[Scene: Garden of Passage – Truth Beneath the Sun]
The man's arm trembled.
The fist meant for Kael never landed.
Sweat trickled down his temple as Katrina's whip buzzed beside his neck — the color of lightning, the sound of warning.
He froze.
Then slowly… let go.
Candidate (hoarse, eyes down):
"…I apologize."
His voice cracked. He took a step back, hands up — retreat more than apology.
Katrina gave him a nod. Just that. No lingering glare, no grudge.
The whip retracted with a snap of her fingers.
Kael:
"Crisis averted. Nice reflexes as usual."
Katrina's reply?
A fist bump.
The gloves met with a soft thud, light crackles of residual static trailing behind her knuckles.
Together, they walked back toward the willow tree.
Solis watched them approach, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Solis:
"That's Whisper's Light for you."
Katrina (to Kael):
"I assume your trial had the same final room?"
Kael nodded.
"Yeah — all the gates led to the same place."
Katrina:
"Then let me ask—how'd you know the left one was the real one?"
Kael shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.
Kael:
"Would've gone right, actually.
But this guy — some Tarzoa fellow from Red Tigers — stopped me. Just pointed left and said, 'Trust me.'"
Katrina's head tilted slightly.
"…Tarzoa?"
Kael:
"Big guy. Battle-scarred face. Kinda spooky but chill."
Katrina gave a small nod.
Kael (half-grinning):
"I still don't get why the left one was right, though."
Katrina, quietly:
"It was decided before we even stepped inside the castle."
Kael blinked.
Kael:
"Huh?"
Katrina:
"It was a test of how much you analyse your surroundings."
She began counting off on her fingers.
Katrina:
"Only the left door of the main gate opened."
"Main hall flags? Red and green. Green was on the left — always meant 'proceed.'"
"And the first trial's screen… showed the word 'PASS' on the left side."
Kael stopped walking.
Kael (stunned):
"…You actually noticed all that?"
Katrina:
"Details are the difference between passing and barely passing."
They reached the tree.
Kael flopped down in the grass, arms wide.
Kael:
"Man… I'm tired."
Katrina turned to Solis.
Katrina (low):
"You feel that?"
Solis (calmly):
"Yeah. I do."
Kael (blinking):
"Feel what?"
They both looked up.
Katrina:
"We're still inside."
Kael:
"Uh, we're literally in a garden, Kat. With grass. Trees. Sun."
Solis leaned against the tree.
Solis:
"Look closer."
Katrina continued:
Katrina:
"The sun isn't supposed to be up right now.
We've been in trials all day. It should be night."
Solis:
"And the sunlight in that final chamber? It was off. Like a lamp pretending to be the sun."
Katrina:
"This is just another chamber."
Kael sat up. His grin faded a little.
Kael:
"…So what now? Another test?"
Katrina looked around at the relaxed faces, the echo of laughter.
Katrina:
"No. I doubt it."
Solis:
"This place is for those who passed. Probably just a holding zone."
Katrina:
"A place to gather everyone… for the final speech before the real exam begins."
Kael leaned back again, muttering:
Kael:
"…Man, I hate speeches."