On the second-to-last day of January, the members of Team USA took the TelePort back to the academy. The other students were already there waiting for them.
Upon their entrance to the campus, the entirety of the student population— from the Versus School to the Design School— cheered for them, standing along the campus paths. Everyone waved Fistborn, USA, and Earth banners, threw confetti, and screamed for their representing team.
They also congratulated the rest of the US team that didn’t make the cut. All of them walked behind the 12 chosen members, according to rank. Like a parade, they all waved at their fellow students. Everyone wore their uniform.
Calista was 11th in line, Damaris Delario coming behind her. Their team was ordered according to rank and status. She kept a blinding smile on her face and waved at everyone, enjoying the attention for the first time. She proudly sported her customized Guild uniform, wiggling her fingers and winking at the males gazing at her.
Up ahead, Harrison was third in line, behind Catherine and Reilly. Calista could see the smile on his face, catching him winking at some female students, who squealed immediately. She rolled her eyes. The guy was more of a Socializer than he liked to admit when it came to attention.
That was something they had in common. Playful flirting. Weirdly enough, she couldn’t bring herself to flirt with him. Maybe because she actually had a crush on him.
The thought made her pause, causing Damaris to bump into her. “Sorry,” she said, quickly picking up the pace.
At the end of the traditional parade around the campus, they returned to their dorms to rest. In the evening, they would have their celebratory dinner, where the faculty would address them.
This dinner was a bit more formal, less like the dance they had at the end of the training period. The Primary Chairwoman would also make a virtual appearance to congratulate them. Calista designed herself a more conservative blue dress with a long train. Her long black locks were fixed into a beautiful bun. Her eyes were painted with dark blue eyeshadow, not too loud, but enough to match them with the outfit.
The layout of the banquet was different now. The Student Coaches that weren’t on the team had a table, as well as the Favorites, Guild members, and other students. The Earth team was at the very front with their own table holding 12 seats.
Calista spotted her name hovering over her seat. She smiled proudly. ‘Calista Medley, #11’. A big step-up from being #150.
Well… this was the rank she had in the academy. She wasn’t sure what place she had on the actual Earth team. And her academy rank would change depending on how well she did in the Versus.
The Student Coaches on the team were the top three. Reilly was #1, Catherine was #2, and Harrison was #3. Calista sat between Lílitha and Damaris, thankful she didn’t have to sit with Reilly or Rosalina. Bark and Hillary were also further away, being 5th and 7th in line. Belinda and Cam were next to them.
Camelithia awkwardly smiled at Calista, still retaining some tension from the previous night. Lílitha and Rosalina were careful to avoid each other’s gazes. Bark and Hillary routinely gave Calista scowls— mostly Hillary.
Calista glanced down at Lílitha’s arms, which were healed, back to the indigo blue skin tone.
Belinda whispered something to Cam, seeming inquisitive. She suddenly jumped in her seat and snapped her gaze to Hillary, who smirked vindictively. Her boyfriend nudged her, mouthing, ‘Stop’.
She looked 23, but mentally, she was far from it. How Bark found her attractive was beyond Calista’s ability to comprehend.
Calista then noticed Harrison, who seemed tense. She hadn’t told him about Reilly and Rosalina’s plan, waiting until the attention cooled down. He was isolated in his seat, staring down at the table.
She leaned forward and waved, getting his attention. He immediately put on a smile. “You okay?” she mouthed.
He shrugged. “I’m fine.”
Lisa took to the podium. “May I have your attention, please?”
The room quieted.
“Thank you. First off, I’d like to congratulate the members of Team USA for their accomplishments in the preliminary rounds.” Applause followed. The members of the team all had American flags in their nametags, highlighting them against the rest of the students. “All of you have done exceptionally well, however long you lasted in the competition. I understand having to wait four more years for another chance at the Earth team is frustrating. But perseverance is key when it comes to the Versus. It’s what makes you a better fighter.
“And for those graduating who didn’t get a spot, don’t let this ruin your accomplishment. Finishing all 16 years of training is incredible. You will always be the pride of this historic academy, this beautiful country, and this prosperous planet.” She clapped, followed by everyone else. “As our founder, Miles Fistborn, once said, ‘Failure is the key to the door of greatness. It reminds you that you aren’t perfect, and some things won’t be easy to obtain. But once you finally get the key of Success, it feels more worth it than it would have if you won all the time.’”
When she finished the quote, Hillary cast a spiteful glance at Calista. Irked, Calista stuck her tongue out. Some of the other members at the table snickered.
She then remembered her nightmare and quickly looked away. She didn’t want to provoke them more than she needed to.
“Now… our members of Team Earth. Congratulations! I cannot begin to express how proud of you I am. As Dean of the Versus School, I am thrilled to present the members of my first students on the Earth Team.” She directed herself to their table. “First, Alpha Student Coach, Reilly ‘Clocker’ Campbell, who is also graduating this year.”
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The room roared as the tall Voraxian stood, nodding in acknowledgement. Calista couldn’t help the bitterness towards him.
“Second, Iota Student Coach Catherine ‘Lasso’ Graham.”
“Third, Kappa Student Coach Harrison ‘Cheater’ Smith.”
To Harrison’s pleasure, many cheered for him. A smile broke on his face and he nodded at them in thanks. He smiled at Calista, who had cheered the loudest.
“Fourth, Alpha Favorite Rosalina ‘Hothead’ Wiasod.”
The Hajjian woman rose and waved elegantly. She glanced at Calista and sat down.
“Fifth, Alpha Favorite Bark ‘Savage’ Wefitan.”
“Sixth, Gamma member Belinda Adenifi.”
Calista and Camelithia clapped hard. The Mearthian girl took time to direct herself to her Guild, waving wildly and blowing kisses. They tried not to laugh at the sour looks on her fellow members’ faces, all of them knowing that the girl they thought was ‘unremarkable’ was the only Gamma on the team. Delaine herself was at least polite, standing to applaud her student.
“Seventh, Delta member Hillary ‘Gravity’ Kaye.”
Calista’s fist clenched as the woman cockily smiled and waved at everyone, her arrogance overwhelming. Surprisingly, only a few of her fellow Guild members cheered. The others didn’t look too happy.
“Eighth, Eta Favorite Camelithia ‘Dropkick’ Courier.”
Many members of the Eta Guild cheered, including her Student Coach, Elisa ‘Double-Dutch’ Fiosda. Belinda and Calista hugged her.
“Ninth, Iota Favorite Beatrice Bustamante.”
Catherine stood again with a whoop, high-fiving her Earthian student.
“Tenth, Kappa Favorite Lílitha ‘Piranha’ Houdge.”
The little woman didn’t enjoy the attention much, only briefly standing, waving, and sitting back down. She stretched her hand to high-five Harrison.
“Eleventh, Kappa Favorite Calista Medley.”
Chills ran down her spine as she stood. Her best friends practically screamed for her and many others in the crowd cheered. Harrison reached over for a high-five. Blushing, she elegantly waved and sat down.
“And last but not least, twelfth, Damaris Delario.” The blonde human stood, smiling and waving excitedly.
Calista then realized, she was the only non-Guild member on the Earth team. Being in a Guild really was advantageous. Damaris was an impressive fighter, considering she didn’t have the extra Guild training. Maybe she bounced off of being around Lílitha as her fight partner, or the other experienced fighters on their team.
They had four humans and two half-humans on their team. Calista wondered how many more of her species would come from the other countries.
“Now, a word from our academy president, Josephine Chrisman.” Lisa stepped down so the Emitonian woman could take her place.
“Students of Fistborn Academy, I am well-pleased to see so many accomplished members of our institution in this room. And looking at our representatives competing for the entirety of Planet Earth… I feel confident that we will make a great impact on this year’s Games.” The woman’s penetrating stare lingered on the humans before she continued her speech.
Cam snickered. “Yeah, I completely believe that,” she muttered.
“I’m sure your families are extremely proud and overjoyed to have the privilege of saying: ‘I have a relative in the Versus Games’. No doubt all of them will be screaming in the stands for you.”
Harrison tensed up again, turning away from the President. Calista noticed his reaction and scrunched her eyebrows, curious.
Was it the ‘family’ part? Now that she thought about it, he never talked about his family. She’d asked him every now and then when they were on the subject, but he would be vague about it, and steer it back to her.
Calista then looked at Lílitha, who also seemed tense. She was playing with her fingers, pulling them and letting them go so they could bounce like rubber. Maybe that was her version of cracking her knuckles.
Lots of people here were isolated from their families. Maybe they didn’t approve, or didn’t support them. President Chrisman was being a bit… insensitive.
What could they expect from her, though?
“I trust that all twelve of you will do well to keep our academy’s reputation as well as our planet’s reputation. Congratulations,” she finished. As she stepped down, her gaze lingered on Calista, then looked away.
“The Primary Chairwoman of the Versus Games, Bethanii Chefren, will make her virtual appearance after the meal,” Lisa announced. “For now, congratulations to all of you, and enjoy the dinner!”
Their food appeared on their tables. They quickly got to eating and chatting excitedly about the competition.
“My mother is coming to see me,” Hillary said proudly. “Her side of the family is huge. All my cousins will see me.” Next to her, Calista caught Bark rolling his eyes.
“My mum’s coming, too. And my dad,” said Camelithia.
“My father is coming to see me,” Belinda added.
“Where’s your mother?” Hillary asked intrusively. Bark nudged her, but she ignored him.
“She passed away when I was young.”
“Oh. From what?”
“Do you have to know?” Camelithia retorted.
“I’m just asking a question.”
“It’s fine, Cam. She had Angicrum Debisio. It’s a degenerative Martian disease. There was an epidemic of it and she caught it, so…” She shrugged. “I moved to Earth with my father after that.”
“Hmm. You like being with your father?”
“Of course. Why shouldn’t I?”
Hillary smiled at Harrison. “What about your family, Cheater? I’m sure they’re thrilled to hear you’re part of the team again.”
“None of your business, Gravity,” Harrison muttered, eating.
“Oh, come on. None of them are coming?”
He didn’t answer. Calista shook her head. What a glitch.
“Hillary, can we drop the subject?” Bark said.
“What? I’m just making conversation with my allies,” his girlfriend said innocently.
He shook his head. “Drop the family thing.”
“Aren’t you excited to see my family?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Bark already met the family, huh?” Rosalina commented.
“Of course he did. And they got along well. Didn’t you?”
Bark shrugged, continuing his meal.
Hillary’s smile disappeared. “I thought you liked them.”
“I do like them.”
“Then what’s that look?”
“What look?” Bark’s skin sizzled lightly.
“You look like that when you don’t like someone.”
“They don’t like me.”
Hillary crossed her arms and turned away from him. Bark rolled his eyes again. Everyone bit back laughter.
She glanced up at Calista, smiling again. “What about you, Calista? You’re quite close to your family.”
“Yeah.” Calista didn’t meet her gaze, concentrating on her potatoes.
“They must be very proud.”
“They are.”
“Yes. No doubt relieved that their daughter didn’t wind up a loser like her mother. I wonder how they felt, knowing their precious firstborn was going to spend the rest of her life as another Socializer.” She shuddered. “They must have been so desperate that they would let you cheat to get a better life. Of course. Parents only want the best for their children.”
Calista’s fist closed around her fork. She was just about ready to throw it in her eye.
“What about your father, Gravity?” Camelithia suddenly inquired. “You didn’t mention him.”
Hillary now seemed uncomfortable. “I don’t know him.”
“You don’t know him?” Camelithia faked utter shock, gasping dramatically. “How could you not know your own father?”
“Well… my mother left him in Paeseo before she had me,” she explained.
“Oh. Interesting.” Camelithia gave her a judgmental glance. “No father-figure to make up for it?”
Hillary shifted. “My mother is enough.”
“Oh, I’m sure she is.”
“It’s not your business, anyway,” the Paeseoan snapped.
“I was just asking a question. I’m Seeyastian. We’re naturally curious.”
Many hid smiles. The woman glared at Camelithia and silently returned to her food. Calista mouthed a ‘thank you’ to her friend. Indeed, most of the table was thankful, even Bark.
Calista drew in a deep breath. She had to deal with a lot more now. Possible friends turned enemies. Dangerous enemies who would try and ruin her life. More controversy. She wasn’t sure if she had the strength to face it.
But she’d gotten this far. She couldn’t go back now.
All she could do was prepare for the competition.