The Storm Hawks' victory sent ripples throughout the league. What had started as whispers about the Vipers' strange abilities had now grown into a full-blown scandal. Reports circulated about the unnatural energy surging on the field during the match, and the league's officials were scrambling to address the situation.
But for the Storm Hawks, the aftermath was more personal.
Back at their headquarters, the team gathered in the briefing room, their excitement from the victory dampened by a sense of unease. The artifact sat in the center of the table, its glow dim but persistent, like a sleeping dragon that could awaken at any moment.
"Do you think the Vipers knew what they were getting into?" Orin asked, pacing back and forth. "Or were they just pawns for the Shadowborn?"
Azure leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming on the table. "Mara's not stupid. She knew exactly what she was doing. But the question is, how deep does this go? Are there more teams like them?"
Coach Mason entered the room, his expression grim. "It's worse than you think," he said, holding up a tablet. "The league is launching a full investigation into the use of forbidden magic in Skyball, and it's not just the Vipers who are under suspicion. Several teams have been flagged for unusual activity."
Kai's mind flashed back to the dark energy that had surrounded the Vipers during the match. It wasn't just raw power — it was something darker, something corrupted. He could feel the artifact reacting to it even now, as though it was drawn to that same twisted force.
"The league officials are coming here tomorrow to question all of us," Mason continued. "They want to know everything about what happened in that match — and about the artifact."
Suri frowned. "Are they going to take it from us?"
Mason hesitated. "That's a possibility. The council is already debating whether the artifact is too dangerous to remain in anyone's hands."
Kai felt a surge of protectiveness toward the glowing orb. They had fought for it, bled for it. He had connected with it in a way that no one else could understand. Losing it now felt like losing a part of himself.
"They can't take it," Kai said, his voice firm. "We're the only ones who can control it. If it falls into the wrong hands—"
"I know," Mason interrupted, his expression softening. "But we need to play this smart. We can't go against the league openly. We need to prove that we're the only ones capable of protecting the artifact — and that means playing by their rules."
---
The Next Day
The following day, the league officials arrived. Dressed in crisp suits and carrying an air of authority, they immediately set the tone for what was about to be an intense interrogation. The team sat in the briefing room, their eyes on the head official, a stern woman named Valera Steele.
Steele wasted no time. "We're here to get to the bottom of the events that occurred during the match against the Crimson Vipers. Unnatural forces were at play, and we need to understand the extent of the involvement of this artifact." Her eyes flicked to the glowing orb on the table.
Kai tensed, feeling the weight of her gaze. It was as if she could sense the connection between him and the artifact.
Steele continued. "We know that teams have been experimenting with… enhancements. But this goes far beyond anything we've seen before. The question is, how did the Storm Hawks manage to resist the Vipers' advantage?"
Azure shot Kai a look before turning back to Steele. "We didn't resist — we fought back. The Vipers were using forbidden magic. We tapped into our skills and the artifact's energy to level the playing field."
"And you expect us to believe that you're in control of this artifact?" Steele asked, her tone skeptical. "It's an ancient relic with untold power. You're a group of teenagers."
Kai bristled but kept his voice calm. "We didn't ask for this, but we've been the ones protecting it. The Vipers were working with the Shadowborn, and they would've taken the artifact for themselves if we hadn't stopped them."
Steele's eyes narrowed. "You say the Vipers were working with the Shadowborn. Do you have proof?"
Kai faltered. They had seen the darkness, felt it on the field, but concrete proof? That was another matter. "No, but I know it's true. The artifact reacted to their energy. It wasn't just Skyball out there — it was a battle for control."
The room fell silent. Steele seemed to consider his words carefully before speaking again. "We'll take this into account. But until we can ensure the safety of the league and the world at large, the artifact will be confiscated."
"No!" Kai stood abruptly, his pulse quickening. "You don't understand — if you take it, the Shadowborn will come for it. They'll sense its power."
Steele raised an eyebrow. "Which is why it needs to be secured by the league, under strict supervision."
Azure and Darius exchanged worried glances, but before they could say anything, the artifact pulsed — a sharp, sudden burst of energy that filled the room with light. Everyone froze as the orb floated off the table, its glow intensifying.
Kai's heart pounded. The artifact was reacting to the conversation, to the threat of being taken away.
"I told you," Kai said, his voice low. "It knows. It won't let you take it."
Steele took a cautious step back, her expression hardening. "What is happening?"
Kai didn't have an answer. The energy flowing from the artifact was overwhelming, filling the room with a sense of raw power. The other officials began murmuring among themselves, uncertainty creeping into their stern facades.
"We need to calm it down," Azure whispered. "Kai, it's connected to you. You have to stop it."
Kai took a deep breath, focusing his mind. He had managed to tap into the artifact's energy during the match, but this felt different. It wasn't just a tool; it was alive, responding to fear and aggression.
He reached out, mentally connecting with the orb, feeling the swirling storm of energy inside. "We're not letting them take you," he murmured. "But you have to trust me. We can't fight them all right now."
Slowly, the artifact's glow began to dim, its energy retracting back into the orb. It settled back on the table, quiet once more.
Steele's eyes flicked between the artifact and Kai, her expression unreadable. "You're playing with dangerous forces, boy. If you can't control it, this will end badly for all of you."
Kai met her gaze, unflinching. "We can control it. You just need to trust us."
For a long moment, Steele said nothing. Then she turned to her colleagues. "We'll report this to the council. But for now, the artifact stays with the Storm Hawks — under close observation."
---
Once the officials left, the team sat in silence, the weight of what had just transpired settling over them. They had won a small victory by keeping the artifact, but it had come at a cost. The league would be watching them closely now, and any misstep could lead to disaster.
"They're right about one thing," Darius said quietly. "We're playing with fire. And sooner or later, someone's going to get burned."
Kai nodded. "We just need to make sure it's not us."
As they left the room, Kai felt the artifact's presence lingering in his mind. The battle on the field had been tough, but the battles ahead — both in the league and with the Shadowborn — were going to be far worse.
And with the artifact growing stronger, Kai wasn't sure how long they could keep it under control.