A week passed since the announcement. Group allocations were the first step to the Battle finale that was to come in a year. Practice matches, trainings, developing complex strategems, concocting shades to form unique Brios, everything had to be achieved the hard way. It was the preliminary year for the beginners and the toughest of all the upcoming Battles.
Emon closed the laptop after she read the update about some groups already practising in the alloted training grounds. After the announcement she should have been happy. It was only fair that each group would try their best to get to the top. With her around she would have been constantly rained with complaints from her team members. But still... rejection hurts.
She was about to leave the library when Nihar came in huffing.
"Girl, I have been calling you all this time. Where's your phone?"
" Oh... Sorry, I think it was silent... Anyway, what's up?"
Nihar sat down on a chair as he breathed fast.
"The old man's calling you. Must be something important."
Emon's brows lifted, she had never been called for the past three years and she understood that the Colossus had lost hope about her showing her powers, but what happened today? She looked at Nihar who had a grim expression on his face. If she coaxed him he would tell her but since he didn't want to share it personally, she decided she would rather hear it from the dean himself.
"Okay, I'm leaving"
Nihar looked at Emon's back as she left... He prayed that her words wouldn't come true.
The office of the Colossus was huge. The walls converged at the top to form arches which were ornated with coloured murals and paintings. She had once heard about some underground room which was a twin to this. No one but Jehayadh, the initiator of Enamour, knew about the entrance to the twin room. Emon waited for the old man to make an appearance, meanwhile she roamed and admired the beauty of the embellished office.
"Come here"
A deep resonating voice came from somewhere. Emon tried to locate the source but,
"Come inside the chamber" the voice said again.
So he can see me... Pretty spooky without cctvs.
She went inside the chamber and saw him staring outside the window. She wondered for the hundredth time what did he need to talk to her about.
"I heard you have been left out. You aren't included in any team"
Emon wondered what to reply...
" Yes"
"I have formed a team for you"
The Colossus turned to face her. His face had a warmth of a grandpa but his eyes were a different story. They reflected the innumerable experiences he had gone through. The Colossus was a man of many secrets and an infathomable wisdom.
'But he's still a grandpa...' she thought.
"Aren't you interested to know your partners?"
"What's the point, I don't have a choice anyway." She bit her tongue as soon as she said that. Maybe she had gone too far with the grandpa thing and spoke way too informally.
"And... Thank you for choosing me in a team. I'm truly happy".
The Colossus watched with amusement in his eyes. He was the most respected and had the ultimate say in the world of Enamour, yet this little girl had absolutely no fear while speaking to him. It was refreshing...
"See your team members"
A 3D display of pictures manifested out of no where and Emon looked at the pictures.
'Oh... '
Her eyes fixedated on the images which flowed before her.