In an instant, the room went dark. Still, not a sound was made, as everyone waited for something to happen.
Eventually, something did happen. The doors were opened, letting in light from the corridors.
The speaker sounded again, in a monotone voice, "Each of you will have two personal assistants, as you might call them. It is up to you how to treat them, but you cannot hurt or kill them, unless they consent. Now, they will lead you all to your rooms. Or, you can spend time in the lounge, and get to know each other better before the first challenge. Until then."
As soon as the voice was finished, people came in, one pair at a time, and stopped in front of someone.
Eventually, everyone had theirs, with Jeremy's arriving last. They were two men. Surprisingly, they were D and Z.
D was the first to speak, and spoke just like he had earlier, "We recommend that you stay in the lounge." Along with him, there was a chorus of people repeating what he had said.
"Otherwise," continued Z, along with a different chorus, "We would recommend going into the Forge."
There was a deafening silence, as no sounds echoed in the room.
In that silence, a voice spoke, almost sounding like a bolt of lightning, "I will go with the Forge."
Everyone's eyes turned to the woman that spoke, each finding a Goddess in Human form.
Her olive brown skin, mixed with her slight curves, made her the most beautiful woman that Sebastian had ever seen. And her voice matched that, as it came out of a perfectly symmetrical face. Just on the surface, there wasn't a single flaw he could see.
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And, like clockwork, her assistants turned around, walking out. She followed behind them, almost as if it was natural.
After that, there was a chorus of people wanting to go to the Forge, with their PA's leading the way.
"Where can I get something to eat?" Sebastian asked.
"Third floor, Cafeteria," Z answered, turning around. "Do you wish to go?"
"Yes," he responded, following his back.
The way to the Cafeteria was a maze, with twists and turns, straight lines, two flights of stairs, and even more twists and turns.
"Is the food free?" he asked, realising he had no money.
The two didn't answer him, only exchanging a glance, before continuing.
Feeling weird, Sebastian followed, ordering a simple steak.
"Will you be paying in-?" the receptionist started, only for D to swipe a card. "Thank you, and have a good meal."
Sebastian took the tray that carried it, only for Z to take it from his hands, and bring it to a far table. It was in one of the corners, where you wouldn't look at normally.
They stood there, as he ate, keeping an eye on the rest of the room. It was like two guard dogs, guarding a weak owner.
'Well,' he thought, sardonically, 'I suppose that is the truth.'
He ate the rest of the meal, before asking to be taken to the Forge. The taste had slipped from his mind.
As it turns out, the Forge was a burning inferno, with people working themselves to death. It smelled of sweat, blood, and tears, as people used the burning furnaces.
Sebastian took off his shirt, and placed it on an empty hook in a row of hooks, each carrying a shirt.
He took an empty furnace, noticing how there were only a few left.
It was only as he stood by it that he realised he didn't know how to Blacksmith.
Nevertheless, he asked for the strongest metal he knew the name of: Iron.
He waited for D and Z to return.
Meanwhile, the girl who had first asked for the Forge spoke to him, with a voice so sweet he could have drowned in it, "You shouldn't be here, Scrawny."
He turned to look at her, with a faint sense of hatred, which was melted by the fact she also wasn't wearing a shirt. She had her hair tied up into a bun, away from her face and the flames. She was working on something round, probably a shield, he noted. He could see why she thought he didn't belong there. She had muscles any man would beg for, with it somehow looking far more impressive on her body.
However, Sebastian was disappointed with her technique. He could almost hear the metal screaming.