Phase Zero [3]

Aay and Mei exchanged a glance, their earlier camaraderie replaced by a shared sense of determination.

They stepped onto the dock, their footsteps echoing against the weathered wood. The island was eerily silent, the only sound the distant crash of waves against the cliffs.

"Welcome, applicants," a voice called out, its tone dripping with mockery.

A figure emerged from the shadows—a tall man clad in a tailored black tailcoat, crisp white gloves, and a silver-buttoned waistcoat that screamed formality.

His attire resembled that of an aristocratic butler, but the effect was ruined by the jagged scar cutting through his left eyebrow and the sneer twisting his thin lips. "I'm your examiner for this test. You can call me Jarek."

Aay's eyes narrowed, his instincts on high alert.

The man's pristine gloves and polished shoes represent him as a gentleman, but his aura and demeanor do not.

A predator in a costume, Aay thought.

Mei stepped forward, having no concern about Jarek's intimidating aura. "So... Where are we headed now?"

Jarek adjusted his white cuffs, the fabric stark against his sun-leathered skin. "Hold that confidence, girl. You're not the only one."

He gestured to the water, where a second boat glided toward the dock, pulled by a pair of dolphins identical to those that had guided Aay and Mei.

The newcomer sat calmly at the boat, his hands rested in his lap, enjoying his voyage.

The dolphins dove back down into the waters when the task was complete, and the man stood up and hopped ashore.

"The currents were… chatty today," he said.

Mei, who's ever friendly, introduced herself, "Hello! I'm Mei, and this guy is Aay. What's your name?" she asked.

"I'm Sajuan. Sajuan Haygh," he said and nodded toward Aay.

Aay nodded once but kept his guard for the newcomer.

This would be tough if the test were a team-based strategy. I hope not. He thought.

Jarek, already ten paces ahead, snapped his gloves taut with a sound like cracking knuckles. "Move," he curtly said.

Jarek led them along a rocky inlet in the direction of a dense forest grove. The air thickened with the scent of pine and decay.

Mei fell into step beside Sajuan. "So where do you come from, Sir Sajuan?" "I'm from Tall Tree Cliff, by the way!" She added.

Sajuan chuckled. "Nowhere special. Have you ever heard of Sky Peak Mountain?"

"No...?"

"Well, it's the highest mountain in the world." Sajuan smiled, "And the people there are one big group of family, the Haygh Tribe. The protector of the mountain."

"Wow!" Mei's mouth shaped like a circle. "Does that mean your family owns a whole mountain?"

Sajuan smiled, "No. But we lived there, and it's our sacred land. And if I am right, our land is considered a protected place under the Pro Association and bodies of world powers. Well, that's what the elder told me."

"Amazing!" Mei's eyes sparkled.

"Nowhere special? If you'd say it's right, you're basically a protected group of people," Aay said, laced with skepticism.

"Well," Sajuan scratched the back of his head, "we considered ourselves normal and our home—in our view, there's nothing special about us compared to the outside world. And I wish that was true; if it is, the acci—" Sajuan paused and shook his head."

"Anyway," he glances at Aay, "Where do you come from?"

"It's not of your business," Aay said with an unfriendly tone.

Sajuan smiled, "Well, I won't pry. You must have a good reason not to answer me. I can tell because of your heartbeat."

Aay's steps faltered. Heartbeats?

As if he can read his mind, he answered his question, "Jarek's heart, for example," Sajuan added lightly, "beat in a loud, steady pace—it's a sign of an honest but brave person." 

"Honest?" Aay's voice sharpened. "That man's a vulture." 

"Vultures have purpose," Sajuan answered back with a smile. "His rhythm hums with duty. Flawed, but honest." 

Aay's fingers twitched. Against his will, his eyes flared gold. Jarek's aura blazed ahead—pure gold, no lies.

No, it must be wrong. And first of all, I can't trust his word about him hearing a heartbeat. He skeptically thought.

He glances at him to see his inner self, if he's a liar, and has a motive.

But Sajuan's aura glowed a soft gold color; however, there's a thread of obsidian lingered around him.

He's hiding something. Aay's eyes turned sharp.

Mei glanced between them. "Let's just focus on the test, yeah?" 

As they followed Jarek into the thickening forest grove, the examiner stayed deliberately ahead, his butler's coat flapping like crow wings against the gnarled trees. 

The air thickened here, buzzing with the shrieks of unseen birds and the skitter of claws on bark.

Rabbits darted between the trees, avoiding their approach. Caterpillars hung from branches in iridescent cocoons, their bodies pulsing faintly. And high above, a golden strike bird perched on a dead pine, its feathers shimmering like molten metal, its amber eyes locked on the group.

"Listened," Jarek said and halted, his voice crisp and rehearsed as a dinner invitation. "Your task is trifling on paper: fifty caterpillars, twenty rabbits, and that golden nuisance in the tree. And I need them alive. If not, considered youself fail." 

"Alive? Why?" Mei asked.

Though she loved wildlife, catching so many animals without a net would be impossible; most would simply wander off and escaped.

"Corpses teach us nothing," Jarek snapped. "The Pro Association doesn't reward brute force. Precision, control, restraint—these are the marks of a true candidate. Fail to return all of them alive, and consider yourself forfeit."

Sajuan tilted his head. "And if we only manage one or two categories?"

Jarek's smile widened, revealing teeth like tombstones. "Ah. If you secure only catterpillars, only one of you passes. Rabbit? Two. And the bird especially alone grants automatic passage through the actual phase of the exam—you won't need to be tested in the next test. But if you complete all three, you may all toddle off to your next misery."

Aay's jaw clenched. What a sly test! He is practically saying to us not to cooperate and aim only for the bird alone. He glanced at the two with his ability and found no change in their aura.

However, he did not trust his ability and still kept his guard up—in case of insubordination in the task or even worse betrayal.

He glanced back at Jarek. "And if we fail entirely?" he asked.

"Then you duel to the death of your own accord," Jarek said. "The victor earns the right to proceed. The losers… well." He shrugged. "The island's wildlife is always hungry."

Mei paled. "You're sick."

"I'm efficient," Jarek corrected. "Cooperation is a luxury, girl. Survival is not. And in the first place, the Pro Association has been generous enough to pass one of you, in case you fail entirely. So be grateful." He turned around after his speech.

The strike bird shrieked in the branch, its wings snapping open as it launched into the air.

Jarek pulled a pocket watch from his waistcoat, its chain glinting. "You have an hour, and the hour begins… now."

Aay's golden eyes locked onto Sajuan. "Are you going to cooperate with us or not?" he said coldly, "Because if you don't, I need you to answer me now."