10:42am, Friday

The ride out of the city was short. The BubbleME took us the 200 miles to the city edge in less than thirty minutes. From there, we took the road to the MassEXO field. The MassEXO was similar to what the ancients called an airport. However, in Qui, everyone had bone implants that fortified their endoskeleton. These implants also served as links to exoskeleton upgrades. So, instead of having one pilot for a few hundred people, anyone with an endoskeleton implant could hook up to a flying exoskeleton upgrade and fly to wherever they want just as easily as driving a BubbleME. Since DiMech Inc was the main tech sponsor of the Akademy and Top Six Program, we were going to be using the TransportME upgrade to travel as a group.

I had planned to sleep during the trip to Edenyon, but sleeping while flying was impossible. Thankfully, we were only in the air for an hour, even though the trip was supposed to take over five hours to reach our destination. When we landed, we all piled into a MassBubbleME. Much better to be on the ground than in the air, if you ask me. But somehow, I just couldn’t get comfortable enough to sleep in the BubbleME. So I watched the land zoom past us. Fist one hour, then two hours passed of nothing but flat land, hilly land, farm land, wet land—it all blurred together like a bad painting.

We were eating our packed lunches when Kirosh suddenly pushed his face up His face was pushed up against the BubbleME’s glass as if it weren’t transparent enough. “Whoa…” He breathed.

I turned dully to look at what he was interested in. The mountains were rising up before us like ominous guards, but they were just mountains. Nothing that special. The ones in Hanra were much taller and more numerous. These were like babies compared to what I was used to seeing.

I turned back to my window and packed my food away for later, wishing for sleep to come for probably the hundredth time since the start of the trip. Between Gary’s surprise visit and the party, I had only gotten two hours of sleep last night. I just wanted to rest.

“Whoa look at that!” Kirosh tapped on the window like a child.

“Yeh…wow.” I said as I leaned over to grab my bag. After Jack had left us in the breakfast room at the Top Six Building, we had all rushed back to pack. However, what we didn’t know, and what no one seemed inclined to tell us earlier, was that the Akademy automatically moves your belongings into new rooms within the Top Six Building. So, by the time we returned to the Building to pack, we only had seven minutes left to pack. I don’t even remember what I threw in my bag.

“No, really…look.” Kirosh shook my arm.

“What is—” I swallowed my words. The edge of the forest looked in front of us with trees so large that you had to look out the top of the BubbleME to see the tops. I squinted at the sky to try to see the tops as we zoomed closer and closer. Then, suddenly, the sky darkened. We had entered the forest.

I looked at my HOL: 11:01am. I looked back out the window. The shadows coming from the trees made it feel more like two in the afternoon, not eleven in the morning.

Jack pulled the BubbleME off to the side of the road. “We go on foot from here on out.” We slowly piled out of the vehicle, each of us trying to take in the magnificence of the forest. Jack tapped something in the BubbleME and it sped off, leaving us alone in this quiet forest.

I spun around as I noticed for the first time just how quiet the forest was. There was not a sound of birds or insects. It was like the very trees themselves were sleeping—as if the very air was holding its breath. Yet, the air was not stale. It was light and crisp. I shivered and pulled on my sweatshirt, mumbling a Mara’an prayer under my breath.

“Follow me, and don’t fall behind.” Jack started down a path almost hidden by the tall ferns that covered the woodland floor.

We followed behind cautiously. There isn’t even a sound of our footsteps. It’s like we aren’t even here. A hidden branch reached out at me as I pushed my way through ferns so tall a six year old child could hide standing straight up. I swiped at it and instantly jumped back as I saw where the branch had come from. It was a smaller tree with no leaves and covered almost entirely of moss. I shivered harder. It looked more like an overgrown tarantula than it did a tree. A hand reached out and gripped my shoulder hard and pushed me forward. I didn’t have to turn around to know that it was Garett.

I took a deep breath and nodded, hurrying to catch up with Jack who was climbing over a branch that had fallen on the path. My eyes widened. The branch was as thick as a normal tree back in Yamara. And yet, this was only a branch.

Jack waited for us all to climb over the branch before he began to talk. “Question: how does a Jackal travel if not by BubbleME?”

“On foot?” Kirosh ventured an answer.

Jack chuckled. “Nope. By horse.”

We all looked at him dumbfounded.

“Follow me.” Jack led us around a large tree that was so large that five men could stand side by side and still be hidden from view. On the other side was a rather rundown looking building nearly hidden from view as it blended into its surroundings. Jack disappeared into the building and came out a few moments later leading a horse. A freaking horse!

“I thought he was joking.” Kirosh said surprised.

No one else spoke.

A horse is one of the few animals that have survived in Qui since the time of the ancients. They belong in an agricultural museum, not out here in society.

“This is a blue roan pryor mountain mustang. One of the finest horses still living.” Jack said with no small amount of pride in his voice. And it was obvious why. The beast was beautiful. “This one is mine. There are five still in the stable. Go pick which one you want.”

When no one moved, Jack sighed. “Fine, wait here.” He went back into the shed-thing and led out a grey colored horse.

“You all will be getting gentle quarter horses. They are easy to work with, as long as you’re not mean to them. Respect the horse, and he will respect you. Now, this beauty is Quedam.” Jack led the horse to Dryden. “Take the reins.” Jack held out the pieces of cord that were attached to the halter around the horse’s face. Dryden took them tentatively.

Jack went back into the shed and lead out a light blondish red colored horse. “This is Roni.” Jack handed me the reins. Roni tried to nuzzle at me, but I jumped back, letting go of the reins. Jack let out a loud laugh as picked up the slack reins. “He isn’t going to hurt you, Tash…here, pet his nose like this.” Jack held out his hand and gently stroked Roni’s long nose. Roni whinnied softly in response, and nuzzled at Jack’s hand. “See? He’s saying hello.” Jack handed the reins back to me before returning to the shed-house.

The third horse he led out was a light colored horse that looked golden, but whose main and tail were white as snow. “This is Sunfelt.” Jack announced, giving the horse to Kirosh.

As I petted my horse as Jack showed me, it crossed my mind that it seemed only fitting that such ancient beasts should be within this forest. Everything about the Edenyon Mountains was shrouded in an ancient feeling. A mysterious feeling that only grew when Jack led out the forth horse that was as black as night with a bright white star on his forehead that stood out compared to all the others. His name was Nightstar and was given to Arina. The fifth horse was the color of Zuashi sand. Jack handed this one to Garett “This is Cookie.” Garett just looked at the horse with a calculating eye and nodded. The last horse was a dark chestnut color named Brownie. Roshcar stepped forward when Jack signaled.

“Now that we’ve gotten that settled, it’s time to learn how to ride your horse.” And for the next three hours, we all learned how to mount our horse, guide it around, dismount, and lead it by the just the reins. We then had a light snack that Jack provided out of his bag before finally journeying down the path towards our destination. We plodded along for what seemed like ages, and soon the shadows began to lengthen in the forest. Finally, Jack pulled his horse to a stop and turned to look at us.

“There’s a canyon up ahead that we have to cross before we stop for the night.” Jack dismounted and pulled his bag off the back of the horse. “After we cross it, we will stop for the night.”

“What canyon?” Dryden asked, looking around. Nothing but trees rose up before us and behind us. The ferns guarding the almost non-existent path.

Jack chuckled. “We are going to have to blind the horses so they don’t get spooked on the bridge.” Jack walked around and handed out little caps to put over the horses’ heads. I gulped as I looked at mine. Bridge…? “Everyone dismount and put these caps over the horse’s ears and across its eyes so it can’t see. Then, we will go one at a time until we reach the other side. Understood?”

We all nodded, more or less. I dismounted and looked at the cap again. Bridge…? I ventured a look at Garett in front of me, but he was busy putting the cap over his horse’s head to catch my eye.

“Alright—” Jack started.

“Wait…I’m not ready yet.” I called out as I quickly stuffed the cap over my horses head. It patiently waited as I tugged and pulled on its head.

“…Everyone ready now?” Jack asked, his voice hinting at impatience.

“Yeh, sir.” We chimed in unison.

“Good. Now we will go one at a time. Make sure you are at least five steps behind the person in front of you.” Jack commanded before turning and directing his horse forward. “Follow me.” He called out over his shoulder. He walked straight, even though the path curved to the right, and pushed his way through the foliage. We followed silently. The foliage parted before us as Jack ploughed through and, suddenly, it was as if night had turned into day as we entered a clearing with the bright sun streaming down upon us. It’s blinding light seemingly 100 times stronger than what I remembered.

“Whoa…” I squinted until my eyes could readjust to the brightness. And then I saw it. An expansive canyon with nothing but wood beams and heavy planks between us and certain death. The whiteness of the canyon walls amplified the sun’s light, which was what had made it so blinding. Jack strode forward with his horse in tow as if he were taking an afternoon stroll through the park. Then Kirosh, then Roshcar, then Garett…then me.

I could feel my stomach churn as I stepped onto the bridge. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. I trained my eyes on the rump of the horse in front of me and how the muscles rippled under its skin. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. I gripped the reins of my own horse tighter and tugged her forward. Step. By. Step.

There had been a light breeze when I first stepped onto the bridge, but as I made my way forward, the wind seemed to increase. The closer I got to the center of the bridge the more the wind tugged at my hair like fingers, pulling it across my face and into my eyes. I swiped it away in annoyance, taking my eyes off the tail of Garett’s horse for just the slightest of seconds. But that was enough. The canyon walls were beautiful, but nothing could hide the sheer drop into oblivion if something were to go wrong.

I snapped my eyes back onto the horse in front of me. If Sunfelt suddenly kicked, I would go over the edge. I gulped. The floor seemed to sway, which was impossible since the beams that the planks were nailed onto were full tree trunks—at least fifteen feet in diameter.

Somewhere in front of me a horse neighed.

If Quedam were to push up against me, or side step, or lose his footing in anyway, I would go over…all the way down. The blood rushed in my ears drowning everything out. My heart was pounding, and not in the good way. It felt like it was clawing its way out of my chest. I tried to breath, but the wind seemed to steal away all the oxygen—flittering it away down into the ravine below as if teasing me. I gasped and gasped, but my vision was starting to go dark…

“Tash—” I felt someone grab my shoulder.

No. No. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be here. I will be good. Don’t throw me over. Don’t—

Suddenly I was back there. On that Mistress House roof with the Head Mistress. One of her hands was on my shoulder, the other on my wrist, dragging me forward to the edge.

“(Don’t throw me over).” I begged. My legs gave out beneath me and I crumpled onto the old beams, making myself as small as possible. I squeezed my eyes shut as I heard feet approach. “(Don’t throw me over. Please. I’ll be good).”

“Garett get over here. I don’t speak Mara’an.” I heard distantly. Garett. Garett. Garett. I focused as hard as I could on him. On everything I knew about him. On every crinkle of skin on his palms that I have traced more times I can count to every laugh line on his face…well, he has more frown lines than laugh lines, but it didn’t matter. As long as it was Garett, it didn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t…

You think it doesn’t matter? A voice from my past suddenly yelled in my ear. You think it doesn’t matter? You think what you did was alright? You little…I’ll show you. You will either learn to follow orders, or you will pay the price. And do you know what the price is?

“(Stop it. Go away).” I sobbed. “(Go away. I didn’t know.)”

“Tash, it’s Garett. Open your eyes!”

“Didn’t know? Of course you didn’t know. This is why you have to go through training before you can be a Mistress. But mistakes must be atoned for. Bad mistakes must pay the price. And that price is to be THROWN OFF THE ROOF. The voice was screaming now. Screaming just like Mistress Yrvko had done that night… “No one cares about one little girl from Hanra training to be a Mistress. There are hundreds in training. What is one little girl? No one will care if you die. No one will miss you when you are gone. You belong to the House now. Nothing can save you now.”

“(I’m sorry.)” I screamed back. (I won’t do it again. I’ll be good. Don’t take me to the roof. Please! Don’t—)

“Tash—”

“(Don’t be mad. Please don’t be mad).” I whispered. “(I’ll be good. Don’t throw me over. Don’t—)”

“Tash!” Suddenly my vision cleared. Garett was in front of me, shaking my shoulders.

I looked around wildly, trying to scoot back but I couldn’t get out of Garett’s grip.

“(Not the roof. Don’t let them take me, Garett. Please. Let me go.)”

“(Tash, look at me. Look at me!)” He shook my shoulders and my head snapped up to look at him. “(Tash, no one is going to throw you over. I promised I would protect you, yeh)?”

I didn’t answer.

“Yeh?” He demanded with more force, shaking my head with his hands.

I nodded furiously.

“(What does that mean? Tell me).”

“(It means)—”

“(I can’t hear you. Speak louder).”

“(It-It means you won’t hurt me).”

“(And)?”

“(And you won’t let anything hurt me).”

“(So what does that mean about today, about right now)?”

“(I-I don’t know. I don’t know.” I start to shake again. “Don’t be ma)—”

“(Tash, I’m not mad. No one is mad. And no one is going to throw you off of anything. Do you understand me? No one).”

“Promise.”

“Promise. Now stand up. You have to walk to the other end. Do you see it?” Feet shuffled out of the way and I could see the other side. It was no more than 100 feet away.

“Is she alright?” Jack stepped into my view. His eyes watching me unblinkingly. Trust Jack. Sola’s voice slid into my head. Trust Jack…

“She’s fine.” Garett snapped before grabbing me under the arms to drag me up. I clutched at his shirt as my feet wobbled.

“Don’t leave me.” I begged.

Garett paused for a moment before pulling me into a quick hug. “Never.” He whispered before helping me to my feet. “Now, I’m going to walk in front of you. Look only at my back. Don’t you dare think about looking down. Got it?”

I just nodded at him.

He turned and started to walk, but I reached out and grabbed the back of his shirt. He hesitated for a brief moment, turning to look over his shoulder. But he said nothing, and continued on. Step. By. Step. Until we reached the other side.

As soon as my feet touched firm ground again, I rushed into the foliage and out of sight of the canyon.

“Wait.” Jack called out, but I didn’t listen. I ran as fast as I could into the foliage. I whipped through the ferns without caring where I was going as long as it was away from that bridge. “Tash…” Jack’s voice sounded faint, but with this forest, he could have been just behind me. With that thought, I ventured a glance over my shoulder as I ran. Nothi— I hit something hard and dense that made me stumble backwards from the impact.

“Are you alright?” Dryden filled my vision. “You ran into me again.”

My mind went blank. Wasn’t Dryden behind me on the bridge? I heard a soft neigh of a horse and my head whipped around. Not more than fifteen feet away was Arina. Wasn’t she also behind me?

“Tash…?” Jack’s voice sounded out again.

“She’s over here.” Dryden called back. Within moments Jack and Garett appeared.

“W-w-why are they here?” I pointed to Dryden and Arina.

Dryden snorted softly. “Seriously? Because we are all on the same team—”

“I don’t mean that.” I snapped. “Why are they here? On this side of the bridge? T-t-they were behind me.” My voice kept rising with each question.

Neither Jack nor Garett spoke. “Why are they all on the other side already?” I asked again, my voice rising. “Trust Jack.” Sola’s voice slid into my head as I looked between Garett and Jack.

“Tash, I want you to look at something—” Jack began.

“Don’t make her do that.” Garett interrupted, his voice low and hard. “She’s been through enough for one—”

“Don’t make me do what?” I asked frantically. “Garett, don’t make me do what?”

Suddenly, Jack strode forward and grabbed my wrist. He dragged me back into the foliage before anyone could say a word, and marched me right back to the bridge.

“N-n-no!” I tried to reel backwards, but Jack kept pushing me forward. “Don’t—”

“Garett, get hold your cousin.” Jack pushed me against a warm body, and two arms encircled me. “Now, Tash. I need you to watch this.”

I was still trying to wriggle away, but the arms wouldn’t budge. Jack took a step onto the bridge and went maybe ten feet in. Then, he lifted a foot and took a step to the right. Off the bridge—

“No!” I lunged out to grab him, but his foot…it didn’t fall. “W-what?” I breathed as I watched Jack move his other foot off the bridge and stand in the air. “H-h-how…that…Gar…what?” I wriggled against the arms, but less frantically as I tried to process what had just happened. “W-wha…”

“This isn’t a canyon, Tash.” Garett’s voice filled my ear. “This is just a trick. An optical illusion.

My head snapped to look at him, then back to Jack. I opened my mouth, then closed it. I opened it again, and closed it again. No words would come out, so I just shook my head.

“It’s an optical illusion.” Jack confirmed.

“W…why?” I finally croaked.

Jack didn’t answer immediately. He just looked at me with a blank face. “Trust Jack.” I could hear Sola’s urgent whisper again in my head just before he opened his mouth. “I needed to know if anyone was afraid of heights.” He said simply as he began to walk back towards me without touching the bridge once.

I opened my mouth to retort, but no words came out. I gripped Garett’s shirt harder, and tried again. But still nothing came out. I struggled violently against Garett’s arms one last time, and they gave way. I bolted for the foliage once again, but Jack caught my arm.

“Wait.” Jack caught my arm, forcing me to stop. “Don’t run off just yet. It’s easy to get lost in there.” Jack’s cool demeanor made me just that much angrier. I tried to throw off his hand, but it stayed clamped over my forearm, dragging me once again. But this time, thankfully, away from the so-called canyon. He only released me when we had reached the others again.

“Since I have all of your attention, I want to lay down some rules while we are in this forest—”

“Why are we here?” I finally found my voice. It growled and rasped through my throat like an angry beast. Like my EPC tattoo beast from yesterday. “Why couldn’t we take the Transport directly to Edenyon? Why come through these stupid woods at all?”

Jack looked on without even blinking an eye. His calm, steady face as unmoving as the trees beside us. The others came up behind Jack and looked at me with surprised and curious faces. Only Garett stepped forward and placed himself between me and the others.

“She’s right.” Garett said quietly. “Why are we walking?”

“Has anyone here ever been to Edenyon?” Jack asked, looking around the group of shaking heads. He sighed. “The only way to get to Edenyon is on foot. The Transport is not allowed to fly within 100 miles of the town.”

“Why?” Roshcar asked curiously.

“Touch one of the trees.” Jack nodded to nothing in particular since the trees were all around us.

I looked at Garett, but he didn’t move. It was Kirosh who reached out first to pat the large tree trunk, but he pulled his back suddenly as if he had been bitten.

“It’s stone?” He looked at Jack in surprise.

Jack nodded. “Most of these tall trees have been petrified.”

“How is that possible?” Dryden asked as they all started to touch various different trees. I scooted closer to Garett now that everyone’s attention was elsewhere.

“It’s an ancient forest.” Jack shrugged. “There are many mysteries that we have yet to learn about the ancients. But anyway, back to the rules of the forest: never go anywhere by yourself. It’s too easy to get lost in this forest. Understood?” Jack looked directly at me.

I glared back at him. “Trust Jack.” Sola’s voice echoed in my head as I pursed my lips. Trust Jack? I gripped my hands into fists, willing them to stop shaking. Why should I? What has he ever done for me to trust him?

“Understood?” He asked again.

Garett shifted slightly in front of me, and I rolled my eyes. “Yeh, fine. Whatever.”

“Good.” Jack said. “Since you have all agreed, I will now split you into temporary pairs until we reach Edenyon. These are not the permanent pairs I will be deciding on later. This is just so that you don’t end up lost before we get there. Understood?”

Roshcar and Arina nodded; the rest of us just looked between ourselves.

“Good. I want Garett and Tash as a pair; Dryden and Kirosh as a pair; and Roshcar and Arina as a pair…”