When a seemingly lifeless boy is saved by a girl.
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Ma'vona was once a beloved member of the Kame'tire clan, known for their profound understanding of Pandora's flora and unparalleled healing skills. Their expertise was so great that they could heal...
♪ Return of the Sky People by Pinar Toprak ♪ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapter Thirty-Three: The Test
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The guards dragged me forward, their grips firm and unyielding, leaving no room for resistance. My bare feet scraped against the cold, polished floor of the hallway, and I noticed the temperature dropped as we moved further in. The air grew heavier, filled with a mechanical hum and the faint clicks of distant machinery. My heart pounded, but I kept my head up, refusing to let them see fear in my eyes.
The hallway ended, opening into a massive room. My breath hitched as I took in the sight. A small yet large cylindrical contraption loomed at the center, towering over what stood just below, a metal chair, angled upright like a grim throne, with restraints glinting under the harsh fluorescent light. Around it, human engineers and scientists sat at their desks, staring intently at their computer screens, their fingers dancing over keyboards and tablets as they worked on calculations I couldn't understand.
Some looked nervous, glancing at the machine and then at each other. Their unease was palpable, but none dared speak up or stop what was happening. I realized then that they were just as trapped as anyone else here, though they lacked the courage-or compassion-to fight against Mercer's plans.
The guards shoved me further into the room, and I stumbled slightly before regaining my footing. That's when I noticed them-tall figures on the far side of the room.
Avatars.
They were unmistakable, their four-fingered hands confirming their origins. Dressed in their RDA military uniforms, their bodies were lean and muscular, standing in a loose group as they chatted among themselves. Armed to the teeth, they exuded a mix of arrogance and lethality.
And then my eyes caught something-or someone. A man I recognized.
The injured soldier from the waterfall.
His stance was uneven, his leg slightly tilted, a leftover reminder of the injury Ma'vona and I had tried to mend. I locked eyes with him for a brief moment. He looked away quickly, guilt flashing across his face before he turned his attention downward, avoiding my gaze entirely.
The chatting stopped.
One of the taller soldiers noticed me, his conversation cutting off mid-sentence. His sharp yellow eyes studied me like a predator sizing up its prey. A slow smirk spread across his face, one that set my teeth on edge.
Before I could say anything, a familiar voice spoke from behind me.
"Here we are," Mercer announced, his voice carrying across the room like a serpent's hiss. He strode in confidently, his hands clasped behind his back. "Gentlemen, meet our guest of honor."
