Chương 2: One Question

"And is this your card?" The magician revealed the ace of hearts with great enthusiasm. Leo's eyes widened in shock.

"Y-Yes," he replied, "I didn't even sense your aura!"

"My ability?" The magician narrowed his eyes.

"No, no, there was no ability used at all there, just magic." Leo furrowed his eyebrows, "Isn't your ability magic?" The magician held Leo's gaze for a few moments before sighing. He'd done what he wanted to anyway. He pushed himself to his feet, his head heavy on his shoulders from the violent waves just a few minutes ago. Thankfully, he had almost a full hour to recover this time. A few minutes of sleep could go a long way. As he was walking away, he heard a familiar voice.

"Young man, state your name." It was Arlo, the great soldier, who came to help them through the desert. After a bit of thought, the magician carefully replied, remaining as respectful as he could.

"Is there a specific reason you want to know… Sir?" The magician had been carefully observing the soldier since the beginning, and other than basic instructions and an occasional encouraging comment, he had remained stoic and unapproachable. It felt rather unusual that he was getting approached now.

"You impressed me in that last wave. If your affinity proves usable, your prospects may be promising." He paused for a second.

"But the bigger reason was that usually when people activate their ability at your level, they release a unique aura. I didn't sense it from you earlier during the wave, nor did I sense it while you did your little trick. Any ability which leaves no trace can be said to be fairly impressive." The young man replied quickly and with a light bow.

"My name is Evel, Sir." He had learned his lesson on 'poking the bear' the hard way, and understood that Arlo could end his life at any moment if he so desired. He chose his words quietly.

"Also, I didn't use my ability." Arlo narrowed his eyes.

"Show me the trick." Evel had an idea. But it could be risky… After a deep, shaky breath, Evel replied in the firmest tone he could manage.

"No."

"No?" Arlo repeated slowly, raising an eyebrow, "That's awfully brave of you."

"Unless of course you were willing to answer a question of mine afterwards…?" Arlo's gaze tore into Evel as he waited for a reply. He wasn't sure if he had overstepped his bounds and began regretting the decision almost immediately.

"It's quite impressive you have the mental fortitude to make such bold assertions, considering your…" Arlo looked Evel up and down.

"Unfortunate circumstances." Evel understood what he meant. His body was practically just skin and bones at this point. To be fair, it wasn't easy getting in a proper meal when he was constantly being chased... On top of that, a powerful wave had just passed by. Just one bad thing after another... If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Before Evel could respond, Arlo nodded with a hum.

"Very well, as long as it's a question I am allowed to answer." Evel, excited that his little scheme worked, recreated the same trick again. His body weighed down, but with the trick second nature to him, he was able to spend the time thinking about the best question he could ask. At the end of the trick, he revealed the 7 of spades.

"And this right here is your card. The trick is – ""You lifted two cards at the start."

"A small sleight of hand," Evel replied, lightly bowing.

"I'm amazed you were able to notice it on your first try."

"Energy empowers the body. Become stronger, and you'll manage to do the same without issues." Energy... it sounds familiar. Any chance Evel could get at improving his odds of thriving, he would take, and this question could be vital. He had considered various options already. Should he ask about the desert? Probably not, they were nearing the end of their journey, and the problem was what lay after. What about how powers really worked and the fundamentals he might need to know to improve himself?

This could be helpful, but would likely be taught to him anyway. He was almost tempted to ask more about Arlo, but that would be the least helpful question. Evel knew there were other ways to leave the desert, albeit slower. So why were they forced to traverse such an unforgiving area? An area that had already killed so many of the recruits. He had a sneaking suspicion this desert was some sort of twisted challenge the group needed to pass. A test of mental or physical fortitude. But even that was just a guess.

Taking a sharp breath, he finally asked, "What's the next challenge the Imperium Tempor will impose on this group?" This was the question Evel decided he could get the most information about. If there was no 'next challenge,' then he could relax with no regrets. Otherwise, he could get a lot of life-saving information, but more likely than not… The corner of Arlo's lip slowly rose.

"Can't tell you, ask another question." Evel's back straightened. By wording his question in a way, Evel was able to get information while still having the opportunity to ask another. Had he asked if there was another challenge, Arlo likely would have answered 'Yes' or 'No'. But based on this response, Evel could confidently say another challenge awaited. His head felt too heavy to consider the repercussions, so he directly asked his next question:"When are superiors allowed to intervene?"

"Can't tell you, you're going to have to ask another question." Arlo nodded his head, a subtle smile dancing around his lips.

"This next question will be your last regardless of my answer." Evel was satisfied. Had Arlo answered his question, it would have been extremely helpful, of course, knowing the specific conditions for an intervention, but even the lack of an answer was helpful! The lack of response suggested they could intervene at some point, but the specific conditions were still a mystery. It also helped confirm his suspicion that this was some sort of test.

Nonetheless, it was free information, and he still had his original one question remaining. Despite his best efforts, Evel lightly tumbled as his legs began giving out. However, he caught himself before his body fell and held himself together the best he could as he asked his final question.

"What specifically can I do to best improve my odds of survival for the short-term future?"

"Before I answer that question, " Arlo began, "I'd be able to tell you more if you told me your Core ability." Evel hesitated. Generally, it was taboo to ask others about their abilities first. Usually they'd tell you themself if they wanted you to know. Could he trust Arlo? I doubt he'd even care about my secrets… Logically, his brain was telling him to reveal his ability. He could get the best information that way, but ultimately, he decided not to. Perhaps it was his exhaustion. Perhaps lingering paranoia.

"I don't wish to reveal my power, but…" Evel thought for a moment, "I can say that it isn't much use in a direct fight."

"Sure." Arlo replied, "Many abilities are restricted heavily once their specifics are publicized." After thinking for a while, Arlo answered the question:"Although you say your ability is poor in battle, I wouldn't be too sure. Any ability can be useful if used correctly. I'd be more concerned about your affinity, which will get tested soon." He stroked his goatee in thought.

"Generally, the main thing you should focus on is getting as familiar with your ability as possible." Arlo's eyes scanned him thoroughly.

"However, it's crucial not to neglect your physical body. I've seen many fail because they relied too heavily on their abilities. Focus on building up your skinny frame and train as much as you can with a weapon for the following week. If your affinity ends up being poor, consider quitting." He pointed to the deck of cards in his pouch.

"You have good manual dexterity, I'd recommend something like throwing knives or darts rather than something requiring a lot of physical strength." Evel's eyes lasered into Arlo as he memorized the great man's words so he could reflect on them in the future. Right now, his mind was in no state to process anything. Arlo had long stopped talking, but Evel waited regardless, gaze still fixed on the great man before him. The ferrum badged man met his gaze before releasing a soft huff.

"Ahem," He cleared his throat, "It may also do you well to find a few strong friends here and there. This information is not to be told to anybody else; you earned it, they didn't." Evel nodded and lightly bowed, letting out a few words of gratitude. He waited for the isolating environment to disappear, then stumbled directly back to Leo. He gave Leo a simple, brief instruction:"15 minutes. Wake me up." Without waiting for a response, Evel collapsed to the ground.