~Roy
We stood there silently, staring at the announcement.
One week without food and limited medical aid.
There were also ninety flags, and cadets are allowed to have more than one.
This is no longer training. The forest will turn into a battlefield.
Andrew broke the silence first with a sharp tone. "We need a plan. It's too dangerous."
Sophia looked down thoughtfully. "Limited medical kit... And there's no food. What are we supposed to eat there?"
I stepped forward. "I know the Chyfa Forest quite well. It's teeming with life and is nestled between two mountains, with only a few entrances. This makes it difficult to escape and easy to control. They chose it brilliantly."
I paused and drew a map in the air with my finger. "A river cuts through the center of the forest. This will be our main source of water. And if we're lucky, our food source as well."
Crimzo smiled and placed a small axe on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll do the hunting. Believe me, you'll be surprised by what I can do when it's time to hunt something that breathes." His voice was predatory.
The forest will become a battleground. Teams will form, betrayals will emerge, and the weak will be hunted. Everyone will do whatever it takes to hold on to their flags.
On the day of the stage,
When the sun rose, we regrouped. Each person was dressed in their own clothes, and we wore more layers under our armors because it was going to be cold. As always, I had my red scarf and necklace with me. Each of us carried a small backpack containing nothing but medical supplies.
Andrew carried his axe, silent and ready, without his armor.
Sophia's spear rested on her back. Crimzo had his bow on his back and two small axes at his waist. His eyes scanned the area enthusiastically.
I had my two swords hanging on my waist.
We gathered one last time before entering. I opened the map on a nearby tree trunk. I pointed to the northern edge of the forest and said, "Here. This will be our base. It's not too close to the river; being too close could put us in danger. But it's close enough that we can get there if needed."
Crimzo raised an eyebrow. "So, you want to secure a base before looking for the flags?"
I smirked and closed the map. "We'll enter from the south. On our way up, we might find flags and some tokens if we're lucky. Finding them is the not everything."
I leaned in, my voice low. "Listen, it's not about finding the flags. It's about taking them by force."
Andrew let out a short laugh. "You're crazy, man."
Crimzo laughed louder. "That's why I'm here with you guys. Let's make this stage fun."
Sophia stared at us curiously, and perhaps with a hint of concern. "What is this energy you have?"
"Survival instinct," Crimzo replied with an evil smile.
Andrew chuckled. "Don't worry we're just joking around."
The instructors checked and approved the weapons and medical kits at the gate. Their eyes were cold and silent as they scanned us. They told us that direct killing is prohibited and that we should avoid inflicting deadly wounds as much as possible. They also said that there are instructors patroling around the forest and that, if someone is injured badly enough to be in danger of dying after a fight, we should light a big fire to alert them.
Then, the gates opened. The moment they opened, we started running. We entered the Chyfa Forest. Its trees towered like walls, sunlight streaming through them in broken lines. The air was thick with the smell of damp leaves. Our shoes hit the dirt, and we never stopped, moving quickly with our eyes wide open and focused.
Just as I thought, luck was on our side. Within the first hour, we found the first flag folded in the trunk of an old tree like an offering, it was a regular white flag. We gave it to Crimzo.
"Hide it well," I said. "If anyone sees us, we'll become a target." Crimzo smiled and put his flag in a pocket on the back of his belt, closing it tightly. Then, we kept running.
By midday, we finally reached the North Rim. What we found on our path was rather satisfying: another flag, which we gave to Sophia; and three tokens. I don't know exactly how many tokens there are in the forest, but we have to collect a lot if we want the top ranking.
When we arrived, we split up to find a base. Crimzo was the first to whistle for us; we had agreed on a certain whistle to communicate with each other.
When we went to him. "Here!" He waved his hand. We followed him and found it. It was a chamber hidden between two huge boulders. It was half covered with tangled roots and an old fallen tree. It was perfect. It was completely hidden from view above. It was also protected from the wind. It was almost invisible from any direction.
"It looks like nature itself wants us to win," Crimzo smiled.
We settled in and caught our breath. This would be our spot from now on.
I knelt down and drew lines in the dirt with a stick. "We will rest now. But listen: No one will move alone from now on. We will divide into pairs, and two people will always stay together. This includes the ones carrying the flags. Crimzo and me. Sophia, go with Andrew."
Sophia blushed and looked at Andrew. "Okay, let's do it." He replied with a nod and a smile.
I looked toward the river through the trees. It wasn't visible, but I could hear her sound clearly.
"I'm going out with Crimzo to look for food today. Sophia and Andrew will scan the area, looking for any movement or signs of nearby soldiers, as well as flags and tokens, and keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
It was afternoon, and the forest was quiet, with only the sounds of animals to be heard. So far...
We split up and began our mission. Crimzo and I moved quickly. His senses were very sharp. He moved like someone who grew up in the wilderness: every step silent and every movement calculated like a true professional.
As for me, I had my own tricks.
There's a method from a survival book that I learned years ago. I make a trap out of tree bark and put bait, like worms or insects, inside. Then, I put some stones near a quiet bend in the river to restrict the fish's movement. Once the fish gather near the trap, I quickly pounce on them. Within two hours, I had six fish wriggling in a bag.
Crimzo wasn't kidding, either. He had already caught three rabbits and seven birds using silent traps and his bow. He was very efficient.
"Half today, half tomorrow," he said, throwing a rabbit at me. "I'll show you a method I know." He started collecting leaves. "Just wrap the meat in large leaves, bury it under the ashes of a cold fire, and surround it with dry grass. This will prevent moisture and mold."
I nodded, impressed.
An hour later, Andrew and Sophia returned.
Sweat dripped from Andrew's forehead as he sat on the tree trunk. "We saw three cadets passing by in a northeasterly direction. They were very fast and didn't stop, so there's no danger."
Sophia pulled a full bag from her shoulder and opened it. "Look what I found. Medicinal herbs. Painkillers, antiseptics... Even some wound-healing leaves."
The air was filled with the scent of crushed mint and pine from the forest.
That night, we ate half of what we had collected. The fish was cleaned and warmed, and the rabbit was slowly grilled on sticks. Andrew showed us how to season them with ground herbs, which was better than nothing. Sophia barely spoke as she crushed the roots into powder and organized the medical supplies. It's good to see someone as dedicated as she is.
We slept in shifts as we had before. I went first. Nothing moved that night besides the wind, yet none of us slept deeply.
As dawn broke, we woke up.
I said this while stretching my shoulders. "We need to start scanning the area for flags or tokens. We'll move in pairs like yesterday and try to stay out of sight."
Sophia and Andrew nodded and disappeared into the trees.
Crimzo and I headed west. As we walked, he asked, "Do you think we'll find anyone?"
"Let's use our sense of hearing. It's easy to hear a fight or footsteps."
Crimzo nodded.
After hours, he had shot three rabbits cleanly, and we had found two tokens. He stepped forward while I looked for footprints until we heard a sound.
Swords clashing and screaming.
We sneaked behind a slope covered in thick brush. Below, we saw a tall, bloodied cadet fighting three attackers with a sword in his hands. He stood his ground, tough as ever. So were they. This was no longer about training; it was about survival.
I whispered, "He has a flag. That's why they're chasing him."
Crimzo had already drawn his bow.
I nodded to him. "I'll sneak down. When I whistle, aim for the attackers."
I crept down silently and approached them. The battle was almost over. I rushed forward and whistled.
One of the attackers immediately fell from a shot by Crimzo; the arrow was lodged in his shoulder. The others turned around in shock.
I slid down the slope with both swords drawn.
They quickly attacked me, cursing and mumbling.
Steel clashed. Their blows were fast and furious. I blocked one blade and turned low to cut off the other's leg. Crimzo covered my back and shot another cadet in the leg with his bow. Then, I sliced the leg of the last cadet and wounded his hand. Finally, I knocked all of them unconscious with a blow to the head.
We stood alone. The cadet we had saved collapsed to one knee, catching his breath. Then, I found a flag in one of the attackers' clothes.
Perfect timing.
He raised his head and held out his hand. "Thank you... I'm Henry. I owe you one." I stared at him thoughtfully. We could take his flag. But he seems friendly, and he's strong too. He could be useful in the future.
I shook his hand. "Roy. Nice to meet you," I said.
Then I thought to myself.
Henry... That name...
I blinked in surprise. "Wait, aren't you the lowest-ranking cadet?"
He scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "Oh, yes, that's me."
Suddenly, Crimzo jumped in front of us, his voice filled with disbelief. "There's no way, even after a thousand years, that you're in the last rank. You fought like a beast."
Henry's smile didn't change. "It doesn't matter. I would have lost if you hadn't intervened."
I studied him closely. His balance, his footwork... He pretends to be weak. But why? I couldn't figure it out yet. Of course, he had a reason.
"Then take care of yourself. Don't forget to light a fire to alert the instructor to our location. If we leave them like this, they'll lose a lot of blood." I finally said, turning around. "We're leaving."
"Wait," he called out. "Please... I need a favor."
We stopped.
"I have a friend who's badly injured. I don't have a medical kit. If you help me, you can have my flag. I don't care. I just want her to live."
There was a long silence.
Is he offering a flag? He could simply resign or let the instructors know if he's not interested.
I rolled my eyes and looked at him. "You can let the instructors know. If it's a serious injury, they'll take care of it."
He clenched his fist. "I don't want her to be eliminated from the program, so please help me."
I looked at Crimzo, but he just shrugged and looked back at me. "Your call, boss."
I narrowed my eyes. Boss? Since when? Anyway.
I let out a deep breath. "Okay, take us to her."
We quickly made a big fire. Then, we followed Henry through the trees into the forest, which was still reeling from the battle. But it wasn't too far away.
"It's right in front of us," he said in a hushed voice.
When we reached a place littered with rocks, I saw her.
There was a small body curled up on the ground among the rocks. Her short brown hair was stained with dirt and blood. Blood had dried on her side. A deep wound ripped across her upper thigh and shoulder, and a lighter wound stretched across her stomach. Her breathing was shallow and labored.
Crimzo's eyes looked at me. "She will die if we don't intervene quickly."
I looked at her face. She was struggling to breathe.
I put my hand on Henry's shoulder. "Let's get her to Sophia quickly. She's our friend and will take care of her, so follow us."
Henry nodded, gently lifted her into his arms, and staggered a little.
Crimzo came a little closer. "If you're tired, I can carry her."
Henry steadied himself and said, "No need. I'll be fine."
"Then let's go," I said, turning around and heading back to our spot.
It's nice to have a free flag without having to bully anyone.
Sophia and Andrew were already waiting when we got back, and it was late afternoon.
The moment Sophia saw the girl in Henry's arms, her eyes widened. "What happened?"
"Long story," I said.
Crimzo added. "We'll tell you, but first, she's badly injured."
Henry gently set her down, then sat up, breathing heavily.
Sophia rushed forward without hesitation and took charge. She opened her bag and moved her hands with quiet urgency as she wrapped the wounds with healing roots, closing the shoulder wound first. Whispering under her breath, she tried to calm the girl as she cleaned the stomach wound.
"I need more cloth," she said.
Andrew tossed her a shirt he was wearing over his own clothes without saying a word.
"You'll be fine," Sophia said softly to the unconscious girl as she tightened the makeshift wrap. "Just hang in there..."
As time passed, the sun completely set. We told Andrew and Sophia what had happened. The girl's name was Lora. Henry explained how the ambush had been set up and how she had been injured.
Staring into the firelight, he continued, "She was injured when those three attacked us. We fought them together, and she was injured during the battle. Then, I lured them away with my flag. But... That's all I could do."
I said. "She's lucky. She's fine now."
He looked at me seriously. "I was serious. I'm not playing to win for myself anymore. I'll just make sure she wins. But first—" He reached into his bag and placed his flag next to me. "It's yours now."
We exchanged glances.
Andrew smiled. "You can keep it." I nodded in agreement.
Henry shook his head. "No, I've already given you my word. I also want to make sure Lora wins. I'll be at your command."
We nodded in agreement. It's good to have a strong ally. However, I won't give him my full trust. I'll stay alert.
For the next two days, we followed the same routine of hunting, exploring, and taking turns watching over Lora as she recovered. By the time we found a flag and five tokens, we had amassed four flags and ten tokens, meaning we had already succeeded. We have to keep it up.
On the morning of the fourth day, Lora finally opened her eyes while Sophia was cleaning her wound with a mixture of herbs.
"Hey..." she whispered, blinking weakly. "You're the girl who saved me..."
Sophia smiled. "Do you remember?"
"Sort of... Thank you."
She was introduced to all of us later. She looked at Henry. "Take my flag." She had hidden a flag in her shoe.
Henry just smiled. "What? I didn't know you had one of these." He rolled his eyes and said, "No, I'll make sure you succeed here. For your father's sake. Now that you have a flag, it's easier."
We didn't ask what that meant; it had nothing to do with us. Apparently, he had been assigned to protect her during the program.
All that aside, I looked around, and everyone was laughing. For the first time... I felt peaceful.
Two days later—
It was windy and cloudy.
A man with a bloody, swollen head wrapped in a cloth moved through the tall trees. His shoes sank into the mud with each step. He was tall and well-built. The veins on his arms stood out. Blood splattered his shirt; some of it was still wet.
He was carrying a corpse on his left shoulder.
It was Roy.
He was unconscious. There was blood all over his body. One of his arms hung limp, blood dripping from his fingers.
He was unconscious. There was blood all over his body. One of his arms hung limp, blood dripping from his fingers.
With his other hand, he dragged another body. Its head was tilted back and its eyes were closed with a big wound in his stomach.
It was Andrew.
The man moved into a wide-open space surrounded by cadets. There were at least ten of them. They all had different expressions. Some were surprised, while others looked happy.
In the center stood a large cadet.
The man stopped and threw Roy onto the dirt in front of him.
Then he threw Andrew.
The cadets retreated in stunned silence.
The man clapped slowly. "Well... Well. Look what you got me."
He stood upright, blood dripping from his elbow. "Here it is, James: Roy and Andrew. They're still breathing at the moment."
James laughed happily. "Excellent! But what's wrong with your face?"
He put his hand to his head in pain. "You thought they were easy to defeat. This Andrew is a monster who was harder to defeat than Roy. He beat all the men."
James gave him an angry look. "Are you saying that the eight men with you were completely defeated? Do you know how much struggle I had to let them in?" He looked down then exhaled. "However. It doesn't matter. What matters are the results."
He stepped closer and looked into Roy's face. "The little legend with his red scarf. Did you think I'd get over what you did to my cousin?"
He turned around. "What about the girl with the white hair? And the one with the bow?"
The man smiled slowly and coldly. "I killed them."
James looked satisfied. "Excellent. I wanted to kill her with my own hands but never mind. Now..."
He held out his hand.
The tall man dropped four bloody flags on Roy's back.
James picked one up and examined it. "So much power in such a small piece of cloth..."
He held out his hand toward the man who had brought them. "Take two flags. You deserve it."
The man smiled happily, as did everyone else, because they had achieved their desire.