As punishment, they’d received three straight nights of running laps from an exasperated Mr. Akerman. Only after eight hours with no sleep whatsoever, when they were both exhausted to the point of collapse, did Jason and Allyra come to a silent and fragile truce. They still hated each other, but now they were mature enough to suffer that hate in relative peace. These days, they barely bothered to talk to each other, which she rather enjoyed. At least it meant that she never had to think up any witty retorts to his sharp tongue.
In between all the training, there was barely time to fit in meals and sleep, but despite her every intention not to trust anyone at The Five Finals, Allyra had managed to make a few friends. It turned out that not everyone in this pit of snakes was deliberately plotting to kill her.
Chi as well as Henri and Adriana could all be counted amongst her friends. It was hard to know whether these friendships would survive beyond the forge that was The Five Finals. But, Allyra was grateful for anyone to take her mind off the constant anxiety of waiting for the First Final.
Allyra wasn’t the only one affected by the stress and uncertainty, and as the days passed, an undeniable restlessness seemed to permeate through the air. Different people dealt with the anxiety in different ways. Some got louder and more obnoxious with every passing minute, and others just retreated further and further into themselves.
Chi definitely fell into the latter group. He was sitting next to her, reading a book while eating forkfuls of salad, a dreamy and preoccupied look on his face, looking every inch the scholar and nothing like the hardened fighter he was supposed to be.
Henri was sitting across the table from Allyra, talking like a runaway train, bouncing from one subject to another in an utterly tangential manner, making it almost impossible to keep up with her. Adriana sat next to Henri quietly, nudging her from time to time to remind her to slow down. The nudge would always result in a quickly muttered apology from Henri, and in the brief lull, the two would share a fond look or twine their fingers together below the table.
Their relationship was quiet and undemonstrative, but for anyone who cared to look, it was clear they loved each other deeply. They had built the type of bond that would make them strong Competitors in The Five Finals.
The door to the dining room opened, and Marcus swept in like an icy north wind, instantaneously freezing any and all conversation. As it did whenever she was in the same room as Marcus, a shiver worked its way up Allyra’s spine—it had become an all too familiar feeling of wrongness. Even Chi looked up from his book at the sudden silence in the room.
Almost unnoticed, the other four Council members followed Marcus in, taking up their positions beside him. The power of Marcus’s presence somehow made them smaller and more insignificant in comparison.
Marcus cleared his throat. “We are a week away from the First Final at the Terra College, and tonight we will begin with the challenges. As has already been explained to you, each pair may only participate in one challenge before each Final. The losers are instantly eliminated, while the winners gain an advantage for the next Final. Now please stand if you would like to issue a challenge.”
Only one pair got to their feet. Allyra recognized them as the Fifths from the Terra College. Don and Clara were a Terra and an Inferno respectively. He was massive and hulking, while she was quick and deadly. Together, they were the perfect combination of strength and speed and were amongst the favorites to make it to the end of The Five Finals. It was unsurprising that they were willing to issue a challenge—this early in The Five Finals, there were plenty of weaker pairs that Don and Clara probably believed they could beat easily for an advantage in the First Final.
Marcus raised his eyebrows. “Only one pair?” he asked, a mocking edge to his tone. “Being conservative has never won anyone The Five Finals.”
He turned to Don and Clara. “Who would you like to challenge?”
Don replied, “Jason and Allyra. The Firsts from the Elemental College.”
It didn’t come as a surprise, yet it was somehow surreal to hear her name called out in Don’s resonant voice. Allyra hadn’t really expected anything else—her rather spectacular and public failings with Jason during training would not have gone unnoticed.
Allyra got to her feet, and her eyes found Jason. His hands were tightened into fists, his knuckles white with the force of his grip and his tendons visible along the length of his arms. It was a rare display of emotion. He was obviously furious.
“We accept,” Allyra said evenly, as if there had been a choice in the matter.
Marcus nodded, and his eyes drifted over the crowd again. “Any other challenges?” he asked. “No? Well then, the two pairs will report to the Council Chamber at seven tomorrow to participate in the challenge instead of morning training.”
Marcus strode swiftly from the room with the other Council members trailing like sheep behind him. High Master Radebe was the last to leave, and he turned and gave Allyra a look of deep concern as he left the room. She knew the concern was real enough. Nonetheless, it felt like a reverse vote of confidence.
She dropped back into her seat. There was a violent clanging of plates as Jason departed furiously. Chi’s expressive face was a perfect canvas of worry, while Henri’s was filled with anxiety. Even the normally unflappable Adriana looked mildly troubled.
“Are you ready?” Henri blurted out.
Allyra shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.” She got to her
