They look like a fucking army, and the only thing that eases my mind is knowing the weapons they wear are all sabotaged. It’ll only be a slight edge with magic and elementals involved, but it’s something.

Seeing the way they’re all ready, dressed, and even look well-rested makes me certain they knew. They knew we’d be roused early and they were prepared. So what other unknown advantages have they been given?

Malakai sees me glaring and has the audacity to wink at me.

A horn blasts from high on the walls, vibrating through my chest. We're all shoved and pushed toward the center of the courtyard.

Voss waits for us there, silver hair gleaming in the moonlight. Behind him, Empire emissaries watch with cold eyes. I try again to spot my friends and Raith in the chaos, but the darkness and confusion make it impossible. Around me, others are moving around frantically searching for their teams of five. A few pair up but most are still looking.

"The Crucible begins now," Voss announces, his voice carrying over the frightened murmurs. "Your objective is to reach the quarry, retrieve the ceremonial blade, and return. The winning team will earn legacy status."

"What about—" someone begins, but a second horn blasts, and the world twists inside out. Magic rushes through me, pulling me apart and reassembling me somewhere else entirely. My insides lurch as my vision clears, revealing dense forest bathed in the first pale light of dawn.

I double over, vomit from sudden nausea, and wipe my mouth with a grimace as I take in my surroundings. I’m not in the courtyard anymore. I’m not surrounded by the chaos of hundreds of bodies.

I’m alone. Alone in a fucking forest somewhere outside the castle. Thick wisps of early morning mist curl around me, shrouding everything from my knees and below in white.

Was I just teleported? I didn’t even know teleportation was possible, but I suppose I don’t know much about the power of a true primal. Maybe it’s some form of air magic?

"Typhon?" I whisper, trying to get my bearings.

He materializes instantly, his small fish form darting anxiously through the air. "I'm here. The others were transported elsewhere. Deliberately separated and disoriented, it seems. I should note I sense the magical interference Serena spoke of. This area is shielded. Invisible to any but those who are here in this forest."

Before I can respond, a cry echoes through the trees—pain and terror cut suddenly short. I press myself against a massive trunk, breathing hard as I try to locate the sound.

But I remember the stasis tokens. With any luck, I didn't just hear someone die. They were only put into stasis. Taken out of the challenge. I creep closer to the sound of the scream and spot a downed pair of water affinities in a small rocky clearing.