Cyrus Solaris
Sora wanted us all to meet in the courtyard before the test. I was the last one to make it there. She stood, arms crossed, hair frizzed, eyes narrowed.
I wouldn't have been surprised if lightning struck me.
"Where were you that made you late to something this important?" Sora asked.
"I was in my Nexus." She didn't seem enthused with my answer.
Sora tilted her nose to the air and began to speak to the group, "I've called for us to meet before our next test, so that we can get on the same page," she said with a sweeping gaze.
"We have failed every challenge leading up to this. We can't afford to fail again."
"I could have told you that, princesses," Mira said, drawing looks from Voen and Nerena.
Sora palmed her forehead, "I know it's obvious, but as the Arbiter of the group, I need to lead and set an expectation on what I need." Mira gave a silent gesture for Sora to carry on.
"I know we have our reasons for not getting along with each other. But if we all want to obtain our provisional license, we have to do well here at Xhatal. So I'm begging you all, let's put our bickering to the side at least until we obtain our provisional licenses."
"Does the same go for you?" I asked, turning to Sora. She blinked, clearly taken aback.
"I know you despise me. Will you hold it back during this next exam?"
Small currents of electricity danced in her eyes.
"Yes… I will."
"Good, then you will have my cooperation." Mira raised an eyebrow at me, taunting me for backing down to Sora.
I didn't care; I just wanted to get that relic piece for my father. Hoping to surprise him when he wakes up.
Afterward, our group headed over to the teleportation terminal. As we stood in line, I heard a melodic tune being whistled.
Looking over my shoulder, I noticed it was Voen. I hadn't had a proper talk with him since the Totem games. We locked eyes, and he stopped.
"I'm not an astral behemoth; you don't have to freeze just because I look at you."
"Well, then stop acting like one." Voen shot, continuing his whistling.
When the teleportation finished, once again we arrived on the isle that wasn't connected to the main isle. The facility's layout changed again. Instead of an obstacle course, small shacks were erected across the terrain where the course had been.
"What do you think they're gonna do this time? Play stars and crossroads?' Voen said.
"Oil leak, they wouldn't have us play a board game for a test."
"Why not? We had a three-legged race last time."
Scrunching her face, "You have a point," Mira said.
After a while, a proctor approached our group. There was little talk, just a wave of the hand to follow.
We weaved through the shacks at a steady pace. I stayed behind, making sure I didn't lose track of Jace.
I wasn't going to allow him to cost me another defeat.
He sat on his cloud, half awake, sipping on his thermos. The very sight of it made my skin crawl. But I had to deal with it.
Soon, our proctor stopped at a shack. It was numbered twenty-one, signifying this was ours.
"Step in," the proctor said, and we all listened.
Inside, a mirror-like object stood in the center. Chairs were placed in an arc around the object.
Nerena and Mira approached it and examined it. I had no idea what they were looking for, but Mira stared in awe while Nerena simply nodded in approval.
"Mr. Proctor, sir, what is that thing?" Voen asked, raising his hand slightly.
The proctor grumbled, low enough for no one else to hear.
Voen's face crinkled, "Hitting students over the head isn't allowed, sir."
The proctor's face bloomed a bright red.
Adjusting his throat and posture, the proctor began to explain the test.
"This piece of astral tech combines virtual reality simulations, along with tech from the astral gates. This is the prototype technology that allows Starbound to astral-project into a virtual training area. In this area, your cosmic energy will drain at ten times the rate.
The purpose of this was to help Starbound improve their cosmic energy efficiency and control, but today we are using it for a group exercise that will test your ability to make choices in high-pressure situations."
"How safe is this exactly?" Voen asked, circling the mirror.
"Safe enough; numerous tests have been facilitated."
"Has anyone's astral body been stuck in the machine?" Sora asked, staring at the proctor with an intense gaze.
"A couple, but they weren't following directions."
Everyone flinched.
Having your astral body trapped somewhere is on the nightmare list of things a starbound would never want to happen. My father gave me a front-row seat to that outcome.
The proctor scanned the room, looking each of us in the eye, gauging what he should say next.
"Don't worry, I'm one of the few experts with this technology; everything will be under control… Now take your seats and prepare to astral project."
We all eyed each other before sitting.
The tension was thick.
Not just because of the uncertainty of astral tech, but because we really needed to do well, and we had to manage this task with our chemistry being at an all-time low. Otherwise, our chances of getting our provisional license this year would be impossible.
On top of that, I needed to get my hands on that lost clan relic.