The track immediately descended into chaos.
Some runners sat on the ground.
One participant simply lied on the ground and stared on the ceiling. Questioning every decision that had let him here.
I wasn't much different though.
My lungs were screaming for air as if they were trying to escape my body.
Beside me, 220 was breathing heavily. Still soaked.
Still expressionless.
She always does this when thinking.
...
932 looked around at everyone. Then,
She suddenly raised her hand.
''Attention!''
Nobody responded nor reacted.
Not because they were ignoring here.
It's because they were too exhaushed to even make eye contact.
''Good enough.''
She nodded to herself.
Then, she pointed her finger toward the sky dramatically.
'Guys! I have an announcement.''
The entire group looked at her this time.
''The penalty was fake.''
...
Silece. Someone blinked.
Doesn't believing what she heard.
Someone else looked personally betrayed.
''What?''
''You heard me.''
932 broke the pose and crossed her arms.
''There was never a penalty.''
A participant immediately stood up.
''Then why did you tell us that?''
''Motivation.''
''That's manipulation!''
''The result was going to be same.''
''That's not how it works.''
932 simply closed her eyes. Not looking at her.
''Depends on the result.''
The participant sat back down. Defeated.
...
932 pointed everyone else again.
''Listen carefully.''
Her tone became unusually serious.
''If you are running just because of points, you are doing it wrong.''
She pointed at herself. She raised her voice.
''If you are running because someone forced you, you are also wrong.''
She grinned slowly. Feeling confident.
''If you are running because you want to become stronger tomorrow than you are today...''
She paused.
''That's what I call a real development plan.''
...
Nobody spoke.
Not because they agreed.
Because they were too tired to argue.
...
Then, 932 suddenly disappeared behind the stands.
''What is she doing?''
I muttered.
A few seconds later, she returned.
Dragging an entire box of bottled water.
''At least the water is free.''
She placed the box on the ground.
''Look at the positive side.''
Participants immediately gathered around.
''One each! Don't fight!''
932 reached our side with 2 bottles.
''You too participant 518.''
She pointed the water at me.
''And participant 220.''
She grabbed the water first.
''Smart choice.''
932 nodded approvingly.
''Hydration is temporary. Dehydration is also temporary. But bad decisions are forever.''
''That sentence makes no sense.''
220 replied instantly.
''Exactly.''
932 answered proudly.
...
932's hand was left in air.
''You are gonna grab it or what?''
Why didn't I take it immediately?
''Sorry.''
She glanced at me for a brief second. Then smiled proudly again.
And walked back.
...
Some of the runners stood up and asked 932.
''Do this facility has shower? or a place where we can wear clothes?''
932 turned to them an adjusted her glasses.
''Of course we do have! There is a purple door on the left side of the enterance door.''
She pointed the purple door.
''Thank you captain.''
Someone even called her captain. Strangely, nobody laughed.
932 struct their backs as they were leaving.
''We will close at 7pm. Don't be late or you will be locked here by me.''
One of them raised their hand, Acknowledgeing what she said.
Some of the participants stood up and started following them behind.
''Hey... Wait!''
...
''Participant 932. I want to quit the course you are giving. running is not for me.''
932 turned her back. looking at him dirrectly.
''Don't say like that! Running is not a matter of talent. I once trained a mediocre friend of mine who wanted to get into it. He is thanking me now for representing the country.''
The paricipant was still looking at her.
''I am sure I want to quit.''
932 looked away and waited for a few seconds.
Then,
932 clapped their hands on the participant's shoulders.
''W-what are you doing?''
''Then quit.''
Participant seemed happy as he heard this.
And, took a step back.
''But don't quit improving yourself.''
932 waved her hand to him as he was leaving.
...
I stood up from the ground. There a few people left in the hall except the ones at the shower room.
''Where are you going?''
220 said while collecting her cartography stuff.
''You know well than I do.''
I gave her a somewhat complicated answer. But she seemed to get it.
''Alright let's go.''
We started walking towards the exit door.
Then,
''You two survived better than expected.''
She said with a serious tone.
''You two really have great potential.''
Potential? I also didn't believe that when I saw in system stats.
''We barely survived.''
''Still survived.''
932 looked around the empty hall.
...
''Come with me.''
220 looked at me, Then at 932.
...
She pointed at herself.
Then at me.
''Us?''
...
THUMP.
The sound echoed through the hall.
''Agh--!''
220's entire lurched forward.
For a split second, I geniunely thought she was about to fall.
I instinctively grabbed her arm.
...
''Are you alright?''
220 stared at 932. One hand was on her shoulder.
''What was that for?!''
932 looked completely confused.
''There are only three people in the hall.''
...
She pointed around.
Empty stands.
Empty track.
Empty seats.
...
Then, she pointed at us.
''You.''
Then at me.
''You.''
...
''Who else would I be talking to?''
220 opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
For once, she had no response.
...
She was still rubbing her shoulder.
I can't help wondering how strong 932 really was.
I slowly helped 220 regain her balance.
''Are you alright?''
''No.''
''Reasonable.''
...
We both looked at 932. She looked back at us.
Then,
She tilted her head.
''Are you two a couple?''
...
''No.''
''Absolutely now.''
We answered at the exact time
''But you are holding her arm.''
I looked down.
I was still holding her arm. Somehow, I had completely forgotten to let go.
220 also looked down.
Then at me. Then back at my hand.
...
''Interesting...''
932 closed her eyes and nodded to herself.
''Definitely a couple.''
''That's not what a couple means.''
220 replied immediately.
''Then are you relatives?''
''No.''
''Childhood friends?''
...
220 averted her gaze.
Then, swallowed hard.
That was somehow an even worse question.
I let go her hand.
...
932 looked at both of us. Then, she turned around
''Anyways.''
Just like that, she sounded like as if the previous conversation never happened.
''Follow me.''
''Where?''
''You will see.''
...
We left the sports hall.
The evening lights had become noticeably dimmer. The corridor was quieter than before.
Even the detectives were gone.
Only our foorsteps echoed through the floor.
...
After several minutes of walking, we entered Atrium 2A
Why we didn't stopped at 3A instead?
I decided not to ask. I will probably just observe what happens.
The oak trees stood motionless.
Then a cold breeze passed through the atrium.
The leaves rustled quietly.
...
I looked up.
''..!''
Wait.
A breeze?
We were inside a massive building right?
I looked around again.
The trees.
The grass.
And the soil.
It all felt real except the fact that we are inside a building.
Where exactly are we?
My eyes shifted the seedling near me as passing by.
A small tube ran along its underside and dripped water at regular intervals.
On top of that, the soil must be deep for trees to survive. That means that the plan for the place is always meant to include trees.
We walked in the middle of the atrium.
Compared to the sports center and meeting room, this place was quiet.
Soft yellow lights hung between the branches.
I could smell light rain and the scent of trees. There was no rain but the irrigation water smelled alike.
When I looked at the surrounding, I couldn't even tell that I was inside a building.
...
Then,
At the center of the atrium stood a giant statue.
We slowed down. 220 and 932 started examining too.
The statue depicted a man standing upright with one hand behing his back.
His face carried a calm expression.
Not the expression of a warrior nor a king.
A thinker.
The stone platform beneath him was covered with engraved letters.
I approached. 220 followed be behind.
And I started reading out loud.
...
''Every state is born, every state grows, every state decays, every state dies.''
--Ibn Khaldun
...
I continued.
Beneath the quote, another sentence had been added.
A much newer one.
...
''If this law is absolute, then let this nation become the exception.''
--The founder of the state.
Then, I heard a short laugh.
...
220 shook her head.
''Pathetic.''
932 immediately frowned.
''What?''
220 looked back at the statue.
''Do they really believe they can discredit someone like Ibn Khaldun?''
The certainity in her voice was unsettling.
''Centuries have passed. Empires have rised. Empires have fallen.''
She pointed at the inscription.
''And yet his observation still survives. That alone should be enough evidence.''
The wind passed through the oak leaves. My hair shooked.
...
932 remained silent.
Then, started walking to a bench.
''Follow me.''
Her voice was dead serious.
That's unusual.
...
We started walking to her. She sat down.
220 sat at the other end of the bench.
I'd rather die than sit in the middle row.
I sat down cross-legged on the floor.
...
932 immediately looked at 220. Her expression became more serious.
''Then let me ask you something.''
She stared at me this time. Looking at my soul.
''What is your objective?''
220 looked at her.
''Objective?''
''Your real objective.''
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Even the wind seemed quieter.
...
932 crossed her arms.
''You already belong to a committe.''
She pointed at 220.
''Yet you joined mine. I don't understand why.''
220 didn't answer immediately.
...
''You assume there is another reason.''
''There is always another reason.''
932 replied almost instantly.
So this is what happens when the top list argue with each other.
''Nobody voluntarily signs up for three laps of suffering.''
...
932 looked at me this time.
''You never said you wanted self-improvement.''
She cleaned her throat.
''But if you knowingly chose a difficult path...''
She looked 220 this time.
''Then growth was already included in the decision.''
...
''I simply want to know what king of growth you're seeking.''
The leaves above us rustled quietly.
...
932 didn't continue.
She wasn't thinking. She was simply observing 220.
Couple of seconds had passed.
''Running wasn't your first choice.''
220 still remained silent.
''You established a committe, and you've probably explored somewhere already. And only then did you come here.''
...
932 crossed her arms.
''That sequence interests me.''
220 looked at the statue of Ibn khaldun.
''I am looking for necessary people.''
932 blinked once.
''Necessary people?''
''People who can be relied upon. People who remain useful under pressure. People who can posses high adaptation to physical threats. People who don't collapse.''
The answer sounded strangely spesific. Because that was our objective.
932 tilted her head.
''And running helps you find them?''
''Partly.''
...
220 looked away from the statue. Her gaze drifted toward the artificial horizon beyond the trees.
''Aetheris is looking for a pioneer.''
''A pioneer?''
''Someone who walks first. Someone who enters the unknown before anyone else. Someone willing to take risks that others avoid.''
220's voice remained calm.
''Maps are useles if nobody is willing to create them.''
''Routes are useless if nobody willing to test them.''
''And expeditions are useless if nobody is there when everything starts falling apart.''
For some reason, she briefly looked at me when she said that last sentence.
I chose not to ask why.
''Aetheris needs people capable of doing those things.''
932 took off her glasses and started wiping them with her cloth.
''And How exactly does running helps you find them?''
220 didn't answer immediately.
''Because exploration is exhausting.''
I remembered myself at those stairs. It was geniunely exhausting.
''What?''
''Running means durability. The people I need needs to be durable.''
932 leaned back and closed her eyes.
My legs started to ache. So, I changes my position.
Then I checked the stitch on my left eye with my hand.
''Auch--''
They both looked at me in anger.
''What?''
They said at the same time.
''Sorry. I should't have interrupted.''
They stared each other again. Then, I decided not to touch my left eye ever again.
''That's aetheris' profit. What about you?''
932 said.
''The same reason.''
220 answered immediately.
''Explain.''
''Cartography is comfortable on paper. Reality isn't. Walk for hours, get lost and continue despite the exhaustion.''
She paused.
''Should I focus on drawing maps? or getting crushed under the weight of my own equipment?''
...
Then, 220 pointed at me.
''The person beside me isn't particularly talented when it comes to carrying things.''
I immediately pointed back at her.
''What does that have to do with anything?''
I crossed my arms and smiled proudly.
''Besides, you can't draw such a conclusion. You didn't even see me carrying things!''
220 stared at me for a second.
Then, she closed her eyes.
She placed one hand on her forehead.
And started laughing quietly.
''Right. Is that coming from the person who managed to hit his head against wall several times when it comes to climbing a single staircase?''
932 looked at me. Then at 220.
Then at me again.
''Several times?''
''That's not the point.''
I answered immediately. Unfortunately, it was exactly the point.
I looked away.
That was a bad example to bring up.
''Fine. You won again.''
''Naturally. You should stop trying.''
220 replied.
''One day, I will prevail.''
''Continue dreaming. 998.''
Hearing 220 say 998 hit me like a stone in the face.
...
''Anyways,''
she said.
''I need someone who doesn't hit walls while climbing staircases. And,''
She reached into her pocket.
''And I happen to know someone suitable.''
932 raised an eyebrow.
''Who?''
Without answering, 220 opened her notebook.
She flipped several pages Then, tore a piece out.
It was the sheet she showed me at cafeteria.
And handed it to 932.
932 looked at the paper. Then at 220.
Then, 932 folded the paper once.
''I understand your purpose now.''
She paused for a second. Then put the paper into her pocket.
''You came to this committee for me.''
''Absolutely.''
220 didn't deny it.
932 stood up and started walking.
''I will consider.''
She stopped again, to check her watch.
''6.30 already?? I'm late for my workout!!''
She vanished instantly.
...