Yet our mirth quickly dissolves as I release a loud, startled scream, letting go of her hand and tripping on my feet. I fall back on my ass, staring wide-eyed at the translucent half-human, half-whatever-it-is thing in front of me. The torso resembles a young woman, but around the hips, the body is cut off, extending into a tail of sorts that doesn't touch the ground. She's floating, almost as if that tail was a cloud of smoke. She's a grayish color, wavering between a transparent white to a solid dark gray when her features are most pronounced.

"I think there's one more," I say as I point to the apparition, my voice trembling from the scare.

"That's not a soul," Ze steps forward, assessing the newcomer with curious eyes. "It's a wraith. They are used as messengers of the underworld," he explains before he sets his intense gaze on the wraith. "State your purpose," he commands her.

She floats in the air, her face serene and devoid of any emotion. It's just...blank.

"Congratulations. You have passed the first trial and are officially invited to join the second one. Is there anyone in your team who would like to withdraw?" she asks in a mechanical voice.

Ze turns to me, his eyes piercing.

"You." He points to me. "Now is the time for you to quit."

"W-what?" I burst out.

"You'll never survive in this, human. So quit while you can."

His words leave me flabbergasted. And here I was starting to warm up to him.

"No, thank you. I will not withdraw," I state firmly as I get to my feet.

"Noted," the wraith quips.

"Human," Ze addresses me in an exasperated tone, once more forgetting I actually have a name.

"Luce," I correct. "And I'm seeing this through. I wasn't useless in this round. I'm not going to bring the team down."

"Because I saved you," he fires back.

Well, I certainly can't argue with that.

"I helped," I repeat, pushing my chin up.

"The contestant has confirmed her position," the wraith continues. "What about you?" she asks the others.

Ze gives me a murderous look before he shifts his gaze to Thea.

"I'm in, too," she quickly adds.

And just like that, Cer and Ze confirm their participation, too.

"Congratulations," the wraith repeats in the same dry tone. "You can continue in the same formation or individually. How would you like to proceed?"

Before anyone can say anything, Ze responds.

"Same formation."

Thea and Cer raise their brows at him while I simply narrow my eyes, wanting to convey that I'm still mad at him.

"Noted. The second trial will take place in P'davi. You have until the end of the week to be present at the gates of P'davi for the convocation. You will be assigned your second trial upon arrival."

"P'davi?" I frown.

"It's another world," Thea whispers.

"But how will we get there?"