CHAPTER 3

Out of panick, the second he opened his eyes, Gunn immediately searched for the wounds that he sustained from the recoil. To his surprise, not a single open cut was there. He found none on his arms, none on his legs nor on his face. It was as if he dreamt the whole thing.

'But it cant be...'

Snow inked in red surrounded him. In fact, there was more on his clothes too. And considering the amount of evidence just lying around, Gunn was one hundred percent positive that he did not just imagined all of it; that he did explode into a bloody piñata at one point. Yet one question remained: how was he still fine?

"Lord Valentine!" Gunn heard someone shouted his name from accross the thicket.

In mere seconds, a small pudgy red skinned figure came running out of the icy woods. The young Yaegan was rushing to meet him. "Your change of clothes, Sire... and your jacket."

Gunn knew who this young man was. It was actually Uobe, Gunn's trusted attendant. Both of them came to Adarna together but the young Yaegan came through the Narrow Gap first before him.

"Was it you?" Gunn asked Uobe while peeling his blood stained clothes off one by one uninhibitedly in front of him.

Rather than answering directly, Uobe showed him two vials of what looked like containers of some rare liquid concoction. It was all empty now.

"Nevermind." Gunn commented apathetically while easing both of his arms under his tight insulated black Greger jacket."What's the situation?"

As his attendant, Uobe was quick to reply. "The last of the participants who qualified during the first hurdle are now converging at Alfalfas point. We have ten minutes to get there until the next test. Do not worry, Sire... I'll take us there in five. I know a shortcut." Uobe explained while securing both slings of their enormous supply luggage unto his fat cushioned shoulders.

Gunn just gave Uobe a quick nod in response. And without a second more wasted, both youngmen were running with the wind attached to their heels, quickly disappearing into the frigid woods, leaving only their tracks behind.

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There was a perfect reason why this event was called the Seeding. And up until now, only a chosen few in the military knew of the Narrow Gaps ultimate secret; and that was literally to plant the seeds of Eiya.

General Keshrach was ecstatic to see that a lot of the participants this year managed to tip-toe the first stage of the test. Based on his wide grin, anyone could tell that he was brimming with optimism for the future defenders of Eiya. 'If there were this many seed carriers this year then the champion conversion rate should be a lot higher too.'

At least, ideally, that was the expected turn out. However, General Keshrach knew more than anyone else how treacherous and difficult Eiyas Ladder could be. Afterall, he was once the product of the Ladder many years ago. There was no such thing as a walk-in-the-park. You have to earn every point with blood and sweat inside the Ladder. And that was only fair, since no hero was ever born untempered in this world. The greatest champions in Adralan's history were those who were molded by the most ridiculous hardship in life. Theirs was never an easy existence.

Scanning through the huddled crowd in Alfalfa, Keshrach could straight away tell that there were a few very strong seedlings who stood out amongst the sea of normal ones.

Out of the initial eight thousand plus participants, a total of six thousand eight hundred, give or take, were now on the second stage. A far cry from last years pitiful numbers.

"Lieutenant General Marsh... I think it is time." motioned the General.

The culling was about to start. And Lieutenant Marsh was given the special task to provide the instructions to the would-be champions as to what the next stage was all about. Their task was simple; to traverse the Misty Woods and arrive at the Sanctuary of Spirits before dusk. All they needed to do was follow the Green Fairy and that was it.

With the way Lieutenant Marsh was explaining the mechanics, the man made the mission appear very basic for everyone. However, little did they know that they were all slightly being misled.

The Misty Woods had thorns hidden inside its foggy scenery, and everyone should be wary.

"Just remember, if you find yourself in a tight predicament, you can always break your bracelet to forfeit. We will come and pick you up immediately. Clear? Any questions?"

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"Why is a Yaegan here?"

"Those vermins should have stayed back in the dark continent where they belong."

"Shouldnt those slaves be barred from entering the Seeding? What the hell?"

"Disgusting demon spawn!"

If this was the Valentine Manor, Uobe could have easily walked away from the scene, ignore the comment, and just move on. Unfortunately, he was not in the Valentine Manor. He was in a foreign land surrounded by ignorant people.

"Pay them no mind and just focus on the mission." Lord Valentine reminded him from the front. And Uobe, upon hearing that, said nothing.

As Lord Gunn Valentines attendant, Uobe was trained to always follow his Lords order. Wherever his Lord was, he would follow, like a shadow.

"Make sure you protect your bracelet at all cost. The Ladder Guides are up to something." Lord Valentine instructed.

Actually, Uobe thought of the same thing earlier on. There was definitely something more about the bracelet that the Guides werent telling everyone. Most likely, this thing could just be a ploy to disqualify them and not really save them from emergencies.

"Boom!" that was the sound of the cannon being fired from a distance. It was the signal that the second stage of the test was starting.

"Just follow my lead and dont lag behind." Lord Valentine said before dashing forward into the mist.

Strangely, Uobe immediately lost sight of Lord Valentine the instant he followed him.

"What the hell?!" Uobe exclaimed. He just blinked for a second and suddenly, his entire line of sight were blocked by thick layers of unexplainable fog. "Lord Valentine, please wait!"

He repeatedly called his Lords name but Uobe heard no response. But instead a tiny ball of green light appeared in front of him.

'The green fairy!'

Uobe suddenly remembered the words of the Ladder Guide from ten minutes ago. "I guess I have to follow you then, right? Well then... lead the way, tiny friend!"

And into the deepest part of the Misty Woods Uobe ventured.