A/N: Chapter 9 of Lost Sky. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my OC. Tower of God belongs to the rightful owner.
Special thanks to the reviewers and to the the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.
Season 1: Episode 9
Next Floor...
"Those of you who passed the test, make a line!" A voice spoke as the Regulars shuffled into the next room. "The next test will be on a first come first served basis!" I peered out from behind a bigger Regular to see a woman with a bubbly personality. Her yellow hair was up into two separate pig tails and her shirt was also yellow with black stripes. On her head she had on black headphones. "Hi! I'm the test guide, you may call me Yellowy."
I wonder what it would be this time...I thought to myself as I looked around to see the competition. Hopefully it won't be another fight to the death.
"Don't fidget too much." Khun whispered behind me. "It may give your opponents the idea that you're weak."
"The test will be conducted one team after another." Yellowy continued to give us the instructions. "The remaining teams, please wait and follow the instructions of the guide robot." With a wave of her hand, she conjured a doll-like thing that was wearing the exact same shirt that she was. "Well—Let the test being. The first team may enter now." Soon a group of three disappeared into the test room while the guide robot extended a red line to keep the rest of us from advancing.
"Waiting is soooooooo boring." Khun sighed before noticing that I was looking around once again. "What's so interesting? Ryeval?"
"Huh?" I looked at him in question. "N-No..it's just...I've never been in a place as bright as this..."
She's never been...in a bright place? Khun wondered.
"Hey Khun..."
"Yes?"
"That blue thing..." I pointed to the ceiling window above our heads with wonder. "That's the 'sky' correct?"
"Yeah...why are you asking about obvious things?" He asked. "It's like you've never seen the sky before..."
"I might have...just I haven't seen a sky that was so blue and so...vast!"
"What?" He looked at me in confusion.
"But is it true that if you keep going up into the sky—you can get to the bright stars?" I asked.
"...What?" He gave me his full attention. "What are you talking about, Ryeval? Stars are just a legend..."
"Huh?" I looked at him with a sad expression.
"Even if you go up, the only thing you'll reach is this floor's roof." He explained. "That blue sky is created by shinsu, and the bright thing at night is just a light ball. I heard there are stars in the outside world...but they don't exist, at least not here in the Tower."
"Oh...I see..." I replied.
"Huh...just focus on the test, Ryeval. Why ask such a silly question out of nowhere?" Khun turned around with a small scowl.
"Ahahaha...I'm sorry." I scratched the back of my head, unaware that Rak was looking at me funny. Suddenly a horrible scream pierced the air, getting everybody's attention.
"What...What was that noise?" Khun muttered as we stared at where the first team disappeared to take the test. "Did it...come from there?"
"Next team, please." Yellowy spoke as if she didn't hear the scream at all.
"Wh...What? What was that scream?"
"Wh...What is this test..."
"Is this test...perhaps...super dangerous?"
"Are they...dead?" All around I could see a huge blend of colors interwoven together that indicated that all of the Regulars were on their guard. Seeing as it could have been just a failure on the team's part, the test continued onward like nothing happened. It wasn't our turn yet so we were stuck in the room waiting.
...This one is taking longer. Khun thought as he noticed that the time read nine-twenty. It didn't take long for the door to open when the previous team went in...As a matter of fact, I didn't hear any screams from the previous team. His gaze turned to the guide who had the same cheery smile upon her face. Does that mean they passed the test? Damn—How would I know without the guide saying anything...What the hell is going on...inside that door?
"AAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHHH!"
A scream...! Khun's eyes widened in surprise as the sound faded away. Did this team fail?
"Next team please." Yellowy instructed.
After them, it's our turn. Khun watched as the team disappeared behind the door. I want to figure out something before we go in...only 3 out of 10 teams didn't scream. If the soundless teams passed, the pass rate is really low!
"Hey-Bro-" Suddenly I felt a hand grabbing my shoulder and Khun turned to see a similar hand on his shoulder as well. "You seem to be worried, huh?" We turned to see a strangely shaped Regular and there seemed to be a line running vertically down his face. The freaky part was that he had no eyes, or nose for that matter.
"What are you?" Khun asked threateningly. "What do you want?" Who is this jerk...
"Don't stare at me like that!" The mysterious Regular replied. "We're all in the same boat!" He leaned closer to Khun. "I came here to give you a huge hint to the test."
…?! What? Huge hint!? Khun gaped at him in surprise.
"Are you sure?!" I asked him, tightening my grip on the Black March just for comfort reasons.
"Hiss~" He quickly pressed a finger to his lips, glancing around with worry. "Don't say it out loud. They'll all hear."
"Hint...?" Khun turned to face the Regular, slapping the hand off his shoulder in the process. "How would you know?"
"Deduction." The Regular replied as if it was obvious. "I was chosen because of my intelligence. So this one is simple."
"We've got no clues at all..." Khun told him. "What could be the basis of your deduction?"
"What do you mean no clues?" The Regular asked. "The biggest clue is given every time!"
"What?!"
"It is time." The Regular stated again, putting heavy emphasis on the word 'time'.
"...time?!" The blue-haired boy questioned.
"Think!" The Regular spread his arms out for dramatic effect. "The teams that didn't scream—all passed the test in 4 to 5 minutes! But the teams that pass 5 minutes...'all screamed'."
"Hmmm..." Khun thought about it for a minute, his gaze calm and collective. "I think you're right...on that point."
"You see? And the testing room is completely blocked off from here." The Regular nodded his head in agreement. "It doesn't make sense that no sound is heard except the screaming. Which means—that the Administrators are intentionally letting us hear the screams." He grinned widely, leaning closer to Khun for some weird reason. "They are giving us a hint with each scream. They are telling us. Whatever is in there- it should be completed in 5 minutes."
"Well—that does make sense." The blue-haired boy agreed, pushing the Regular's face away with a hand. "But we'll have to see if that hint is useful when we get in there."
"Thanks Mr. Neon Plastic Bag for telling us what you know!" I said, thinking that it was only polite to thank him for giving us a thought.
"No need to thank him, Ryeval." Khun stated.
"...Huh?" I glanced at him confused.
"He just wants to see if his hypothesis is right by using us." The boy replied before glaring at the Regular. "You're telling us to test your hypothesis, aren't you? If we, who heard your hypothesis, pass the test in 5 minutes, you will take the test using the clue. And if we don't, you'll find another way, won't you?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHH!" Another scream echoed from behind the door, interrupting our conversation. Both Khun and the Regular glanced at the time which read nine-forty.
"Next team please." Yellowy called. Rak, Khun and I stood before the door and awaited further instructions. "The test starts when you open the door beyond this one. Then—" She gave us a smile. "I'll open the door for you."
"Good luck!" Khun and I turned to see the Regular waving his arms up and down with glee. "Good luck! I hope you pass!"
I really want to punch him...Khun frowned before facing forward. With the door opened now, we took confident steps together forward and didn't look back.
Inside the room...
Once we stepped through the door...the room was completely dark. Well not totally pitch black since we saw a bunch of red doors that could have some significant meaning for the test. In the middle of the room, a man with long blonde hair and dressed in a blue and yellow robes, sat elegantly on a cushion.
"Nice to meet you, Regulars." He spoke, gazing at us one at a time with a small smile. "My name is Han Sung Yu, your next test administrator. Shall we start the test?"
