CHAPTER 5

Amelia looked around nervously. The arena was a huge circular dome shape, its ceiling high enough to make even giants feel insignificant. Compared to the usual training arenas they had used, this was on an entirely different level. It was also much better maintained, if the fact that everything was shining with polish. Light filtered through translucent panels, casting soft, shifting shadows across the very polished floor. A faint hum resonated in the air, as if the arena itself were breathing, watching, waiting. This place felt… alive, which wasn’t something that sounded too good, in Amelia's opinion.

Suddenly, speakers popped out from all around the arena. [You’ve survived the basics,] Dray began, his voice cutting through the stillness. [Now, we test your instincts and teamwork.]

Vey’s voice came over the speaker. [This isn’t about individual strength. It’s about survival and strategy. Together.] She emphasized the last word, her tone leaving no room for argument.

From the far end of the arena, two heavy doors slid open. Out stepped a new figure - a tall, broad-shouldered young man with unruly amber hair and a cocky grin. He was topless, revealing a very muscular build, with a massive greatsword slung across his back.

“That’s Jax,” Jay whispered to Amelia, his tone a mix of awe and unease. “He’s been here longer than most of us. Rumor has it he took down a whole squad of Chaos scouts on his own.”

Jax strode to the center of the arena, his grin widening as his eyes swept over the group. “Alright, rookies,” his voice was deep and powerful, “let’s see what you’re made of.”

This time Dray’s voice was heard. [Jax will be your first opponent. Your task is simple: subdue him. No killing, of course. If you can.]

Then Veys. [You will split into groups however you’d like. You can go solo if you want. Each group will take turns trying to win against the current opponent. Once they are defeated, the next opponent will come out. If your team is defeated, you fail.]

“Are there any punishments if we fail?” Yelled a random trainee from somewhere random.

[You know the drill. 10 more sets for you.] Dray laughed.

Murmurs started spreading across the arena. Zack muttered under his breath, “Great. Another guy who’s going to kick our butts while looking cool doing it.”

Jay elbowed him lightly. “Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance to look cool too - when you’re lying flat on the ground.”

“Focus,” Lex hissed, his eyes narrowing as he studied Jax.

Dray clapped his hands. [Now now. The first group will be… mmm, you six!]

Six giant holographic hands appeared out of nowhere and pointed directly at Amelia’s group. [Begin.]

Jax moved in, his speed not befitting his size. The group scattered, barely avoiding a huge swing from his greataxe. Lex immediately took up a position at the back, firing arrows to keep Jax on the defensive. Amelia activated her energy shield, stepping in to deflect a blow aimed at Zack.

“Thanks,” Zack grunted, landing a punch on Jax’s side. The strike sent a loud ring through the air, but Jax barely flinched. Instead, he laughed.

“Not bad, kid,” Jax said, swinging his sword again and forcing Zack to leap back. “But you’ll need more than that to take me down.”

“The hell is your skin made of?” Zack yelled angrily as he circled around Jax.

Jay and Etal darted in from opposite sides, their movements perfectly synchronized. Etal used his chakrams for range while Jay used his halberd for deadly stabs with the spike, powerful slices with the axe, and caught Jax’s greatsword with the hook at the back of the axe blade. Jay leapt in front of Jax, his halberds making a slice for his legs which was quickly deflected while Etal went behind Jax and started throwing his chakrams at him. Their strikes flowed together in an almost dance-like rhythm.

For a moment, it seemed they might overwhelm Jax. But then he twisted, his greatsword sweeping low and forcing them to break formation. Amelia hesitated, unsure of where to strike. Her rapier felt flimsy compared to Jax’s monstrous weapon, and she doubted the little magic she knew would be of use either. But then she caught sight of Zack struggling to regain his footing, Jax’s sword swinging down toward him.

Without thinking, she lunged, her rapier flashing as it struck the flat of the greatsword. The impact jarred her arm, but it was enough to deflect the blow. “Nice save,” Zack panted, scrambling to his feet.

Jax’s grin widened. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.”

Lex shouted from the sidelines, “Aim for his legs! He’s top-heavy - take out his balance!”

Following Lex’s advice, Zack ducked low and struck at Jax’s knee while Jay did the same on the other side. Lex shot his arrows and Etal threw his chakrams, both aiming for Jax’s head. Amelia assisted by launching fireballs and other basic spells. Surprisingly, Jax was doing quite well deflecting and counter attacking all of this. His giant sword helped ward off most of the projectiles, and one swing was devastating enough to cause all of his attackers to back up. Still, slowly but surely, Jax was being overwhelmed.

Finally a chance came when a random fireball hit Jax square in his face, causing him to stumble and blinding him. “Now!” Lex called, and the group surged forward. Zack’s gauntlets struck Jax’s chest, Jay and Etal moved in tandem to pin his arms, and Amelia drove her rapier into the ground at his feet, and with some quick thinking created a magical energy barrier that trapped him in place.

Jax stopped struggling, his laughter echoing through the arena. “Not bad, rookies. Not bad at all. But I’m not sure that's how you should use the barrier.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Dray’s voice came over the speakers. [You passed. Barely.]

As the group caught their breath, Amelia realized something had shifted between them. For the first time, they had fought as a team, each relying on the others to succeed. Lex gave her a small nod of approval, and Zack clapped her on the back. “You’ve got some moves, Amelia. Who knew?” She smiled faintly, feeling a flicker of pride.

[NEXT GROUP!] Yelled Dray over the speaker as another giant holographic hand pointed at another group. [Your next opponent is…]

The rest of the final challenge was a blur, but the atmosphere was unforgettable. Everyone was hyped up and was probably the brightest they’ve been ever since the trio came here. Still, Amelia couldn’t help but feel tense. They only had 4 more days until the Chaos organization probably came knocking on their door. After the final challenge ended, Dray and Vey came out to the center of the arena. “As you all know, this school’s purpose was to serve as a cover for children like you - targeted by the Chaos Organization.” She continued. “We’d like to make a confession, one that is quite heavy and important to us.”

“We… were once part of the organization.” Dray finished.

A moment of silence.

“We have once believed that there needed to be chaos in order for there to be balance, but that is behind us.” Dray continued. “We have devoted most of our lives to the organization, so leaving was quite a big burden on us…”

Vey spoke up. “Countless sacrifices were made in order for us to stand here before you today.”

Someone cut in. “Yeah, we kinda knew that given how much you guys knew about some shady organization.”

Dray nodded and Vey smiled. Vey continued. “And for that, we’d like to congratulate you on passing the final challenge. All of you!”

Cheers erupted all around the arena. “We did good today.” Lex said, looking towards Amelia, Zack, Jay, and Etal. “We make a good team.” He smiled.

They were then allowed to rest and relax for the rest of the day. “Finally! No more painful training sessions!” Zack burst with joy. The quintet was currently in a large cafeteria full of other trainees. The quintet was currently in a large cafeteria full of other trainees. They were getting in line when their senses overwhelmed by an explosion of enticing aromas and vibrant displays of food that stretched as far as the eye could see. The cafeteria truly outdid itself this time.“Wait, there’s a LOT more stuff on here than last time.” Zack noted.

“Smells way better than school lunch,” Jay remarked, earning a laugh from the others.

“I heard that it was our little gift for passing the final challenge.” Lex said.

“You sure you didn’t use your strand to know that?” Jay joked.

First was the entrée (main meal) station, where whole roasted pheasants (a type of bird) glistened with a honey-lavender glaze, their golden-brown skin crackling as they rested on platters sprinkled with thyme and rosemary. Nearby, a carving station boasted prime rib, its perfect slices dripping with jus (meat juice/gravy), paired with a silky horseradish (plant) cream.

Vegetarians weren’t forgotten - they had a wild mushroom risotto, the Arborio rice cooked to creamy perfection and flecked with truffle shavings and a drizzle of herbed oil. There were also grilled eggplant roulades (rolls) stuffed with a rich ricotta-spinach filling and topped with a tangy tomato basil sauce. A salad bar shimmered with color. Bowls of baby spinach and arugula sat beside toppings like roasted butternut squash cubes, candied pecans, crumbled goat cheese, and pomegranate seeds.

Next came the seafood display - towers of glistening oysters on ice, lemon wedges artfully scattered among them, alongside bowls of cocktail shrimp that shone under the cafeteria lights. A warm dish of butter-poached lobster tails sat steaming, each piece drenched in a lemon-chive beurre blanc.

There was a side station that offered buttery garlic mashed potatoes, their surface swirled like soft peaks of cream, next to a fragrant saffron-infused pilaf (dish consisting of sautéed, seasoned rice steamed in bouillon, and/or poultry, meat or shellfish) with almonds and dried cranberries sprinkled on top. The freshly baked herb focaccia bread had crisp edges and pillowy insides, perfect for soaking up sauces.

For dessert, a long table showcased molten chocolate lava cakes, their gooey centers oozing out at the slightest touch of a spoon. Glass goblets were filled with layered tiramisu, the mascarpone (italian cheese) and espresso-soaked ladyfingers (biscuit) dusted with cocoa powder. There were also seasonal fruit tarts, their buttery crusts holding creamy custard and glistening slices of kiwi, strawberries, and mango.

Beverages ranged from chilled glasses of sparkling elderflower lemonade to steaming mugs of rich, spiced hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and shavings of dark chocolate.

It was safe to say that the cafeteria had turned into an all you can eat buffet with lots of scrumptious food. The second they got their food and sat down, Amelia dug into her meal, savoring every bite. It was the first time in weeks she could eat such fine food, and could finally relax without having to worry about more grueling training sessions later. Zack was already on his second plate. “So, Amelia,” he said between mouthfuls, “did you already know you could trap people in the magical barrier, or were you just winging it?”

Amelia flushed slightly, poking at her food. “A bit of both, honestly. I guess I just... acted.”

Lex chuckled, raising his cup of spiced cider in mock salute. “Well, here’s to acting. We might’ve been flattened if you hadn’t.”

Jay smirked. “I’ll drink to that. But seriously, Zack, how do you eat so much and still complain about training being too hard?”

“I’m fueling my muscles, thank you very much,” Zack shot back, flexing his arm. “You should try it, Jay. Maybe then you wouldn’t lose your halberd every time Jax smacks it.”

The table erupted in laughter, and even Amelia couldn’t help but join in. For a moment, the weight of the Chaos Organization and everything it represented felt distant, almost manageable.

Etal leaned back in his chair, spinning one of his chakrams lazily on his finger. “You know,” he said, “if we don’t get annihilated in the next few days, we might actually make a pretty solid squad.”

“Big if,” Zack cut in.

“Yeah, well, we’ve made it this far,” Amelia said, surprising herself with how steady her voice sounded. “Let’s just... keep doing what we’re doing.”

Lex raised his cup again, his expression unusually warm. “To what we’re doing.”

They clinked their cups together, the sound ringing out above the hum of the cafeteria. For a brief moment, it felt like they weren’t trainees preparing for an inevitable fight. They were just friends, sharing a meal, laughing, and finding comfort in each other’s company - brought together by the chaos that had started it all. But beneath the surface, cracks lingered. Amelia’s smile faltered as her thoughts drifted to her family. Every night, she cried herself to sleep, the ache of missing them growing heavier with each passing day. No matter how much she thought she’d grown used to it, the loneliness always found a way to creep back in. She wanted to lean on someone, to be comforted, but when she looked at her friends, she saw strength and resilience. They were struggling too - how could she burden them with her pain?

Zack’s cheerful mask hid his own turmoil. While others had stories of desperate searches by loved ones, his family’s silence spoke volumes. They had resources, influence, and power - yet no signs, no calls, and no posters bearing his name or face. The emptiness left a sour taste in his mouth. Was he truly so forgettable? Or was there something he’s missing?

If only they had shared those thoughts aloud. Maybe then the weight they carried wouldn’t feel so isolating. But vulnerability was a strange, fragile thing - hard to give and harder still to trust someone else with. Perhaps one day, there would be a time and a person who could break through that silence, someone who could help them bear the burdens they kept hidden.

For now, they sat together, laughter filling the air, pretending that the world wasn’t crumbling around them. Because sometimes, even pretending was enough to keep going.