Honor of Kings-Chapter 13: In Motion

Eventually, Sky slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the field. He turned his head from side to side, observing that every other student remained there, left to endure the biting cold of the night. The air was frigid, and some students hugged themselves, struggling to muster the strength to move even a muscle.

As he lay there, he began to ponder the fate of the five students who had been called out earlier today. His initial theory suggested they might have been administered the serum. This prompted further questions: Did it prove effective? If so, how were they faring now? If not, had they met a grim end? These thoughts gnawed at him, but he felt powerless to investigate further.

Sky then shifted his gaze back to the night sky. He was grateful for the warmth of his clothing; the cold wind howled and swept through the field, causing even the sleeping students to shudder. Those who had succumbed to unconsciousness didn't react at all.

Discontented with the notion of sleeping on the ground in such harsh conditions, he summoned what little strength he had left and made his way toward the Junior building, retreating to his room and leaving the others to their uncertain fate.

Unbeknownst to him, Katie was also awake. Her eyes followed him with keen curiosity. Rising halfway after he departed, she too made her way to the Senior building, seeking refuge in her own room.

***

Saturday, November 10th. Precisely three minutes past eight in the morning.

The students were permitted to rest until [10 a.m], so most wandered around the field, while others began consuming the breakfast prepared by the military. Trusting their judgment, it was nothing short of dreadful.

The meal consisted of sloppy oatmeal, a grayish mush that had the consistency of paste, and mystery meat patties that resembled overcooked rubber. The only redeeming aspect was a small portion of stale bread, which, while hard, offered a semblance of substance. Private Arundel had assured them that the food was designed to provide strength, asserting that taste was irrelevant when it came to sustenance.

In the school cafeteria, students reluctantly forced the unappetizing fare into their mouths. A few with questionable taste buds even went back for seconds, while others dragged their feet just to collect their first plate.

Sky, Finnian, and several other students sat together at a table meant for seven, with only one female among them. The cool, ventilated air circulated through the room, offering a brief respite from the oppressive atmosphere.

Some students attempted to mask the horrid flavor of their meals with water, each taking three bottles. However, they were acutely aware that the United Army had limited their daily water supply to only five bottles, alongside two meals. A wise student wouldn't waste three of their precious bottles in the morning. Sky, however, chose not to drink more than two per day; he was preoccupied with hoarding his water supplies, storing three bottles from each distribution for reasons known only to him. It was a compulsion for him to stockpile - based on his mindset.

He stood up with his tray once he was done and walked to return it at the tray return station. Finnian, on the other hand, was busy eating half a spoonful every two minutes, swallowing it down with three gulps of water. This methodical approach to eating could lead to delayed digestion, causing Finnian to experience feelings of fullness or bloating as the food sat in his stomach longer than usual.

After that, Sky left alone for the field. He wanted to go for a morning jog but decided to wait for about thirty minutes to allow his food to digest. He knew that engaging in strenuous physical activity too soon could lead to discomfort or stomach wars—an experience he certainly wanted to avoid after having gone through it once before.

***

After a few minutes, Sky began running around the field, taking breaks every ten minutes to catch his breath. During these intervals, he would take a gulp of water from the bottle he carried. Sweat trickled down his face, and his white sweatshirt was already stained with dampness on the chest and armpits.

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At that moment, the sun felt like an enemy, making the task much harder than it seemed. He glanced toward the senior building and noticed a few students emerging, with Finnian hunched over, holding his stomach, his cheeks flushed and continuing to purge as he walked. Sky shook his head, choosing to ignore him. His gaze briefly landed on Katie as she exited the building, but it didn't linger long before he returned to his jog.

The small group of students sitting on the bleachers watched Sky with a mix of terror and disbelief as he ran extensively. They wondered if he was turning into one of those military officers, especially since some of them were still weak in the legs from yesterday's exercise. Here was a guy who had fallen unconscious, yet he was still jogging this early in the morning.

Near the 40-minute mark of his jog, Sky decided to take a break. Only an hour remained until the Army's tough exercise would begin, and this time, it would involve new forms of training.

An hour later, Private Arundel approached, prompting the students to grumble and make all sorts of disappointed noises in a chorus of protest. She chuckled with her head down, her shoulders shaking, leading the students to wonder if she had lost her mind. But then she raised her head, and they noticed that her laughter had ceased. Her expression was now painted with a look that could only be described as "ominous" and "mischievous."

"Minus 40 points from your UGE if you don't complete the exercise. Agreed?"

The student's eyes widened, pupils dilating as disbelief washed over their face. Their mouth opened slightly, caught between a gasp and a stutter, while brows knitted together in a perplexed frown. A flicker of uncertainty danced across their features, as if grappling with the gravity of the unexpected consequence.

"Whaaaaa!???" they all screamed in unison, as if bound by an invisible thread. Yet, some among them reasoned that fearing the penalty deduction was pointless; the likelihood of the examination taking place had plummeted to 9%. With more worlds collapsing, it was only a matter of time before their homeland faced the same fate.

The devastating news from yesterday hung in the air like a heavy cloud of dread. Sky, however, felt a familiar tug in his gut, urging him to investigate further about those five students. He wasn't one to meddle in others' troubles unless it resembled a scene from a K-drama.

Suddenly, a pang of regret washed over him at the thought of losing those dramas—surely the producers were... well, let's not dwell on that.

His heart always longed for the visit to Asia and Africa, captivated by their vibrant cultures and the warmth of their people, even though he had never set foot on either continent. The allure of their traditions and the way communities thrived together fascinated him. He yearned to experience their festivals, taste their cuisines, and witness the beauty of their landscapes. Yet now, the grim reality loomed: he might never experience their brilliance again.

Then there was Antarctica, a place that sparked a different kind of yearning within him. The thought of adorable penguins waddling freely across the icy expanse filled him with joy. Watching them behind the confines of zoo enclosures hurt his heart; he longed to see them in their natural habitat, moving in groups, embodying the essence of freedom. The image of those charming birds, thriving in their home, was more beautiful than even the twilights or the neon skies—one of the new mysterious occurrences of the world, stunning to behold only once a month.

Sky sighed deeply, gradually becoming aware of the scene unfolding around him. He felt a mix of shock and resignation, realizing he was an integral part of this unsettling moment.

...Shockingly, the students had begun a silent protest. Some had stepped onto the field to train—Katie was among the few.

Meanwhile, others like him and Finnian remained on the bleachers, silently resisting the demand to train without any reward. They seemed to forget that this was supposed to be a forward movement to save their world, a necessary stepping stone.

Yet, they had lost hope even before the real chaos began. No one was willing to put in the effort only to face death.

What if they died even while getting injected with the serum?

And where had they taken the five students from yesterday?

They hadn't seen them since.

Is this a... death game in motion?

Arundel scowled.