I woke up around nine in the morning; the next phase of the exam wouldn't start for another four hours. Deva had encouraged us to get as much rest as possible, so I didn't bother moving. I just stayed there on the plush sofa. Diana was snuggling against me, hugging my arm so tightly that I couldn't have left even if I wanted to.
"Hmm..."
I still couldn't stop thinking about the society of this world. The fact that people didn't even need houses, sleeping in the streets simply because the streets were that comfortable. Art Circles were as powerful as entire corporations, and the concepts of family and parents were completely unheard of.
"Tag: Freeuse," I muttered to myself.
"Mmm?" Diana's eyes fluttered open before she let out a long yawn. "Morning..." She looked around the plaza. "Ah... I slept in." She rested her head back on my shoulder. "Mmm... You're so hard, but you're warm," she noted, patting my chassis.
"Thanks, I guess?" I looked around. Other participants were either still asleep or just starting to stir. In the corner, I spotted one of those food dispensers people used to "cook" their meals. "Do you know how to cook, Diana?" I asked.
"No..." she yawned again, finally releasing my arm. "I have some presets I brought from the City of Love, but they don't taste the same here." She stretched her arms and stood up. "Be right back..."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Leo walking toward Diana while she waited at the printer. The guy still had that flat, holier-than-thou expression on his face. He tapped Diana's shoulder and said something, waving his hand as if he were delivering a lecture.
Immediately, Diana's expression brightened. I couldn't help but groan inwardly; she was far too naive for her own good.
Three minutes later, she returned with Leo in tow, carrying a wrap and a flask. "Viel, good news! Leo said he'd like to join us," Diana said, smiling. "Don't worry, Leo is very prepared. He decoded the brochure and managed to prep supplies for the surface!"
I gave Leo a long, stern look before rolling my eyes. "Welcome to the team. Rule number one: don't be a jerk," I muttered.
"Understood."
Diana sat between us and started on her wrap. "So, Leo," she said between bites, "What's Determination like?"
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Define 'like.' Are you asking for a comparison between Determination and other settlements?"
It's an open-ended question, you dolt! Just answer the fucking question! I yelled internally.
"N-no, ehehe... I mean, I've never been there. I want to know what it feels like to be there. What should I expect?"
Leo nodded slowly. "Determination is located at an altitude of five hundred feet. It is a ring-city built around the peak of a mountain." He paused to straighten his glasses. "There are not many humans in Determination; most of its inhabitants are Smart Constructs like your friend Viel."
Huh. So robots like me are actually common there? I wondered if that was why he was such an ass—maybe he was just used to talking to machines.
Diana munched on the edge of her edible flask. "That's so cool! What's the Herald of Perseverance like?" she asked, listening intently.
"An adult male. He walks around in a dark blue jacket, talking to citizens; you can rarely find him in his official chambers," Leo explained. "He is known to be very laid back, rarely taking anything seriously. I personally disagree with his style of governance; he puts too much faith in his ministers and the local governors."
"Heralds aren't really rulers," Diana pointed out. "It's easy to get it mixed up, but historically, they aren't 'leaders.' They're more like... guides."
Leo narrowed his eyes. "If that is what you choose to believe..." He looked at the wrap in his hand and finally began to eat.
"Mmm..." Diana sighed in relief, finished with her breakfast. "Viel, do you really not eat? What about charging?"
"Apparently, I don't need to do either," I replied. "Aion said I can't run out of power. Also, whatever I 'eat' just turns into a food bar in my stomach."
"Is it edible?"
"Yeah. Bit weird, though."
Diana tilted her head. "That would be useful, wouldn't it? We can use you as food storage!"
"I guess... though I'm not entirely sure how to open the compartment on command. How did Aion do it again?" I poked around my waist, looking for a clasp or a button. After a moment, my stomach compartment flipped open with a soft click, revealing the bag of colorful candy.
"Oooh! Candy!" Diana grinned, snatching the bag. She popped one into her mouth before handing the bag to Leo. He took one as well, though instead of eating it, he began to inspect it clinically. "This is super convenient!"
"I suppose it is. It's almost like I was made to be a courier." Maybe I was? Who knows.
About an hour later, Deva returned with the rest of the Trailblazers. "The second and deadliest part of your exam will begin in one hour," he announced. "Your objective is simple: survive on the surface for one week. Feel free to stock up on food here or hunt for your own outside, if you prefer."
I watched as everyone scrambled toward the food printers, generating dozens of rations to pack away. Diana did the same, sprinting back and forth with armfuls of supplies. "Time to make use of that extra storage, Viel! Ehehe!"
I opened my compartment and let her shove a week's worth of food inside. When I stood up, I realized that despite the volume of items, I didn't feel any heavier. Not only that, but... was it just me, or did the compartment fit more than should have been physically possible?
"Alright!" Diana grinned, planting her hands on her hips. "Now we don't have to worry about starving."
I stood among a dozen other contestants facing a massive metal gate. A second gate hissed shut behind us, locking us into a cramped airlock between the city and the world outside.
"Now, listen closely," Deva said, pacing before the group. "You are about to be exposed to raw air and raw sunlight. To reduce casualties, we will slowly increase the dosage of the outside atmosphere. If at any point you cannot bear the toxin, raise your hand."
A sharp hissing sound filled the chamber. Beside me, I felt Diana's hand clench around mine. The sound grew louder, a steady rush of pressurized air.
One person raised a hand shakily before dropping flat onto the floor. Others fell to their knees but managed to force themselves back up.
"Pay attention to your body, not the toxin," Deva commanded. "The neurotoxin density around Ingenuity is lower than in more verdant regions, but that also means the poison may disable your body when you need it most."
Right. Plants create oxygen and deadly neurotoxin. Because why not? Apparently, nature is a spiteful ex who bought a shotgun
"Know your limits," Deva continued. "To force yourself through this exam is to endanger both yourself and those around you. Stand down now if you aren't certain of your resistance."
By the time the outer gate began to groan open, only ten of us remained standing. The portal revealed the surface world and a group of Trailblazers waiting for us in the light.
And so, here I was—back in Mother Nature's loving embrace. Except it wasn't loving at all. Mother Nature clearly had a deep-seated grudge against the human race. I couldn't really blame her; humanity had been a menace for a long time. Well played, Ma. Well played.
"Stay sharp," Deva said, leading the way. Trailblazers flanked us on all sides, guarding our perimeter. "The surface world is far more dangerous than you can imagine."
I had a sneaking suspicion he and the rest of the pros were about to ditch us for the actual test.
"You're very calm, Viel." Diana looked at me with a nervous smile. "Is it because you're a robot?"
"No, it's because..." I paused, looking out at the horizon. "Okay, yeah, I can't lie—this just looks like a safari trip to me."
Diana tilted her head. "A safari trip?"
"Yeah. Something from the Old World. They'd put us in a metal and glass box and send us into the wilderness to gawk at the animals."
Diana looked at me with pure horror. "Is that some form of execution?"
"No, recreation!"
On that happy note, we finally arrived at the first checkpoint. A looming tower pulsed faintly with a soft blue light. Deva gestured toward the structure. "This is a Trailblazer Checkpoint—a hub used by Couriers, Defenders, and Explorers venturing onto the surface. Let me tell you the most important thing about this tower."
He pointed to the pulsating orb at the top. "This is a 'Reality Anchor.' You don't need to know the mechanics, but it repels any hostile creatures that are not human. This includes Fae and beasts. During your travels, checkpoints like these will save your life."
Got it. Stay within the blue light and nothing tries to eat my face.
A contestant raised their hand. "Will it save us if we're being pursued?"
"If you can get within two hundred meters of the tower, yes," Deva replied simply. "Any other questions?"
I raised my hand. "What's the SOP if we run into a Fae? What do they even look like?"
Deva raised an eyebrow. "Good question. Officially, we are in a truce with the Fae-kin. If you meet one, do not engage; they will generally leave you alone. As for their appearance... they stand on two legs and are distinctly non-human."
I blinked. Vague. Thanks.
"Any other questions?" Deva asked.
Someone else piped up. "The winning condition is just surviving for a week, right?"
Deva nodded. "When you send an SOS, it takes a search party a maximum of seven days to locate you. Thus, surviving for a week is the fundamental requirement for a Trailblazer." He folded his arms. "Of course, there are other ways to finish this exam."
Above us, the blue light on the tower flickered and died.
"The first alternative is fixing the Reality Anchor. If you manage to get it operational, those of you present will pass immediately," Deva said calmly. "Finally, you can pass by making your own way back to Ingenuity." He turned away, his cloak billowing in the dry wind. "I shall see you in a week. Good luck."
The rest of the Trailblazers followed him, tossing us cheeky waves and mocking "good lucks." They disappeared down a jutting cliff-side, moving with a speed that made it obvious we'd never catch them. We were on our own.
"Okay then..." I stepped back from the remaining recruits.
Diana and Leo stayed close. Diana already had her hand on her sword hilt, while Leo's armor hummed as he fully engaged his systems.
"So, the options are: survive for a week, fix the tower, or hike back to the city," I summarized.
"Yes." Diana eyed the other groups. "And unfortunately, predators are attracted to crowds. We need to split into groups of three at most." She scanned the swaying grass for movement. "Umm... we should probably..."
It wasn't just Diana; everyone was visibly on edge. One group went straight for the tower to tinker with it. Others started trekking back toward the city, hoping for a quick finish. I had a feeling that walk wouldn't be as easy as they hoped.
"The first priority is to establish a camp," Leo said, his voice modulated through his helmet. He glanced at a cluster of nearby trees. "Though getting close to the flora is unwise."
Well, at least someone has a plan. "It's fine. we'll figure out the tree situation later." I looked around the open savanna. "For now, we need to find a spot with a clear line of sight—somewhere a leopard can't sneak up on us."
"Leopards?" Leo asked.
"I don't know, Saber Claws? Whatever. I just don't want us getting ambushed."
We moved away from the dead checkpoint, venturing into the wilderness in search of a defensible patch of land. "Say, what happens if we just burn this dry grass away to clear a perimeter?" I asked.
"According to the field manual, excessive fire may summon an elemental," Leo replied. "Information on elementals is sparse, mainly because most encounters result in total fatalities."
Wow. It was like Mother Nature had specifically engineered ways to counter every human advantage. Our greatest tool—fire—was now a death sentence.
"Okay then," I sighed. "Let's just find a safe spot and plan our next move."