Chapter 5: Element Trial
Charon followed a few steps behind Emerius, purposefully staying distant to delay further conversation.
’This asshole thinks he commands me like I’m his servant, like I’m here to do his bidding!’
The way Emerius had pushed his burdens onto Charon, followed by his command to follow, rubbed him the wrong way.
Still, even with his anger, he made sure to stay quiet about it. Everything pointed towards Emerius being related to a wealthy and powerful family, the kind of people who didn’t want to piss off when you had no strength or support of your own.
They wound through the steel hallways, passing more and more people on their journey.
To Charon’s surprise, the vast majority were near his age. The youngest he saw looked to be fourteen, and the oldest eighteen; however, sixteen seemed to be the most common age.
Most seemed to be in good spirits. They ran around talking with friends, laughing and playing as if they weren’t going to be fighting to the death in a month.
’It’s eerie how much religion can influence people...’
His skin crawled, made all the worse when he realized he may have to kill some of these kids himself.
The walk ended shortly after, ending at a door far larger than the others.
Emerius flashed him an expectant look, prompting Charon to withdraw his holo-pad and bring it up to the door. With a chime, the door slid open, revealing a dimly lit room.
Candles were set along the floor in a grid pattern, everywhere but in the middle, where a dark circle was set, no light breaching the outside.