8 Trials Deep

CHAPTER 11: TROUBLE USUALLY FINDS ME.

RF-13 had passed through the game and pool room, the gym, the music room, the dining hall, the bar, the library and the viewing carriage before finally deciding to settle on a quiet corner of the lounge. He chose a high back wing armchair that was partially shaded from direct sunlight. Then his eyes were arrested by a triad of books that were discretely displayed on a matching side table. RF-13 casually pulled out a peculiar looking hardcover book. Even for a physical book, the book was outlandish. It had tough leathery cover and even the spine was adorned with bone-like decorations. It was only when he opened it did he gain a little understanding on the eccentric book design, it was a children’s book on old world dinosaurs.

Physical books were already a rarity. Most people would not even have one in their homes or even get to read one in a lifetime. A few thousands of words at the expense of a tree was deemed unsustainable by the Wildlife Preservation Department and was banned. Texts and other printed media were transmitted digitally.

Full-length texts like novels were often transmitted to one’s MA where one could read it through their smart contact lenses as text projections or listen to its audio version anytime and anywhere.

Still, there were some who kept physical books as collection pieces or simply because of the novelty of touching the physical body of words. RF-13’s mother once owned an encyclopedia. It was little more advance than the one RF-13 was currently holding. His mother’s encyclopedia had a specialized companion software that augmented the images to make them move and were accompanied by sounds. However, the book that RF-13 had in his hands consisted of pages with plain texts and illustrations that did not move, trigger sound, or interact with its reader. Aside from the book cover which had a still image, it was just plain ink-printed text and illustration.

RF-13 had been quite disconcerted while reading the book. He would sometimes tap on a certain word on the page waiting for its meaning or translation to appear only to be met with nothing. No response at all, then he would again be reminded that the book did not have that certain feature.

Old world readers certainly are patient readers, RF-13 thought.

For interaction-dependent readers the old world books would most likely be frustrating to read. As for RF-13 he found it amusing. Not to be able to ask questions and be obliged to find the answers by turning the pages and going through the texts again or by simply speculating the answer, it was quite a curious exercise. He had to turn the pages himself, had to search the meaning of certain strange words on his MA or recreate the characters and flow of events entirely out of his imagination without the book providing short lifelike animations was a refreshing experience. If it was a story book or a novel he would be free to paint the world or the characters and the story as he deemed most appropriate. It gave a well-paced and relaxing method to while away the time.

RF-13 was so thoroughly enjoying it that he had deliberately ignored a group of young men who came to stand in front of his chair. If they were polite company they would take the hint and find a way to amuse themselves or approach him another time. If they were the opposite-

RF-13’s internal speculation was interrupted when a hand had reached out and grabbed the book. RF-13 sighed, the group, apparently was the latter.

“What’s this?” a tall stylish young man spoke, aversion apparent on his voice. He had held the book by dangling the cover between his thumb and index finger. RF-13 somehow imagined a silly boy holding a mud-splattered puppy by its ear.

Noticing this RF-13 languidly stretched his legs on the carpeted marble floor before replying, “Don’t touch it if you don’t know. That thing bites ignoramus brattish children.”

The youth apparently heard him but did not fully register the derogative adjectives. He had thrown the book with a yelp and jumped a few steps back.

How naïve, RF privately remarked, did they really think something that bites would be displayed on a bookshelf on the lounge area of a luxury Trichotomous? To be so sheltered one could not distinguish between the heaven and the earth, was it a blessing or a curse?

RF-13 resignedly stood up to pick up the thrown book and carefully returned it to its former position by the side table.

“How dare you!” the young man shouted imperiously. “You dare to treat me like a fool!” The man was glaring at him indignantly while pointing a finger.

“A prudent man can never be made a fool,” replied RF-13 nonchalantly.

The man was obviously outraged. However seeing people gathering around, he controlled his temper and sneered, “I was about to extend an olive branch to you but it seems you have no need of it.”

“Even if you had waved a whole olive tree at me I still wouldn’t be tempted,” RF-13 replied coolly.

“Not only are you insolent, you’re also ungrateful!” cried a younger man belonging to the other’s group. “Prince Vintan has so magnanimously approached you with a generous offer to join our team and yet you act so self-important. Others would be scrambling to be in your position but I guess it’s not strange, you are a commoner after all. Your breed certainly neglects to teach manners and etiquette.”

“Listen to the pot calling the kettle black. Why don’t you offer your olive branch to those scrambling for it,” RF-13 had already lost his patience by the end of the younger man’s speech. He had turned his back on them intending to find another spot when a heavy hand pressed on his right shoulder.

Those who had stayed under Morret knew better than to sneak on their fellow trainees from the back, even more so, reach out a groping hand. Morret had a personal motto of constant vigilance and he had the conviction on passing it on the cadets who had the misfortune of being assigned to him.

Morret’s ‘drills’ consisted of upperclassmen jumping on them on random places and time. If a cadet was caught off guard, he would be deducted points and the upperclassmen tended to play pranks on the unfortunate cadet. A few cadets in the same year with him had to endure having glow in the dark indelible watermarks on their faces for two months. Though the pranks were harmless, RF-13 never intended to look like a ghost whenever it was dark or to have to run with a miniskirt after finding his clothes replaced after a bath. Hence, by the time one month drill ended all of them had developed cat-like reflexes. They would jump on alert on a fall of a pin or throw whoever touched them on the back over their shoulder. They had already built the instinct to be defensive from anything that came from outside the periphery of their vision.

Even his own siblings knew not to jump RF-13 from the back and he in turn always consciously suppressed these urges when he was with them. However these instincts heightened whenever he was on new territory.

The young man who had reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder flew in an arc and laded with a dull thud by his feet. RF-13 had also just registered his response when the fallen’s companions poised to swarm on him. RF-13 released a mental sigh. He really did not want to grab attention on the opening of the trial and had planned to exit as unremarkably as possible. But it looked like he had just done the opposite. This had escalated quickly.

He got ready to defend knowing that the butlers or any of the attendants would only interrupt when it became serious. After all, the Trials was not simply a show of talent by the ‘suitors’ of the princess but also an arena of political manipulations. Most of the contenders involved had powerful families, RF-13 understood that. The group in particular even had a prince.

And even if he were facing members of the gentry like himself, they still wouldn’t interrupt. The 8 Trials had received great attention even before it started and the royal committee had decided to generate revenue out of it. For all he knew, the scuffle was probably already being aired and bets placed.

RF-13 had to suppress another sigh, if it really was being broadcasted he could already hear his sister scolding the him on the screen and see their dad pacing nervously. He just hoped A-343 had done what he asked and made sure that the twins were not watching. Nevertheless, he had to make sure he really didn’t get beaten up in front of them.

As he swept his eyes on the group of people a shadow descended on him when someone abruptly stepped in front. The figure had his back towards him and was facing the group.

RF-13 immediately recognized the person as soon as he spoke. It was RF-06, his cadet buddy and consequently former bunkmate.

“Now, now. Do we really want to do this early on the game?” RF-06 lightly said as he gave the group of young men in front of him a smile. “Prince Vintan, do excuse my companion. He has a natural hedgehog personality. Besides if you look out the window you’ll find that were already at the royal residence. None of us would want to meet the ambassadors all ruffled and noses bleeding would we?”

RF-13 turned his head to confirm that the Trichotomous had indeed already reached its destination and was preparing to land. He silently eyed the prince who gave him a haughty glance then pompously turned his back while waving to his minions. As he proceeded to the next carriage, the prince left some parting words, “Let’s see if your insolence can help you survive even the first stage.”

RF-06 eyed the departing backs. He sighed and turned towards RF-13, “Glad to find you’re still as sweet as ever. But the last time I remember you were not as sweet as this, what’s wrong?” To him, his bunkmate always had this indifferent attitude. He was not as high-strung as this.

“Something on my mind. When I said see you around, I didn’t mean see you this soon.”

RF-06 was a little disconcerted by his buddy’s reply. He had expected his question to be casually brushed off. He suspected that whatever was troubling his bunkmate had a connection with the reason he quit the academy.

“Anything I can help you with?”

RF-13 gave a light shrug and sat down on his former seat, “I’ll ask you if I need help. So what is the academy’s top-notcher and Pontus Prime Minister’s eldest son doing here? I didn’t think you were one for a political marriage.”

RF-06 had sucked in a breath in surprise when he heard RF-13 call him the prime minister’s son. He looked at him skeptically and asked, “How long have you known?”

“Since our first the time we were yearlings in the academy.”

“I don’t think I did anything to give me away,” RF-06 replied.

RF-13 nodded and said, “You didn’t. I just noticed. Remember when the etiquette master was teaching us the intricacies of using all those tableware and the corresponding table manners?”

RF-06 nodded, even more confused.

Though you tried to mask it, you were so adept I thought I would learn better if I observed rather than listening to the mentor. The mentor taught it well, but you did it as if you lived it. It was like you spent every breakfast being served a full course meal.” RF-13 gave a quiet laughter.

“Then I noted that you were not among the high-profile yearlings who had entered the academy on the same year. So I inferred that you must have entered under a fabricated identity. It also helped that during history lessons, when I listened to your opinions, you would look at the annals of the Regiis Kingdom from an outsider’s point of view. The Pontus point of view specifically. The Regiis Kingdom and the Pontus Settlement have good relationship. It was not far off for them to collaborate in such manner. It was also at that time that the news of the eldest son of the Pontus prime minister decided to study in a foreign land. People were speculating you must have chosen to go to one of those prestigious political schools in the Vis Metropolitan. But I thought otherwise. Then here you are at one of Regiis most important happening.”

RF-06 had listened quietly as the other narrated his method of discovery. It reminded him again just how observant the seemingly disinterested person was. “Then why did you never tell me you knew?”

“What for? It was amusing to watch,” RF-13 laughed.

The other was relieved. He had thought RF-13 would bear at least a grudge but it appeared otherwise.

“So is it a personal or political?” RF-13 asked.

“My father thought a marriage with the princess would cement our relationship with the Regiis royalty,” the other replied.

“Well, good thing you don’t have a lover. Otherwise you would be put under fire for being too much of an obedient son. So what happened to the academy, are you still going back?”

There was a suspicious silence before RF-06 replied, “My father pulled some strings to get me an indefinite leave. I’ll go back for the graduation ceremony.” RF-06 said this in a regretful tone. If he needed to get out his father just had to pull a few strings. However in contrast, his bunkmate had to quit.

“I didn’t think you too would accept the invitation,” RF-06 was genuinely interested.

“I also didn’t think I would,” RF-13 said in his usual roundabout way, “but it appears I did. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t compete for your lady’s hand. I’m only here for three innings and not for the championship.”

“I wouldn’t mind stepping on the side if you really after the princess.”

RF-13 laughed, this time sincere. “I’m not, someone would get jealous.”

Hearing this, RF-06 gave the other a punch on the shoulder. “You punk, you have a lover and you never told me? Where is your sense of brotherhood? That’s cheating!”

“I didn’t know you had also taken the role of my mother,” RF-13 smirked. “But mother she’s not my lover. Or at least I haven’t received the permission to call her that.” RF-13’s expression shifted from joking to confused. He had his hands on his forehead as if he was contemplating a rather mind-boggling situation. “I think I was rejected, but I’m not really sure. I don’t know, let’s not talk about it. Women are a mystery. Even if we seat here until we grow roots we’ll never be able to understand.”

RF-06 wanted to gloat on his bunkmates’ predicament. It was the first time seeing him at loss. But unfortunately he also understood the predicament RF-13 was in, he grew up with four sisters.

He decided to stir the conversation in a lighter direction, “You should have just joined their group, Prince Vintan I mean. Even if he is arrogant he did gather a considerable assembly of talent. It will be easier for you to progress to the next trial.”

RF-06 was right. Those who were in the know had already began banding together to form an alliance. Since the first trial didn’t need them to eliminate everybody else they could still work together to improve their chances of progressing to the second stage.

“I prefer working alone. Besides I would rather go through Morret’s hell week rather than do anything to help that prince,” RF-13 said. RF-13 never forgets faces. Prince Vintan was the same pampered prince during the auction.

RF-06 involuntarily shuddered. Morret’s hell week consisted of seven days of grueling physical and psychological training. By their fourth day half of them had already surrendered. For RF-06, he would rather let his older sisters braid his hair in tiny pigtails again than to have to go through that torture. RF-13 must really dislike Vintan.