The women trailed after Cyra, their grips tightening on their duffle bags as they ventured deeper into the forest.

    Dry leaves and twigs cracked beneath their boots, shattering the forest''s quiet calm.

    Viktor''s gaze was filled with anticipation, but it faded into boredom as they passed identical-looking trees and listened to the wind rustle the leaves.

    They had been walking for thirty minutes before they heard the sounds of a gushing waterfall.

    Cyra walked toward the rocky wall beside the waterfall and passed through it with Zane and Viktor, leaving the others in shock as their figures disappeared.

    The women shared gazes, waiting for who would go first, and a ginger-haired woman with Amelia moved forward.

    ''''We''re going first.'''' They muttered to the crowd, hoping to give them the courage to face the unknown, and with one last look at each other, they walked to the corner.

    The corner was too dark to see the tear in space, but they took deep breaths and stepped through, hoping their blind trust in their new boss wouldn''t get them killed.

    Amelia and the ginger-haired woman felt like they passed through a field of some sort.

    Their minds swirled with confusion, and they staggered, their eyes blurry as they tried to get used to the sudden change in their surroundings.

    And from their blurry gaze, they could notice they were in an underground stone room or what was left of it.

    Chunks of rock littered the ground, with sunlight streaming in from above.

    ''''You''re the first people to go through...I''ll remember you.'''' Cyra''s voice quickly caught their attention and they turned to see her sitting on a broken altar with Zane and curious Viktor by her sides.

    Cyra assessed the women, pleased by their unquestioning courage.

    ''''Your names?'''' Cyra asked as she stared at them. She had counted the seconds—only a minute had passed, yet the others still showed no signs of following.

    The women stood straighter under their boss''s gaze. ''''Madam, I''m Amelia,'''' Amelia answered, her heart beating fast in her chest at the boss''s sudden attention on her.

    ''I hope she won''t be like those spoilt aristocratic women.'' These thoughts flowed through her mind as the ginger-haired woman answered.

    ''''I''m Erica.'''' a blush crept on Erica''s face as she faced Cyra. ''Boss is so beautiful~'' these thoughts rang in her mind as she looked down at her feet shyly.

    Her reaction rubbed Viktor the wrong way, but he ignored it, focusing instead on the strange colour of the sky.

    ''Is it just him or the sky was colourless, huh?'' Viktor''s mind swirled with doubt but was distracted by the other women coming through.

    The other women followed, slightly braver after seeing Amelia and Erica go through. They experienced the same disorienting reaction upon passing through the space tear.

    Cyra didn''t give them much time to get used to their surroundings and issued an order.

    ''''Welcome to desolate land. You will train, eat, sleep and maybe die here. Your first challenge, get out of this underground room.''''

    Before anyone could react, Cyra grabbed Viktor and Zane by the waist and scaled the wall with impossible ease--getting to the top in just a few seconds.

    She left behind a rope and nothing else.

    Her actions were so smooth like she was walking on smooth ground--shocking their minds completely.

    But when they looked at the height of where they could climb out from, their hearts sank, so head complaints in their minds.

    It quickly became clear that serving under Cyra would be dangerous—and possibly deadly.

    But remembering the life contracts they signed, they had to toughen their minds and start climbing.

    It seems there wasn''t a free lunch in this world, the salary they would receive had blinded some into thinking the job was going to be a breeze.

    Above them, Zane took a deep breath, a wide smile spreading across his face. "I''m back," he muttered. There was nothing to miss here—just a wave of nostalgia. He had lived in this place for as long as he could remember until Cyra entered his life.

    ''''Is this your home? Why is the sky strange? why are the trees dry and gloomy?'' Viktor asked from the side, interrupting Zane''s musing.

    He rubbed his eyes, unsettled by the sky''s dull hue—it felt like stepping into the past after living in a vibrant future. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s just how the sky looks in the desolate lands, Don''t look down on these trees; they are the only food source in the whole space...'''' Zane dragged Viktor, explaining as poked the drink bark, gooey white liquid dripped out under Viktor''s shocked gaze.

    His face scrunched up when he imagined himself eating this as food and his gaze held pity for Zane''s previous living condition

    Viktor turned to find Cyra lounging on a folding chair, a bottle of blood dangling from her hand.

    "It''s delicious; taste it; Cyra likes it so much; try it.'''' Zane urged, his eyes gleaming mischievously at Viktor''s curious but doubtful expression.

    "Pass me a glass from your space." Viktor paused at Zane''s request, his mind warring with itself whether to believe Zane''s words or not.

    But he handed Zane a glass and watched as he filled it with the white liquid and drank it like it was a delicacy.

    Cyra glanced at Zane through heavy lids, her lips curling slightly at his antics, but she said nothing.

    This brought back memories of the first time she drank this tree sap and she was curious about Viktor''s reaction.

    Though doubtful, Viktor took the cup from Zane. With nothing to lose, he figured he might as well try what they''d survived on all this time.

    "Didn''t I try it, don''t worry, drink." Zane gave him an encouraging nod, eyes gleaming with mischief.

    A laugh nearly left his lips as he watched Viktor tilt the cup, but held himself until the liquid entered Viktor''s mouth.

    "Ugh..." Viktor''s face was filled with disgust, still feeling the slimy stuff go down his throat and it tasted like nothing.

    "Hahaha..." Zane doubled over laughing at Viktor''s twisted expression, his shoulders trembling as memories of Cyra making the same face flashed in his mind.

    Cyra coughed, masking her laughter by taking a sip from the bottle.

    "You lied to me! It''s—ugh..." Viktor snapped, unable to describe the taste or the wave of disgust that hit as the white sap slid down his throat.