Lightning Bringer: (Lighting Seeker Book 2)

Dwindling the Numbers

Several sharp branches, stinging cheeks, and a set of tangled limbs among the trees later, Vale came to a stop twenty feet from the ground, hook snaking a branch above, Reign wrapped around her, trembling with fear. "L-let me... k-know w-when we are... o-n s-solid g-g-ground. I don't think I can... o-o-open my eyes without s-s-sc-creaming or throwing up until then," Reign murmured her face pressed against Vale's shoulders.

Vale couldn't help but laugh. The scene was utterly ridiculous. The world had fallen into chaos and Vale was left hanging in a tree, thousands of miles away from the place she needed to destroy, with a girl who had called her hair ghastly the night before. "I promise," Vale finally managed after a moment of chaotic giggles.

After several painful moments of Vale stretching her mechanics to the limit, they lowered to the ground. Reign dropped to the ground, clutching at it with tear-filled relief. Stretching her arm, Vale swore. I need to take it easy. Memories of the metal ripping from her shoulder, leaving her vulnerable to her own electrical attacks filled her mind.

A rumble shook the ground. Loud cracks of wood splintered to Vale's left, sending her rolling behind a tree, yanking Reign with her. She held up a finger, silencing Reign before she could start screaming again. The forest was quiet. A quiet that was deafening. No birds, insects, or animal noises. Not even the sound of the wind rustling in the trees.

On instinct, Vale signed to Reign, telling her to stay down and out of sight. Reign surprised her by nodding, understanding her request. Sprinting towards the sound, Vale moved silently in a crouched position.

She was moving so fast that she nearly slammed into what had made the sound. A tall glistening spear was rammed into the ground. The large mechanical beast was two feet wide and ten feet tall, a large screen was bolted to the base. Vale stared at the screen, watching her own reflection staring back at her with a curious expression. "Reign," she called. "Come look at this."

Once Reign was standing next to her, the screen lit up, showcasing an unwelcome face. "Greetings." Kebar smiled unkindly. "I see both of you are still alive."

"What is this?" Vale replied before she remembered to add any fake pleasantries to it. Kebar raised a brow, and after several moments of forced effort, Vale dropped into a curtsy, hating it with every fiber of her being. "Your highness Devinus."

"For communication," he said as if it was obvious. "So I can watch the next test more closely."

Vale stood up straight, unable to keep the anger from her tone. "Didn't have a good enough seat for the crash viewing?" Reign squeaked next to her, staring at Vale with wide eyes, in shock. Vale continued, ignoring Kebar's narrowed eyes. "How many made it to the ground in one piece?"

"There are one hundred left. Most uninjured." Vale nearly collapsed, but she channeled her anger, using it as a grounding point, and steadied herself. Reign however burst into tears, crouching on the ground.

"Why?" she asked, confused. "We don't deserve this."

Kebar laughed. "Oh, silly child. You all deserve far worse. Do you really think that you can show up at my house and only to be rewarded with a gift without being tested first?" He tsked as he stared down at Reign. "Being a Devinus requires a backbone. A willingness to do what is necessary. The ability to kill, to hunt, to destroy."

He smiled at both of them with a sense of pride that made Vale feel disgusted. "Even when you both failed the first test, you lied and stayed. I sent a punishment but you did what was necessary to defend yourselves."

Kebar's eyes darkened. "But then you go and waste your chance at thinning the numbers by suggesting teamwork. The ones that break down and cry deserve to die."