The old dusty bed cries as I get up. The barracks are quiet. The calming type of quiet, only the flowing river, the rustling trees, and the glowing crystals making a gentle wave-like hum.
The sleeping chambers are old. I thought the whole barracks would be clean like the kitchen and armory, but it's like this phenomenon hasn't touched this place.
I get up and look around. Each step makes the wooden floor creak, but I hear distant groaning and much louder creaking. I continue walking to the other side of the bed chamber and see Alexandria on the floor doing push-ups.
She's not in her armor. She's wearing a bandage-like wrap around her chest, like a crop top, moving fast. Her build is athletic, with countless scars across her body, from her arms to her torso.
"You're up early." I lean against the wall.
"I need to be alert all the time. What if this place has its own monster or some other bullshit?"
I laugh briefly, crossing my arms. She jumps up and stretches her arms overhead. Sweat glistens across her upper body as her long curly hair falls around her like a coat, reaching her lower back. Her caramel skin almost glows against the light of the crystals as old scars crisscross her torso.
"Something's bugging you, Zain. What's up?"
"You said something during our fight against the drake. Something about a bus."
Her eyes widen immediately at the last word. "How'd you know that?" Her voice is low and slow.
"How do you know what a bus is, Alexandria?"
She looks at me for a long time. Then her shoulders lower and her jaw loosens. "I'm... I'm from Earth."
"You're also from Earth."
So I'm not the only one in this world from Earth. Alexandria hid that information. If she's also from Earth, that means there could be dozens, maybe hundreds or more.
"I'm guessing from your question that you're also from Earth. Your accent and the way you spoke just felt so familiar to me. Like home."
"When did you get here?" My voice rushes. "A year ago? Two years? Three?"
She raises her hand, silencing me. "Calm down, Zain."
I notice her hand is slightly shaking. "My memory of Earth is... it's been a long time. I honestly forgot what it's like."
I lower my arms. "How long have you been in this world?"
She is silent. The silence stretches for seconds before she opens her mouth again. Her voice is low, almost ashamed. "Thirteen years."
Silence follows, stretching into what feels like minutes. I let that statement sink in. Thirteen years. Alexandria has been in this world for thirteen years, longer than some teenagers have been alive. She has learned the language, the culture, everything—but she has also forgotten fragments of her Earth memories. Living in this world for thirteen years can change a person. No wonder she is always so quiet and stoic, as if she doesn't trust anyone, despite being in this world for so long.
"Is that why..." I stop myself, looking at Alexandria. She looks smaller, as if she doesn't even want to talk about it.
"Never mind. We can talk about it when you're comfortable."
I walk past her but stop and place my hand on her shoulder. "Don't feel ashamed about being in this world for so long. To be honest, you're stronger than me. You've endured this world's dangers longer than I have."
I walk out of the room and roam through the old military fortress. Skeleton soldiers lie around the base. One leans against the wall. Another lies on the floor with its arm extended.
I continue walking through the barracks halls. The white walls are painted with images of warriors. Men and women in armor, hundreds of soldiers advancing with spears pointed upward. Strange languages cover the walls. Everything in this place feels ancient.
I stop in front of a wooden door. Words are carved into its center, but I still cannot understand them. I turn the doorknob, and within seconds, dust rises, blinding my vision.
What is inside this place?
I stop coughing and open my eyes. Armor and weapons are arranged neatly inside. Chainmail, scale chest plates, shields, spears, and swords arranged perfectly. This is the fortress armory.
The chainmail isn't gray or silver. Everything is either worn out or rusted. Cobwebs cover the corners, and dust covers everything.
Everything is just venerable. On the wall hangs a banner. The black silhouette of a woman spreading her arms, her hair flowing against a blue background.
The floor screeches louder as I continue toward an armor set at the center. It stands taller than the others, much broader, as if it belonged to a titan of a man. The helmet has a visor with a veil of chainmail beneath it to protect the lower face. Steel shoulder pads and brass bracers complete the set.
The sheer look of the armor entices me. It's almost hypnotic. I don't have any protective gear. Just a white vest stained with blood and good pants. I need protection.
I put on the armor. The slightly rusted mail wraps around my muscles perfectly. The chainmail shirt, the brass bracers, the metal shoulder pads all strapped into place.
I look at the wooden shields attached to the walls. Each is a different color. My eyes stop at a circular gray shield.
Using a claymore with one hand is difficult, but possible. I learned a few things about one-handed sword combat from Draka, but I haven't mastered it. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry.
I grab the shield and strap it behind my back alongside my claymore. One last piece remains, the helmet itself. I grab the rusted piece and look at the visor. It feels like it is looking back at me, into my soul. Then the realization hits me.
I'm wearing the armor of a dead man.
These soldiers who died here are still in the fortress. No proper burial. No prayer. Their bodies have been left so long they have become skeletons. They are ancient history. Forgotten. Unremembered. Will history even know of this fortress? Of the god they worshipped? Of the men who were never given a proper burial? And here I am, looting their armor like a petty thief.
No. It feels wrong. I am carrying the things that belonged to men who died. I am carrying their ghosts, their souls. And I need this armor for survival. But taking it alone and leaving them here is not right.
I look at the armor stand, then at the rows of armor and equipment. I turn around and leave the room.
I walk down the stairs and see the remains of the dragon tail Alexandria roasted for dinner. At least we ate something, but I am worried about the others. They are low on manpower now, though I trust Aurelia and Dominio. They probably found a way to survive even without Alexandria and me.
I walk out of the fortress into the grassy outdoors. It is impressive that something like this exists inside a cave I once thought was small. I continue walking. Crystals around the cave emit a soft, steady glow, humming a slow rhythm. The river flows calmly ahead, and beyond it stands the same statue of the eight-armed man.
The war god these soldiers must have worshipped. I look at the statue, its arms spread wide, each hand holding a weapon with purpose.
"Zain." A familiar voice calls out. I look back to see Alexandria coming from the wider gate of the fortress, dragging something behind her.
"Look what I found." She stops and drops the object.
I move closer and see a rowboat. Big enough to carry at least four people. "Where did you get it?"
"It was behind the fortress. Many boats were lined up perfectly. I decided to take the most practical one."
She crosses her arms, looking me up and down with a raised eyebrow, her mouth twitching into something like a smirk. "You look ridiculous in chainmail."
A small chuckle escapes my mouth. "As long as it gives me protection, I'll take it. I need all the protection I can get. This whole archipelago is dangerous in ways I still can't comprehend."
"I know. But we have to endure and survive. I've lost count of how much time we have left."
"I don't know either, but we need to be quick. Find the group and get the two remaining crystals."
Alexandria gestures toward the boat. "You're stronger than me. Lift this to the coast. We're leaving."
"Wait." My voice is calm. "I know it will take time, but I need you to help me with something."
"Elaborate." Her voice is cautious.
"I need your help to bury these soldiers."
Her eyes narrow and her posture stiffens. "Bury these soldiers? We'll waste time, Zain. Gods know how long it will take to bury them all. There are maybe hundreds of them. We can't just–"
"Please. These men died here and were never given a proper burial. We used their fortress as shelter. We can at least bury them as a way to pay them back."
"Zain, are you listening to yourself? This type of behavior is why we're separated from the group in the first place. You try to act like a hero in a world of survival, and look where it took us."
I look down at the grass, then at the forest. "I know. And I'm sorry."
Alexandria's face shifts. Her eyes soften. Her mouth trembles slightly. "We'll bury them. But we'll do it quickly, okay?"
I smile gently, looking her in the eye. "Thank you."
"Let's just be quick about it so we don't deal with any night monsters."
After what feels like hours, hundreds of soldiers have been moved from the fortress and buried. Sticks and crosses mark each grave. Finally, they can rest. I don't know how long they have been here, but now they are at peace. Rest in peace, and thank you.
I stand before them, finishing my prayer, when Alexandria calls out again. "Zain, it's time to go."
I turn to her. "Lead the way."
She turns, jumps over the river, and walks toward the black pathway leading to the exit.
I look back at the boat. Can this even fit through the pathway? I lift the boat over my shoulder and walk out of the cave. The sound of my footsteps shifts from grass to stone. I look at the black passage ahead. After this, there is no turning back.
My head turns back to the fortress, the bright green grass, the fortress walls, the crystals, the god statue, and the graves of the soldiers who died there. A deep sigh escapes my mouth.
"Thank you," I whisper.
Turning back to the black pathway, I step forward. Leaving the cave, the fortress, and the calm behind.
It is time to get back. To reunite with my friends. To face the dangers of this exam and pass it.
I will live.
For her