Survivor

Training

Men's quarters, 1030 hours

Back in the Warrior's Terrace, the players were hard at work.

Darren had briefed them on the structure of their impromptu 5-day training, which was similar to that used in the army. The players were outraged.

"We're up before dawn for a swim, then endurance jogging, and then combat training, and the first meal of the day only comes after you've burnt off half your body fat." Kai grumbled as he collapsed on the floor after the first morning with Darren.

"Not to mention, he's so strict. A moment late to training and you have to do double. He didn't bat an eye when Jessica passed out." Rain added as he stuffed another stalk of celery into his mouth.

They were having a five-minute break before lunch, and then they would have intensive pair-by-pair training with Darren afterwards. Taecyeon and Tiffany would be the first pair for the intensive session. 

After lunch, Tiffany and Taecyeon met Darren at the pool.

"Another swim, coach?" Taecyeon asked as he took off his t-shirt.

"Yes," Darren held towels under his arm, "without goggles. And I'm turning up the current but you have to swim straight."

Tiffany was silent but her eyes followed every move Darren made carefully. Naturally, Darren noticed.

"See something you like?" Darren called her out as he fumbled with the pool's controls on the wall. As soon as he clicked the current icon, the water started flowing from left to right of the pool.

"I'm going to increase it later, but get used to this first."

Taecyeon and Tiffany jumped into the pool in sync, a big splash of water on Taecyeon's side. The water splashed Darren. He frowned hard.

"Be a little graceful, will you!"

The pool was indoors but in no way secluded. It was surrounded by a one-way mirror, so they could see everything happening outside, near the temple.

Tiffany and Taecyeon were doing breathing exercise at the edge of the pool when Yixing and Tzuyu came into sight, just beside the glass. In her hand was a scroll.

Tiffany smirked and swam nearer to the mirror to get a closer look. "Don't tell, Darren. You're not on anyone's side, right?"

"If I am on anyone's side, it isn't any of yours." Darren left the room, signalling that they had 5 minutes.

The scroll had a tag that read "Navigator". Taecyeon's eyes went wide.

"She's the navigator?! Man, I wanted that one but it was taken."

"I think your choice was pretty good." Tiffany reassured him. "But what does the navigator get?"

"I don't know, but we're about to find out."

The scroll was unfurled and they were displaying it right by the glass. It was too easy, almost suspicious. On the scroll was a hexagon shaped like a spiderweb, with a maze-like structure in the center. There was a legend for the symbols so the two assumed it was a map for the game.

"I wished I got that one." Taecyeon frowned. "But at least we get a glimpse of it now."

Just then, Yixing looked behind him, suspicious of the mirror.

Taecyeon's frown turned into an expression of alarm as Yixing put his face on the mirror to see if anyone was on the other side.

Taecyeon quickly pulled Tiffany into the water with him, gesturing for her to not make a move. Tiffany's eyes opened in the chlorine-filled water.