Chapter 12: Choices

The room they entered was massive. Statues of humanoids and beasts lined the walls. At the center sat a large, ornate table with a single object resting atop it: a wooden box. Charles stepped forward and unlatched the lid.

Inside lay a glass knife, shimmering faintly under the room’s pale light.

“What we are about to do,” Charles announced, “is determine which of the five magical natures you each possess. As I call your names, please step forward and pick up the knife.”

He unrolled a scroll and read the first name.

“Frank!”

No one responded. Some player looked around for Frank. “Frank?” Charles repeated.

Charles sighed. “Next. Ray?”

Tayo stood, a bit nervous, he made his way to the box. As his fingers closed around the glass handle of the knife, he felt... nothing. No shift. No pulse. Just stillness. Nothing changed.

Charles frowned. “A moment please.”

Tayo dropped the knife back into its cradle and stepped aside. Charles turned toward Hiro.

“Is this the correct knife?”

“Yes,” she said. “I tested it myself.”

Hiro stepped forward and touched it. The knife glowed a faint red.

Charles removed his glove and held the blade. It turned silver.

Hiro leaned closer to him and murmured, “Maybe skip him. Try the next.”

Charles nodded.

“Sir, you may return to your seat.”

The process continued.

One player gripped the knife—yellow. Another—blue. Then green.

When it was Henry’s turn, he stepped up boldly. The knife flared into a red color. He returned to his seat beside Tayo, his grin wide.

“It turned red,” he whispered proudly.

When the final player had been tested, Charles stepped forward once more.

“Each color represents a magical nature. Red is fire. Yellow, wind. Blue, water. Green, earth. Silver... lightning.”

Cries of excitement broke out among some of the attendees. Henry pumped his fist into the air. Tayo remained silent, brow furrowed.

“For those who did not receive a color,” Charles continued, “it may be necessary to increase your level and return at a later time. That will be all.”

Marie stepped forward. “Thank you again. For those interested in joining our guild, please wait behind.”

The room began to empty once more. Tayo remained, walking toward Charles, who was scribbling onto a parchment.

“Excuse me,” Tayo said.

Without looking up, Charles replied, “Speak with Marie. Membership is three hundred.”

“No, I want to try the knife again.”

Now Charles paused, eyes lifting. “It’s with Hiro.”

Tayo turned to find her by the box, now locked again.

He approached slowly.

“Hi,” he greeted. “We meet again.”

“Ray, right?” she said, already unlocking the box.

“Yes. And you’re Hiro.”

“Correct.” Her smile was slight. “Were you able to say everything you wanted earlier?”

“I was. I’d like to try the knife again. If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” She flipped the lid open.

Tayo picked up the knife. “May I ask what was up with that guy?”

Hiro’s expression darkened. “You mean Frank? There’s bad blood between him and the soldiers. He nearly sabotaged the journey from Remoni.”

Tayo returned his focus to the knife.

“What nature did you get?” he asked.

“Fire,” she replied. “And wind, I think.”

“Oh. Impressive,” he murmured.

Then, silence.

He gripped the knife tighter in his hand. Seconds stretched. He stared, willing something to happen.

Then—at last—it glowed.

Pale blue.

Tayo exhaled, tension slipping from his shoulders.

“Good for you,” Hiro said gently, taking the knife back. “So… will you join us? Or go after Ea on your own?”

“I haven’t decided. I’d prefer a team. But mostly… I just need a break.”

“Hiro!” Across the room, Charles called for Hiro. She gave a small bow.

“Duty calls,” she said, vanishing into the crowd.

“Boo!”

Tayo nearly jumped out of his skin.

It was Henry. “You were staring”

“I wasn’t, I was thinking” Tayo mumbled.

Henry laughed. “About what?”

Tayo shook his head. “On one hand, I’m glad I have a nature now. But it means I no longer have an excuse not to fight. Are you joining them?”

“No. I’m joining you.”

Tayo blinked. “Why?”

Henry leaned in, lowering his voice. “Because you were a tester.”

Tayo’s breath caught. “No, I… wasn’t. How did you—?”

“I can read minds.”

Tayo stiffened. “That’s not… That’s not possible. That’s a privacy breach, that’s—”

Henry burst out laughing. “I’m joking! You’re too easy. I saw you wanted to raise your hand when the general asked about testers.”

Tayo exhaled again. And smiled.

The city lay quiet beneath the moonlight, artificial lights flickered like embers in the dark. On a rooftop, Naori crouched alone.

He touched the side of his neck. A faint glow shimmered—and the tattoo there disappeared.

From the shadows behind him, a goblin scrambled into view. Its voice rasped in the guttural tones of beast speech.

“Should we attack?”

Naori stared into the darkness.

Then, with a sigh, he touched his neck once more.

The tattoo reappeared.

Not yet. 

**

The council chamber in Monsra’s keep blazed with lamplight. Marie crossed the parquet floor and laid a curled parchment before General Rowen.

“Fifty-seven people registered,” she said. “I interviewed a handful—none of them possess anything we don’t already know.”

Hiro, leaning against a bookcase, lifted her eyes. “And the tall guy—Ray? Did you manage a word with him?”

“The one fixated on Ea?” Marie asked. “A little.”

“I think he knows something,” Hiro replied.

Rowen smoothed the parchment flat, reading the signatures. “He met me after the assembly, urging the same thing.”

Hiro folded her arms. “With your leave, General, somebody should keep an eye on him.”

Three pairs of eyes settled on her.

“Are you volunteering?” Rowen asked.

“I am,” Hiro replied.

Rowen nodded once. “Then see to it.”

“Yes sir.”

Outside Monsra’s city hall, Tayo and Henry sat on a marble bench, their breath condensing in the cold night.

Henry toyed with the strap of his quiver. “Tell me again why you’re so set on finding Ea.”

“She was the professor’s assistant, his right-hand woman,” Tayo said. “If anyone knows a kill-switch for this world, it’s her.”

Henry frowned. “Then why hasn’t she used it?”

“No idea,” Tayo answered, rubbing the scar at his temple. “Maybe Marie’s right—maybe the portals are the safer bet.”

“Safe?” Henry questioned. “We’re already living in a nightmare. If Ea is a chance and she’s good, we can end it. If she isn’t… we’re screwed—I’d rather roll that dice.”

He thrust out a hand. Tayo gripped it.

“Great,” Tayo said—then added with a crooked smile, “But you should know, you might be bank rolling the mission. I’m broke.”

“Sure. no problem.”

Tayo glanced along the hushed avenue. “We’ll need more people. Do you know anyone else that might be interested in coming with us?”

“I don’t know too many crazy people,” Henry responded. “What about you?”

“I know one,” Tayo murmured.

Close by in the shadow of one of the pillars Hiro listens.