Chapter Four — Part Two
Morning came, and the trainees began to wake, settled on their seats waiting for breakfast.
The sounds of groans and the creaking of bodies filled the place.
The girls began preparing breakfast, helped by some of the men.
Raven had told them so, since they do nothing but eat and sleep.
"Why don't they help with cleaning and cooking? That way their bodies will remain active and constantly moving."
"Only sleeping and eating can cause the body and its muscles to become lax."
About half an hour passed, and everyone was awake, Raven among them—except Sword of the Sky and Zain, who were missing from sight.
It seems they were still fast asleep.
Raven noticed their absence and ordered Maya to go and check their rooms.
"Who knows, maybe they're doing what goes on in their heads like yesterday."
Maya nodded and proceeded toward their rooms, heading to her husband's room first.
She knocked—knock—knocked on the door three times in succession while waiting for a response.
"Wait, I'm coming…"
A reply came, but it was unexpected; she had thought he was risking himself outside again.
Sword of the Sky opened the door while rubbing his right eye, casting his left at the caller.
"This is you, Maya. Good morning."
Maya swallowed the shock to the point that she could not utter a word.
"What's the matter? You look stunned."
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. I just came to wake you. Everyone is already awake, except you and Zain."
"Are you sure you're all right? You look dazed."
She answered him, "No — I'm really fine. Don't worry about me, please. Wake Zain, and come to have breakfast; it's ready already."
"All right, I'll come at once."
Before Sword of the Sky finished his words, Maya took several steps back before turning to leave.
Sword of the Sky was astonished by her behavior, but he ignored the matter in the end.
He decided to head to Zain's room to wake him so they would have time to explain what happened yesterday.
Maya walked on while still stunned by what she had seen of Sword of the Sky.
(This is a natural reaction to that; only yesterday he had been acting cold and full of disappointment.)
"What changed today? Am I dreaming? No, no — I will insist on making him say what happened to him."
"Are they present?" Raven replied to her.
"They are coming; they were merely asleep," Maya answered.
Raven nodded and fixed his eyes down the corridor.
After only two minutes, Sword of the Sky came out with his hand covering his mouth, concealing his snoring—annoying and exaggerated.
He was followed by Zain, whose eyelids were closing and opening very slowly, defeated by sleep.
His body was hunched and his arms hung loosely.
Sword of the Sky challenged, "Good morning."
He received no reply and went straight to sit near Raven and Maya.
Zain began to rub his eyes and said in front of everyone, "Good morning."
This time everyone in the hall was stunned, Raven and Maya among them.
Everyone answered listlessly and in surprise, "Good morning."
He likewise moved and sat near Sword of the Sky.
There were four of them at one table, facing one another: Zain and Sword of the Sky, Maya and Raven.
"So, do you have anything you wish to share?" Raven inquired.
All eyes immediately turned toward Sword of the Sky, waiting for the answer.
Sword of the Sky answered: "We have much, but let us postpone it until after breakfast. I have an announcement to make that concerns everyone."
Raven nodded, sighed, and said, "Alright, that's fine; you may do that, for we have a long conversation to have. Go and wash your faces; breakfast will be on the table as soon as you return."
The two nodded and headed to the bathroom to wash.
And as soon as they returned, as Raven had promised, the dishes were already on the table.
None of them began to eat until they had sat in their seats.
The dishes on the table were ordinary like any morning breakfast: a loaf of bread, butter and honey, alongside olive oil in addition to tea.
The Western Desert was not famous for producing olive trees because of the nature of its non-arable lands.
Regarding agricultural resources, the administration of the Western Desert always relied on imports from neighboring regions such as the southern forest and the green plains.
Those two regions were known for their fertile lands of excellent quality that produced excellent crops.
It seems Raven had been preparing for the worst in the future; all his preparations were aimed at revenge and overthrowing the corrupt regime of the Western Desert.
But who would have thought this would happen? Suddenly, without prior warning, a gate appeared out of nowhere and brought with it a catastrophe capable of driving lifeforms in the world to extinction.
There is no need for revenge now; most likely those corrupt people in the desert have already perished.
The greatest prize one can win now is merely to preserve your life.
Consider yourself victorious if you can endure and keep your life under these circumstances.
Everyone began eating their food with contentment and silence.
But over time Raven and Maya kept watching the behavior of Sword of the Sky and Zain.
They were puzzled by how ordinary they seemed, eating their food quietly and normally—had they grown used to seeing them distracted and despairing?
In any case, things remained as they were until they finished eating, and they began exchanging silent glances.
Raven chose to take the initiative first and directed his question toward Sword of the Sky: "So, what do you have to say?"
All eyes turned at once toward Sword of the Sky, awaiting his answer.
Sword of the Sky's reply was as follows: "I have two answers; one is bad and the other good. Which shall I begin with?"
Raven was silent for a moment and said, "Begin with the bad."
He answered, "Very well. The bad is that even if Zain managed to make that weapon, we would not be able to contend with higher-ranked monsters; rather, it's impossible. What confirmed that for us was the incident we witnessed yesterday — we will explain its details to you later."
"As for what is positive, I managed to capture a vial of demonic blood."
"What? Are you serious in what you say?" Raven stood up from his place in shock.
His reaction drew the attention of those present, amid several questions: "What is happening with them? Surely Master Raven is angry."
Ahem — ahem. Raven put his hand to his mouth, aware of his condition, then returned to his seat composed, radiating an aura that made everyone respect
him in their depths.
He said, "Please proceed with the explanation; it seems there are many matters we do not know while you understand them."