"One, two, three, four… five-"
Sweat pooled beneath Henry's face.
"Ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen… fourteen-"
His muscles screamed at him, but his mind pushed him further.
"Forty, forty-one, forty-two, forty-three… forty-four-"
He dropped on the floor.
"Sixty five."
His heart raced, his breath was unable to catch up to how little air he could feel
In his lungs.
'That's five more than yesterday.'
A smirk crossed his face.
Jumping up, he made his way to the bathroom mirror. The definition on his muscles had grown quite a bit, he felt lighter, more agile. During the trial, he would definitely be able to move around safely.
The bell rang, something Henry had finally become accustomed to, but another thought lingered on his mind.
'Any day now.'
When the chosen would all become linked, when they would all have to fight against the trial. Both longing, and dreading for it, Henry put his clothes on, and walked out into the hall, not knowing if it would be the last time he ever did so.
***
Walking into class 68B it was empty as usual, a mix of being the only student, and the teacher's routine of being late, Henry had gotten used to killing time for the first bit of class.
Sitting at the front of the class, he rested his head on the desk, staring at the now fully raised sun.
'Looks good today, maybe it's the day for a run.'
All that had been on his mind this past two weeks, was getting into shape for the trial. With the help of the Miasmal energy flowing through his body. He was able to grow muscle much faster, and easier, than he would have if he weren't chosen.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice that Joshin had entered the room and gotten comfortable at his desk.
"Oh hey."
Awkwardly, Henry waved to his teacher.
Joshin lifted his head.
"Sup, I thought you were asleep."
Henry fiddled with his thumbs.
"Nope just thinking."
'About my muscles.'
"About the trial?"
Henry cringed at himself.
"Yeah, something like that."
***
Hours passed as Joshin gave lessons on surviving in deep ruin's teaching Henry about different edible plants, and ways to hide a fire during the night. Before he knew it, the dinner bell had rung, and he was walking out of class.
"Wait Henry!"
Winded, Joshin ran over to Henry, tapping his shoulder.
"You wouldn't happen to have a small onyx square, would you."
Henry went pale.
'How does he know?! I haven't told him, and I always keep it snug in my pocket.'
Henry felt his pocket for the square, it was there secure, and safe in his pocket.
"What do you mean?"
Henry held a poker face, attempting to hide his shock.
"Well…"
Joshin pulled out an identical square; however, his was a shining marble white.
"When I was in the trial I received this, and since you started taking my class it's been activating around you."
'Activating?'
"What do you mean?"
Joshin let out a considerable sigh, whether it was of relief or not, Henry couldn't tell.
"It's an artifact, Henry. Something from the inhabitants of the other world. The ones that were there before us. It's thousands of years old, and you think it's a coincidence that two of them are right next to each other right now? That they're shared between teacher, and student? I don't believe in fate, destiny, or anything of the sort, but I would be a liar if I said that this wasn't such a case."
Henry's eyes widened, and he pulled the cherished trinket out of his pocket.
"I found it in my backpack when I woke in a hospital months ago. I don't know what it is, just that it must be important."
Inspecting the object closely, Joshin furrowed his brow then snatched it from Henry.
"Hey!?"
Rushing to his desk, he held the two next to each other.
"What are you doing?"
Henry internally raged at himself for letting the trinket get taken so quickly.
"Go, to dinner, I will make sure to return this soon."
Joshin stared into Henry's eyes.
"Trust me."
The man had become Henry's mentor over the few weeks they knew each other. Begrudgingly, he surrendered the artifact to Joshin, and left for dinner.
***
Among the other routine's Henry had made dinner was his favorite, he got to sit down with good food, and talk to his friends. What else could one wish for?
Though today he was the only one at the table. It wasn't uncommon for the others to be late, but usually, his slacker friend Marlon was always there early, sleeping at the table.
But today Henry was alone. It made him uncomfortable, almost. The routine had never been disrupted like this…
Finishing his food, he looked around at the familiar yet still unknown chosen near him. He wasn't close with anyone else and had barely learned the names of a few. The only person he really recognized was Arden, who dawned a particularly abnormal cheek which now had holes inside of it from his tussle with Marlon.
Henry shuttered, thinking of the brutality of stabbing someone with a fork.
'How could he do that on a whim?'
Marlon was definitely an… intense person, but Henry could tell that he meant good, at least, he hoped Marlon did.
Pondering this, he almost missed Marlon peeking in the front door, waving towards him.
'Speak of the devil.'
"Where have you been?"
Henry yelled, running up to Marlon. The rambunctious boy leaned against the cafeteria doors, attempting to hide his exhaustion.
"Just hanging around. You feel anything weird about today?"
Thinking back on the day, Henry realized it had been a bit abnormal, and he had this twisting feeling in his stomach, but he just thought it was anxiety.
"A bit why?"
"No reason, just, I think it might be today. The trial, I mean, I think we're all going to be _connected_ tonight."
Marlon's voice normally filled with confidence faltered, there was a hint of dread in each word. Henry stared wide eyed at his friend.
'I mean, I did go extra hard working out this morning, and even Joshin was acting weird.'
The words of his mentor had echoed in his mind, "Trust me."
It wasn't that Henry didn't trust the odd teacher, he just didn't have any basis of trust to work off. He "trusted" Marlon, and Lumbar. But how far could that trust go? How far would his friends go to help him… how far would he go to help them?
Marlon snapped Henry out of his trance.
"Quit spacing out, this is important."
Henry Focused on Marlon's face.
"Sorry."
Marlon scoffed and looked at a clock behind Henry.
"Listen, let's meet tonight, I'd say past midnight. Ok?"
"What, why?"
Marlon gave Henry a look of pity, and "Why are you so stupid". If Henry could read minds, he had a feeling he would be upset at Marlon, but he let it go.
"Listen Henry, if we go into the trial tomorrow what are the odds that any of us see each other, you, me, even Lumora."
Henry stumbled over his words.
"Low-"
"Extremely low! There are six cities! And dozens of chosen. I would rather not get sent into the trial without a final meeting with my friends. Do you?"
"No…"
Marlon made multiple motions with his hands, implying that Henry had finally got the point.
"Now I'm going to go find Lumora, and tell her the same thing. We're all going to meet in the courtyard. And bring something warm, I think it'll rain."
Marlon dashed away before Henry could respond.
'Why would we meet in the middle of rain?'
Henry had multiple questions but, he guessed that his friend Marlon had finally gotten a heart, and wanted to cherish a moment with his friends before they all possibly died.
Opening the door to his room, it felt empty. Henry had never realized how lonely it was just sitting in this room. The idea of waiting to meet his friends wasn't helping with the boredom.
He decided to pull out a book, on the six cities, to pass the time.
***
The Six Cities
In a reality separate than our own, lie six ancient cities, thousands of years in age. These cities are long abandoned by human life, leaving them to rot and fill with horrors beyond our imaginations. Beasts that tower over us, stare back at us with hundreds of eyes, and even ones that understand our language, and use it to draw us in for easy prey.
The Six Ancient Cities:
Vita'Mors
The city of life
A beautiful, Luscious settlement overtaken by massive alien plant life. Rumors say that the entire city itself is alive, through thousands of years the plants have taken hold of everything, creating a paradise for the flora. Be warned that what's a paradise for one life form… could be hell for another.
Hora'Aetas
The city of clocks
It is said that in the past this town was ruled by a council of genius architects, obsessed with the power of time. Eventually harnessing it to give the cities people great everlasting life, and amazing gifts. However now it's a shroud of what once was. All that wanders the desolate city are automatons. Minutes pass like hours, and days pass like minutes.
Henry read through the others with ease,
Ruina'Carnis
The city of flesh
Erbs'Oculi
The city of eyes
Oblivi'Memor
The city of memories
But the one, snug at the bottom of the paper, caught his eye.
Rakh'el
The city of doors
Little is known of Rakh'el as no chosen has ever returned, the only way its existence is known of is through inscriptions within the other cities. A phenomenon known as "The Nemo, Bodies" has been rumored to be connected to the hidden city. The Nemo Bodies phenomena is where dozens of bodies have been found nearby point Nemo. Also known as the pole of inaccessibility, a location in the ocean that is the furthest from land, some say that if you are alone here you are closer to god than man. These bodies, are all of chosen that never returned from their trial.
Henry slammed the book shut, chills going through his spine.
'I think I'll just walk around until the meeting.'