It took a while for the rest of my "team" to arrive in what they called the arena, there were 10 teams in total including the blue. Ezra was standing with his team seemingly distracted by a few of his teammates as his foxlike ears flicked to the noises by the arena. I'd sigh and shake my head, examining the other candidates, watching them cautiously as one of the guards spoke up. "All guards, take your candidates to their positions"
One by one each team was lead off, we were not to surprisingly the last to go. Everyone in the group was just way to talkative for my liking it was almost as annoying as being alone with Ezra. My ears would twitch slightly as i pick out the random conversations, trying to find something interesting. I'd pick up on a few of the guards conversations in the next room, listening in carefully as I try to find out what the first challenge was. With a slight grin id listen in on a clear conversation "Did you hear? They're summoning their familiars first this year! They're switching it up this year, this'll be interesting" I'd shake my head slightly, this was going to be too easy but which familiar should i use? Should I use all of them to impress the guard judging? We were all lead into a room split down the middle by a temporary wall made out of what seemed to be an icelike substance.
"In line contestants!" The guards loud voice made it feel like the room was shaking as i was still trying to listen in on the conversation. Id quickly cover my ears and growl quietly as they flick back slightly. "Go through there when your name is called" The guard pointed to the ice wall as a bit of it melted down to make a doorway "Amara, Jessica" Jess went through the door and then it quickly closed up. We waited about two minutes before she came back out, smiling brightly. "Next. Balaqua, Eris"
I'd stiffen up as my name was called, cautiously walking through the door which quickly closed after I entered the room. A young woman stood in the middle of the room, watching the door seal over before turning to look at me. ''You are miss Eris if i am correct?" I'd nod, not wanting to talk that much. "Alright, ill give you five minutes to summon your familiar, if you fail to complete this task you will be eliminated. Not to worry if you succeed, all that happens within this room is confidential for only the academy personnel to record, none of the other contestants will know"
Sighing quietly i'd step forward and clench my fist, digging my clawlike nails into my palm. Blood dripped onto the ground as my hand caught fire and i started to speak up "Ignem sanguine glacie concretae atque aqua, saxo in aera animumque in corpore spiritus invoco te Zhokka, Ami, Ossa, Inerf, Yukha, et Oraya" The ground shook as the bones of Yukha formed, covered in the earth and blood which turned into its skin. Ami broke through the ground, made of solid rock and ice. The bones of Zhokka and Ossa formed beside one another, one covering in blood and becoming almost a translucent blue-black while the other caught fire, quickly being covered in its one blazing skin. Inerf came out of a small green portal, clinging to the wall as she let out a quiet yet shrill screech. The last one to form was Oraya, blood, fire, and rocks swirling on the ground as its purplish black body solidified and fused with the elements that made it up. The six creatures all stood still waiting for a command as the woman watched them confused, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Very good? I never knew one person could control six?" They all seemed to glare at her after the statement as Ossa growled.
I'd speak up, shaking my head as i turn to the familiars "Chil yo daun.." They all stop and just watch "I don't control them, this is an equal partnership.."
''Very good, that was a trick question anyway, you may go" she waved her hand and the door reopened. I quickly walked out and joined the others by the wall, watching as the next student was called in. Jess walked up to me and smiled "So, what'd you get? For a familiar?" I shrug and yawn, pulling out my headphones and putting them on trying to show her i clearly wasn't interested in talking. She just walked back to the group and started talking with them as the next Contestant was called. It was just a few minutes maybe thirty before the last few contestants were done and the woman left the ice room, clearing her throat as she spoke up.
"Alright contestants, only one of you was eliminated. Catherine. You must go home, i'm sorry but you were unable to complete your task" Catherine nodded, clearly holding back tears as she was lead out of the room. "Next test is that way, your assigned guard will lead you."
The guard turned around and started heading towards the doorway as another group entered the room. We were lead down a bunch of hallways before being lead outside into what looked like a small forest area with another one of the other teams. The guard stood in the middle, looking at both teams. "Welcome to your second test contestants, red team you already know what you are doing but let me explain since now you are the hunters instead of the hunted. Hunters will hunt the hunted and that is quite obvious. Is anyone her unfamiliar with paintball?" Everyone looked around, starting to understand what the guard was talking about "Good, now hunted you get a two minute head start starting when i blow the whistle, hunters will follow after you once that time is up. Your goal is to eliminate the opposing team, blue against red, first one shot from both teams is eliminated from the test" The guard points to a box of paintball guns and masks "Blue team get suited and get ready to go"
Everyone in the team quickly got a gun and waited for instruction as they put on their masks. The guard blew the whistle and we all took off into different directions in the forest area. I'd climb up into a tree and perch on a high branch, lowering my body temperature to match the surroundings as i move into a patch of leaves. My ears twitched slightly to the sound of the whistle blowing again, footsteps echoing through the trees. The other team rushed past, shooting into the trees as they split up. It seemed that they found someone already, how interesting. There was a few more shots fired before a loud scream coming from Sarah's direction. The only thing that ran through my mind was revenge as i bolted through the trees towards the scream, dropping down and tackling the one red contestant that had shot her. I'd hold the paintball gun against their head before shooting it and getting back up as the guard blew the whistle to call us all back. How did they know two people had been eliminated already? Were there cameras that i should be worried about?
I'd wait till i saw my "team" before looking at Sarah and picking her up, starting to head back to the starting point. The guard stood waiting as everyone showed up. They cleared their throat before speaking "There has been two eliminated, this has been the fastest test of the day, good work contestants." They turned to the red contestant that shot Sarah "Eli, i'm sorry to say but since you were the first eliminated from your team it is time for you to go"
Another guard walked through the door, clearly called before the discussion began. "Sarah, it is time for you to go as well. The guard will have to carry you to the infirmary for a cast, we already know its broken" what did they mean? How did they know anything was broken? The other guard came over and took Sarah, taking both her and Eli out. "Contestants you have done well so far, you only have one last test to complete today. You are now the hunters we must wait for the next team."
The test went through again, a bit slower and everything seemed to play out somewhat the same, a member of the yellow team, Jamie I think they called her, was eliminated and we lost Michael. It was clearly getting darker outside, had it already been a day? The guard lead us back into the building and dismissed us to our dorms. That's just great, we have to sleep here? What am i gonna do if that.. What was it again? Well, however i get hurt in my sleep. Will it affect others? I guess i'm just gonna have to find out. I'd climb onto my bunk and hold my necklace as I slowly fall asleep.