~Roy
I rushed into the hall, and a large white sheet of paper was taped to the board near the entrance to the hall. At the top, bold letters were written in red.
Stage III - Announcement
To all active cadets:
The third stage will begin in three days. It will consist of a 120-kilometer march spread over five days. Each candidate is responsible for carrying all of their own equipment and rations.
Your route will start from the main gate of the South Camp and head north towards the Pyla Mountains. Upon reaching the checkpoint at the base, the instructor will verify your presence.
Afterward, you will continue on your way through the dark Yuly Forest. Navigation is the responsibility of your team. You will be given a basic map. Deep in the forest, there is a marked shelter, where another instructor will confirm your presence.
The final destination will be Cradle of the Valley; a forgotten battlefield now used as a testing ground. Attendance will be confirmed again.
Note:
Any cadet who does not check in with an instructor at any of the three checkpoints, or arrives after the deadline, will be disqualified.
Injuries, fatigue, or accidents will not exempt you, and you will not get any kind of help even after the 5 days end. Some of you may not make it. This is a dangerous march, and the rugged terrain can take your life.
If you choose not to participate, please submit an official letter of resignation to the central office within the next 48 hours.
Good luck.
I stood there alone, reading it from top to bottom. Once. Twice.
This was a huge jump in difficulty. We had just come out of an exam hall, and now... being thrown into a death march.
The Pyla Mountains weren't just terrain; they were a wall of snow, ice, and rugged rock. There were steep climbs, thin air, and freezing winds. It's worth noting that it's winter now. No traverse would be easy.
Then there's the dark forest.
I've heard of this forest before. People have gotten lost there and disappeared. Its fog was so thick that it could block out the sun by midday. The land was wild and unknown, full of sharp sounds and deformed animals.
After all that, we had to reach a place called the Cradle of the Valley. I didn't know what it was; it was the first time I'd seen the name of the area. But if it was our final destination, we wouldn't be welcome.
I let out a deep breath.
If we didn't move smartly and without planning, it would not only be difficult, but it could also end tragically.
I was planning to talk to the princess. There were things I needed to ask her, and I had questions on my mind. But now wasn't the time, not with what was waiting for me.
I turned around and headed back toward Andrew and Sophia. I found them exactly where I'd left them: in the training area, exchanging punches and kicks with intense concentration.
"Guys," I called out loudly. "We need to talk."
They stopped immediately and turned to me with questioning looks. I led them to a quiet bench at the edge of the camp, out of sight.
Once we were seated, I wasted no time.
I told them everything.
Andrew exhaled and looked at Sophia. "We heard about the announcement," he said. "We were going to check it out after practice. I didn't know it was that bad."
"It is," I said. "We have to get ready. Pack your bags and get everything you need, including warm clothes. The mountains will be very cold."
Sophia nodded slowly. "Understood."
"I'll talk to Crimzo," I added. "Maybe he'll join us."
Andrew stood up and clapped his hands. "Then we have work to do."
We parted ways after that. I spent some time looking for Crimzo, but he was nowhere to be seen. The next day passed quickly - Andrew was gathering supplies, Sophia was checking equipment, and I spent most of the free time drawing the map. I marked potential routes, terrain, and notes on danger zones.
I didn't see Crimzo again until the afternoon, after our hour break. He was training in the two optional hours, wiping sweat from his brow, as focused as ever. When we finished, I walked right up to him.
"'Crimzo,'" I called out.
He raised his head, then smiled. "You seem to have something on your mind."
I said, "Would you like to join us for the march?"
He paused for a moment, then shook his head with a calm expression. "I appreciate the offer, but... I prefer to travel alone on trips like this. I don't have to keep up with anyone."
I wasn't surprised, but I didn't back down either. "It's dangerous there. Especially in Yuly. You don't have to officially join us, but staying close could save your life."
He tilted his head slightly, thinking about it. "Hmm... I'll think about it."
"Fair enough."
I wasn't disappointed. I knew Crimzo well. If he joined us, it would be his own choice, not because someone convinced him.
Three days went by in a flash. We studied our route and gathered our supplies. The camp was strangely quiet. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath.
Finally, the day of the march arrived.
The early morning air was chilly. The cadets stood in groups, wrapped in thick jackets and cloaks, tightening their belts. Most formed teams. Some stood alone. In my opinion, being alone was the worst decision anyone could make. Being alone increased the possibility of failure or even death. Imagine being injured and no one came to help you; you would slowly die.
We stood near the gate, checking our bags and weapons one last time. I glanced around the crowd, expecting Crimzo not to show up. But then...
He appeared, walking up to us with a huge backpack. He stopped when he reached us.
"Nothing personal," he said, "but I thought I'd be bored alone."
Andrew laughed and gently nudged him. "I guarantee you won't be bored with us."
I looked at him. "It's nice to see you."
Crimzo smirked. "Let's go, then."
A few minutes later, the instructor stepped forward and opened a roll of paper. He read the posted rules aloud, confirming them. Behind him, another instructor raised a bow, pointed it into the air, and fired.
The arrow made its way through the air with a sharp whistle.
The moment it landed, the march began.
Step by step, we left the safety of the camp behind, getting further and further away.
Hours passed as we moved swiftly through the narrow forest paths, running in some areas. We were separated from the other teams behind us until we were completely alone. We shifted between conversations and moments of silence as we walked. I shared parts of the plan, pointing out routes and shortcuts.
"We'll turn left here," I said, clearing away tall grass and thick branches. "This road cuts the long way in half. It'll be harder, but it's worth it."
The terrain became rougher with dense trees, tall plants, and uneven ground, but it was better than the exposed main road. We advanced steadily. Then, through a gap in the forest, the distant, snow-covered Pyla Mountains appeared.
"There it is," Andrew said.
"Today's goal," I nodded. "Let's get to the top of this mountain before we rest. When we arrive, we'll rest. Then, tomorrow, we'll look for the instructor."
Before we reached the bottom of the mountain, I slowed down and looked at Andrew.
"Do you feel it?" I asked.
He nodded, his expression hardening. "Yes, there are two or three people behind us. And they're skilled, too."
"Leave them alone," I replied calmly. "We'll deal with it later."
Sophia had already tightened her spear. "There may be a team following us... Or not. In any case, we'll stay alert."
Crimzo, who had been quiet most of the way, scoffed. "They better be smart enough to keep their distance."
We finally reached the base of the mountain. Just standing at the beginning of it tired my legs. The first few hills were gentle, but ahead were icy slopes and rugged ridges that made the air feel cold to the bone.
We had started in the morning, and now it was the afternoon. The sky was overcast, but there was no snow or rain.
Sophia exhaled into her gloves. "Lucky for us, no snow or rain. We can handle the cold. Snow would have slowed us down a lot."
We started climbing. The beginning was easy, but then the slopes started getting steeper and steeper. By the time Crimzo reached the snowy slopes, it was getting harder to walk. By sunset, we had reached the snow wall, so we pulled out our snow axes and started the ascent. Crimzo was in the lead, moving at a remarkable speed. I was beside him, following from below. Suddenly, a section of ice broke under his weight as he tried to insert his axe."
He slipped - but before he fell too far, I grabbed his arm and pulled him up.
He looked at me for a second, then muttered "...Thanks."
I nodded and we continued on.
Before midnight, we finally reached the edge of the mountain. The wind whistled through the rocks. We were tired, sore, and shivering, but we had made it to a good stopping point. We had run and walked around 25 kilometers, which was a good distance for our first day.
Sophia quickly built a fire and rubbed her hands over the flames while Andrew started preparing food. He was strangely focused, carefully cutting and seasoning the meat.
Sophia leaned in beside him and handed him the ingredients. "Why are you cooking like it's a royal dinner?"
If we're going to die at any moment, I'd rather have a flavorful last meal." Andrew joked, smiling at her.
She laughed and said, "You're ridiculous," her voice was warm, and her eyes too focused on him.
Meanwhile, Crimzo and I worked in silence, efficiently setting up the area. We put a cover under us to keep it from getting wet and to put our sleeping bags on. It didn't look like it was going to rain, so there was no need for tents.
The fire burned gently, and we sat together, warming our hands as Andrew distributed the food. The smell of meat was rich and inviting. Crimzo said after a bite: "Not bad."
"Oh, if it's from you, I'll take that as a compliment," Andrew replied.
Sophia laughed. We sat there, in silence for a while, letting the silence creep up on us. It was quiet. The sky was clear and full of stars, and the view ahead of us of the forests we had traveled through was beautiful.
Even with the warmth of the circle of light where we were sitting, I couldn't shake the feeling. There was someone behind us. Watching us.
I didn't say anything at first - not until after we had finished eating. Andrew had already eaten two people's food. Sophia leaned against a tree trunk, rubbing her hands on the flame. Crimzo sat a few feet away, silent, his bow always within reach.
"Listen," I said in a low voice. My tone caught their attention. "I don't know what those who follow us want, but we will stay prepared. That's why we won't all sleep at once tonight. We take turns sleeping every two hours. Whoever is awake will pretend to be asleep, so they won't notice if they're watching us.
Andrew nodded. "Good, after the fire is out, it will be impossible for them to see, but let's keep our movement as low as possible. I'll be the first one to stay awake."
"Sure," Sophia added, looking uncomfortable.
Crimzo didn't say anything but nodded slowly. His eyes scanned the shadows behind the trees.
We all got into our sleeping bags and I tried to sleep. My muscles were sore from the climb, and my body was begging for rest. But my mind refused to shut down. Was I being too cautious? No, I had to trust my friends. In the end, exhaustion won out, and I fell asleep.
Time passed.
"Roy..." A soft voice woke me up. I opened my eyes and saw Sophia beside me, her face illuminated by moonlight.
"I'm sorry. I feel bad for waking you up," she whispered.
I put my hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. Just rest."
She smiled lightly and returned to her spot. I opened my eyes and began scanning the area, looking at the trees. My thoughts wandered, and many things came to mind. The princess came to mind as well, and I realized that I still had a few questions for her.
Eventually, my shift ended, and I woke up Crimzo. He opened his eyes, nodded silently, and started scanning the area.
I closed my eyes, hoping to fall asleep. It took about an hour for my body to finally feel that nice warmth before sleep. But just as I started to slip into the dream world.
Crimzo suddenly stood up.
In one swift and smooth motion, he drew his bow and fired. The arrow shot out and landed in the belly of a man who was half hunched over, shaded by the trees, reaching for Sophia. The man screamed in pain.
"Wake up!" Crimzo shouted. "They finally showed up, this one tried to stab Sophia!"
We woke up. Sophia rolled away out of her sleeping bag, spear in hand. Andrew cursed and grabbed his axe. I drew my light sword.
From behind the injured attacker who collapsed to the ground, four more men emerged from the darkness - cloaked in furs, their faces smeared with dirt and ash. I can't identify them yet, but I can say they're not from the program, but they're skilled and we have to be careful.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Andrew said.
They lunged at us without warning. The first man came at me with a curved blade. I slipped aside and quickly aimed my sword at his leg. He easily blocked it, though, and punched me in the face. I jumped back in surprise. I had to fight with focus. He attacked me, and we exchanged blows. It was hard to use my kicks because of the snow. I jumped on a rock. It was his fault for following me. In an instant, I blocked his blow and kicked him in the face. He lost his balance, and I quickly cut him from his shoulder to his chest.
To my left, Sophia turned around and blocked a blow to her neck. She ducked and used her opponent's momentum to slam his face into a rock, then stabbed his neck with her spear, a clever move indeed, her training with Andrew seems to have paid off.
After Crimzo hit one of them with an arrow, Andrew sliced through his chest with his axe. Then, Andrew finished him off by kicking him backwards into a tree with great force.
The last man tried to run, but Crimzo shot him in the leg with an arrow. He screamed and collapsed to the ground.
The last one survived. We tied him to a tree with a rope; his face smeared with his friend's blood.
Crimzo stood over him, his fists clenched. He delivered a powerful punch to his jaw. "Speak. Now. Who are you?"
The man spat blood and remained silent. He gave us a fierce stare.
"This is not how you get answers," I said as I stepped forward. When it came to dealing with an enemy, I knew exactly what to do. I pulled a small knife from my belt and bent down in front of the man who was glaring at me angrily.
"Listen, let's play a little game," I said calmly with a smile. "Every time I ask a question and don't get an answer, I'll stab your foot one stab, from ankle to foot."
He scoffed. "Do whatever you want."
I slowly ran the knife down his leg, tearing his clothes - from ankle to knee. His face twitched.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, every three stabs, I cut off a toe too, otherwise it would be boring. Now who are you?"
I raised the knife. "One... Two... Three." I stabbed him with the first stab. He screamed and I put a cloth in his mouth to silence his screams.
I continued until I reached three stabs. "Then let's move on to the special event." I counted to three and suddenly he shook his head like he's ready to talk.
I removed the piece from his mouth. "Wait, we're not from the program, we are outsiders!" he shouted. "We were only aiming to slow you down! Kill one of you or hurt you. Our leader wants to ambush you down below by himself when the time come. That's it!"
"Who's your leader?" I asked.
He hesitated.
I put the piece in his mouth and stabbed him. "Oh sorry, I forgot I had to cut the toe." I pretended that I was going to cut a toe.
Then more screaming, I removed it.
"Lucas!" He screamed. "His name is Lucas! He's the one who ordered us to follow you, he already found the instructor, and I think that he's down the mountain by that time! He'll set a trap near the Yuly Forest - he'll ambush you when you arrive!"
"Why us especially? And why didn't he just ambush us here in the first place?" I said.
He replied. "I don't know I swear. He said that he has his reasons."
I stood up slowly, sheathing my knife. "Thanks. That's all I needed."
The sun was just beginning to rise.
Crimzo looked at me. "What are we going to do with this one."
Sophia stood up and wiped the blood from her hands. "We have to report this to the instructors right away. They'll take care of it."
I replied, looking toward the forest. "Sophia is right. We should take this to the instructor on the mountain, tell him everything, and see what he says."
Sophia and Crimzo nodded. Andrew ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
"Let's eat something quick," I continued. "We're already late, and we have another problem to deal with."
We finished our food, packed up our gear, and set off. Crimzo tied up the outsider and made him walk in front of us. The air was chilly and cold but calm as we made our way down the rest of the mountain. After about an hour of cautious walking, we finally saw a small building fenced in between cliffs and snow-covered pine trees.
Two instructors stood at the gate. They had snowy masks on their faces and weapons.
"What's going on," one of them asked with a rought voice after seeing the tied bandit.
We told them what happened, they looked at each other and one of them said. "This is serious, we're going to report Lucas to the office, hand this guy over now."
One of them took him inside, and the other one looked at us and said. "You have to complete the mission, regardless of Lucas. When you get to the forest, find the instructor, he'll handle it." He finished, wrote down our names and gave us metal cards.
We nodded and continued on our way.
"So," Andrew began, "if that guy Lucas is planning to ambush us in the woods... What's our plan?"
"We'll avoid the obvious paths," I said. "And be careful."
"I say we lure them out," Crimzo suggested. "What if he catches up to us before we reach the instructor? We'll have to deal with him."
"That's what we'll do, I don't plan on avoiding them completely, we need to stay focused." I nodded. "But first we need to find out how many there are. Let's talk when we arrive."
From there, the descent took almost the whole day. The slopes turned into trails, and the snow slowly disappeared behind us, replaced by hard-packed dirt and thick branches.
As we walked, we kept a steady pace.
By the time the sun dipped behind the mountains, we reached the edge of Yuly's dark forest.
Its giant, dense, black trees loomed, their branches high and thick enough to block out most of the light from the sky. There are foggy places.
We didn't go deep. Just enough to find a safe space under a protruding rock, hidden by bushes. We set up our sleeping bags there, quiet and alert. The night came quickly, and so did the silence, and of course, we would take turns sleeping tonight as well like the previous night.
Total Distance Crossed 42/120 km