Chapter Five: The First Light of Two Suns and the Rules of Survival
Dawn did not arrive with a single explosion of light but with a strange sequence that bewildered my exhausted senses. First, a pale, lavender-hued disc crept above the eastern horizon, its cold, ethereal glow washing over the silver forest and slightly dimming the stubborn radiance of the blue leaves. I felt restless, an overwhelming urge to move after a night of tense restraint. Then, just as I was about to leap to my feet, a second disc rose—golden and vibrant—from a different point, imposing its warmth and dominance over the scene. The eerie interplay between the two lights cast shifting shadows, unsettling and confusing.
"Damn these two things in the sky. Can't there just be one normal sun?" I muttered under my breath, rubbing my eyes as a prickling agitation ran through my limbs. Jack was already awake, sitting as still as a rock, his back against the cave wall, his wise gray eyes calmly assessing the temporary trainees' camp. Shadow, meanwhile, had slightly pushed up his glasses—not to adjust them, but to allow his bare eye to capture the spectrum of the dual light directly. He was murmuring something about "spectral interference" and "unfamiliar atmospheric refraction," already lost in his analyses.
The ten trainees moved with near-mechanical efficiency, like ants in an organized colony. No wasted words—just the rustling of their leather gear, the clicks of weapon checks, and the folding of sleeping mats. The red-haired girl, Kyle, inspected her bow with expert care, her eyes constantly scanning the treeline. I felt a mix of admiration for their competence and irritation at their cold detachment. *Is this what we'll become?*
Kyle stood and approached us, her posture still rigid and weary. "The second sun has risen," she said simply, as if reading a dull weather report. "Time to move. As agreed, you're on your own now."
I burst out, "But where do we go? What do we do? You can't just—"
Jack cut me off by calmly placing a hand on my shoulder—a single look from him was enough to rein me in. He replied to Kyle with steady composure, "Understood. We appreciate your leniency last night."
Kyle hesitated for a moment, perhaps surprised by Jack's calm or feeling a slight pang of guilt. She nodded toward the east. "We're heading toward the 'Whispering Waterfalls.' The water there... is usually cleaner. Don't follow us directly—large movements draw attention. Learn to read the signs." She pointed to some markings they had left. "And most importantly: don't trust what seems easy." She turned and rejoined her group, disappearing like ghosts among the trees.
"They left us like pups!" I exploded in anger once they were gone. "What does 'read the signs' even mean? Are we suddenly supposed to become detectives? We need a plan! Water, food—anything!"
"Calm down, Aris," Jack said patiently, his deep voice having a soothing effect. "Rashness won't help us now. Kyle gave us two valuable pieces of information: a direction and a potential water source. That's a start. Our top priority is water."
Shadow interjected, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose in a gesture of intense focus. "Kyle's data is incomplete and potentially flawed. 'Usually cleaner' is not a scientific confirmation. But the probability is higher than random searching. Other variables we need: regional topography, common predator types and their active cycles, potential toxicity of local flora, and the mechanics of these 'Classes.' Can we accelerate their growth? Are there exploitable weaknesses?"
"Your analysis is excellent, Shadow, but it won't fill our canteens," Jack replied with practical wisdom. "We'll head east cautiously. Aris," he looked at me, "you're the fastest and most sensitive to sound and movement. Be our forward eyes and ears. Look for anything unusual—any signs the trainees left, any hint of water. But control your impulsiveness. Don't get too far ahead." Then he turned to Shadow. "And you—any plant or small creature we come across, observe it carefully. Anything that might be toxic or useful. Your analytical skills could be lifesaving, even if your data isn't complete yet."
I felt a mix of excitement and responsibility. Yes, I was impulsive, but my senses were sharp as a blade, and that faint energy coursing through my body made everything seem clearer, closer. "Alright! I'll find us water!" I declared eagerly and began moving ahead, my eyes scanning the ground, my ears catching every rustle.
We advanced carefully through the strange forest. Jack followed closely, his steps quiet and steady, reading the terrain with an expert's eye. Shadow trailed behind, examining every leaf and strange insect with clinical curiosity, occasionally muttering terms I didn't understand—"biological symbiosis" or "chemical indicators."
After what felt like an eternity of tense walking, my ears caught a faint sound—the whisper of water! "There!" I whispered urgently, pointing ahead. I nearly rushed forward but remembered Jack's warning and slowed, following the sound with greater caution.
We found a small stream trickling between rocks covered in suspiciously vibrant moss. The water looked temptingly clear.
"Finally!" I almost knelt to drink, but Jack's strong hand gripped my arm. "Wait, Aris. Remember Kyle's words."
Jack knelt cautiously, inspecting the water and its banks. "No clear signs of larger animals drinking here. And the colors... too vibrant."
Shadow approached, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses as he stared at the water. He didn't touch it but seemed to focus his energy on it. "Microscopic inorganic particle concentration is abnormally high," he said after a moment, his voice dry and clinical. "Clear correlation with algal bioactivity. There's a 78% probability of neurotoxins or at least severe irritants."
I cursed under my breath, frustration tightening my throat. My thirst was real, and this water felt like a cruel illusion. "So what do we do? Die of thirst while you analyze molecules?" I snapped at Shadow.
"Rushing to drink would have led to something far worse than temporary thirst, Aris," Jack cut in firmly before Shadow could launch into a longer analysis. "Patience is a vital virtue here. We'll continue east toward the waterfalls. Shadow's analysis confirmed Kyle's wisdom and warned us."
I sighed in irritation but knew he was right. We pressed on, our empty stomachs and growing thirst making each step harder. The forest now felt personally hostile.
As we climbed a small hill, I froze. At the base of a massive tree lay the remnants of a cold fire, scattered bones, a torn piece of cloth, and clear drag marks leading into the darkness—stained with dried blood.
"Damn..." I whispered, a chill running down my spine. This wasn't just a game.
Jack examined the scene with grim calm. "They weren't careful enough—or maybe they were weaker. That's the price here."
Shadow analyzed the traces with a detached eye. "The dispersal pattern suggests a sudden attack, likely by a single medium-sized predator with claws. The lack of significant resistance marks might indicate the victims' inexperience or extreme exhaustion."
A wave of anger mixed with fear washed over me. I didn't want to be mere "data" in Shadow's cold analysis of my own death scene. I didn't want to be "careless" in Jack's wise assessment. I wanted to fight, to survive, to prove that this "Assassin" class wasn't just a label—it was my weapon for survival.
The three of us exchanged glances, and I saw my own determination reflected in their eyes—albeit in different ways. Jack with his steely calm, Shadow with his razor-sharp focus, and me with my impulsiveness in need of direction.
"Let's move," Jack said, his voice pulling us back to reality. "The waterfalls await, and this forest doesn't forgive hesitation."
We resumed our journey, the gruesome scene etched into our minds. We were no longer just lost. We were trainees now, in a brutal school where the test was survival, and success was measured by each new sunrise we lived to see. And the journey to the Whispering Waterfalls was no longer just about finding water—it was the first step in learning how to survive this new hell.