Promises
The Divination wing was ironically filled with surprises. Alex and Ai left behind the "Garden", a tucked away corner of the wing filled to the brim with plants and trees Alex had never seen before . His sinuses were still leaking.
It wasn't long after they left the Main hall that Alex had "accidentally" bumped into Ai.
In a world of strangers, cling to what you know. And knowing nothing, he could only grasp onto a reincarnation of the one who got away. A passing imitation that was nothing like the real thing in practice. A piece of celery in candy bar wrapping. Though, for all her differences, Ai was sweet in her own ways.
A few years his junior she was more intelligent than many people he'd met in his life. When he found her, hands locked to a crystal ball, her face cycled through pain, horror, fear, and sorrow. Tears traced swirling traiPart of him wanted to shake her awake, but he didn't interrupt her. Instead he stayed close, muttering encouragement the whole time.
It was about an hour before her hands came free, a gasp of relief escaping her. Sweat-soaked hair clung to her forehead, clothes sticky and skin pale, she looked like she had just run a marathon. The crystal ball cracked and shattered, the pieces turning to white motes and floating away. A dull blue rock sat in the center of the table where it had been. Alex handed it to Ai when she finished composing herself.
"I think you earned this." He had said with a smile.
She was wary of Alex at first. He was a stranger after all. But then she recognized his voice.
"You were the one talking to me?" She whispered, unsure.
Alex's face grew hot. He had assumed she couldn't hear him. His words were more for him than her. He just wanted to feel like he was helping. It felt weird to just sit there staring at the spitting image of the girl he used to love.
Yea. Used to.
"Um… yea. Sorry. You looked like you were having a hard time." He muttered.
She surprised him by asking, "And you can speak Japanese?"
Alex in fact, could not. He sometimes felt that even speaking proper English was a challenge.
It wasn't long before the two of them realized that something was going on, and that something was most likely magic. They could understand each other perfectly though they didn't speak the same language.
Ai tried "switching to English", or at least the English she knew, but to Alex it just sounded as though she was just trimming down her words and speaking more slowly. They both decided to stick to their native tongues and accept the convenience.
Alex still needed a catalyst and pressed further into this wing of the castle. Much to his delight, Ai decided to tag along.
"You helped me, so I'm going to help you." Ai had insisted.
"I really didn't do anything." Alex implored, but it was no use.
Ai patted the crystal locked in her belt. "My passage is secured. I have two hours to kill, and I wouldn't mind the company anyway. I'm helping you."
It became clear that Alex wasn't going to convince her otherwise. It wasn't that he didn't want the help, or her company. He just didn't want her to feel indebted. I guess that meant he had to get his own crystal.
The process took longer than they thought. The two of them thoroughly explored the Divination wing. They reached the outer edges of the castle where they found large windows big enough to drive a truck through overlooking the planet. Clouds swirled below them, the curve of the earth stretching away from them on the horizon while the sun finished its daily game of peek-a-boo. Alex had sworn the castle was underground or in a cave, but this view argued otherwise.
Unfortunately for Alex, every room they visited had already been plundered. Several times they passed people headed back towards the main hall, catalysts already locked in.
Finally they found the Garden, tucked in the back corner of the castle, it was bordered by two glass walls and topped with a glass ceiling. The ground was a mixture of fertile soil and cobblestones winding in footpaths. The trees wound and swirled from the ground like elegant script, more concerned with finding beauty than sunlight. Strange flowers clung to the branches, all of them a monotone black and white. Vanilla, cardamon, cinnamon, pine needles were some intermingled with gasoline, fresh cut grass, petrichor and even a smell that Alex could only describe as sunlight. While he appreciated each one individually, the combination gave him a headache.
A tea set had been set out in the center of the garden on a small circular table beanth the shade of two trees, their branches intermingled above as though holding hands. A steaming pot of tea sat in the center across from an ornate cup. A larger table was set out next to the tea table. Twelve more cups sat upon it, white porcelain decorated with blue paint; animals and stars were depicted within.
As he poured the tea into a cup the liquid quickly evaporated into steam. It danced in shapes and symbols. It didn't make sense to Alex, but Ai had figured it out. Apparently the symbols were related to astrology and were repeated in a sequence. Using all 12 tea pots, they poured the tea in the correct sequence. Upon completion the steam congealed into an amorphous blob of water over the table. A moment later it froze and turned a deep blue. A catalyst.
"You're a genius," Alex exclaimed. He resisted the urge to pull her into a hug.
"Actually I'm just shy of a true genius, but thank you for the compliment," She replied in a voice as dry as summer cotton.
"Uh huh. Well Ms. Not-a-genius, I couldn't have done it without you. Like, quite literally, I would have been here for the next hour trying to get this done. I owe you."
Ai considered this, "I'm pretty sure we're even. I was returning the favor you gave me."
He smiled at her, prepared to be just as stubborn as she was. The two of them began to make their way back to the grand hall, prize in hand, playfully bickering about who owed who.
"Oh no no no. You essentially handed me the catalyst on a silver platter. I only offered some generic encouragement I heard on my "Be the best you that you can be" podcast. I'm gonna pay you back. Promise. Until then, you're stuck with me."
She flashed him a smile, transforming her features and stunning Alex briefly. In the shadow of her smile he saw the memory of her.
She wasn't her. He had to remember that.
****
Amari Abar
A kingdom wasn't a collective, but an effort. A group of people didn't make a community. A bond did.
Amari had formed a community, and fear was the mortar that bonded them.
He had spent the last several hours exploring the castle. Most of the challenges he faced were trivial. There was danger hidden in the shadows, just beneath the surface, but Amari was wise enough to avoid it. For now.
He knew his strengths and played to them expertly. Raw momentum. Sudden Violence. Zero hesitation. These qualities earned him a dozen stones. Some lives were taken in his efforts, but a strong crop required fertilizer.
Amari found himself back in the main hall, the timer above ticking down the final minutes of this challenge. Two tables had been pushed together, a third stacked on top of them, forming a makeshift pyramid. Amari sat in the middle, his new soldiers on either side of him. A sea of desperation surrounded them. Those who collected a single stone. They shouted promises, begged and threatened. Amari stared over the crowd, a small smile perched
He had no need for desperation, no use for beggars. Those he had chosen all had their uses. A community didn't prosper from beggars, a village didn't grow from promises. Amari was going to win this competition, and those surrounding him would be the stepping stones to the top.
Sometime after finding his third stone Amari came across a very interesting artifact in the shield wing. It was guarded by a jewel-encrusted scorpion the size of a car. Its carapace glittered with treasure while its tail dripped liquid gold. Sadly, he hadn't been able to kill it, but he had managed to trick it into getting stuck, and claimed the chest it was guarding. Inside was a slip of paper, a dozen lines dotted lines across faded, yellowed parchment.
Luckily for Amari there were simple instructions. It was called a promissary note. Anyone who made a promise and signed this would find themselves soul-bound to honor the agreement. Amari didn't understand what soul-bound meant, but he understood it enough for it not to matter. Thus he had settled on finding twelve catalysts and twelve soldiers.
Eleven sat around, him with one unused stone tucked in his pocket. He was not a man that sweated decisions. If a person worthy of it didn't present himself he would simply crush it. One less person he would have to deal with later.
The eleven that surrounded him were all capable men and women that had found themselves on the wrong side of luck. Time had run short and they had come here, looking to do what needed to be done to secure their place. Amari, ever the generous soul that he was, offered them salvation.
For a price of course.
He looked up at the clock and watched it through calm eyes as it counted down. Five minutes left. Then, they could really begin.
Panic began to spread. Those without stones saw their window of opportunity closing.
Amari traced his eyes over the room and found a familiar face. The German man from earlier. He looked at peace. Amari was surprised to see his belt was still empty. He thought him a capable man, but reality proved otherwise. All the better for the hunter. Where was the child?
A ripple moved through the crowd in front of him as someone pushed their way through. Ah. The Child. Little Leo.
At the front of the crowd, a portly man, long in beard and red in cheeks, was jostled by Leo. The man's face contorted, outrage melting over his already distraught features. He raised his hand as if to strike.
Amari kicked off from the table, arms outstretched in front of him, a lion in flight. He collided with the man, feeling the man's shoulder snap like tinder. With two quick jabs he caved in the man's throat.
The crowd surged, but his soldiers quickly broke it up.
Leo looked up at him, fear and determination etched onto his very bones.
"Ahh, child. You have come to me once more, thinking me benevolent. But you are wrong young one. Generosity is the exception, not the rule. You will receive no more kindness from Amari. Not for free." Amari purred, kneeling down in front of the child, a leonine grin splitting his features.
Fear leaked from Leo, a delicious scent. Amari's nostrils flared and he wrapped one massive arm around the boy, pulling him in close, whispering into his ear.
"Why do you come here? You have put me in a difficult place, child. If I show compassion towards you, it is weakness. If I kill you right now, it will show everyone that I am not to be trifled with. The decision is easy. Yet, there is something about you that I like. You are brave to come here. So tell me. What do you want?"
Leo looked back towards the crowd, and then down towards his own belt. "Can you take my rock out. You're strong. You can do it."
Amari's smile grew wider. "Ahh, I see why you're here now. Amari has a better idea."
He dug out the promissary note, the faded parchment crinkling between his fingers.
"Let's make a deal."
****
Zhe and Gunther leaned against the golden railing surrounding the monolithic crystal. One the picture of serenity, the other losing their mind.
Zhe paced back and forth frantically, while Gunther just stared at the ceiling, smiling.
"There has to be something we can do. We can check the skull wing. Everyone I talked to avoided that place."
Gunther was staring at the clock. There were two minutes left, and he sighed. He had made his choice, and he didn't regret it.
"Zhe, my friend, I appreciate vhat you're trying to do. But it's ok. Ve choose our own paths. I've chosen mine. Two good people get to move onto the next round. Perhaps they'll do another one of these in zee future. I vill vin that one."
Zhe doubted much of what the man said. He doubted that he was a good person. He doubted that it was ok, and most of all a he doubted there would be another one of these competitions. In fact, as Zhe thought it over, the idea of sending a bunch of people back into the world after having witnessed all of this was…
"Stop it." Gunther said, clapping a large hand on his back and pulling him into a side hug. "Vhat's done is done. Smile and ve happy. Just promise you vill protect little Leo."
Zhe nodded his head, but Gunther grabbed him and forced him to face him. Zhe was shocked how easily he man-handled him.
"Promise me."
Zhe nodded more enthusiastically this time, but found his voice. "I promise. I'll watch over Leo."
Guilt raced through him, a pin needling his heart. Gunther could have killed him back there. He could have taken the stone. He could and should have left with a stone, but he took mercy on Zhe. Why? He could gain nothing from this? What was his angle? Zhe fumed at himself for being weak, not just in strength, but in character. In no world would he ever have spared Gunther. Were there situations reversed he would have slit the man's throat. But now he found himself in the man's debt. A man that would no longer be with them shortly.
One minute left.
"Speaking of," Gunther said cheerily, "Where is the little man?"
He turned, hands on hips looking for the child.
Zhe scoured the room. There had to be a solution. There was a crowd gathered around that maniac with the shotgun, but Zhe wasn't dumb enough to go over there. What happens to your catalyst when you died? Did it fall from your belt or stay locked in place.
Zhe fingered the knife he had taken from the previous chamber. Gunther's blood still clung to the tip. There was an old man nearby, stooped over, grumbling about the amount of people still left. Another woman, even more ancient than him stared serenely at the crystal, her eyes tracing the movement within.
Zhe's fingers gripped the dagger and felt his pulse pounding against its hilt. In one swift motion he could drain them of a future and gift it to Gunther. You had to protect your own. Even if it meant others had to suffer. Balance.
Zhe crept behind the woman, she was the easier of the targets. He kept the knife under the folds of his cloak. Gunther said something behind him as he walked away, but he ignored him, he had no time to convince the man, and knew what he would say in any case. This was for his own good.
Zhe kept repeating that to himself as he stood behind the woman. Her skin was thin as paper, translucent enough to see the blue veins beyond. Liver spots like constellations decorated the papyrus skin. She hummed some tuneless melody to herself, and Zhe steeled himself. She had lived a long life. Gunther had much left of his own. It was only fair.
Zhe slipped the knife from his cloak, and took a breath. He could do this.
The clock ticked down. Thirty seconds left.
He briefly wondered, would Gunther still be his friend after this. The thought gave him pause. Even though Zhe did this for him, he knew the man would hate him for it.
Fifteen seconds left.
Morality wrestled with practicality. Results fought with guilt. He sighed, letting the knife fall to his side.
He gave one last look at Gunther. His back was turned to Zhe, and he was kneeling down in front of Leo. He was probably saying goodbye.
Leo's time here was going to be difficult. Very difficult if this first challenge was any indication. Zhe wasn't equipped to protect him. Not like Gunther.
Ten seconds left.
A decision flashed through Zhe's mind.
He plunged the knife into the back, through her heart. She gasped. He could feel her final breaths as he held her close.
They didn't have time to draw this out. With a twist of the dagger, she seized and fell limp.
Five seconds left.
The crowd around him had their eyes towards the clock above. Nobody watching as Zhe pulled the knife free and set her down.
He reached towards the belt and his heart sank.
It was empty, save for a pile of blue dust.
The catalyst had died with her.
There was nothing left to claim.
The timer hit zero, and Zhe's disappointment turned to horror.
Around the room there were nearly a hundred people without catalysts.
The Council of robed figures hovered over the crowd looking down on them.
"Congratulations to those of you who will be moving on." One of them announced, his voice a rasping whisper. Like someone screaming a secret.
There was a pulse of power that emanted from the man in a sphere. It engrossed the entire room in a moment.
The power washed over a man to his right and he simply fell apart. It was as though someone had unzipped him. Blood and organs plopped to the ground like dozens of crimson jellyfish.
A scream caught in his throat, and the chamber filled with chaos as people realized what the disqualified really meant.
"Now," The robed figure hissed, "The games can truly begin."