Twist the Path

The morning air was thick with unease. The remaining participants of the TSM license training gathered again, now under the watchful eyes of their formidable mentor, Kindra. Her icy demeanor seemed even more intense today, and her sharp gaze swept over the group like a predator surveying its prey.

"Listen carefully," Kindra began, her voice like a whip. "None of you followed the rules."

A murmur of confusion rippled through the group. Fozic shifted uncomfortably, his expression growing grim, while Loria’s hands clenched into fists at her sides.

"Two of you didn’t even manage to attempt the task before the window closed," Kindra continued, her tone laced with disdain. “Your hesitation cost you. And the rest of you? Pathetic. You overthought, underestimated, and failed to execute under pressure. You have all been disqualified."

The words hit like a hammer. The air was knocked out of the room as participants stood frozen in disbelief.

"But we—" one of them started to protest.

"Silence," Kindra snapped, her voice cutting through the noise. "You were warned on Day One. The TSM license isn’t handed out to cowards, fools, or those who think they can cheat the system. You’re all being sent back to Day One. Take this as a lesson—or don’t. I don’t care either way."

The group was left stunned. Disqualified. Just like that.

Fozic’s face flushed with anger and frustration. He exchanged a quick, worried glance with Loria, who looked equally shaken but remained composed. However, it was clear she wasn’t just thinking about her own failure—her thoughts were with Wrex.

“Where’s Wrex?” Fozic muttered, his voice low and tight. “He wasn’t here when all this went down.”

Loria nodded, her eyes darting to the door Wrex had disappeared into during the previous test. “I don’t like this,” she whispered. “None of it feels right.”

As the participants were herded out of the hall, Fozic tried to press for answers. He approached one of the officials standing near the entrance.

“Where’s Wrex Stroggan?” he demanded, his voice laced with barely contained fury.

The official didn’t even blink. “That’s not your concern.”

“It damn well is my concern!”

The official stepped forward, looming over Fozic. “Step back, participant. You have no authority here.”

Fozic’s jaw tightened, but there was nothing more he could do.

Loria paced, her thoughts racing. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. The failure stung—she had pride in her abilities, and being sent back to Day One was a blow. But what gnawed at her more was the mystery surrounding Wrex.

She pulled out a small communication device and made a call.

“This is Loria,” she said when the line connected. “I need information about what happened during today’s exam. And I need it fast.”

The voice on the other end hesitated. “You know how this works, Loria. We can’t—”

“Don’t give me excuses. Just get it done,” she snapped, cutting the call before they could argue further.

Her actions hinted at her privileged background—a world she didn’t talk about often but was willing to use when it mattered.

Elsewhere, in a part of the world cloaked in secrecy, the One True Royal Family observed the chaos unfold. They were the hidden architects behind Montlaif and Point Touch Zero, the enigmatic forces shaping the world and its systems.

The Royal Family's role extended far beyond governance—they were the keepers of the greatest secrets, the creators of mechanisms like the TSM exams that tested and filtered the most exceptional individuals for their purposes.

Their reach was vast, their power unquestionable, and their identity almost entirely unknown. Even the location of the True King’s residence was hidden, protected by a labyrinth of security measures.

From their shadowed vantage point, they watched, analyzed, and pulled strings, their motives as inscrutable as their identities.

The participants were given a week to recover, reflect, and decide if they wanted to attempt the exams again. The failure weighed heavily on all of them, but each responded in their own way.

Fozic returned to his hometown, the frustration and disappointment etched deep into his face. His thoughts were consumed by Wrex. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something sinister was at play.

Loria, on the other hand, threw herself into finding answers. Her network of connections, rooted in her prestigious family, began working tirelessly to uncover what had gone wrong. But the more she dug, the more elusive the truth became.

On the Other Side of the Door

Meanwhile, Wrex stood in a dimly lit room. The air was heavy, and the only light came from a timer counting down ominously on one side of the room.

At the center of the room was a table. Two figures sat on either side of it, their faces obscured by shadows. The atmosphere was oppressive, and Wrex felt a growing sense of unease.

One of the figures spoke, their voice calm and measured. “Sit down, young one. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Wrex hesitated but moved forward, his body tense and his mind racing.

“You’ve had... strange situations lately,” the other figure said, their tone almost conversational. “A lot on your mind.”

Wrex narrowed his eyes. “Who are you? And where are my comrades?”

The first figure leaned forward slightly, their features still hidden. “Do not worry, Mr. Stroggan. Both of them are sound and safe.”

Wrex’s fists clenched at his sides. “What is this? Some kind of sick game? Who’s pulling the strings here?”

“It’s not a game,” the second figure replied. “It’s a path. One that has been laid out for you, though you may not see it yet. By the time you find the answers, you’ll see them clearly.”

Wrex’s mind reeled. None of this made sense. “At least let me contact them,” he demanded. “I need to know they’re okay.”

“They are fine,” the first figure reassured him. “We won’t take much of your time. Just hear us out.”

The words did little to calm Wrex’s growing anger and confusion, but he forced himself to remain composed. His instincts told him there was more at play here than he could yet understand.

As the figures began to speak again, Wrex’s focus sharpened. He needed to glean as much information as possible.

“We know a lot about you, Wrex Stroggan,” one of them said. “And we know about Rizoc.”

Wrex froze. The mention of his old friend sent a chill down his spine.

“Rizoc is the one who put you on this path,” the figure continued. “He supports you from the shadows. And he... is one of us.”

The revelation left Wrex stunned. Rizoc, the man who had guided him for so long, was part of this mysterious group? What did that even mean?

Before Wrex could process the information, the second figure leaned forward.

“We have an offer for you, Wrex. One that will determine your future. But be warned—this is not a decision to take lightly. It’s life or death.”

The weight of the words hung in the air as Wrex stared at the shadowed figures, his mind a whirlwind of emotions.