Damian glanced at Oliver, then back at Emma. "We're going to enter the trials. But we're not just going to compete. We're going to find out what's really going on."
Oliver grinned. "Now you're talking. This is getting interesting."
The tension in the air thickened, but Damian couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The trials weren't just a way to test their strength or skill. They were a way to test their loyalty—and a way for someone to figure out just how dangerous they could really be.
They were walking right into the heart of a mystery, and Damian was starting to wonder if he'd made the right choice by signing up. But it was too late to turn back now.
Damian and his friends were now sure this tournament wasn't about winning anymore.
**********
The next day, the students gathered in the huge hall for the warm-up test. It wasn't the main competition, but it was still a big deal. Everyone was buzzing, excited to show off their skills. Damian stayed calm, though, like he didn't even care. He wasn't here to impress anyone, just to stay sharp.
Vice Principal Saville was up front, doing his usual thing. "Alright, everyone," he said, grinning like he always did. "This is just a warm-up. It's your chance to show what you've got before the real competition starts. Make it count."
Damian wasn't really paying attention. He was here for one reason: to remind everyone why they shouldn't mess with him. He stepped forward when his name was called, ready to take on whoever was brave enough.
His opponent? A massive, muscular werewolf guy who looked like he was built to crush things. The guy cracked his knuckles and gave Damian this cocky smile like he thought his size would be enough to scare him. It wasn't.
The big guy lunged at Damian with a punch that would've knocked most people out. But Damian just slid to the side like it was nothing, faster than the guy could blink. Before he even knew what happened, Damian was behind him. Werewolves were almost as fast as vampires but this guy was not built for speed while Damian...well Damian was not an ordinary vampire. He was an assassin.
In a blur of motion, Damian slammed the guy to the floor, pinning him with a move he'd used a million times before when he was still an assassin—The Silent Pin.
The guy struggled, but Damian didn't budge. He kept him pinned, making sure to show the guy who was in charge. After a few seconds, the big guy was tapping out. "I give up! I give up!" he shouted.
Damian stood up, brushing himself off like he'd barely broken a sweat. Emma, who was watching, grinned. "That was quick, Damian, even for a vampire."
Damian gave her a small smirk but didn't say anything. The crowd was already whispering, eyes wide with awe. Damian wasn't in the mood to enjoy the attention. He just wanted to get this over with.
Oliver's match was next. He was up against a guy known for being super fast, and Oliver was already nervous. He'd practiced a lot, trying to get his strategies down, but no matter how much he planned, his opponent's speed kept catching him off guard.
Oliver fought hard, but his opponent was just too fast. Every time Oliver thought he had the upper hand, the guy would zip away and strike from another angle. In the end, Oliver barely lost by a few inches, getting knocked to the ground with the final hit.
"I... I almost had him," Oliver muttered, sitting up, looking frustrated with himself. "I messed up."
Emma rushed over, trying to cheer him up. "You did great, Ollie! You're so close! You've got this next time, for sure."
Oliver forced a smile, but he still felt down. "Yeah... I'll do better next time," he said, trying to shake off the feeling.
Then it was Emma's turn. Her opponent was a guy who liked to use fire magic, and he came at her with a blast of flames. But Emma didn't even flinch. She just waved her hand, muttering a spell under her breath. A green shield of light appeared around her, blocking the fire like it was nothing.
Before her opponent could do anything else, she summoned a gust of wind that sent him flying. He landed hard on the floor, and the match was over in seconds.
"I did it!" Emma cheered, jumping up and down. She ran over to Damian and Oliver, grinning from ear to ear. "I totally won!"
Damian just nodded, a small smile on his face. Emma had earned it. She was unstoppable when she was in her element.
But then something weird happened. While the crowd was still talking about Emma's win, Damian felt it—a presence. A chill down his spine.
Someone was watching him.
He turned his head slightly, eyes scanning the room. There, in the VIP section with Mr. Saville and Dr. Adrian, was a figure sitting quietly. He was dressed in a suit, trying to blend in, but Damian could feel it. That cold, calculating energy.
It was his former boss, the head of operations from the Silent Blades. The same guy who had made it clear that Damian should've been let go earlier, the one who had been pulling strings in the shadows for years.
Damian's stomach twisted. He didn't let his unease show, but he knew the man was there to keep an eye on him. The pressure in the room grew heavier, and for a moment, Damian's mind flashed back to the worst days of his past.
He quickly forced himself to look away, not letting it show on his face. There was no point in letting anyone know he was bothered. The last thing he needed was for people to think he was weak.
After a few more matches, Vice Principal Saville stepped forward, giving everyone a look-over. "Good job, everyone," he said, his usual smug smile in place. "But you'll have to bring your A-game for the real competition. Make sure you're ready."
He turned to Damian, his eyes narrowing just a little. "Mr. Vesper, nice performance today," Saville said, his voice a little too sweet. "But I noticed something."
Damian raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide his annoyance. "And what's that?"
Saville's smile grew wider, like he'd figured something out. "You were holding back," he said, almost like he knew something Damian didn't want him to.
Damian's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything. "Maybe I was," he answered coolly, but inside, he was already thinking about what Saville knew or suspected. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to start looking too closely.
Saville seemed to enjoy the tension. "Let's just say," he said, his voice almost a whisper, "there's more to you than you're letting on. And that's something we're going to keep an eye on."
Damian didn't respond. He just kept his eyes on Saville, wondering what the man had planned. Whatever it was, Damian wasn't going to make it easy. 🕵️