Chapter 4

  Dream

  Warden:

  “All cadets, report to the training ground.

  The First Trial is about to begin.”

  Taro clenched his fists.

  Taro (thoughts):

  “So this is it…

  I have no other choice now.

  It’s now or never.”

  The cadets gathered. The warden stepped forward, his voice cold and steady.

  Warden:

  “Welcome.

  Your first trial is Speed.”

  He scanned their faces.

  “I hope you have trained well.

  Only the first fifty to cross the finish line will pass.”

  A pause.

  “Half of you will survive.”

  Murmurs spread through the crowd.

  “Those who fall behind will be exiled from the kingdom.”

  Gasps followed.

  “Push forward.

  Reach your limits.

  Win… if you wish to survive.”

  Taro’s breath caught.

  Taro:

  “What?! Exiled?!

  This is madness!”

  His hands trembled.

  “I can’t win like this…

  If I win, they die.

  If they win, I die.”

  His voice dropped.

  “I could just quit…”

  The warden’s eyes hardened.

  Warden:

  “You might be thinking of leaving.”

  Silence.

  “No.

  The trials must remain hidden.”

  He leaned forward slightly.

  “If you attempt to escape…

  you will turn into bones.”

  Taro swallowed.

  Taro (thoughts):

  “This is a trap.

  A trap to kill people.”

  His jaw tightened.

  “The King is insane…

  but I won’t die today.”

  Images of his family flashed in his mind.

  “My family’s sacrifice won’t be wasted.

  I can’t lose.”

  The warden raised his hand.

  Warden:

  “Take your positions.”

  The cadets lined up.

  “You will face three sections.

  The race will not stop between them.”

  “If you complete one section, you must complete all three.”

  He continued calmly.

  “First section:

  Five kilometers of continuous running. No breaks.”

  “Second: Swimming.

  You will fight crocodiles using spears.

  No armor.”

  A ripple of fear spread.

  “Third: Strength.

  Defeat a tiger.”

  He lowered his hand.

  “The trial to become a soldier…

  begins now.”

  First Section — Running

  The signal sounded.

  The cadets rushed forward without hesitation.

  Taro didn’t.

  Taro (thoughts):

  “They’re sprinting… idiots.”

  He slowed his pace.

  “Their legs will burn soon.

  I’ll jog… then overtake them.”

  Two kilometers passed.

  Heavy breathing filled the path.

  Some cadets began to slow.

  But Taro felt it too.

  Taro:

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  “My legs… no—!”

  Pain shot through him.

  “I get it now…

  It’s not speed.”

  His stomach growled.

  “I’m weak…

  I haven’t eaten properly in days.”

  He glanced around.

  “I’m dead last.”

  His fists clenched.

  “Mom… Sister…

  this is for you.”

  Voices echoed nearby.

  Cadet 1:

  “Hey, look at him. He’s exhausted.”

  Cadet 2:

  “He won’t survive.

  I doubt he’ll even finish this section.”

  Taro forced himself forward.

  Taro:

  “Get out of my way.”

  Another cadet smirked.

  Cadet:

  “The warden said no rules.”

  He grinned.

  “Let’s trip him. This’ll be fun.”

  A foot shot out.

  Taro:

  “Stop—!”

  He stumbled, then realized.

  Taro (thoughts):

  “No rules…”

  A sharp smile formed.

  “So that’s the loophole.”

  He spun.

  His foot connected.

  Cadet:

  “What—?!”

  He crashed to the ground.

  Taro:

  “How was my 360 fake spin kick?”

  The cadet growled.

  Cadet:

  “You little—!”

  But Taro was already running.

  Adrenaline surged.

  He pushed past one… then another.

  By the time the first section ended,

  Taro crossed the line in tenth place.

  Second Section — Swimming

  The river lay ahead.

  Dark water.

  Ripples.

  Crocodiles.

  Taro (thoughts):

  “I need to go first.”

  “If others die first…

  the water will fill with blood.”

  “And crocodiles wake fast.”

  He tightened his grip on the spear.

  “No time to rest.”

  A cadet shouted.

  Cadet 3:

  “Hey! Where are you going, genius?”

  Taro:

  “Just checking the trial.

  Seeing how many crocodiles there are.”

  The cadet nodded.

  Cadet 3:

  “Bring me the information.

  I’ll protect you in return.”

  Taro:

  “Sure.”

  He moved ahead alone.

  The river was packed with crocodiles.

  But then—

  A narrow path.

  Hidden.

  Taro (thoughts):

  “No rules…”

  He stepped onto it.

  Halfway through, he stopped.

  “If I take the shortcut…

  what’s the point?”

  “This trial is training.”

  “To face the shadows…

  I need this.”

  He stepped back toward the water.

  Taro:

  “Here I come, crocodiles.”

  Suddenly—

  The world twisted.

  Darkness.

  A voice echoed.

  ???

  “Embrace it…

  Embrace it.”

  Taro froze.

  Taro:

  “What…?”

  A figure stood before him.

  Familiar.

  Too familiar.

  Then—

  He snapped back.

  Cold water splashed his face.

  Taro (thoughts):

  “Was that… a dream?”

  His heart pounded.

  “I don’t know why…

  but I’m scared.”

  Next Saturday

  Wounds.