Caged Sky

The week of rest for the TSM participants was anything but peaceful. The sting of failure hung heavy in the air. Loria, usually composed and confident, found herself seething with frustration as her people placed her on strict standby. She wasn’t allowed to move freely or inquire about Wrex’s situation. It felt like a cage, an invisible one that bound her to silence and inaction.

Back in her apartment, Loria sat at her desk, pulling out the special black pen. The sleek device, with its matte surface and glowing tip, hummed faintly as she activated it. The words she wrote would only be visible to those she chose. She began to jot down her thoughts, messages to herself and to the future—notes of suspicion, fragments of memories, and questions that clawed at her mind.

One note in particular stood out: "He was there when it began. He has to know something."

As her hand paused, she thought back to when she and Wrex were children. The camp near the borders was vivid in her memory. She remembered how her family had moved to Wrex’s hometown after she turned five, under the pretense of a special mission. Her father, always tight-lipped, seemed to know something about Wrex’s lineage—something he never shared. Loria clenched her fists. Why didn’t he ever tell me? What is it about Wrex’s family that makes them so important?

Across town, Fozic wasn’t faring much better. Suspicion gnawed at him like a relentless beast. He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had orchestrated their failure, that this wasn’t just a coincidence. Alone in his modest home, he pieced together the fragments of his thoughts.

Fozic’s old friend, a figure shrouded in secrecy, had always been involved in higher government matters. Could it be that Wrex’s involvement in the exams was part of a larger plan? And why did everything seem to point toward the true residents—the enigmatic royal family hidden from the world?

Despite his growing doubts, Fozic made one thing clear to himself: he would not continue the TSM path. On the day before the registration reopened, he resolved to leave it behind. His instincts told him that staying meant putting himself—and perhaps Wrex—at greater risk.

Meanwhile, Loria had a different resolve. She wouldn’t give up, not now, not when Wrex might need her. Standing outside the TSM registration building, she turned to the administrator with a steady voice. “At least tell me if my comrade is safe. I know he’s the only one who passed. What happens now?”

The administrator glanced up from his screen, his face blank. “Wrex Stroggan won’t proceed further unless the rest of you catch up. That means passing day one and day two again. Until then, he’s on hold.”

Loria’s heart sank, but her determination only grew stronger. As she left the building, her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Loria,” said Qoval, their former mentor. He stood leaning against the wall, his expression unreadable. “You’re persistent, aren’t you?”

She stopped in her tracks. “Qoval. You’re here.”

He nodded. “I can’t say much, but… pay attention. Not all battles are won with strength. Sometimes, the truth you seek is hidden in the shadows.”

Before she could ask more, Qoval turned and walked away, leaving her with more questions than answers.

In a dimly lit room far from the bustling cities, Wrex sat at a table across from two shadowy figures. The room was sterile, cold, and lined with monitors displaying feeds he couldn’t understand. The faces of the two individuals were obscured by the low lighting, but their voices carried an air of authority.

“Sit down, young one. We’ve been waiting for you,” the first said, his tone calm but firm.

Wrex complied, his eyes scanning the room for anything familiar. His mind raced with questions about his comrades.

“We know you’ve had… unusual circumstances,” said the second figure, her voice softer but no less commanding. “And we know you’re searching for answers. Rest assured, when the time comes, you’ll see things clearly.”

“Where are my friends?” Wrex demanded. “What happened to them? Did they fail because of you?”

The first figure raised a hand to silence him. “Do not worry, Mr. Stroggan. They are safe, for now. But their failure is not our concern. You, however, are.”

A chill ran down Wrex’s spine. “What do you want from me?”

The woman leaned forward slightly. “The Raid awaits you, Stroggan. In two months, you’ll begin your task. You cannot decline. And this task… it will bring you closer to what you seek.”

“The truth,” the man added. “About the world, the royal family, and even your own lineage. It’s all within your grasp. But first, you’ll complete the exams, gather a team, and follow our directives. You are ours now.”

Wrex clenched his fists, anger bubbling beneath his calm exterior. “You think you can control me? Use me like a pawn?”

The man chuckled. “Control is such a crude word. We prefer to think of it as guidance. After all, we know what you want, and we can help you achieve it. All you need to do is cooperate.”

Wrex’s mind raced. He hated the idea of being manipulated, but if this was his fastest path to uncovering the truth, could he afford to refuse? His thoughts flickered to the old stories his father used to tell, about the harsh truths hidden within the borders of the true residents’ territory.

The woman leaned back, her voice cutting through his thoughts. “You have time to think, young one. But not much. The Raid will begin soon, and you’ll be ready when it does. Dismissed.”

The room fell silent as the two figures rose and exited, leaving Wrex alone. The monitors around him flickered, displaying maps, names, and fragments of information he couldn’t piece together.

As he stared at the table in front of him, Wrex muttered under his breath, “If this is the only way to freedom… so be it.” 

The beginning of the Raid and the rising of the ...