Chapter 210 - 210: What the hell are these rules?
"Wake up, sleepyhead."
Jett groaned as someone shook him hard enough to rattle the bed. He cracked one eye open. "Urghh… Rey? What the hell is your problem? How did you even get in?"
"Oh, Freya let me in," Rey said with a grin. "She looked pissed though. Lovers' quarrel?" He squatted next to Jett's face, balancing a plate of food in one hand.
Jett tried to roll away, but his half-awake movement sent him sliding right off the bed. He crashed straight into Rey before tumbling onto the floor, landing flat on his back.
"Hey, quit it," Rey grumbled, annoyed as he steadied the plate. "You're heavier than you look."
Jett blinked up at the ceiling, rubbing his head. "How long was I asleep?"
"It's noon, man," Rey said, still holding the plate. "You missed breakfast."
"Crap!" Jett jolted up, bolting for the bathroom.
Water splashed, muffled curses followed, and within minutes he stumbled back out, still drying his hair and trying to pull on his shirt at the same time. A slice of bread hung from his mouth as he muttered, "Can't believe I slept through half the day… and can't believe she left me like that."
Rey flipped through a book, lounging comfortably on Jett's bed. "Could you hurry it up?" he said without looking up. "We're all waiting on you. I'd rather not deal with Elora if you make us late again."
Jett shot him a glare, tugging his boots on. "Yeah, yeah. Keep your feet off my bed."
Rey smirked. "You're in no position to tell me what to do my friend, now hurt it up we've got a trial to attempt."
Jett folded his arms and sighed. "And here I was wondering why you're here. Turns out you're still worried about that."
Rey blushed, scrambling for a lie. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You're a terrible liar," Jett said, smiling. "It's a bit refreshing to see you worried about me, your royal highness."
Rey went red. He stammered, reached for a retraction, then froze when footsteps echoed in the doorway.
"Elora, Freya, Rosa," Rey muttered, panic written on his face.
"The hell are you two doing!?" Elora snapped. "Rey, get off him this instant."
"Yes, ma'am." Rey backed away and released Jett at once.
"Goodness," Rosa said, exasperated. "We've been waiting for hours. What were you two doing?"
Freya stayed silent. She avoided Jett's eyes and folded her arms.
Aiden arrived behind them, hands in his pockets. "Seems like everyone is ready," he said. "This is a bore. You go on. I'll tell the others."
He tapped his ring. A faint glow answered. Voices replied from across dorm as he relayed the message. One by one the others confirmed. They would meet at the trial grounds.
*****
"I don't think I will get used to this place or Alok," Seraphina said, watching the courtyard with sharp interest.
Aiden smirked. "Maybe it is hard for you because your style is all brute force and savagery. Some things need a little finesse and eloquence, you know."
Seraphina bared her claws without warning. "You better hold that mouth, pretty boy, before I tear it up for you," she said, low and dangerous.
Aiden laughed instead of backing down. The laugh was loud enough to cut the tension, "I'd like to see our Honey Badger try."
"Keep your claws down and ignore him," Matthew tapped Seraphina's shoulder. "He's just being a spoiled brat today."
Seraphina hissed under her breath but withdrew her claws. Aiden only grinned, clearly satisfied that he had gotten under her skin.
While the group continued their back-and-forth, Rey had already moved ahead toward Alok. The guide stood still as always, face unreadable, his staff lightly resting on the ground.
"We're ready for the next trial," Rey said.
"If you say so," Alok replied. He was about to open the next portal when Rey suddenly raised a hand.
"Oh, right... before I forget," Rey said. His tone wavered slightly.
Behind him, Rosa crossed her arms and sighed.
"Rey, what's the hold-up now?"
"Don't tell me you're having second thoughts or are you by any chance worried about someone particular?" Aiden added, half amused.
'Damn it, he told that asshole.' Jett sighed.
Even Freya's patience was thinning. "Rey, we've been standing here for ten minutes."
Alok tilted his head. "Is something the matter?"
Rey hesitated. His voice came out quieter this time. "Any advice? You should be able to give that much, right?"
He tried to sound casual, but the tension in his jaw gave him away. He couldn't shake off the thought that his concern about Jett might have been right the whole time. The feeling gnawed at him. He didn't want to admit he was anxious about what the next trial might reveal or confirm.
"Ah, yes. I suppose so," Alok said, raising his hand.
A faint golden light spread around them, the ground starting to ripple like water.
"Sometimes the hardest answers are still the wrong ones."
"Huh?" Morrigan frowned.
"The hell does that mean?" Finn barked.
"Wait, what's happening?!" Freya cried, looking down as her boots started fading.
"I can't see my feet!" Cedric shouted.
"Forget your feet, worry about your whole body!" Jett snapped, his voice cracking mid-sentence as his arms began to vanish.
"No, no, no, can't you tell us something else?!" Rey yelled, reaching out as if to grab Alok's robe but his hand went straight through.
"My apologies," Alok said calmly, watching as their forms dissolved into thin air until the last echo of their voices faded into silence.
*****
"Where am I?" Jett muttered, glancing around.
He stood inside a square white room. The walls stretched endlessly in every direction, smooth and bright, without windows, doors, or shadows. The silence was so complete that his own breathing sounded loud. In the center of the room, glowing text hovered in midair:
[WELCOME TO THE LOBBY, PLEASE WAIT FOR ADJUSTMENT]
"That's odd," Jett said under his breath as he stepped closer. The letters looked solid but flickered faintly like a projection. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He looked around again. No Rey. No Freya. No one. Only the text and the endless white.
'Could it be?' he thought. 'No way. That was just Rey's speculation. Maybe we got separated. Yeah, that's all.'
He rubbed his face, trying not to recall Rey's warning earlier. The one that had sounded like a joke but was starting to feel too real.
Then, new lines appeared before him.
[ADJUSTMENT COMPLETED]
[Variable has been assessed and assigned.]
[Description]
[You are stranded at sea on a small boat with seven others who have seven days to live if not rescued. There is another group on a nearly full 500-capacity ship, but they will not allow your group to board.]
[Rules]
[1. The trial will end if everyone on one side is judged as dead.]
[2. The trial will end if you last seven days.]
[3. The other group cannot leave their ship, but your group can.]
[4. Switching groups is allowed, but the receiving group must all agree.]
[5. You will not die even if your group perishes.]
[6. Rewards will be calculated based on how the trial ends.]
Jett frowned. "What the hell are these rules?"
Before he could finish processing them, the floor dissolved beneath him. His vision blurred, and the sound of crashing waves filled his ears.
Cold wind slapped his face. The scent of salt hit his nose. When his sight cleared, he was standing on an old, creaking wooden boat. The boards beneath his feet were waterlogged and cracked. Around him were seven people each thin, tired, and frightened.
The sky was gray. The horizon stretched empty in all directions. And far away, a massive cruise ship floated silently, gleaming and full of life.
Jett's heart sank. The realization hit him like a punch.
He wasn't meant to win this one. This setup was built for him to fail.
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This is how Aiden actually is, I've never been able to portray it well. But let's see how it goes. ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯