Everybody's eyes were pinned on the princess who was advancing closer, but Ayra appeared to be taken by the man walking behind her. The man she had seen a couple of times, the man she had shared just one conversation with. The man who was the object of all her desires.
And just like her uniform, his was white as well.
"This is a very fun group." Freya folded her arms, glaring fixatedly at Alana.
Mordeu had seen firsthand the kind of relationship that existed between Alana and Freya and he could tell that it was not the best. And then there was the relationship between the princess and the Alvitirs, it was impossible not to understand that if given the opportunity to, Ayra would rip her apart.
However, her arrogance and nonchalance occupied the space where fear or shame should reside.
"This is too much." Mordeu muttered to himself as he caught sight of his brother walking up to them.
"Why would we all get selected into one team, we hate ourselves?" Alana voiced, as if anyone present had answers to her question.
And even if they did, Fjall was too focused on trying to keep the joy in his heart at bay; he was finally standing beside Ayra, although it wasn't the first time, he was just deeply excited, obviously driven by the affection he possessed for her.
Unknown to him, he wasn't the only one about to lose their minds. His mate was the same.
And then Cillian, the frown on his face had disappeared a long time ago only to be replaced by the expression that seemed to be default. He looked bored. Just like Freya, his hands were folded and he leaned against the tree, watching his sister lose her mind.
It seemed the only people that kept themselves busy with trying to work the team were Alana and Mordeu. It was easier to decipher the look on Freya's face: it was a combination of anger and boredom.
"I don't think Ayra agrees with your assumption," Freya glanced towards Ayra and Fjall, "they don't seem to hate each other at all." She tilted her head to the side, "is Ayra the mate you were talking about the other day?"
Although her tone, her expression, and her words had not been the prettiest, this was his first time in the midst of royalty. And whether or not he was pleased with what she had just said now, he couldn't do or say anything in contradiction.
He nodded, "yes," he swallowed, "Freya."
Freya nodded her head.
Her eyes raked his body, although he was donned in the same outfit like they were, the difference was rather conspicuous. The uniform on Mordeu's body was perfect, bringing out the sensuality that resided within him by outlining the ferocity in the ridges of his arms, the width of his waist, and the curvature in his legs.
However, on Fjall, it was different. He had his own fair share of a good body, he was considered lithe, to say the least, but in his stance, his stamina, Freya, a professional in martial arts, could decipher just how skilled he was.
And he wasn't.
And she knew.
She smirked and turned lazily to Ayra, "The goddess must think you a joke, Ayra. She gave you a mate a hundred times weaker than you are, or is it that you're dangerous enough for two people?"
Ayra's eyebrows met each other, her frown invoked a fright in Fjall, he was aware that if nobody held her back, their team was going to suffer great consequences. And as she advanced forward, he grabbed her wrist, holding her back.
Other than the simple weird conversation that they had when Fjall had protected Cillian, this was the first interaction they had, their first physical contact.
Ayra froze.
She had had the sheer desire to slam a fist into Freya's face. Although the news that Freya wasn't just an ordinary elf had found its way round the continent, still, Ayra was sure that Freya could not win a fight against her.
However, the lack of fear on Freya's expression spoke volumes, she still folded her hands and now, even had an eyebrow raised, taunting Ayra, challenging her.
If not for the electricity pulsating within her from the spot Fjall was holding, surely Ayra would've accepted the challenge. She desperately wanted to wipe that smug expression off of Freya's face.
Freya chuckled, "you want some?"
Ayra took a step back, deciding to not pull away from Fjall, "I don't want anything from you."
Mordeu sighed in relief, he honestly thought their team was going to get eliminated because of this fight, but thank the goddess, it wasn't going to be so.
"Can we focus on why we're all here?" He spoke up. And in response, Ayra peeled her angry eyes from Freya followed suit.