Levi leaned forward, elbows on his knees slightly, giving her a sly grin. "Then how about ’Team Firestorm’? That’s... cool, right?"
Leo chid in imdiately, spinning once on his heel before nearly tripping on the floor. "Or ’The Chaos Crew!’ Totally suits us!"
Alaric groaned, rubbing his temple. "You two are ridiculous. Can we focus?"
Armand crossed his arms, frowning. "Seriously. Can we not? I don’t want a stupid na that makes us sound like a clown or sothing."
The red-haired girl spoke softly, almost hesitantly, but her voice carried enough to be heard clearly. "How about... Phantom?"
Alaric whipped around, glaring at the Phantom Fours. "Why on earth would we go with ’Phantom’? That’s literally their na! Not ours!" His voice was sharp, a flicker of irritation flashing in his eyes.
Eryx smirked imdiately, leaning slightly forward, voice low but loaded with heat. "Well, if Alaric doesn’t want ’Phantom,’ then he can just watch the rest of us dominate under a na that fits. Don’t worry, we won’t overshadow you... much."
Alaric’s jaw clenched. "Watch your mouth," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at Eryx. The tension between the two n sparked like static electricity, subtle but palpable.
Athena raised her hands, trying to diffuse the sudden tension. "Enough, both of you. Let’s focus on sothing everyone can agree on. No fights pease. We’re a team, rember?"
Felicia clutched Athena’s arm, whispering, "Hurry, we don’t have much ti!"
Athena nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay... ideas that don’t involve chaos, fireworks, or phantom titles."
The chanical voice broke the murmuring before the two minutes expired.
"Ti is up. Scholar Athena Ashbourne, please announce your group’s na."
What tis up already? Athena didn’t know what to do? A na ford on her lips before she could stop it.
"Kitsune."
The silence that followed was imdiate.
Theo’s eyes widened, and his lips curved into a full, amazed smile. He hadn’t realized just how much she liked the nickna he had given her, and now, hearing it as the na of the team, his chest swelled with sothing almost indescribable. His heart was about to explode with joy.
Eryx’s eyes flickered with jealousy, a low growl almost audible in the back of his throat as he stared at Athena, trying to mask his emotions.
Azrael’s jaw clenched, his pale knuckles tightening as he processed the choice. His cool, detached facade threatened to slip.
Rhydric, as ever, said nothing, his gaze sweeping over the scene with ano unreasonable expression.
Sotis Athena wonder if the guy ever laugh. For so unknown reason she wanted to see him laugh, or maybe be the reason he does.
Felicia leaned slightly to the side, whispering with a smile, "Kitsune... perfect."
Athena gave a faint nod, the corners of her lips twitching in a small, secret smile. "Thanks," she whispered back, barely audible over the murmurs of the remaining students.
"Group nas had been confird: Kitsune. Black, Ember, Phoenix, Ace, and star. Scholars, please prepare yourselves. The next riddle awaits. Attention and focus are required. Let the challenge continue."
The tension in the air thickened.
Then the chanical continued. "Attention, Scholars of Gravecrest Academy. Before you proceed, be inford, there is a locked room within this chamber’s hidden structure. Its location will be revealed soon. To enter, your group must solve a single riddle...your code. But hear this carefully."
A low tallic thud bood behind the walls, as if emphasizing the next words.
"Rule One: You must not attempt a code you are unsure of. One incorrect attempt will result in your group’s imdiate disqualification."
A ripple of tension moved across the six groups. Even Leo’s stupid smile faltered for a second.
Felicia whispered under her breath, "Damn... they’re really not playing."
Athena’s heartbeat was thundering in her chest. Her main goal is to win, and not let her group down.
She loved riddles. And challenges.
But this? This felt like the academy testing their very souls.
The voice continued, "The riddle code has now been sent to your phones."
Instantly...
DING! DING! DING!
A synchronized chi echoed as every student received the sa notification. Their hands flew to pockets.
Athena’s phone vibrated in her hand. She glanced at it.
Rhydric glanced at his, and others too.
Theo blinked at his screen. "What the hell does that even an?"
Felicia squinted. "A leader but not a king... first but also not the last... daily word use? What?"
Even Azrael muttered under his breath, "This one’s irritating."
Only the chanical voice remained calm:
"Read it carefully."
And so they did.
’The Riddle ssage’
"I am a leader but not a king,
The first of many yet not the last,
I am hidden in your daily word use,
My powers appear in aspire, lead, power, honor, and achieve.
Find , and the door opens."
Students from every group exchanged confused looks.
One boy from Team Ember muttered, "Leader but not king? What does that even an?"
Athena reread the lines, lips pressed together. She didn’t like riddles that felt like they were breathing, like they were aware of the ones trying to solve them.
Rhydric tilted his screen slightly. "It doesn’t look complicated, it looks... cryptic."
She looked at him, and their eyes connected. He looked away first.
For a mont she wanted to ask him why he was always avoiding an eye contact with her.
Felicia nudged Athena. "Do you have any idea?"
Athena slowly shook her head. "Not yet. But..." She looked at the words again. "We’ll figure it out."
The chanical Voice Speaks Again. "Did every student receive the ssage?"
The answer echoed. "YES!"
"Good."
Another loud tallic hum rolled across the floor, vibrating through their shoes.
"You will now be escorted to your designated group rooms. Each room is sealed with a transparent glass door marked with your group’s chosen na. Do not enter the wrong room. Do not mix groups. Your two-hour deduction window begins once you enter."
Two tall guards stepped forward.
"Phoenix group," the chanical voice called.
Seraphine lifted her chin, confidence dripping from her like perfu. Her ten allies followed her, so whispering theories already.
They disappeared through the archway.
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