Captive (2)

Atlas has lost track of time.

It was hard, there were no windows, no clocks, no nothing. Atlas guessed it has been two days since he had woken up.

Two days since the incident.

Atlas had gotten quite good at guessing the time: over the years, his experience on the battlefield had honed his ability to gauge time accurately, but here, that skill seemed useless.

Every day was the same.

Twice a day, the captors would deliver food, which Atlas presumed to be breakfast and dinner. Yet, the lack of variety made the labeling irrelevant.

Bread and soup.

'Nutritious…' He muttered sarcastically, his tone dripping with contempt

He was going crazy.

No, perhaps he had already gone crazy a long time ago.

Not that it matters.

A mirthless chuckle escaped him as he pondered the irrelevance of such thoughts in his current situation.

His stomach rumbled once more.

Ah- right. He had been complaining about the food.

Initially, he had been thrilled when food arrived at their door - until he bit into the bread.

It was hard as concrete and matched with an ice-cold soup. He questioned the point of investing so much in the walls, floors, and ceiling when the food quality was abysmal.

The meals were inhumane; it didn't matter if they were kidnapped children. If Atlas had his phone with him, this place would have received a dismal one-star review on 'Welp.'

But, of course, he didn't have his phone—a minor detail in the grand scheme of things

He made a mental note to buy a new one after this whole ordeal.

Fatigue clouded his eyes as he scanned the cellar's quiet surroundings. Students were either asleep, talking amongst themselves, roaming around with nothing to do, or leaning on the walls and pillars like Atlas.

One positive aspect was the loosening of leg restraints, allowing them to move more freely to use the bathroom. Even that small luxury came with strict supervision, as guards would escort them whenever necessary.

Mr. Davian, their captor, had been visiting less frequently lately. Only occasional check-ups now.

Every time he came, he repeated the same questions, pressuring them to reveal their signature cards

More and more gave in and told him their signature cards, not wanting their arms to be next.

The example he made out of, from who Atlas found out yesterday was named Rune, did its purpose he supposes.

Rune's arms were still bent at odd angles, though according to him it hurt a lot less.

For the record, Atlas wasn't one of those students who had come over to him in an attempt of comfort, he simply overheard.

They were in the same room after all.

Atlas was counting down the days until help arrives, hopeful before he is forced to reveal his signature card.

Signature cards are quite special. It's an ability card that falls out of the ranking system, they are different from ability cards.

Ability cards are cards that allow users to use certain abilities that align with their affinity. Of course, someone with fire affinity can use water ability cards, it's just more mana costly. That's why it's advised to just stick with your affinity.

Usually, you need to be a Spade's rank to use a Spades ability card, Spades can use ability cards below its tier as well, just not above.

Everyone has a signature card, it's an ability that ties directly to them, they can't be traded, given, or bought, unlike ability cards.

Ordinary ability cards can be killed for, signature cards wouldn't appear if the user died, adding to their mysterious allure.

Some signature cards were immensely powerful, defying the usual limitations of one's rank.

It's quite a special thing.

Sharing one's signature card was a dangerous gamble. It was the ultimate trump card, and knowing too much about it could compromise one's survival.

Most understood the importance of secrecy, but under Mr. Davian's pressure, some students had already revealed theirs.

Though, some individuals in society openly showcased their signature cards, mainly those in the entertainment industry or holding official positions that required such transparency. But in this perilous situation, keeping one's signature card concealed was a matter of life and death.

As Atlas mulled over the significance of their signature cards, he couldn't help but wonder about the grander purpose behind their abduction. The questions kept piling up, but answers remained elusive.

Perhaps they are experimenting with ways to extract a signature card from a person?

No- that would be too far-fetched.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Atlas turned his head towards the source of the approaching footsteps.

With their leg restraints loosened, walking was now possible.

Kai's figure came into view, slowly making his way toward Atlas. This sight prompted Atlas to take a moment to collect himself, preparing for the upcoming encounter.

Over the past two days, Kai had been tirelessly devising an escape plan and trying to persuade others to join him in the attempt.

Atlas didn't need to be a genius to figure out that Kai was here to once again try to recruit him into his escape mission.

'As if the last time wasn't already enough.'

Kai's persistence was undeniable.

His gag had been removed after Mr. Davian got tired of the continuous noises Kai made.

He supposed even psychos have limits.

The footsteps eventually stopped, and Kai stood before Atlas, determination in his vibrant-colored eyes. "Atlas," Kai said, his voice even.

"That's me," Atlas replied offhandedly.

"I was wondering-" Kai began, but Atlas cut him off before he could even finish.

"No," he said firmly.

Kai looked confused.

"What?"

"I said no, I'm not joining your plan," Atlas reiterated.

"Why not?" Kai questioned, furrowing his eyebrows.

Atlas glanced away, gazing at the other students in the room.

"We already had this conversation the other day, It's not going to work."

Silence followed his statement, prompting Atlas to further elaborate.

"As I said, your plan has too many holes, too many unknown variables. It'll cause more trouble than it's worth. Our best chance is being rescued by the officials."

Kai wasn't ready to give up as he brought up a different perspective. "And what if they don't arrive? What will we do then?"

Atlas shrugged indifferently, not bothered by the uncertainty. "Be at their mercy, I suppose."

"But we can't just sit around and do nothing! All of us are in danger! We don't know what they are up to and what they want from us. We might be dead if we don't do something quickly," Kai insisted, refusing to accept the idea of harm coming to him and his peers.

He clenched his hands as fury ignited in his eyes as he stared down at Atlas.

Kai's eyes narrowed with stubbornness. "I refuse to believe that we're helpless. We have to try at the very least."

"Trying is one thing, but being reckless is another," Atlas retorted. "I'm not about to risk my life for a plan that's destined to fail.

"They are our peers, Atlas."

"Suit yourself," Atlas replied nonchalantly, having no intention of joining Kai's risky plan.

In truth, he knew his decision probably stemmed from the memories of his past when everyone turned out fine. Though he wasn't lying when the plan had many issues- but it still worked in the end.

Kai, Rune, and the others were seen at school without any injuries. They were in perfect shape.

But the real reason was much simpler – Kai didn't need Atlas. If they could do it without him before, they could do it again. Atlas preferred not to do more than he already needed.

After all, why risk his life when he could find a way to achieve his goals without being directly involved?

His goals were straightforward – to help out Kai and the others with a little push in the right direction for the future. He could drop hints and information that would be crucial in their final fight, revealing the locations of special items and weapons earlier than expected: make sure they were stronger than they were, and for him, of course- survive.

For now, all he had to do was sit back, play the role he knew so well, and watch events unfold.

It was a simple plan, and if everything went according to his calculations, he could enjoy the rest of his life without ever having to step foot on the battlefield again.

This was his chance to ensure his survival while still contributing to the greater cause in his own enigmatic way.

With a smirk on his face, he leaned back against the pillar, confident in his decision. He would play the role of the secretive benefactor, offering just enough help to ensure their success while keeping his true intentions hidden.

Kai returned to the group looking exhausted, and everyone sensed disappointment in his demeanor.

"He rejected the offer again, didn't he?" one of them asked, echoing everyone's suspicions. Kai nodded silently, deep in thought.

A student with blonde colored hair chimed in, "Isn't he an elite? He has the ability to help all of us! I heard they go through rigorous training from a young age."

"Yeah, that might be true, but I don't think he underwent such training," another added.

"What do you mean?" the first person asked.

"You haven't heard? I heard he got-" The conversation was about to take a darker turn when Kai quickly intervened.

"Enough already. If he doesn't want to help us, there's no point in bothering him. We can manage with just ourselves," Kai said, attempting to redirect the conversation away from gossiping.

"He's insufferable! He acts like he knows something we don't," someone else grumbled, and the rest of the group agreed.

"He must have his reasons," Kai reasoned.

"Honestly, Kai, you try to see the good side in those who clearly don't have anything redeemable about them. Have you ever heard the rumors surrounding him?" someone pressed.

Before Kai could respond, another voice cut in with a light tone:

"Alright- alright everyone, let's not get off task, let's focus on escaping; I don't think I can push through another day with the food they're giving."

They offered a grin as their brown tousled hair fell over their eyes; everyone eventually quieted down.

Kai sighed and took charge, going over the plan and making some changes and tweaks based on their recent discussions. Time passed, and as they continued to refine their escape plan, Kai noticed Rune looking visibly uneasy.

"Rune, are you okay?" Kai asked, giving Rune a concerned look.

Rune shifted his gaze away from his arms, "I'm okay, don't worry about me."

Kai kept looking at him with a caring and slightly suspicious expression. Rune glanced nervously at the floor and back before deciding to give in.

"Well-..."

"Yes?" Kai encouraged.

"We'll all make it out of here, right?" Rune muttered in a voice barely above a whisper. Kai could see the way he trembled slightly while he sat to know that his answer would greatly affect him.

Therefore, Kai put on a smile, a kind smile. "Yes, I'll make sure of it. We'll get out of here together, and you'll see your sister again."

Rune managed to return the smile, albeit weakly. "Thank you, Kai."

Kai gazed toward the light Eldurium-sealed door, his hand clenched tightly.