Ryven walked towards the wall, passing the children huddled together as they stared at the horrid site.
He stood before the body, examined it, then looked up to see the snapped rope and the other rope which was supposed to be on Lucian, now the one that sealed his fate. Confirming the boy was dead, he turned around,
"Go for lunch, training will resume immediately—"
"Ryven!" A voice roared. The children jolted, Ryven's eyes peeked up to see an angry Chet walking up to him briskly.
The children cleared the way like wild animals against forest fires.
"Chet? what brings you—" Before he could finish Chet cut him off while closing the distance.
"Where is the child?" he asked,
Lucian and others had just climbed down when they heard the commission
"Who?
"Don't act like you don't know. Where is She?"
"The one you threw in the crevices"
Everything clicked. He had remembered.
And Chet saw this.
"You left a child three days in the crevices and forgot about her"
Her. Kira. The person they were talking about was Kira. it clicked in him. Even he had forgotten about that girl.
Chet was fuming like never before. Lucian Nirro and Kealor were all shocked to see him like this.
His power slowly erupted but stopped after taking note that the children were still here. Calming down he released Ryven from his grip.
"Send them back. We will continue our conversation after" Chet said, not waiting for Ryven to respond, he vanished.
The children stared wide-eyed, confused on what just happened. Until a Ryven voice sounded.
"Leave." Words didn't need to be repeated again as the children scurried away.
By the time they got to the dining hall, the doors were already open. The children sat orderly across the long table.
The food appeared on the table, their respective portions right in front of them and the soup.
"Eat" A female voice uttered, and they dug in. The food was great as always but the soup was next level hell
Why the soup?.
And they weren't allowed to drink the soup first. It was later after eating like who would like to enjoy then suffer later.
"You can do it. You can do it." Kealor said, trying to convince himself. Didn't seem to be helping when the urge to throw came just by looking at the soup.
"One… two…" Shutting his eyes tightly, tilted his head back as he shoveled the liquid down his throat. Thick and viscous like a slug, slime creeping down.
_Gulp_
The plate hit the table as Kealor felt his body, next level convulsion spasmed through him. Goosebumps riding on his skin. All from the disgusting soup.
Kealor opened his eyes with force like he had been drowning. He turned to look at Nirro—Head down, elbows on the table, fingers interlocked to his forehead like a makeshift crown as he tried not to vomit.
Lucian stared at the empty bowl, eyebrows twitching.
When all of them had finished and dropped the bowls back down. The utensil vanished like it wasn't there leaving the tables sparkling clean. The doors then opened for them to leave. They stood up from the long bench. In a long file, they began moving but their movements were halted by two warriors who stood outside as guards.
"Traning has been cancelled, you will be escorted back to you your sleeping quarters." The bulky of the two warriors said.
The children looked at each other as they mummured. One thing was for sure something had happened. and had to deal with Kira. Lucian had made the judgement.
One by one they followed the warriors until they reached their sleeping quarters. Inside, some sat down, some laid down. together in their formed groups, all discussing what had happened. Thinking optimistic and pessimistic.
Lucian paid no mind until movement caught his eye. Kealor.
'What is he doing?'
Kealor's head swiveled left, right, and left again. Inching toward the doors like a criminal in a bad play. No one else noticed. Of course not. Only Lucian.
The others, neck deep in their conversation to see this unintelligent display happening before them.
Kealor slipped out. Lucian slid off his bed and followed, scanning for warriors.
The warriors weren't standing in front but he made sure before going forward in a well known direction. Possibly, where Kealor was going.
Just as he was about to pass the building where they sleep. Lucian heard footsteps. His heart gripped as he assessed his situation, looking around him.
Rush back inside?
No!. Too late.
By the time he does, he will be toast. They would have seen him before he reached the door.
Thought flowed, searching for a way out as footsteps became louder.
What else… What else?
He spotted the wall's protruding corner and quickly tucked himself in, eyes shut, heartbeat counting the warriors' steps.
Hoping that when the warriors pass, they don't turn and see him. Worse off, going in this direction.
Where he was hiding.
Time stretched.
When they passed, he exhaled. Their voices drifted back:
"Everywhere is on lockdown because of a certain someone. Clearly that person is mad enough to dare to upset Chet"
"Truly!, we are instructed to look after these children ensuring they stay put while he goes to retrieve the missing one.
'Kira is missing?'
'How?'
'How did she climb out'
'Is it possible for her to climb out'
'No. we only began our climbing training'
Thoughts raced but he pushed it to the back of his mind.
'Now it's not the time to think about that. I need to find Kealor and get back to our quarters before we are doomed.
'And I already have more than enough to deal with. Where could he go?'
Lucian looked around, checking for any incoming warriors before moving forward once more.
Kealor was just one more building away from the tent. One in which he was currently hiding behind. He looked around and saw no one. A cheeky smile danced across his face.