The Accidental Journey: Battle of the Last woman Standing

The Disguise

''Um, this feels nice and all but, we only have a few hours to the blue moon, if we do not get to the facility in time, we'll be in big trouble.'' Xander says bringing that emotional moment to an end.

''He's right, we really need to leave now.'' Kimer says in addition.

''Right, but where does that leave me? Where do I go? what do I have to do? I ask them.

Apparently surprised by my sudden enthusiasm, Kimer smiles 

''That's what the problem is, sneaking you into the facility is a huge risk for us and for you especially if people were to discover about your energy core.'' Xander says looking at me thoughtfully

''If she is secretive enough considering the protective mechanism, no one would be able to detect it and even if they did, it would be difficult to snatch it. The problem is there's no way she'll get in her gender being a huge disadvantage. If only you were a boy.....''Kimer says looking at me with the same expression on Xander's face.

''And if were to take you to our tribal land, you'll most definitely freeze to death considering you have no fire level training whatsoever.'' Xander adds

''How about we take her to granny? It's fairly warm in her territory.'' Kimer says to Xander.

''That would be a waste. That place is void of knowledge and talent, she wouldn't be able to learn anything. She'll only become fat from Granny's cooking.'' Xander answers.

''There is one way...''Kimer says to Xander.

''Are you thinking what I'm thinking?'' Xander says to Kimer and she nods in response both of them sharing a knowing smile. I felt a pang of Jealousy. It must be nice to have a sibling who could guess your thoughts.

''Since you do not have a place to go at the moment,  no experience in Physical combat, Weaponry and no clue on your  abilities and how to use them, the only logical thing is for you to join the Gamza facility. You will have  full access to so many things that will help you become stronger and also to realise your full potential. Fortunately, there's an inauguration ceremony coming up in a few days, the facility is accepting new recruits who will become full members. However, it is extremely difficult to get in. There are three stages to this process. The General stage. Anyone is allowed to join this stage. During this stage, you would be trained on basic combat and weaponry, it's like a general training process only, you will be tested in various ways and if you fail any test, you will be asked to leave and will denied access to the facility forever. Apparently, you are given only one chance to join the facility. The second stage is the middle period, this stage is harder than the first because all the inexperienced recruits must have been disqualified and the tests become harder, the training and lessons also become more difficult. In this stage, they would be interested in your special abilities, this is where you get the chance to develop them. And the final stage is the trial period. This is the hardest and most important stage. Only ten recruits are accepted into the facility after this period and if any girl or group of girls are lucky enough to be part of this stage, only one can be accepted. This means if one hundred females compete at the beginning there's only room for one at the facility.'' Kimer says 

''Meaning?'' I ask unsure of how to react with what I have just heard.

''Meaning, there is no way in a million years, you'll get accepted.'' Xander says defiantly and I felt like I had been doused in cold water.

''Unless.....'' Kimer trails looking at me mischievously.

''Unless what? and what's with the funny faces?'' I ask noticing Xander has the same expression on his face.

''Unless, you become a boy.'' Xander says with a wide grin.

''How is that even possible? I say and roll my eyes, I had really hoped they had a solution especially with Kimer's long speech.

''Listen it's the only way. If you compete as a male, you will have more chances of getting into the facility, you won't face any form of discrimination and the boys won't be too hard on you. If you compete as a female, the boys would do anything, I mean anything to get you out of the competition. They wouldn't want a female to get into the facility at their expense. Like I mentioned earlier, it is of general belief that women are not cut out for these duties. Women are not allowed to work, no one would want to employ a woman for anything except as a maid. So, basically if you're a woman you're either destined to be a maid or a wife at a young age, serving your husband and wasting your life away in the kitchen.'' She pauses with a strange facial expression I never knew she could make. 

''I didn't want this for myself. The last thing I want is to end up like my mother. This was the reason I did all I could to join the facility. It wasn't just my zeal that gave me what I wanted but my Father's position in the Facility. He is one of the most powerful elders of the Gamza. As a result, people didn't want to mess with me. I didn't face the discrimination and struggles the other girls faced while we were competing but I could see they went through a lot. My point is, I practically grew up in the facility, I have been training since I was a child, I had a lot of experience and my Fathers position on my side yet It wasn't easy for me to get in. So basically, you have none of these things and not to mention a gender barrier, you have zero chances of getting accepted.

''How on earth am I going to make people believe I am a boy and what if they find out?''

''Will you trust us?'' Xander says with a smile.

''And besides, if you're lucky enough to make it to the trial period, you will definitely have to reveal your identity. And nothing can ne done about it. Once you have been accepted into the facility, your gender no longer means anything.'' He adds

'' And if they find out during the competition?'' I ask.

''Then....  only then, will we think of what to do. Let's take care of the issue on ground which is getting you a place to stay and develop your abilities.'' Kimer answers.

''Fine then, it's not like I have a choice. I say giving up; they looked pretty determined.

''I'm glad you know that.'' Xander says with a triumphant smile.'' 

''I'll be right back.'' He says a wave of yellow light encircling him and poof! He disappears.

''Is that his special ability? Teleporting?'' I ask Kimer. 

''Yes and no. Yes it is his special ability and no what he did is called ''Lument.'' She responds, he didn't actually disappear, he travelled through light but it was so fast only a person with an advanced sense of sight would be able to see it. For it to work, he needs a trace of light, he cannot do it through dimensions or extremely long distances and in extreme darkness....that's why he's scared of the dark. You did not hear it from me.'' She whispers the last part with a wink and we both laugh.

''I don't know why but I feel like I trust you guys.''

''I don't know about Xander but I feel the same way.''

''Talking about Xander, how exactly do you guys intend to make me compete as a guy?''

Just then Xander returns with the same yellow light.

''I don't know what she told you but I am so not scared of the dark just so you know.'' He says shooting Kimer a knowing smile. He had in his hands, clothing that looked like his and some other things I couldn't fathom.

''We're going to have to cut your hair.'' Xander says looking at me expectantly, his words in form of a question. 

I panicked in response.

''Yes, all of it.'' he says with a grave expression before breaking into a fit of laughter.

''Don't worry, I won't cut it all, relax.'' he says laughing again but stops when he sees the warning expression on Kimer's face.

''Cutting my hair is the least of my worries right now. My major concern is the object you intend to use to cut it. There is no way I am going to let you use that on my head.'' I respond pointing  at the sword like blade in his hands.''

Xander gasps looking offended.

'I'll have you know that this thing you called so disrespectfully happens to be the best Hair cutting instrument in the whole Gamza facility.''

I stare at him unimpressed but realized I had no option than to comply.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my reflection and funny enough I could see that through Kimer. Apparently, her special ability was to travel through different states of water. She called it Aquatia. She transformed into a vertical pool of water which enabled me to see myself as not there were no mirrors in their part of the world.

I hated to admit but Xander did put a lot of effort into the haircut. It did give me boyish features. Kimer helped me conceal my feminine features with a thick piece of material I wore underneath the clothing Xander brought which fit me perfectly. I wore a pair of thick boots to match. In all, I looked like a guy in some fantasy movie. 

''So, what do you think.'' Kimer asks back to her normal self.

''I don't think what I think matters.....do you think they'll buy it?'' I ask unsure.

''Buy what?'' Kimer and Xander ask in unison.

At first I had a ''are you kidding me expression on my face but realised that things do not really work the same way in our worlds.''

''what I mean is, do you think they'll believe I am a guy.''

''They'll be stupid not to.'' Xander says before realizing the meaning of his words and laughs satisfied with his own joke.''

''If that's the case then, we should start going.'' I say.

''Yes but before that, your last name has to be changed, you need a tribe that isn't smart enough to detect falsehood or that probably doesn't care.'' Kimer says 

''That would be tribe D, they are the tribe with the highest population. Xander responds.

''You're right. It's perfect. So from now on, you are Riley D. Kimer says.

''It doesn't really match though.'' Xander tries to argue.

''It doesn't matter either.'' Kimer says in a flat tone.

''One more thing, you can't act like you know us, we'll try to help you the best way we can behind the scenes but most of the work will be done by you. You will have to learn how to rely on yourself and fight your battles. Members of the facility are not allowed to be familiar with recruits and in case, you're lucky to have one us as your instructors, which is very unlikely then that might be good news for you but it doesn't mean we'll go easy on you. we have to be fair. It's the rule of the Gamza.''

I nod my head in response not sure how to process all of the information I have gotten today. It all still felt like a dream.

''On no circumstance must you tell anyone about your core, they would do everything in their power to snatch it from you. Let your training be discreet. You do not need a lot of friends and try as much as possible not to draw too much attention to yourself, you honestly do not need that. Do not trust anyone either, you all have one goal, no one is trustworthy.''

''You didn't tell her about the Mysticus.'' Xander says.

''I want her to find out about somethings on her own.''

In case you need our help with something really important, blow this.'' She hands over a small wooden whistle to me and tells me to blow it. I do as she says and surprisingly, no sound comes out.

''It's called a silent whistle, only I can hear it but remember use it only when it is extremely urgent.'' she warns.

I nod my head in response and then Xander stretches his hand out and I take it, this time I'm not surprised as I am encircled by yellow light, I close my eyes and braced myself for whatever was ahead.