The assumption that the Elites had spared Tess's life proved to be nothing more than wishful thinking. Despite Sensei's warning, she found herself lying motionless on her back, bound by swords that cleaved through her hands and legs, imprisoning her to the unforgiving ground. The searing pain coursed through her body, as she clung to the hope of waking up in the sanctuary of the infirmary to transport her away from this torment.
Immobile and vulnerable, she yearned desperately for a miraculous vortex to materialize, accompanied by a legion of Primus soldiers bearing ice-cool water and potent painkillers, rushing to her aid. She would have even embraced the Professor in a grateful hug. The absence of the Elites left her puzzled, wondering what cruel game Sensei and the elders were playing, prolonging her suffering in this twisted theater.
