A World Unwritten

There is a symphony of destruction playing out in my head, a melody of dread and anticipation echoing within my skull. I am no fool, I am no innocent. I have been bred and raised to fight, to strategize, to survive, to rule. Not just against beasts and monsters, but against my own kin. I was born to be a ruler and a ruler should not show mercy.

As I chew on the grilled meat that Flora prepared, I barely manage to keep a straight face. The meat is chewy, the taste bland. Yet, I have no other choice. It is food, and in these dire circumstances, I cannot afford to be picky.

"How's the food, Liam?" Oliver asks, grinning. The fool. The thought of his silly, upbeat personality sets off a dull throbbing in my head. The less I have to interact with him, the better.

I plaster on my well-rehearsed smile, looking Oliver right in the eyes. "It's great," I lie, not that he would be able to tell. The son of Rosalind, a stupid idiot. Rosalind Is an influential person, although I haven't personally met her, I have read her records. How did she end up with such pathetic kids?

I take another bite of the meat, forcing down the revulsion that threatens to crawl up my throat. To become king, I need to eat this filth, to laugh with these people, to pretend. To pretend that I am just like them. To pretend that Aira and I are on equal footing. Tsk, If only father was still alive, I wouldn't have to deal with these issues.

My gaze drifts towards my sister, her eyes focused on her food, her face serious and unreadable. Oh, Aira, you have always been mother's favorite. The golden child, the princess who could do no wrong. And yet, you are the obstacle that stands in my way. An obstacle that must be eliminated. I do not hate you in any way, yet you are a weed that needs to be removed, thoroughly and cleanly.

But it isn't easy. Mother won't allow a direct confrontation, won't allow me to solve the problem with a swift stroke of a blade. No, it needs to be more...subtle.

I don't need allies, I need influence, I need to turn people against her without them even realizing it. It's a game of chess, and I intend to win. But as I sit here, surrounded by my classmates, I realize I have another pawn to play with.

Flora.

She is timid, weak, easily manipulated. And yet, she holds a power that is unique and valuable. She can control plants, hear their whispers. It's an ability that, when utilized correctly, can prove to be quite useful.

In fact, she could be the perfect tool to get what I want. But for that, I need to gain her trust, need her to believe that I am on her side. I need to play the kind, understanding prince who only wishes to help her.

I turn towards Flora, a smile gracing my face. "Flora, you did a great job. I know cooking isn't easy. And I think you're doing a good job handling it."

She looks at me, surprise flickering in her eyes before being replaced with gratitude. "Thank you, Liam. That means a lot."

I nod, patting her shoulder reassuringly. "Keep it up. We're all in this together."

Yes, Flora, we are. And when the time comes, you will play your part in my grand scheme.

My gaze turns back towards Aira, the corners of my mouth twitching upward in a smile. The game is on, sister. And I plan to win. The crown will be mine. At any cost.

As I bite into another piece of meat, a sense of satisfaction fills me. I know what I need to do, I know my next moves. This survival test is just a stepping stone, a small part of my greater plan.

I chew on another bite of meat, swallow it down bitterly. 'V took Isadora and Biana,' I remind myself, as I picture the direction they'd taken, a trail opposite to ours. 'He has to know what's on this island. He wouldn't have split up from the group otherwise. Even I wasn't privy to much information about this test, given it was arranged by Professor Ayla and Professor Thaddeus. What he plans to do with the information isn't my concern right now, but the fact that he managed to get his hands on it... that's an issue.' I rub my chin, considering.

'So long as he doesn't join Aira's faction, it should be manageable. Aira... her naivety astounds me. It's true that connections can aid you, but they alone can't run a kingdom. There's supposed to be another test at the top of the mountain. I heard it through the grapevine. V must be heading there. He's useful, I'll give him that. It would be for the best if he remained neutral.'

My eyes drift to Oliver, who's currently engrossed in a conversation with Aira. He's too easily swayed, a problem I'll need to deal with sooner or later. For now, I turn my attention to the next task at hand. 'Getting to the top of the mountain...'

"Hey, Flora," I call out, interrupting her meal. She looks up at me, a piece of meat half way to her mouth. "Do you think you can use your plant control ability to find out what's at the top of the mountain? It would be a huge help if we knew what to expect."

She blinks in surprise, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Um, I... I can try," she finally manages, looking unsure.

As I watch Flora concentrate, my thoughts turn towards Isadora. An unknown variable. Isadora has always been difficult to read, always quiet and reticent, keeping herself distant from others. I'm certain her mother's death played a part in her isolation, but that doesn't change the fact that she's dangerous. The strongest freshman in our class, she's capable of competing with not just sophomores, but juniors as well.

The prospect of sending an assassin after her is out of the question. Her father, Duke Alister, is loyal to the kingdom, and his loyalty is something we can't afford to lose. If it breaks, our defense would be decentralized, and that would be a disaster. V somehow managed to get close to her, Since he's neutral he will probably prevent her from choosing a side. For the time being, it buys me time to decide what to do with her.

As these thoughts whirl in my mind, I let out a sigh. The sight of Flora, her face screwed up in concentration, her body drenched in sweat, brings me back to the present.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Flora relaxes, her breath coming out in heavy pants. "How is it? Did you manage to find anything?" I ask, trying to hide the anxiety that's crept into my voice.

She takes a moment to catch her breath before responding. "I-I'm sorry, I can't reach that high. But I did find out there are a couple hundred wolves up there."

A curse slips past my lips. Wolves. Another bothersome hurdle to overcome. I don't let the annoyance set in, instead masking my frustration with a sigh. "Well, that's something. Good job, Flora." Given the fact that there is an absurd amount of dogs and wolfs, we will most likely face either a Vrilok, Zephyrus, or Lunaris. These are the only monsters I can think of that can control dogs and wolves in such a way.

'Isadora, V, Aira,' I think, musing over their roles in my grand design. 'Each a piece of the puzzle. The game continues, and I plan to win. I cant possibly lose a game when everything is in my favor.'

The moon now holds court in the sky, its soft luminescent glow bathing the world in a shroud of pale light. The chirping crickets and distant hoots of nocturnal birds serve as the orchestra of the night. A perfect serenade for sleep, for dreams, for silence. But for me, it is a grim reminder of the time ticking away.

"I'll keep watch so all of you can sleep," Rai says, his tone firm, leaving no room for argument. Arin, always eager to display his bravado, quickly adds, "I'll keep watch with him so he doesn't fall asleep."

I can't help but sigh, my gaze fixed on the flickering fire. Sleep is a luxury I can't afford in this precarious situation. I don't trust these people, I don't trust anyone. I cannot afford to let my guard down.

As they settle for the night, I lean against a tree trunk, my eyes half-closed in an attempt to rest without completely surrendering to slumber. One eye closed to feign sleep, the other slightly open to monitor the surroundings. It's a dangerous game of survival, and the players are not just the monsters that lurk in the shadows of the wilderness but also the humans who hide behind the facade of friendship and camaraderie.

The conversation between Rai and Arin serves as a distraction, a brief relief from the tumultuous thoughts swirling in my mind. They bicker about a stolen apple, their voices reaching me in hushed whispers.

"Damn dude! How could you eat my apple! That was the last one!" Rai's complaint echoes through the tranquil night, causing a soft chuckle to escape Arin's lips.

"Calm down, I'm sure we can find another apple tree somewhere nearby." His words are placating, but the amused smirk on his face is hard to miss.

The night deepens, and the watch changes. Flora and Kaida now stand guard, their whispered conversations occasionally piercing the silence. They seem oblivious to the danger lurking around us, too engrossed in their own world.

"Hey, Flora look at that star~" Kaida's voice is soft, filled with childlike wonder.

"Wow~ It looks awesome, hey look at that one!" Flora's excitement mirrors Kaida's, their laughter bringing an absurd sense of normalcy to our dire situation.

Their enthusiasm, their naivety, it's pathetic. And it's infuriating. But I don't say a word, I simply observe.

Morning comes with the chorus of chirping birds, a new day dawning, and a new challenge awaiting us. The incessant chatter resumes as we trudge through the forest, each lost in their own thoughts and conversations.

As we walk, a low growl reverberates through the silence, I stop in my tracks, my senses on high alert. As I scan the surroundings, my eyes land on a pack of wolves, about 80 in number. Their eyes gleam scared just like the last group, their lithe bodies poised to attack.

I let out a tired sigh. Another problem, another fight. How utterly boring, how bothersome.