Chapter 31 (Cheaters!)

I was stupid and dumb and reckless.

How could I let my guard down?

This is the Magi Selection Exams, a test for survival. People would do everything to win, to complete the hurdle, even if it means cheating. My fault was that I was too shortsighted. I only focused on catching the bird, which is just one piece in the puzzle. I did not account for the possibility of being cheated on. Was it even called cheating? Does honor count? People only cared for the result, no matter how it was carried out. I was too damn naïve.

"Nice catch, newbie," a voice broke through my self-recrimination. The guy didn't even bother to look in my direction as he inspected the cage with the Willow Sprite inside. There were three of them, each holding a cage of their own, which I suspected they had stolen from other unsuspecting applicants.

"We've been following you from the start," the guy holding my cage said, his tone casual. "I admire your ability to conceal your presence. We had to make sure we didn't lose sight of you the moment you blanketed your mana."

"What's up with the newbies this year?" said his companion, a pimply guy with gaps in his teeth. "They're extremely good," he continued. I wondered if the birds they stole were from other dumb newbies like me. I hoped the twins, Ishtar and Bran were not one of their victims.

"But dumb and naïve, like this one," commented the taller guy among them with a chin so pointed it could well be used to stab. He emerged from the bush holding another Willow Sprite cage.

"Hey, Ron. Nice steal," said the scrawny guy holding my cage.

"Mission accomplished," Ron winked, no hint of guilt in his voice. "We still have ample time before the sun sets. How about we meet with the others?" Scrawny guy suggested.

"No, we stick together, the three of us. I am sure many of the applicants haven't caught a Willow Sprite yet. We can't risk being robbed."

"Cheaters," I scowled.

"You said something, kid?" the pimply guy sneered.

"I said you're pathetic cheaters!"

"Huh? You think so? Then who's tied up to a tree right now, doomed to fail the first hurdle?" Ron jabbed me in the stomach, making me wince in pain.

"You should be thankful we only tied you up in a tree," Ron continued. "Some other applicants had it much worse. Do we all play fair and square during the Magi Selection Exams, kid? Wake up. This is not heaven."

They left me tied to the tree, desperate to free myself from the ropes and the situation I had gotten myself into. The sun was slowly setting, and I began to tear up a bit at the thought of failing the first hurdle just because I was so naïve. I forced myself to think of a way out. Every scenario I could think of seemed hopeless. I was tied so tight I barely had room to breathe.

"Think, Erik! Think!" I told myself. Magic was out of the option. At my level, I couldn't concentrate enough to manipulate the elements by sheer visualization alone. The tightness of the ropes disrupted the flow of mana in my body to make things worse.

"Think! Think!" And then a walnut fell from the tree in front of me. A squirrel came near it, not even noticing me. I remembered what Menelaus said about Lorathil, the gatekeeper who could speak to beasts. I felt a ray of hope wash over me as Menelaus had said I might have the same Beastwhisper ability.

I set my eyes on the squirrel, busy busting the walnut that had fallen on the ground. I channeled my thoughts to it, trying to command it to cut the ropes with its sharp teeth, but all the squirrel did was scratch its side and flash its balls. 'Yeah, right." I scoffed. I thought about the Luminara Drake and how I had linked with its mind when I was in the cave. I focused on establishing a link between me and the squirrel inside my head.

The sounds around me began to vanish as I concentrated. Suddenly, I saw blurry images of the squirrel's thoughts: escaping a death row from a snake earlier, hiding from a hawk hunting it. It was amazing, like looking at recorded thoughts inside the squirrel's head.

"Poor guy," I thought. "We're not so different, you know. All my life, I've been told I'm weak, and I've doubted myself more than I've believed. But here I am, and here you are. We're both survivors, aren't we?"

I felt crazy talking to myself, but when I opened my eyes, I saw the squirrel looking intently at me, totally abandoning the walnut. It focused on me as if it heard my thoughts.

I continued, "If you can help me break free from these ropes, please. I need to pass this hurdle. Many people doubt my capacity, and I need to be strong and show them I'm not weak anymore. Also, I need to save my family."

The thought of my family made me cry. I looked at the squirrel, and it squeaked at me, closely listening. To my amazement, it climbed up the tree where I was tied and started gnawing at the ropes.

"Yes! Yes! It worked! I can't believe it worked!" When I freed myself, I petted the squirrel in my palm.

'Tssttt…Tssttt…" It chirped and squinted its eyes at me.

"Thank you, my friend! I'll be back later, okay?" I put it down, and it climbed high up the tree, disappearing inside its home, a hole on a branch.

I took a deep breath, wiping away the last of my tears. I wasn't out of the woods yet, literally or figuratively, but this small victory gave me the strength to continue. The Willow Sprite was still out there, and so was my chance to pass this hurdle. I had learned my lesson: in the Magi Selection Exams, survival was about more than just skill; it was about thinking on your feet and being ready for anything. Now all I have to do is find them, the cheaters and take back my cage by all means necessary.