Learn. Work. Eat. Sleep.

Learn. Work. Eat. Sleep.

This is all that happens for the next week.

"What could I have expected other than this?"

Easton grits his teeth. He holds the axe that Joseff gave them extra.

"THIS! STUPID! PLACE! IS! BORING!"

With 5 swings, a chunk of the log is chopped off. It clunks on the ground.

"Whoa, Easton!" Kiran looks with his mouth slightly open.

Easton takes a breath and looks at his hands. "I knew I was strong. I made sure to train my body to its absolute peak during The Trials. But this…" He grins widely.

"Hahahahaha! At least something comes from this place working me like a slave! Hahahahahahaha!"

Kiran laughs nervously. "I guess Easton is losing it…"

He starts to chop at the log in front of him. "I can't let Easton do everything."

That's the amount of swings it took Kiran. He drops on his knee.

"Huff… all my strength… and it took 15 swings to chop one log off… huff."

"That's because your technique is terrible. Your breathing is atrocious. And your body is not nearly physically capable enough to do what you are trying to make it do. You stupid red-rank. How did you pass The Trials?"

Each one of Easton's statements made Kiran feel smaller and smaller.

"Honestly… huff… Hahaha… I don't know… I can't remember…"

"How can you not remember 18 years of your life? I understand not remembering everything but certain things need to stand out at least."

"The brochure said I should get my memory back in time. And… like I've remembered some things. But nothing clear." Kiran looks at the ground. "It doesn't feel right."

He turns to Easton. "What about you?"

"Oh." Easton looks up. "I've learnt my lesson more than enough times."

He closes his eyes. "Hmm. I remember a lot. Yeah." He grips his axe. "Not that it feels like it matters in this stupid world."

"Oh cool! So then… have you written your desire yet?"

"Huh?"

"The paper that Emily gave us a week ago. Have you written your desire yet?"

Easton thinks back to his first moments in Arkodia. How confused he was when he woke up. Not because he couldn't remember anything. He couldn't figure out what happened. The voices of those who spoke to him enter his mind. His blood starts to boil as he remembers what everyone told him.

"Stop being so nosy, you stupid red-rank."

He goes back to chopping wood.

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Kiran stands there holding his axe. "Did I say something wrong?"

He stands at the log he needs to chop. He lifts to strike again.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

The trees around the 2 start shaking profusely. They hear loud sounds echo all around them.

"Let's head back red-rank!"

"Right!"

Kiran and Easton sprint back towards the Harmony Tree. Those were the orders given to them if there were any signs of an animal attack.

The sounds are getting louder and louder.

"Do you think it's more of those wild boars?!"

"Anything making trees this big shake like that is not ordinary! It's probably something much bigger!"

They get to a road they recognise and quickly reach the centre with the Harmony Tree. Consus is standing there waving his arm.

"Everyone! Into your cabins immediately! This is not a drill!"

"Yes!" shouts all the other members.

Consus stands ready with his bamboo staff.

"Wait… do I hear… mumbling?"

Consus sees the silhouette of a person coming through the entrance.

He puts his staff back on the ground and breathes out heavily.

"Don't worry everyone! It's only Marie-Jane!"

The people who rushed into their cabins quickly came back out.

"Hello Guild Leader-"

"ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!"

The Strawberry blonde woman, with a long green gown and green flats, yells. The people of Harmony all stand still.

"Curfew at 6 PM starting now until 9 AM! Everyone will eat dinner and breakfast in their cabins. Leaders will get the food!"

Harmony's residents do not react as Marie Jane's words echo. It feels like it goes through the entire forest, as bird chirps follow her command.

"Do I make myself clear?"

"YES MA'AM"

Marie-Jane's green eyes squint. She peers in several directions. "All bad," she thinks. She stomps towards Consus.

"H-Hi M-Marie."

"Why the hell are the defences so incomprehensibly damaged? Have you been slouching?"

"W-Well. You see… ehe…"

"Get. To. Work."

"Of course!"

Consus dashes away into the forest.

Kiran and Easton were watching everything take place. Both of them are behind a cabin wall.

"Whoa…"

"Yeah. That woman is scary."

The day goes on. Most tasks throughout Harmony have been cancelled due to the Guild Leader Marie Jane's curfew.

Night has fallen and the Harmony members all sleep in their rooms.

In one of the cabins, Kiran is sleeping. His face has some sweat on it, and he is turning his head continuously.

"No...No..."

"Keep chasing Kiran! Never stop!"

"I can't…"

"You have to!"

Kiran is hunched over. Hands over his head. Only darkness surrounds him. He keeps hearing a voice.

"I don't want to…" says Kiran

"I know… But you have to!" says the voice.

The area around him starts to vibrate. He hears a building screeching sound that becomes louder and louder, consuming Kiran's senses.

"KIRAN! KEEP CHASING THE LIGHT!"

Kiran is just about to scream. His eyes burst open, mouth ready to yell. He sees Emily standing over him, with her finger over her mouth. Her hand is covering his mouth. He turns bright red.

"HMM?!"

"Shh!"

Emily points towards the outside porch. She slowly removes her hand from Kiran's mouth. She climbs off and heads towards the cabin door. Kiran also stands up from his lower bunk bed. The other Harmony members, who seem to be just a bit older than Kiran, all lie and sleep.

He gets outside and he sees Easton sitting on the ledge of the porch of their cabin. Both he and Easton are wearing the same polka dot pyjamas.

"Red-rank? You're awake?"

"Y-Yeah…"

Kiran wipes the sweat and stares at the liquid. "What was that dream? I have been having it recently… but this time felt so… dark."

Emily walks through and stands outside with Kiran and Easton.

"What the heck you two! The first night Marie-Jane is back, and you two act like this!" Her voice is hushed but gets louder with a high-pitched whisper.

Easton looks at Emily.

"Don't blame me. I can't sleep. I am… a bit anxious because of the animals. Yeah."

Emily scowls.

"Don't play smart with me! And don't talk so loud!"

"I had a bad dream! I didn't mean to like…" Kiran rubs his hands together and looks away.

"Ugh. I know. Can you two just be quiet, and go back to sleep?"

Easton scoffs. "Yeah. I uh, need to use the bathroom. Can you go check for me if it's safe? Cabin Leader?"

"Mmm!! Gosh. You're going to get me in trouble."

Emily storms off towards the bathroom.

"I'll be back now! Don't move!"

Kiran and Easton watch as she turns the corner to leave. They then both turn their heads towards the nature. The sounds of insects, birds and frogs can be heard.

"It's quiet."

"I call it nothing."

They stare for a bit.

"I'm sorry if I said something wrong today Easton. I'm just… trying to figure out my desire." Kiran plays with his fingers. "The only thing that feels natural right now… is that I want to help people."

"Well, that makes sense. That's one of the first lessons taught during The Trials. It's even the OmniOne's second law."

"So that's why the green-haired lady at Kura told me it doesn't mean anything…"

Kiran looks back up to the stars in the sky. "Can you tell me anything else about The Trials, Easton?"

Easton also stares up at the sky. "Yeah. I can tell you it doesn't matter anymore. All that mattered was passing, and you did. Now the only thing that matters to me is not being red-rank. As soon as I can, I'm getting out of this stupid guild."

Easton claws at the wood. "I just know no guild will take me if I don't have a freaking gift. What the hell is a desire supposed to do with it? The OmniOne is so stupid. And confusing."