January 22nd. Monday, 9:23 AM.
It was the start of the second week of the second semester. The first week had passed exactly as you would expect it to be. Quiet, uneventful, routine. Just lectures and school work. It was a slow return and a week to get back into the academic rhythm. Nothing extraordinary happened. The lectures had been surprisingly calm, too. Despite all the classes being in one room, it was rather civil. No arguments or unnecesaary drama. Everyone let everyone be and minded their own business. No clashes occurred.
Not yet, anyway.
Speaking of all the classes being in one room, they are all in one room right now. Every first year was gathered inside the same lecture hall they had sat in last Monday. It was early morning, but energy was high. This lecture wasn't about formulas or theory. The lecture was about the next challenge.
Challenge Six.
Mr White had told them last that this challenge would span over five days. An entire academic week. Since then, a few rumours and conversations have sparked about what the challenge could be, based on information from the upper years.
"I think I'll like this challenge".
"It's chill. If it's what the upper years have told us is true, then I'm happy it's nothing intense".
"This should be easy points".
And based on that information, some students were happy with it. It wasn't as bad as they thought it was. Hearing a week-long challenge intimidated a few. The information wasn't confirmed to be the challenge, but it most likely was. Obviously, the students weren't banking on the information, as this year had been different for them. So having a different challenge wasn't off the cards.
No matter what the challenge was, all the students were ready. This is why they joined this academy: to compete. After a month's break, the students wanted a challenge. All that tension and adrenaline needed to be released. They wanted to get points. They needed points.
"Do you think you'll do good this challenge?" Lorenzo asked, leaning back.
"I have to do good this challenge", Ryan replied, leaning forward and watching the rows below. "I have to get max points. If I don't..." he shook his head. He didn't want to finish his sentence.
"How well do you think everyone else will do?" Lorenzo asked, taking a look at other people.
"I don't care about everyone else. I have to focus on myself", Ryan said flatly. "But... I don't think that many people will get max points in this challenge".
Lorenzo turned to Rytan, "Why?".
A smirk appeared on Ryan's face, "A lot of people will snitch".
The low hum of conversations filled the hall. A few students leaned forward in their seats, watching over others, and others leaned back, keeping to themselves or talking to the person next to them. However, all of them were waiting for any sign for the announcement to begin.
Then, the lecture doors opened. A familiar man in a dark suit entered the hall.
"Not this guy again..." someone muttered.
Some students whined after seeing a face they had already seen before. Someone that they were introduced to pretty early on.
"Good morning, first years", Mr Miller said, wasting no time and walking to the centre of the stage. "Welcome to the first challenge of this semester".
All ears were switched on. The murmurs stopped. It was time for their next challenge.
"I know you've already been told that this challenge will last the entire week. However, it is not what it seems", Mr Miller said, pacing slowly on the stage.
A few students exchanged looks.
"If you look at your timetable", he continued. "You can see you still have lessons and lectures this week".
At his words, several students immediately pulled out their phones, double-checking their timetables. Sure enough, their timetables were still full. A few students noticed this before, but they thought it was a mistake or a glitch. Now it was clear it wasn't a mistake.
"Yes", Mr Miller confirmed. "You still have lessons and lectures even though you have a challenge. That is because this challenge is a simple one. It's a challenge that will get you warmed up for the semester".
He paused for a moment, letting the suspense build. Looking at the student's eager eyes.
"The challenge is...", he said with curled lips.
"Item Hide and Seek".
The words echoed across the hall.
The reaction from the students wasn't exactly hyped. A fair few knew this was coming. The lack of hype wasn't exactly complete disappointment. Starting the semester off with this type of challenge was fair. Just hearing the words hide and seek relieved some students. They were glad it was something they knew. Everyone was familiar with hide and seek.
"Hide and seek. That sounds okay".
"At least all of us get to do something this time".
Mr Miller smirked knowingly, "I can see you're all particularly enthusiastic", he sarcastically said with his hands behind his back. "Don't worry. This challenge is just a starter for the semester. It will ease you all into what is to come. This challenge is used every year. It's become a little tradition for us here at the academy. It may not sound exciting, but it does produce good moments".
After hearing that response, a lot of students felt better than before. It settled the room a little. Hearing that they reuse this challenge every year eased their pressure a little. It wasn't something unknown.
"Let me explain the rules", Mr Miller said. "The rules are rather simple".
He tapped on a remote, and the screen behind him switched on. The screen showed the shortened and simple version of the challenge's rules.
"After this lecture, you will be sent an email. That email will include your partner for this challenge", he said before any commotion started. "Once you've got your partner, you have to go to the main office and collect your item. This item is a device you have to build".
Whispers emerged at the word build.
Mr Miller chuckled lightly, "The device isn't anything complex. You'll have instructions to help. It will be like building LEGO or a table from IKEA", he reassured them.
Hearing that did calm a few people down. It also brought a smile to a few faces.
"Once you have built your device, you have to hide it in the academy building. You have until Thursday, 6 PM, to do so", Mr Miller said. He took a few steps forward and scanned the hall. "You may have also noticed you have nothing scheduled for Friday. That is because you are free that day. You don't have to come to the academy. This is because on Friday, the second years will look for your devices. They will have a couple of hours to look for your device. If your device is not found, you win and earn your points".
"This challenge sounds low-key fun", William said, smiling at his friends, excited.
"Yeah, it's a nice challenge", Ray agreed.
"How many points!" someone shouted from one of the higher rows.
"If your device doesn't get found, you will get 1000 points", Mr Miller answered.
"Only 1000?" Anya complained.
"1000 points is fair in my opinion", Eve said.
"Really?" Anya asked, looking at her.
"Yeah. I doubt a lot of people will win this challenge", Bri said. "It sounds easy, but it's harder than everyone thinks".
Mr Miller waited until the talking quieted again before continuing,
"Any questions?".
"You said we have to hide it in the academy building. Can we really hide it anywhere?!" another person shouted.
"Yes. You can hide it anywhere in the academy", Mr Miller replied. "Anywhere on the academy grounds is acceptable. You cannot hide it on campus. The campus is not part of the academy grounds. You all know what separates the campus and the academy, so we shouldn't see anyone get disqualified because they hid it where it shouldn't have been".
Astral Academy wasn't just a school, it was like a small city. It had multiple buildings, accommodations, a park, a library, shops, and that was all just on the campus. The campus was open to everyone, so there were a lot of people about. And even though the academy grounds were connected to the campus, they were separate. There was a clear entrance to the actual academy.
You're probably wondering why the campus is that big with many buildings and why non-students are allowed. That will be explained later on.
"That means we can hide it outside", Ash said. "Yo, we can hide it in the trees".
Jason turned his head, looking at him like he'd lost it, "You can't be serious".
"What's wrong with that?" Ash asked, not seeing the issue. "Dillon, it's a good idea, right?".
"If you want to do that. Be my guest", Dillon replied, looking straight ahead.
"Any more questions?" Mr Miller asked.
"How were our partners decided?! Can't we choose them ourselves?!".
"Your partners were chosen at random. It wasn't based on points or performance. It was completely randomised to make it fair for everyone", Mr Miller said, efficiently. "Any other questions?" he asked once again.
No student bothered to shout anything out. A few others had questions but preferred to stay quiet and ask their homeroom teacher later.
"If no one has any questions, then that's the end of the lecture", Mr Miller said, straightening his suit. "Remember, you still have lessons to attend. Make sure you attend all of those. You'll receive emails about your partners in half an hour or so", he continued. "Thank you for listening, and good luck".
9:50 AM
The lecture was over, and students poured out of the hall and into the corridors. All the students were roaming the building. They didn't have any lessons until noon, so they had a couple of hours of free time. They would all receive their emails soon, so they were waiting for that too.
Malakai and his friends already claimed an empty table in a lounge area.
"This challenge is calm (alright)", Malakai said, leaning back, relaxed.
"I hope I get a good partner", Lucas said.
"I feel like whoever you get doesn't matter", Benjamin replied. "No one has an advantage over anyone".
"These two do", Lucas said, pointing at William and Malakai. "Both of them know second years".
"That won't help us, dude", William replied.
"I was about to say. The second years are the ones finding our devices", Ray said.
"I doubt anyone will help us", David added.
"I think one second year will help Mally", William said.
"Who? Micheal?" Malakai asked. "Naaah", he shook his head. "He'll give me advice, but if he gives me a place to hide the device, I'm not gonna use it".
"Why not?" William asked.
"I wanna find a place myself", Malakai replied. "And if my device gets found, then it'll be my fault. If I use a place Micheal told me and it gets found, then he loses me points. Then I'll have to blame him".
"Yeah, listening to the second years for this challenge is stupid", Benjamin said.
"Do you guys know any third years?" Lucas joked.
The boys smirked and chuckled until,
Ping!
That noise pinged around the place. Around the boys and even from other people nearby.
Everyone's phone vibrated and lit up.
Everyone got a notification.
Everyone got an email.
It was the start of the sixth challenge.