Sora Brontarion
Weeks had passed since our last group test, and I'd become the laughing stock of my house.
My team ranked near the bottom of the school. Not being in charge felt like sabotage. I'd proven my ability to lead during the Totem Games, but now that achievement was meaningless.
Finally, the bathrooms were repaired after the vandalism, and as I headed back to my dorm, a message dinged on my communicator. It was a message from the Head Master.
Surprise, we will be having another group midterm today. Be at the teleportation terminal at the top of the hour. Training garments are preferred.
I despised surprises. Left no room for preparation, which I needed every bit of.
Emotions crept into my mind. Around me, my housemates buzzed with excitement, anxiety, and determination. Me? I felt only desperation.
Our Isle was quiet; the only thing that could be heard was the ruffling of leaves and the subtle growl of the clouds. These tests meant a lot, and performing poorly showed that you were not ready to be a rift runner.
Before heading to the teleportation terminal, I prayed and decided to do a lightning reading. Sadly, there wasn't any lightning presenting itself naturally.
Natural lighting always gave a more accurate reading. So I settled and sent a current of my own into the clouds.
May the High Pantheon grant me thy blessing. I watched for a signal in the clouds. For a while, nothing happened. I wondered if I sent enough into the sky as an offering. Just as I was about to leave, sparks danced in the overcast sky.
I felt the lighting connection stir, awakening as it received the High Pantheon's message.
Then a blinding bolt tore through the air and struck my hands.
That was my answer.
I was the first of my group to reach the teleportation terminal. Within minutes, more students arrived, gathering on the illuminated disk to be transported to the testing area. But my group was nowhere to be found.
Annoyed, I headed for the entrance to find them.
As I waited by the large archway of the building, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned, but no one was present.
Then another tap, and another. I coated myself in a thin veil of electricity, then I heard something.
"Ouch, Sora," the voice revealed herself. It was Nerena. I often forget that she cloaks herself when traveling around campus.
"Nerena, you gotta stop doing that,"
"Sorry, it's just easier to move around campus."
"Fair, have you seen the rest of our group?"
"I saw Voen running over, but the other three, I haven't seen at all," Nerena said, as she pulled out a book to read.
We waited for a few more minutes, then Voen strolled in, a bagel in hand. I could feel the anxiety in him as he chomped hard into his breakfast.
"What do you guys think the test is going to be? Play time in the dark?" Nerena said nothing to him, consumed by what was in her book.
Feeling a little bad, I indulged the conversation.
"Probably something physical since they insisted on wearing our training gear."
"I really just hope it's not fighting," Voen said, taking a casual bite of his bagel.
"Why, still getting beaten up in combat training?"
"Oh, he has," Nerena said, not looking up from her book.
"Hey, I'm delicate, unlike you brutes; cut me some slack," Voen said, giving a wink.
"Doesn't mean you can't improve Voen."
"Hard to improve what doesn't exist." A new voice said. We all looked toward the entrance, and it was Mira. Nerena gave a brief scowl.
"Huh, maybe what they say about you is true?" Voen shot back
Mira's face twitched. "What do they say?"
"Oh, nothing," Voen said, forming a subtle smirk. Mira stormed after him.
"Why are they playing around?" Another voice behind me asked.
It was Cyrus, his eyes fixed on a black sphere hovering above his palm. He walked past us without a glance, heading straight for the teleportation terminal.
"What took you so long?" I asked, catching up to him.
He glanced at me. "Cleaning, now let's go."
I found the response strange, but I don't know why I would expect anything else from him. I gestured to Nerena and Voen to follow.
"Are we not waiting for Jace?" Voen asked.
"No, if he can't get up in time, that's his fault. We will just have to do it without him," I responded, stepping on the teleportation terminal.
"Fine by me," Cyrus said, putting his ball in his dimensional storage.
A second later, we were transported to the same Isle where the last midterm took place. This time, it was constructed differently. There wasn't a large building like last time. There was a starting line connected to a long, rectangular dirt path littered with various contraptions. It looked like an obstacle course that could stretch the entire Isle.
"Don't tell me we're going to race?" Voen asked
A proctor came over to us, "You sure are, but not a normal race, a three-legged race." Everyone's body slouched as they moaned in protest.
"You will be racing against another group based on the rankings from the last test. Teams that finished at the bottom of the last test will be going against teams that placed at the top of the rankings." The proctor continued.
"Do we get to pick who is paired with whom?" I asked.
"No, pairings will be determined by us. You have ten minutes to warm up before your race. Oh, and if your full team isn't here by the time your race starts, you automatically fail." My stomach felt like rumbling thunder.
"So… what are we going to do about that?" Voen asked.
I had no clue. I just needed to think—fast.