The next couple of days passed with tension hanging in the air.
A rumor had begun circulating among the students, one that spread fast, twisting with every retelling.
So said the academy was planning to reopen the portals.
Others claid a tournant was being arranged to replace the missed training.
A few whispered that both might happen, though no one could confirm it.
No official statent had been released. The instructors said nothing. The headmistress remained silent. Which only fueled the speculation more.
Rhian kept to himself as much as possible, training and attending the necessary classes.
.
.
.
.
"Okay, hear out, right?" Ash leaned across the table, barely able to contain his excitent. "So this guy, big, strong, scary type, right? Real grumpy too, soone takes his toy. Like, not even just a little, I an straight up yoinked it."
Rhian raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "A toy?"
"Yeah! His favorite one. You know, the kind that goes boom when you throw it. So he gets all mad, right? Starts stomping around, yelling. But get this, he has to pretend to be soone else to get it back."
"Why?"
"’Cause the thief won’t give it back to just anybody. So our guy puts on a dress, a real frilly one, and goes to the thief like, ’Hey, I’m totally not here for the boom stick. I’m a pretty lady, give a ring.’"
Rhian blinked. "What?"
Ash grinned wider. "And it works. They buy it. They give him the ring, do the whole wedding thing, and boom, mid-ceremony, he pulls out the toy, starts swinging it like crazy, and wrecks the whole place!"
Aras groaned, dragging his hood over his face. "Please stop."
Nia and Iris, sitting nearby, were too deep in conversation to pay attention. But Rhian, clearly trying not to laugh, asked, "And you’re saying this... actually happened?"
Ash nodded solemnly. "Oh, it happened. Probably. Sowhere. Maybe."
"Sounds like a story a drunk uncle would tell to explain why he got kicked out of a wedding," Rhian muttered.
"That’s the beauty of it!" Ash said proudly. "History is just poorly edited gossip with better lighting."
Aras shook his head. "Why are you eating this up?"
Rhian chuckled. "What? It’s entertaining."
Nia, who had been talking with Iris, turned slightly and threw a jab his way. "Aras, rember, he’s from the outskirts. He’ll be impressed by everything."
"True," Aras added, nodding. "He was very giddy about a TV when he first ca here."
Rhian smirked as they kept teasing him. "Tsk. Friends with spoiled brats."
Aras laughed. "Nope. Just saying, Ash has a wild imagination. Just wait till he tells you about a guy with nine mothers."
Rhian blinked, his smile faltering for a second. "Nine... what?"
Aras laughed under his breath while Ash looked personally offended. "You two are uncultured. Rhian, don’t listen to these heathens. Soday, you’ll appreciate my knowledge."
Iris just shook her head, clearly not wanting to be part of any of this, but that didn’t save her.
Ash leaned over dramatically. "You too, Iris. Back up. These two wouldn’t know a real story if it slapped them in the face."
She sighed. "No one asked you to start telling stories like a drunk uncle."
Rhian laughed as Ash gasped in mock offense.
Aras smirked. "Careful, Ash. You’re outnumbered."
Ash pointed at Rhian. "He’s on my side."
Rhian shrugged. "I’m here for the show."
Nia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, I’m about to leave the theater."
"Too late," Ash grinned. "You bought a front-row ticket."
.
.
.
The group sat together for a couple of minutes before it was ti for them to head to class. They had also heard the rumors circulating.
Everyone had heard sothing.
Portals reopening.
A tournant.
An evaluation exam.
Or all three.
The instructors hadn’t addressed it yet, but it was only a matter of ti.
As they stood and started moving out of the cafeteria together, Rhian glanced sideways at Nia.
"I bet we get sothing official today."
She nodded. "About ti."
Ash followed behind them, a few steps slower as Iris and Aras split off, heading down the opposite hallway. Whatever they were up to, it wasn’t class.
Rhian, Nia, and Ash entered their classroom. Heads turned for a second, then just as quickly went back to notes, whispered conversations, or blank stares at the board.
They walked to their usual seats near the back. The atmosphere was quiet but tense, like everyone knew sothing was coming but no one wanted to be the first to speak on it.
While the intensity of discrimination against evolved had risen, most of the boldness died the mont students stepped into a supervised classroom. The cowards only grew brave when backed by a pack.
No one in this room was dumb enough to start sothing with Rhian here.
Pussies.
It didn’t take long for the instructor to enter. Mr. Callor stepped in with his usual heavy gait, the noise in the room dying instantly.
He looked around the room, his presence enough to keep everyone still.
"Everyone, stand up... now sit down."
They obeyed without question. It was routine by now, sothing he did more out of habit than purpose.
"Alright," he said, pulling a paper from his pocket. "Before we start today’s lesson, I’ve got an announcent."
A few students grinned, already guessing what was coming.
"In the coming week, there will be a tournant. It’ll feature standard duels, nothing fancy. Three top spots will be recognized. First place, the final runner-up, and the winner of the third-place match between the semifinal losers."
The class buzzed with energy, so students already glancing at each other with competitive grins.
"If any of you want to participate, co to after class and sign up. The rewards?" He smirked. "You’ll hear about those on the day of the tournant."
"Okay... now follow to the training room," Mr. Callor said, already turning for the door. "Do not make noise. No shouting, no talking, no dumb conversations on the way. We move as one."
The class stood in sync, chairs scraping lightly against the floor.
No one dared to speak.
They knew better.
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