediately, Trainee. Let’s go.” He lied with a smoothness that had him almost convinced this was going to work.

The boy with blue eyes turned fully and walked up in front of Ark, towering above him. “Are you sure you’re getting those orders right…” He looked down at Ark’s chest, where his number was visible for all to see, “…042?”

With a brief look at the boy’s chest, Ark responded with the firmness he had learned from the instructors in the Maze. “That’s right, 010. Strider Leen is expecting us. If you obstruct us any further, I will report this.”

“Oh really?” 010 grinned down at him, his voice turning to a harsh whisper, “I’d love to see you try.”

While he tried to stare Ark down, he just kept his eyes trained at a point over his shoulder, repeating the order. “009, you have been called. Please respond.”

Everyone looked at Ark with raised eyebrows, even Mino had turned from placid to surprised. Swallowing, the big boy mumbled, “I’ll be right there.” Squaring his shoulders, he walked past the two other boys, stepping up beside Ark.

010 looked from one to the other with an amused smile on his lips. “You know we get to do whatever we want around here, don’t you?”

Ark did not respond, but he knew it was the truth. These were the best trainees in the Maze, elites who topped all of their training. They had privileges that he could only dream of.

Leaning forward, 010’s smile grew wider. In a hushed tone, he said, “I’ll remember your number.” Then he turned and walked back to the others, ignoring Ark and Mino.

“Let’s go,” Ark said, pushing Mino away from the other trainees. They walked quickly down the hallway, only slowing when they no longer could hear the chattering of the elite trainees.

Silence ensued between them, as they marched down the labyrinth of corridors. Finally, as they neared Sylvia’s office, Mino said, “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” Ark said, “It’s what friends are for, at least Miss Leen says so.”

“Friends?” Mino said, a questioning glance directed down at Ark.

“Yeah,” Ark said, meeting the giant’s eyes with his own and smiled, “Apparently you’re supposed to have at least one.”

Mino returned his smile. “Friends,” he agreed, his voice quiet and solemn.

It was done, no going back. For once, Ark felt good about himself, and the fire in his chest agreed. Come what may, he had a friend.

----------------------------------------

Ark rolled out of his bed and out of sleep. Hitting the floor of the small room he shared with Mino at the Explorer’s guild, he jolted awake, trying to get a handle on the situation. At first, he thought he had been summoned back to the Ashlands, but Mino’s voice brought him back to reality.

“You okay, Ark?”

“What? Yeah, yeah… I’m—” he placed a hand on his head and felt at a small lump that was already developing from the blow “—just had a dream, that’s all.”

“What kind of dream makes you fall out of bed like that?” Mino said, his tone as serious as ever.

“The kind that makes you feel guilty,” Ark said, but refused to elaborate. He stood up and dressed instead. “I’m going for a walk. Don’t worry about me, okay?”

He walked out before he could hear Mino’s response, ambling down the halls of the guild, yawning as he went. Maybe it’s the nerves, he thought, the events of the dream still fresh in his mind. He had never regretted his actions on that day. Had he known what would happen because of his actions, he would still have made the same decision, at least he hoped he would.

You never really know before the choice is right in front of you. It felt like a wise thing to think, and it made him feel better. He had made the right choice and now he was here, back on the right track.

With a finger in his pocket, he fiddled with the coin, the unsolved mystery that he had yet to figure out. With the hour having passed midnight, this was officially the day of their break. The priority was to get out and gain access to the Job system, but he also wanted to spend some time tinkering with the coin.

Taking it out, he flipped it into he air with his thumb, watching it spin around its own axis with mesmerizing flashes of purple whenever the gemstone side came into view. It had a calming effect on him, as he walked down the hallways, trying to put his past behind him.

That effort came to a grinding halt when the coin was suddenly snapped out of the air from right in front of him. For a moment, Ark thought he saw 010 stand in front of him, black hair and blue eyes, but the image quickly distorted back into red hair and green eyes, as Jenson looked at him with a raised eyebrow, holding up his coin.

“What’s this?” His fellow teammate said, voice barely hiding his scorn.

Immediately on guard, fire heating in his chest, Ark carefully said, “Give it back.”

“Why? It doesn’t look like it’s worth much,” Jenson said, before turning it around and seeing the purple gem, then his gaze grew intent. “This is…”

Ark punched him. It was as much a surprise to himself, as it was to Jenson, who barely reacted to the blow outside of a few blinks. Trying to play it cool, Ark reached out his hand and repeated himself. “Give it back.”

“Did you just punch me?”

“Give it back!”

“You just punched me,” Jenson nodded to himself and fisted the coin. Then he hammered his knuckles into Ark’s nose. Flashes of light ensued, and Ark thought he saw something within them. A cavern, leading further in. Then the image was gone, and Ark was on the floor, blinking up at the lamps above.

Jenson loomed above him, a strange expression on his face. He squatted down at Ark’s side, holding the coin up before him. “Do you know what this is?”

“A service coin,” Ark said, reaching up to his nose to staunch the blood he felt seeping out.

“Yeah… Who gave it to you?”

“Alistor. Now give it back!” Ark’s tone was somewhat muffled by the blood clogging up his nose.

“Huh.” Jenson stared at the coin for a bit, then shook his head. “You’re a piece of work, Ark.”

“Says you. Why did you have to punch that hard?”

“Because you punched me. I just returned the favor.” His tone made it seem such an obvious decision to make.

“I’m sorry about that. You took my coin. I want it back.”

“Your coin?” Jenson laughed, “I don’t know what Alistor sees in you, but this is not yours. If you knew how it worked, you wouldn’t dare say that.”

Ark stopped trying to sit up and stared at Jenson. “You know how it works?”

“Yeah,” the boy said, a sad expression on his face, “My dad had one.”

Pausing for a moment, hoping he would continue, Ark finally asked, “How does it work?”

Jenson gave him a look of such dispassionate indifference that Ark could not help but feel a bit bad about asking so blatantly for a favor. With a sigh, the red-head placed the coin on Ark’s chest and stood back up. “I’m not telling you. I’ll give you a hint, though, since you’re covered in the stuff. It’s about blood.”

With a wave of his hand, he walked off, leaving Ark on floor, face a mess with blood. Although Ark’s was already working on ideas based on the clues, he could not help but notice Jenson’s bloody palms, and his sweat-covered clothes. Checking the time again, it was way past midnight. Has he been training all this time?