The bell echoed through the halls, signaling the end of lunch. Josh glanced down at his schedule, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. "Combat Class," it read, and he had no idea what to expect. He followed the stream of students, trailing behind Elñairé and Queequah, who chatted excitedly.
The group filed into a large, dark room. It was more like an arena than a classroom. The walls were lined with glowing, arcane symbols, and in the middle of the room stood a platform that pulsed with a dim, red light. The air buzzed with anticipation.
Mr. Thrah, their instructor, stood at the front, a stern, no-nonsense look on his face. He clapped his hands, and a shimmering, holographic map of a run-down house appeared behind him. "Today's challenge," he began, "is to retrieve the red flag hidden inside the lair. Beware, the place is crawling with conjured enemies—ninjas. You'll need to use your wits, your powers, and your teamwork. Get the flag, and you win. Fail, and you'll wish you'd stayed in the cafeteria."
A ripple of laughter moved through the students, but Josh's stomach twisted. He wasn't sure if he was ready for this.
"Good luck!" Queequah said, elbowing him playfully. "Just try not to die."
Josh managed a nervous smile. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
The class split into small groups, and a shimmering blue portal opened up in the center of the arena. One by one, the students stepped through, disappearing into the conjured world of the simulation. Josh, Elñairé, and Queequah entered together, and in an instant, they found themselves standing in a dark, eerie hallway. The air was cold, and shadows danced across the walls.
Josh's heart pounded. "So… how do we do this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Stick together and don't get hit," Elñairé said, shifting nervously. He looked different in the dim light, his features more angular, his eyes glinting like a cat's. "And if you see any ninjas, don't panic."
A rustle echoed from the shadows, and before Josh could ask what it was, a figure leapt out—dressed in black, a conjured ninja, its eyes cold and calculating. Josh yelped, stumbling back, but Queequah was already moving. She pulled out a tiny doll from her pocket, a miniature replica of the ninja. She flicked its arm, and the ninja twisted, flung sideways as if pulled by invisible strings.
"Nice one!" Josh exclaimed, but more ninjas were already closing in, cutting off their escape.
Elñairé's form shimmered, his arms elongating and turning into sharp, tentacle-like appendages. He lashed out, knocking a couple of ninjas back, but they regrouped quickly, advancing with silent precision. It was clear the ninjas were going to overwhelm them.
Josh's mind raced, but he didn't have a plan. His hands trembled as he tried to figure out what to do. Suddenly, more figures joined the fray.
Acacia appeared, her eyes glowing with a fierce light, and she snapped her fingers, summoning a cluster of tiny stars that floated around her like fireflies. She flicked her wrist, and the stars shot forward, crashing into the ninjas and knocking them back. The air around her shimmered with a cosmic energy.
"You three really need to get it together," she said, her tone half-mocking, half-concerned.
"Hey, we were handling it," Queequah protested, but she was grinning.
Perkus arrived next, moving with the swift, smooth grace of a predator. His red eyes glowed ominously, and he bared his fangs as he darted forward, grabbing one of the ninjas and tossing it effortlessly aside. "Honestly, I thought I'd have to do all the work," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Guess I'll just have to show you how it's done."
Josh barely had time to register the snark before a ninja lunged at him. He froze, bracing for impact, but then Theen appeared, a blur of motion. He tackled the ninja to the ground, growling as his muscles rippled, the air thick with the scent of fur and adrenaline. In the dim light, Josh could see his eyes flash, an almost primal look that made his heart skip a beat.
"Stay behind me," Theen said, his voice gruff but protective. "I've got this."
Josh nodded, grateful but feeling more useless by the second. The rest of the siblings arrived, Paylah gliding through the wall like a wisp of smoke. She twirled in mid-air, summoning a ghostly figure who swooped down at the ninjas, scattering them. "Don't worry, friends, I've brought some help!" she said, her voice lilting and cheerful.
With the siblings taking charge, the tide of the battle turned. Acacia waved her wand, sending waves of purple energy that swept the ninjas off their feet. She seemed to dance as she cast her spells, a whirlwind of starlight. Perkus was relentless, his movements quick and precise, each strike landing with calculated efficiency. He had a way of toying with the ninjas, almost as if he was savoring the challenge.
Theen fought with raw power, claws slashing, teeth bared, and every so often he would glance back at Josh, making sure he was safe. Josh felt a strange warmth in his chest, watching how fiercely Theen fought for him. He wondered if this was what family was supposed to feel like.
Queequah and Elñairé did their best to help, but it was clear they were outmatched. Queequah used her dolls to control a few of the ninjas, while Elñairé's shapeshifting let him dodge and evade, but the siblings were the true force in the room. They coordinated seamlessly, each of them filling a different role, and the ninjas began to fall back, unable to withstand the onslaught.
"Now, for the flag!" Acacia shouted, pointing down the darkened hall where a faint red glow shone through a cracked door.
Josh felt a surge of determination. He didn't want to be the one who just watched from the sidelines. He took a deep breath and started running toward the door, dodging past the few remaining ninjas. Perkus raised an eyebrow, almost impressed, and the others quickly followed, clearing a path for him.
Josh burst through the door, stumbling into the room. There it was—the red flag, fluttering softly. He reached out, grabbing it, and a triumphant cheer erupted behind him as the siblings and friends gathered.
"We did it!" Paylah said, clapping her hands, and the ghostly figure she'd summoned let out a victorious whoop before vanishing.
Acacia rolled her eyes but was smiling. "Yeah, we did it. Mostly because of us." She winked, though her voice was teasing rather than harsh.
"Not bad, for a newbie," Perkus said to Josh, though there was a hint of warmth beneath his usual sarcasm.
Josh beamed, feeling a swell of pride. For the first time since arriving, he felt like he belonged, even if he still had no idea how to control his own powers.