Hours bled into days.
The damp scent of rain lingered, clinging to soil and grass long after a storm had passed.
Now the sun sat behind the Unison Mountains on the far horizon, darkness shrouding the Unison City.
The outskirts' men and women had been sent into an uproar that only lasted a couple of days, so startled by the crash that even Elder Tie-Ru's own esteemed family heard the rumours.
"Some say it was lightning," a fellow elder had told him with a shrug. "The storm had only just begun."
A sign, then.
For many in the outskirts, it only confirmed what they had been taught as children.
Childhood stories of omens, of warnings that came before disaster.
Becuase of it, some tarnished the name of the outskirts, whilst others allowed superstition to guide them, staining the names of the districts' head families instead.
It quietly affected Elder Tie-Ru.
He was one of the only academy elders affiliated with the revered family of Ru.
Not the highest family in the outskirts, but not the lowest. Thus, people suspected he was the reason for the loud bang.
He, however, was quite clueless about the situation.
He had heard that the academy attic had been destroyed, ruined even, but had never thought much of it until he saw it.
The attic was ruined like they said, but it also looked as though someone had tried restoring the grand mess.
Only one other person had visited the unused attic since the day of the said catastrophe.
Did they try fixing it? No, they wouldn't.
But what disturbed Elder Tie-Ru even more, though, was the faint scent of iron. An aroma that came with blood lingered in the attic.
But there was no blood.
There was no one, nothing, only a mess that took him a whole day to clean and fix.
Elder Tie-Ru sighed, raising his palm to his head as he observed the three other elders in silence.
He stood at the front of the room proudly, whilst Elder Sanye, Elder Cosette, and Elder Rivkah sat on their knees a handful of steps before him.
They were seemingly unbothered by his majestic sight. For when one saw Elder Tie-Ru, the first thought that crossed one's mind was a forest blanketed by snow.
His long ice white hair graced the floor. His jade eyes were a dark shade of green.
The elders had become far too accustomed to his appearance.
They were his students from the good old days, after all, those who had stayed in the academy despite graduating the academic fields many years ago.
It would be quite peculiar if they still mistook him for a tree.
Elder Rivkah opened his mouth in question, then closed it when a petite girl of abnormally short height suddenly appeared.
Elder Cosette chuckled when he saw her, whilst Elder Sanye sighed. Nonetheless, the three remained quiet and respectful as the comedically short woman reached Elder Tie-Ru.
Being a maid of their esteemed leader, none were shocked at the youth being allowed to enter and leave the room as she pleased.
Elder Tie-Ru crouched down as she whispered into his left ear. Her voice was sweet and thin.
Upon hearing her words, his eyes shot wide in surprise, then he let out an exasperated breath.
"Good, good, amazing."
The news was brilliant, for there was a chance there would be a new rising star in the academy.
Upon looking at the three elders, Tie-Ru straightened his posture. He remembered that despite knowing Elder Rivkah and the others since youth, he still had to maintain composure.
He coughed twice, then let out an indifferent breath.
He waited a moment before smiling at the young lady.
"You are dismissed."
He coughed lightly.
"Next time, however, do not sneak around. Candidates and higher ups alike will assume you are up to no good."
The maid nodded politely, not daring to speak out of line, and left the unusually large room.
His whisper caught the others' attention, making them question.
"What happened, Elder?"
A reply followed almost instantly, his voice calm and delicate.
"Nothing much." His chest tightened.
"Another man from the outskirts has gone missing near the border, the line the city guards pretend is a wall of history. An elderly man was also found shortly after, beaten half to death for raising his voice where he shouldn't have."
Elder Rivkah groaned at the news. Elder Cosette sighed, indifferent. Elder Sanye remained solemn and silent.
"They never learn, do they."
Elder Cosette let the words fly out of his mouth freely.
But it was true. The outskirts bred desperation faster than sense.
"But despite these unfortunate events, there is good news."
Their gazes raised in unison.
"The youth has finally awakened."
His eyebrows twitched, then settled. Why was the youth even asleep?
Taking a nap in an academy of all places without permission. Despite wondering how the soon to be candidate had gotten inside the academy in the first place, Tie-Ru dismissed the thoughts.
Seconds passed, and they remained silent, unbothered even. The fact that the youth awoke did not mean he would aid the academy, and that was what they needed most, the last candidate.
Noticing they were all still sat on their knees, he spoke.
"Please do not kneel. I may be an esteemed elder, but you three are my subordinates."
To Tie-Ru, they were no different from his own kin.
"That small gesture was only to deceive the maid. My title is superficial."
With those words, the oppressive tension in the room eased, but they chose not to gather seats.
Still kneeling, a smile stretched across Elder Sanye's pale face as he spoke.
"That young man. I have neither met nor seen him, but if what you said earlier is true, he is associated with C04."
"Yes," Tie-Ru announced.
C04 was the only person other than him who had visited the attic, despite not being an elder of the academy.
The eccentric man he had met a few days prior was odd, much like his name, yet strangely trustworthy.
Despite it being their first meeting, the Ru clan held him in high regard.
Tie-Ru was comfortable enough that he even told his subordinates about this meeting.
He glanced at the modern chandeliers at the centre of the ceiling—unlit, unused. They served no purpose beyond decoration.
"I already know what you are going to ask. And my answer is yes."
Tie-Ru smiled at the three men.
"I do too. I have faith in this youth. More than the other dozen candidates. That he will succeed in the trials and events in the academy, benefiting us, our name, and our district.
Not because I have met him, but because anyone associated with C04 must be bright, if not bright, then possibly informed."
The others shook their heads. Elder Sanye replied first.
"It depends on whether he succeeds or fails. We should not raise our hopes. He has accomplished nothing yet."
"You speak the truth," Elder Rivkah announced, as the quiet Elder Cosette squinted his eyes.
"Hmmm," Elder Cosette mumbled.
"We have never met C04. The little I have heard of him is not enough."
He looked up at Tie-Ru with an untruthful smile.
"You even said earlier that the man was yet to wake up and that this C04 was not situated in the room with him."
"What are you getting at?"
Elder Rivkah smiled darkly, his cold words cutting Elder Cosette off.
Elder Cosette chuckled with a dark smile.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. I was just seeing how you would react, brother Rivkah. And that unlike the other students raised by this district's surrounding clans and families, this youth has shown no qualifications."
"Yes, I agree," Elder Sanye said. "It is pointless to rely on no background."
Elder Cosette ignored Elder Sanye. His voice rose above his and continued.
"That is why I have hope that your Ru family's kin will prosper. Even some merchant families might grow."
The others agreed as Elder Tie-Ru nodded with them.
"The ones we truly must watch are the youths who show the most talent and rise to each challenge presented to them, in both academic work and practice."
As inexperienced youths, talent is worth more than skill. Remember that.
The four elders named a few candidates among themselves, comparing the letters received from the clans and family members, weighing the worth of the students to their families.
They had already predicted several rising stars, not from information but from common sense.
Families and clans cannot sponsor or donate Resources to their offspring and kin, thus no external source, unless you are one of importance.
They were in the outskirts, a place where poverty lurked everywhere. The majority had nothing. Despite that, among them, a few stood out. But one was the most daring.
"This student." Tie-Ru raised his finger to the letter's owner.
They did not identify the name, yet they understood this student had gravely harmed their family, causing irreparable damage to their name and standing, forcing them to lower themselves to the outer areas of the outskirts.
"Keep an eye on these candidates," Tie-Ru said, pointing out the candidates who may cause harm and the others that may benefit the elders.
But before he said anything else, his voice rose suddenly.
"I will state this before anything occurs. We are not scouting these candidates. We are merely supervising, noting talents and prodigies. Do not compete, do not manipulate these youths."
He paused for a moment, letting his juniors think, then continued.
"I remember. It was like yesterday when Elder Roan had his title revoked for extorting and manipulating the students for personal benefit."
How selfish and self centred."
Tie-Ru continued. "Please keep this in mind, all of you, and do your very best to be great Elders."
"We would not do anything to the candidates or harm them for our own benefit," Elder Rivkah reassured him.
"We wouldn't dare. I promise we wouldn't."
Elder Cosette remained silent.
As time passed, the elders brought chairs from across the room. Only then did the true conversation begin.
Almost instantly, it felt as if the world had sunk beneath the ocean, an oppressive tension growing beneath their words.
"The trial," Elder Rivkah asked, inclining his head. "Have you heard any news?"
"No," Tie-Ru replied.
His voice grew cold, though he remained sincere. "Only that this year's is no longer the trial of combat."
"It has... changed!" Elder Cosette worryingly asked.
The others' eyebrows raised as they held their breath.
"Yes. This year, it is a trial of the conscious, the Trial of Longing. What one undergoes, I do not know. We no longer have the same information as we did the trial of combat, were one fights the champion."
Tie-Ru shrugged.
Do not worry, if the specialist is late, Sir Idris or i will assume the role, but if we fail, all will become a conundrum."
"Sir Idris, you?"
A smile flashed across Elder Cosette's face.
Then Elder Sanye asked. "Isn't he holding an assembly on what the trial might entail?"
Tie-Ru froze.
"Ah, it seems you are quite correct."
Elder Tie-Ru abruptly picked up his pouch, then glanced at the clock mounted on the shadowed wall.
He was suddenly panicked for a reason the three other elders did not know.
"I will be late," Elder Tie-Ru announced.
He had many things to do, but this one was at the top of his worries.
The three elders' expressions were confused.
Despite the next words, each gave Elder Tie-Ru an unsure smile.
"I promised Sir Idris I would attend his assembly. Rough as he is, what's on the inside matters more than what is shown."
Tie-Ru said his goodbyes and went to the door. At the door, however, he turned back with a smile, his white hair waving as he shifted.
A hint of suspicion clouded his voice as he finally spoke.
"Keep in mind what I have stated."
…
Earlier that day, the coldness of the storm still dwelled. Nothing but an immense chill filled the austere bedroom as the door slammed twice.
The first noise was unsettling.
The second felt reassuring.
An unfathomable shiver ran down Oren's spine. He was lying comfortably in a bed that was pushed against the wall, similar to the drawers and closets that loomed where there should not have been space.
Sweat pooled beneath his neck as his abyss golden eyes shot open with weariness.
"Where am I?" he whispered. "Who was that?"
Oren sucked in a breath. His arms frantically retracted, clutching his chest, and then finally, a quiet whisper escaped his dry, cracked lips.
"What happened? More importantly, how am I... alive?"