In the heart of a scorched earth consumed by golden flames, a lone teal flower began to unfurl its petals. From its green bud, bluish-hued petals bloomed, each one slowly opening to reveal the delicate, ethereal nature of the flower. The golden flames surrounding it seemed to feed its growth, swirling around the flower like a living thing. The flower surged upward, growing an entire foot in height as more green-blue petals bloomed in a cascade of colour.
The golden flames surged forward like a tidal wave, reaching the flower's emerald stem. Unperturbed, the flower continued to drink in the fiery heat, its petals shimmering as it thrived amidst the destruction.
My eyes shot open, the sting of awakening coursing through me. No longer was I in agony, but... had I passed out? No... the memory came rushing back.
For three hours, I had endured the intense pain as my body was rebuilt, cleaned by the stimulants. I had stayed conscious through it, though barely. When the pain subsided, exhaustion had taken over, and I must have drifted into unconsciousness. But now, I was awake, and that meant one thing: I wasn't dead... I hoped. How long had I been out?
I pushed myself up from the bed and made my way to the mirror. There was a stark difference in my reflection. My teal eyes had grown brighter, almost glowing. My pale skin had developed a subtle sheen, and the ends of my platinum-blonde hair had turned a soft shade of pale blue. Was this normal?
A foul odor hit my senses, and I instinctively raised my hand to my nose, crinkling it in distaste. "I should bathe in the forest river before anything else," I muttered.
***
"The end-of-year report, sir," the colonel said, handing me the thick document.
I took it from him with a sigh, my eyes scanning the numbers. "How many are left now?"
"Just over three hundred."
"Much better than the previous training courses," I murmured. "The stimulants didn't take as many this time. And the other facilities seem to have taken more damage—barely 150 cadets left."
"Fortuitous for us, then."
I flipped through the report, my eyes catching something interesting. "Which of them stands out the most?"
"Ranks 1, 23, and 156 have consistently outperformed the others in their groups."
"Rank 1, I expected," I replied, nodding. "But 23 is an interesting case. They should have had a higher rank, but something's been holding them back. And to see potential from someone in the hundreds... it's unexpected." I paused, eyeing the colonel. "Anyone else?"
The colonel hesitated, his gaze flickering. He clearly knew someone was showing promise, but he seemed reluctant to say it. "903," he finally muttered.
"903 is still here?" I raised an eyebrow. "It's been a year since the program began. Shouldn't anyone above 600 be gone by now?"
"Yes, sir," the colonel confirmed, "She's one of the twenty left from the 300s and up. Her improvement rate after ingesting the stimulant has been extraordinary. She's caught up with the others, even surpassed them."
"Whar are your thoughts on this, Colonel?" I leaned forward, intrigued.
The colonel took a moment before responding, his voice careful. "At first, I thought it was just a temporary success. But after a month of higher doses of stimulants and increased training, it was like she transformed into someone else entirely."
A spark of curiosity flared within me. "Tell me everything."
***
As we marched through the forest, I kept to the edges of the group, staying in the shadows. Our instructor led the remaining thirty cadets to the base of the mountain. After the stimulant purge, the three hundred survivors had been split into ten groups, each led by an artificial trainer. I was in group three—one of the more elite groups, though thankfully, none of the top ten cadets paid me any attention. They ignored me, and I preferred it that way.
It was strange, though, to see someone ranked first in such a mixed group. My guess was that the instructors wanted to motivate the lower ranks, but as the lowest-ranked cadet here, I didn't think it would have any effect on me. Only make me feel inferior.
"We're here," the instructor announced, stopping at the foot of the mountain. He turned to us. "Your task today is simple: follow the mountain path, retrieve a box at the end, and return with it. Only a few boxes are available, so whoever doesn't return with one won't be eating dinner tonight. Go!"
The race began, but I didn't rush. I took my time, staying in the middle of the pack, careful not to exert too much energy.
The path was treacherous—chasm-crossings, sharp traps in caves, and constant obstacles designed to push us to our limits. I passed several cadets, worn out from the effort, some stopping to catch their breath. A few, I noticed, hid behind rocks, hoping to steal a box from someone who'd managed to grab one first.
Continuing forward, I somehow reached the front of the group, stumbling to a stop as I approached the river's edge. Falling to my knees, I cupped the flowing water in my hands, gulping down the cool liquid as it soothed my parched throat. Across the river, I spotted a small island, its rocks breaking the current, with ten small boxes scattered atop them like fragile treasures.
Huffing for breath, I remained seated on the rocks, letting my body gather strength before picking up one of the chests and placing it on my lap. "Two, six, ten... I'm the first, then." A strange feeling settled in my chest—one I wasn't used to. Not being last.
Cool water splashed against me as I rested, droplets soaking into my clothes, but I needed a moment before making my descent. If I wanted to keep this box, I'd have to be ready for what awaited me on the way back.
A voice called out from the riverbank.
"Hey! Mind throwing a chest over?"
Glancing up, I saw a boy standing at the water's edge, his arms crossed over his chest. His dark uniform clung to his frame, the fabric stiff and worn. "This is the only set of clothes I have," he added, his tone light but edged with a practical concern. "I'd rather not soak them this early."
I sighed. It was hard not to relate.
After the stimulants were forced on us, the instructors confiscated all spare clothing. We were left with whatever we had on at the time—no replacements, no extras. My own outfit was a patchwork of stolen survival. A white and green blouse, still intact despite the brutal training, and loose sweatpants taken from the corpse of a female cadet. My original clothes had been torn to shreds, either by my siblings or the endless trials we endured. Scavenging had become second nature.
I stood, gripping the chest. Then, with a quick motion, I launched it through the air. The box landed near the riverbank with a soft thud, just within his reach.
"Huh." The boy tilted his head, surprised. "That's kind of you. Thanks."
I sat back down, ignoring the comment.
A moment later, he lowered himself onto the chest I had thrown, resting his elbows on his knees. "You wanna' head back down together?"
I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, recognizing him fully, I scoffed.
"With you, Samuel?" My voice was flat. "No. I already have other plans."
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Heh. Alright, let's just say I owe you a favor, then."
With that, Samuel picked up his chest, slung it under his arm, and started jogging down the mountain, disappearing into the trees.
I stayed behind a little longer, watching as more cadets arrived and took their chests, one by one, until only four remained—including mine. With a final deep breath, I picked up my box and made my way down.
The return route was treacherous, filled with collapsed bodies of those who had pushed too hard, too fast. Some children were still struggling upward, while others lingered behind rocks and trees, lying in wait for an easy opportunity. I stayed alert, weaving past them as I pressed forward.
The path led me through a cave, its walls slick with moisture. The remnants of earlier struggles were evident—scattered arrows, fresh blood smeared across the stone. I stepped over a fallen cadet, my grip tightening on the chest.
Then, something flickered in the dim light. A tiny glow, hovering just above the ground.
I slowed my pace, curiosity drawing me toward it. The speck of light drifted lazily, pulsing with a soft golden hue. As I approached, I realized—it was an insect. Its abdomen radiated a warm luminescence, like a tiny star trapped in the dark.
Fascinated, I reached out a finger. For a brief moment, it landed there, its delicate legs tickling my skin. Then, as quickly as it had come, it lifted off, fluttering past my ear before vanishing into the shadows. A quiet giggle escaped me.
I almost forgot where I was—almost. But reality came crashing back the moment I reached the cave's exit. Two figures blocked my path.
One was stocky and broad-shouldered, his face shadowed by the dim light. The other, slightly smaller but covered in fresh bruises, stepped forward with a scowl.
"Hand over the box," the bigger one demanded.
I exhaled sharply through my nose, unsurprised.
"I'm afraid I need this," I replied evenly. "Would it suffice if I gave you a different one later?"
The bruised boy cracked his knuckles. "We want that box." He said, then he lunged.
I stepped back, avoiding his grasp with ease. Then, without hesitation, I swung the chest in an arc—slamming it into the back of his head. His skull smacked against the stone wall with a dull thud, and he collapsed to the ground. Before he could even groan in pain, I brought my boot down on his outstretched hand.
A sharp, broken scream tore from his throat. "Ahhh! Get her already!"
The larger boy moved in, his arm swinging downward in a heavy arc.
I ducked low, slipping under his attack, and drove my knee straight into his gut. His breath left him in a choked gasp as he stumbled back, clutching his stomach. I straightened, my eyes locking onto his with quiet, unshaken intensity.
The blood drained from his face as he saw the way I held the box—poised to strike again. "W-w-wait—"
The chest came down with full force. A wet crack split the air, followed by a spray of crimson against the cave wall. The body slumped forward.
I stepped over them both, my expression unreadable. "This will be your only warning," I murmured. "There will never be a second chance." Without looking back, I left them behind and continued my descent.
By the time I reached the bottom, six others had already arrived with their chests. Some familiar faces, some not. The instructor stood waiting.
As I approached, he placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "I see you were successful, AKP." His eyes flickered to the dried blood on my cheek. A tired sigh left him. "A little too much blood, though."
"Sorry, sir. I deemed extra action necessary."
He studied me for a moment, then gave a small nod. "It's fine." Sensing my restlessness, he asked, "Is there something you wish to say?"
I hesitated. Then, mustering the courage, I lifted my head and spoke.
"In the cave on my way back, I saw a small insect that could glow. It landed on my finger. What is it called?"
For the first time, the instructor's expression softened, if only slightly. He removed his hand from my shoulder, clasping it behind his back. "That is a firefly," he said simply. "You can find them all over the mountain, especially in the caves."
I nodded slowly.
"Rest for now," he added. "The next task will be announced soon. "He turned away, moving on to the next arrival.
I remained still. "...Firefly," I whispered to myself, pressing my fingers to my lips as a grin spread across my face.
What a beautiful name.