Chapter Fourteen - Surya

 While hugging Halette, I felt her shake within my grasp.

Worried, I slowly released her and watched her soulless eyes water her face.

Can one who wields such eyes actually cry?

“I know that they just wanted to do something for my brother.” Halette sniffled. “I know that. But I was their child too. Couldn’t they have paid attention to me before they lost me?”

Halette dropped to her knees. Her short sniffles soon turned into loud sobs. “I-... I actually didn’t want to die! Not then, nor now!”

Her gut-wrenching wail turned more desperate as she grabbed onto my shirt.

Everyone watched her with confused expressions; while I just looked down at her. I’m not sure what my expression is right now. But I hope it’s one that this girl could find comfort in.

“I know.” I said, while leaning down. I began wiping her tears away and smiled. “If you don’t want to die, then live. Not as Nancy, but as Halette.”

“But…” She choked. “We’ve already tried returning her body… And I can’t live unless I have a vessel…”

“I’ll find a way.” I interrupted. “I may not know how to help yet. But I promise that I’ll find a way.”

Halette stared blankly at me with her soulless eyes. The water rushing from her eyes started calming down.

I patted her head and lifted myself up.

I looked over to the statue I hit. The beautiful piece was destroyed with just one single blow?

While walking up to the statue, I noticed text in the water that the statue’s fountain once produced. The text read as: “exit”.

I gazed up at the stand that the statue stood on. A small insert, small enough for the key, appeared.

Is there a God of Luck that bestowed their fortune on me or something?

I grabbed Halette’s hand and used my free hand to place the key through the insert and twisted it. Perfect fit.

*DING DING DA DONG!*

“Two participants passed the second part to the three-part test. The participants who passed are Halette and Veer.” Halette’s voice could be heard over the intercom. I guess they’re prerecorded? “Remember that half of the participants need to pass to start the third part of the three-part test.”

I signaled for Halette to place her hand while continuing to hold her free one. She listened and I looked back over towards my companions. I raised my hand, indicating for them to grab it.

As expected, Janica was the first to run and grab my hand. Julian followed, clutching Janica’s. And Noren did too after Julian reached his hand out towards her.

*DING DING DA DONG!*

“Three more participants passed the second part to the three-part test. The participants who passed are Janica, Julian, and Noren. This is half the participants; the other participants have failed.”

I looked over at the masked people. They all slowly lifted their masks and smiled towards me with their expressionless eyes.

“They were just chasing us with hammers.” Janica started. “But why do I feel so bad?”

“It’s okay!” Noren relieved him. “I have a gut feeling that we’ll be seeing them again.”

“Really?” The pup smiled. “Then I’ll believe in Miss Noren’s gut feeling!”

I noticed that Halette tensed in reaction to their conversation.

Everyone waved at each other until the green particles transferred us once more.

…

When my vision finally returned to me, my surroundings became more unsettling than the last two parts of the test.

Unlike the maps that seemed endless and confusing, the current map was a couch, an old TV, a button with the text ‘answer’ above it, and a simple paper hat. It was a dark small room that seemed big enough to only entertain one person.

I looked around and noticed that none of my companions were with me.

“Welcome participants to the third part of the three-part test!” The intercom voice sounded. “In this next test, you will work alone in your own spaces. Use the TV to communicate with each other and answer the secret test question. The first person to answer correctly can pass the test!”

I scoffed.

So basically, only one person can pass the test?

I moved over to the TV and noticed that there was text on the screen.

[Hello?]

I tilted my head at the text and quickly typed on the keyboard.

[Hi.]

My confusion only worsened. That was something I said.

[???]

[xuswhduhori]

[Veer?]

Hm?

[If you’re typing on the other side, then can you say ‘human’, Veer?]

I lifted the keyboard and began typing.

[human] I sighed from relief. [Julian, is that you?]

[Yes.]

So that’s how it works.

[I’M HERE TOO! From Noren]

I typed once more.

[Halette, can you confirm that you’re here too?]

[I’m here.]

So, my suspicions were correct.

[It seems that the only way we can communicate is through the TV but only anonymously. We all must have different clues for the question and answer and must communicate accordingly.]

[If that’s true, then how are we going to communicate with Janica? - Julian]

That’s our one weakness.

I assume the gibberish on the screen was from Janica. Since he’s lived on the floating island his whole life, it’s expected that he wouldn’t have learned to read or write.

[For now] I quickly typed. [Let’s just exchange clues amongst ourselves and figure out Janica’s side later. I’ll start first. I have a couch and a paper hat on my side.]

[I have a ‘Surya window’, a ring, and a couch.]

[I have an Innovation trophy and, is this what a couch is?]

[I also have a couch! And… I think a list of names?]

So, everyone has a couch.

But what do these all have in common? What could possibly be the question?

[Noren, what is the list of names?]

[How did ya know that was me?]

[I know who has what by the way you all typed. But from now on, end your text with -(name) like Julian did earlier.]

[...]

I sighed.

[Just hurry and type them.]

[Raphon, Amiren, Sebastiron, and Minnex. - Noren]

Hm…

[Noren, Halette, do any of these names look familiar?]

[They do. - Halette]

[How so?]

[They’re the founders of Jade Innovations. - Halette]

Jade Innovations?

[Veer, do you think they made the ‘Surya window’? - Julian]

Oh!

[Unsure. Did they?]

[They did. They invented most of the technology used in Surya. - Halette]

[Yep! My old man uses their tech for a new arm! - Noren]

[What do you think these names are for? - Julian]

If I had to guess…

[Maybe these names are our A, B, C, and D answers?]

At the lack of responses, I continued typing.

[Halette, what is your trophy for?]

[One second, I need to examine it since there are different trophies in the Innovation category. - Halette]

[Take your time.]

While waiting, I looked around the room for any more potential clues. The couch didn’t seem to have any significance. The paper hat was also very ordinary. I couldn’t pin its relevance.

[Okay. I’m back. - Halette]

I turned my attention back to the TV upon seeing the words.

[What is it?]

[The award of ‘The First Most Innovative Invention’. Is this information really important? - Halette]

[I believe so.] I nodded. [If I had to guess… Probably the founder of Jade Innovations that came up with the ‘Surya window’.]

[Now how the hell are we supposed to know who that is?! - Noren]

True. Without Janica’s clue, we’re at a dead end.

[I can go over the four men's roles in Jade Innovations in hopes that it’d be helpful. - Halette]

YES!

I typed on the keyboard again with excitement.

[Yes, go ahead, Halette.]

[Raphon Jade, eldest of the four brothers, and overall owner of Jade Innovations. He makes none of the inventions and focuses on promotions. Amiren Jade, second eldest. He only focuses on sales. Sebastiron Jade, third eldest, plans the inventions layout and works with the engineering team. And finally. Minnex Jade. The youngest of the brothers plans the invention ideas. - Halette]

Hm. In that case, then we can exclude Raphon, Amiren, and Sebastiron from the puzzle.

[So, what are we confused for?! Wouldn’t the answer obviously be Minnex?? - Noren]

That is the most plausible answer.

I looked back at the paper hat once more. There’re just too many clues. It makes me feel uneasy.

[Just one more check on the clues. I feel uneasy.]

[Rodger. - Noren]

[Alright. - Julian]

[Understood. - Halette]

I examined the couch once more yet still found nothing.

[Veer, I found something! - Julian]

[What is it?]

[On the ring. The initials S.J. are written. - Julian]

Oh?

*DING DING DA DONG!*

“One of the participants is taking their chance at guessing the answer! The participant who clicked the button is the only person with access to the keyboard and TV. You can explain your thought process but please type your answer on the TV within 5 minutes.”

What? Who would idiotically guess right now before we’ve even gathered all our clues?

[I’m sorry, guys.]

Seriously?!

[This is Noren. I lied. My clue says, ‘The founder of Jade Innovations who is married.’ I didn’t know which one, so I said all four of them.]

SERIOUSLY??

[I have something I’ve been wanting to say to the God of Surya since I was little. I never took the test because I thought it was rigged. I’m not going to miss this opportunity now that I’ve come so far.]

[I will give my answer now…]

“Proceed!” The voice over the intercom sounded.

[Sebastiron Jade]

*DING DING DA DONG!*

“That answer is…” The voice drum rolled. “Incorrect! The participant, Noren, answered incorrectly and failed the test!”

Come on! That was so obviously incorrect!