Chapter - 22
Athena continued reading off the names, her voice as calm and authoritative as ever. Each name landed with a mix of tension and relief as students gathered with their teams, stepping off to the side in clusters, looking anywhere from eager to absolutely petrified. I stood there in the center of the thinning crowd, feeling the weight of every tick of the clock.
When she reached fifty teams, I tensed, realizing it would soon be my turn. There were only a few students still waiting in the middle, and my name was coming up any second now. Finally, it arrived.
"Team 53: Callum Brown, Jennifer Lysander, and Cassia Varro."
My head snapped up as if yanked by a string, my eyes immediately finding the two students still waiting on the floor. Jennifer Lysander, a tall, striking blonde with piercing green eyes that shone like polished emeralds, and a bearing that radiated confidence. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine, not about to dive into a monster-infested training field. Next to her was Cassia Varro, with her fiery red hair and sharp crystal-blue gaze, exuding the no-nonsense air of someone who'd just as soon throw a punch as offer a greeting. Each was, in her own way, a force to be reckoned with.
Both women turned to look at me, and their expressions were as frosty as the Arctic. Jennifer's gaze met mine, and I swore I felt an actual drop in temperature. Cassia, standing a few steps away, crossed her arms, raising a single eyebrow in what was either irritation or outright disdain. Clearly, neither of them had been hoping to be paired with me.
I walked over, scratching the back of my head, feeling all the awkwardness of a rabbit wandering into a den of wolves. The only thought that crossed my mind was the ridiculous irony of my situation. Somehow, of all the students in our year, I'd ended up with not one, but two of the academy's fiercest women on my team. I had more of the main female cast with me, than Tiberius did.
'Point, Callum, 1. Tiberius, 0.'
But my momentary sense of victory was short-lived, as a chime sounded in my ears and a glowing notification blinked into existence before me.
--
Dear Host,
Please Note Your Next Quest
- Ensure that Jennifer Lysander and Cassia Varro Come First in the Class Assessment.
--
I read it again, staring at the message. 'Are you kidding me?' My eyes drifted back to Jennifer and Cassia, whose expressions were still anything but welcoming. This wouldn't just be about surviving or clearing the assessment anymore. We had to come in first.
'Right', I thought. 'Point, Callum, minus 1.'
Just then, I felt someone's gaze on me from across the room. I glanced over and spotted Livius, Tiberius's teammate, who was now looking my way. His expression was strangely serious, as he slowly raised his hand and gave me a thumbs-up.
I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. 'Ah, Livius, I knew you were a great guy. Supporting your fellow side character. We'll keep fighting, Livius, we'll keep fighting.'
As the reality of the quest sank in, Athena continued her address. "Each team will be given a map of the trial area, though it will only mark your starting point. The rest of the field is for you to explore, conquer, or avoid as you see fit."
Ares then stepped forward. "Stay alert, watch each other's backs, and remember: strength is not just about power, but about knowing when to act and when to hold back." He gave one last steely gaze, then gestured toward the gate.
"Prepare yourselves. You'll enter the field shortly."
The crowd of students surged with whispers, but all I could think about was the task ahead of me. Winning this assessment even with Jennifer and Cassia—two forces of nature in their own right—was still a daunting challenge.
Still, the promise of rewards was too tempting to ignore. Completing this quest would make me stronger, and there was no way I'd pass up on that.
I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and looked towards the shimmering blue gate ahead. Whatever challenges lay beyond, I had a fair idea of what we'd be facing. Now, it was up to me to put that knowledge to work, to use Jennifer's and Cassia's strengths wisely so we'd come out on top.
This was my chance.