Akalites

James fell on a nearby seat. Gasps filling his ears as he stared through the transparent walls. An island, forgotten in the annals of time, greeted their quivering eyes. Clouds darker than ink toward over the majestic mountains below. Lightning twisted like coiling dragons, illuminating the gloomy skies. Spewing blackened water in an unending torrent.

They floated upon a sea of black; the wind echoing the half-formed mysteries within their minds.

A distinct odor filled James's nose. Involuntarily, he turned to the side. A trembling human female came into view. However, James's eyes lingered on the wet patch on the groin region of her robes.

"Everyone, please calm down!" Cefero clicked his fingers. The walls transformed once more. Returning to its previous, luxurious state. The youths, however, would never remain the same.

'If they're scared of only the island, what will they do when they meet the Akalites?' Cefero slowly shook his head. He rose to his feet, "We'll disembark in two hours. Please ensure you do as instructed." Cefero's voice turned grave, "I repeat, on no condition should you remain aboard when it's time to disembark. Do you hear me?!"

Silence reigned supreme. Cefero's warnings, however, woke some youths from their stupor. More than anything, they wanted to remain on the ship than venture into the petrifying island.

Cefero's gaze scanned the room. A slight smile tugged at the sides of his lips. He already had countermeasures if someone disobeyed his order.

"You shouldn't have showed them the island, Cefero." Cefero chuckled as he turned towards Henriksen. "What difference does it make if they find out about it now?"

Henriksen coughed dryly. He didn't argue. 'Bena's habits is rubbing off on him.' Henriksen shook his head.

His eyes roamed the room, gradually soaking in the reactions of the youths. 'I don't blame them for being scared.' Henriksen sighed. 'I can still remember the first time I saw the island... however, I doubt they're prepared for the Akalites.'

Scanning Completed.

Name: Kynar.

Location: Odon Sea.

Oddities:

-Nether.

-Saven Ore.

-Akalites.

-Spatial Bridges.

-Hoog.

The System has identified the User's Item - Damned Souls, on the island.

'It's the same island.' James couldn't forget what happened after he used the Milkyway stone. While others feared their arrival to Kynar, James couldn't believe he was making a return.

'If I was already here, then why did that bastard make me go through all that trouble?' James clenched his fist as he thought of the old man. 'Wait... If I came here directly, would I have survived?' James shuddered.

Intentionally or not, James knew the old man's actions saved his life. Nothing could save him if had wandered towards the village with his measly Apprentice Level.

'I have to—' a low thud cut off James's thoughts. A sharp, piercing shriek followed. James, as well as most youths, turned towards the source. The exit of the dinning hall. There, a Lizardman kneeled. Clenching his mangled right arm.

A translucent hexagonal barrier covered the golden doors. Thick green blood slid down its surface. No one needed an interpreter to translate what happened. Succumbing to his fear, the Lizardman fled. However, the barrier halted his escape. Pressed for time and in a fit of rage, he struck the barrier. Nothing would halt his escape, he believed. However, reality was often crueler than imagination.

"What's the meaning of this?" A demon snapped. He turned towards Cefero, his eyes gleaming with fury. "Are you trying to trap us here?"

"Do I need to answer such a useless question? What's the use of a barrier?" Cefero snickered.

Urki's eyes reddened. How dare a mere human talk to him like that? He wouldn't have it. "You're just a pompous dog! Do you think yourself important because you came here before us?!" Urik didn't plan on backing off, he continued, "You are nothing. Even filth is more valuable than you. Go kill your..." Urki's words trailed off. His body trembled uncontrollably.

Cefero had turned his head away, yawning impassively.

Saying nothing further, Urik charged towards the dais. However, an outstretched hand blocked his path. Before he could speak, a gloomy voice followed, "Calm down Urik. Do you want to end up like him?" Urumi, Urik's twin sister, pointed towards Chot, the wailing Lizardman. Only then did Urik regain his calm. However, his bloodthirsty eyes remained fixated on Cefero.

'Why did she step in?' Cefero smiled wryly. Urumi foiled his plot. With the barrier protecting the dais, he didn't have to bother with the youths attacking him. Even if the barrier failed, he was more than capable of handling himself.

A few stared at the seated trio with undisguised hatred. They believed they'd survived the worst trials during the selection. No one expected their next location to increase the steaks. Unable to vent their anger, they could only wait for the inevitable.

Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes to hours. And then the appointed time came. A foghorn echoed in quick sequence. Each louder than the former.

'We have arrived.' James slouched slightly. He had no intentions of being among the first to disembark. 'It doesn't look like she will come here...' James mused. He smiled as he remembered Aebalar's miserable state. Although he still felt weak, his condition was better than hers. He felt bad that he wouldn't be able to mock her before entering the Village.

'Finally, we are here.' Henriksen stood up. He tilted his body from side to side while stretching his arms. Boufal remained seated while Cefero also stood up.

"It's time." Cefero declared. He turned towards Henriksen and then Boufal, each nodding. He then said, "The Caretakers will arrive soon. They will guide you to your area."

Gasps filled the hall with some youths knitting their brows. None of them had fond memories of the Caretakers.

Cefero ignored the gaps of the youths. At that moment, Boufal also stood up. Coinciding with the transformation of the barrier surrounding the dais. It slowly turned translucent before turning opaque.

Those within five feet of the transformed barrier retreated. Even those who stood a significant distance away retreated.

"Once again, I welcome you to the Village. I Hope we'll be able to meet again!" Cefero's farewell echoed within the room.

"Where do you—?" Before Urik could finish his statement, a distinct crack echoed. Fault lines covered the barrier before shattering into countless pieces. However, Cefero, Henriksen and Boufal had disappeared.

Another crack followed. This time, they turned towards the exit. The barrier there had also shattered.

'It's gone! No one can stop us now!' With neither the barrier's hindrance nor Cefero's deterrence, who could stop them from fleeing? They thought.

While others gather their thoughts, a few sprinted towards the exit. They had to leave, no matter what.

Warning! Warning! Warning!

Before James could read the system's message, the golden doors parted. Five identical figures in caretaker robes walked into the hall.

'Oh no. This isn't good.' James panicked. 'System, turn off my hearing!'

User's hearing disabled!

James could never forget the five beauties, especially the one at the middle.

"Children, welcome to Kynar. My name is Noeny and these are my sisters." Noeny and her sisters bowed slightly.

Silence enveloped the room. Their melodious voice soothed the frenzied youths. Their eyes dimmed, smiling carelessly at the five Sirens.

"We'll lead you to the Village." Noeny paused. Her smile brightened. "Those who passed the rights Ceremony please step forward." Noeny's blue eyes scanned the room.

Ibane, the Halfling, stepped forward. Odrik, another Halfling, followed. Aithlin and Kayla followed. Only then did James join them.

'He looks familiar.' Noeny gazed at James. 'I remember now. He was in the same room the incident occurred.' She finally recognized James. The Troll incident almost cost them their lives. Coupled with her remarkable memory, recognizing James was an effortless task for her. 'But, how does someone so unremarkable survive up to this point?' Noeny's brows creased slightly.

She suddenly felt a touch on her shoulder. "What's the problem, Noeny?"

Noeny turned towards her sisters. Their smiles had turned into concern.

"Nothing. I'm sorry for the delay." Noeny reassured. "Let's guide them to the Village." She added. Smiles returned to their lips once more.

"Children, please follow me," Noeny said.

She turned around to leave. Her sisters mimicked her actions. The hypnotized youth followed behind, matching their rhythm.

'What happen earlier? Why did she look at me like that?' James panicked earlier. He thought Noeny had seen through him. 'No wonder Cefero didn't look bothered. So this is how they bring people to Kynar.'

James wandered why Cefero revealed the island to them. If their roles were reversed, he wouldn't have done something so foolish. Although the barrier prevented them from attacking his group and leaving, what if the unexpected happened? However, after Noeny and her sisters revealed themselves, he perfectly understood Cefero's actions. No matter what they did, the Sirens would get them off the vessel. They literally had no choice.

Walking through a series of unfamiliar hallways, the group arrived before a steel door. The Sirens placed their right hand on the door while chanting in a foreign dialect.

James's eyes narrowed. 'That's the Omen Tongues,' he thought. Others may not know, but he understood every word said. Thanks to Blay De Tover's memories.

He had used the same language to speak with the Halflings in the Tiodon Kingdom.

Despite his thoughts, James showed no reaction. The Sirens chanting intensified. A creak followed. Albeit one associated with a rusted latch. Slowly, a path opened within the steel door, and a golden radiance fell on James's face.

'Huh? How?' The familiar warmth of the summer sun and fresh air seeped through the gradually expanding steel door.

'Is this am illusion?' James recollected the nightmarish visage of Kynar and its environment. How could he feel the warmth of the sun? It made no sense.

James rein in his thoughts. He couldn't afford to expose himself, not after going through so much.

"Sisters, that's enough." Noeny heaved. "This path should accommodate them." She added. She then faced the youths, "Children, please go on. Someone will receive you on the other side."

She removed the bracelet on her wrist, before placing it on James's wrist. Another bracelet immediately replaced the former. Repeating the same process, she placed the blue bracelets on those who won the rights ceremony. With gentle smiles, the sirens bade the youths farewell.

This time, James led the group. He was the first recipient of the bracelet.

Scanning Completed!

Name: Saven Bracelet

Rank: Superb.

The Item does not possess any threat to the user.

'Hahaha... I thought I was a goner.' James relaxed his mental guard. Focusing solely on what lay ahead. They walked down a flight of stairs, bending and sloping at an awkward angle. However, no one tripped or fell.

'We are almost there.' James felt the warmth cover his body. The air had gotten fresher, too. The occasional chirping of birds and crashing of waves reached him. He didn't know what awaited him at the bottom of the stairs.

"They're almost here... No. Don't do that... Until they arrive."

James deliberately reduced his pace. Ibane and Odrik overtook him. He heard the faint mutterings of those waiting for them, however; he had no intentions of arriving first.

The radiance within the path slowly brightened. Within a minute, the group emerged from an underground tunnel.

Five middle-aged men stood at the harbor, each wearing beaming smiles. The hypnotic effects of the Sirens had disappeared, and so the path leading to the tunnel.

"Welcome to the Village!"