A bag landed at Elena's feet, pulling her from her thoughts.
She looked down at it. "What's this?"
Saros, one of the youngest children and definitely the youngest general, rolled her eyes. "Your training gear. Don't you know anything?"
Why no. No, she didn't.
Unable to voice that thought aloud, Elena bent and opened the bag. A stiff jacket that matched the ones the rest of the children were wearing was inside.
Her uniform, she supposed.
Elena fingered the rough, unyielding material. It was kind of like leather but sturdier. Maybe a protection of some kind?
Elena set the jacket aside, reaching in to withdraw a dull-looking dagger that she was embarrassed to be seen with.
A staff hit the ground beside Elena.
"For you," Fyr grunted on his way by.
Elena made a face. What was with all the throwing? Couldn't anybody just hand things to her nicely?
Picking up the staff, Elena grimaced at its feel. How very shoddy. It wasn't balanced properly and felt like it would break with the first good strike.
Auntie would not have been impressed.
Elena didn't have time to argue for something better as the children assembled in formation at the front of the room. Left with no choice, Elena slipped the dagger into the harness that had come with it before securing it to her thigh. She yanked the jacket on before snatching the staff off the ground.
The children were silent as Elena hurried into position at the back. Just in time for the wall to disintegrate and Kai to step into the room.
"Children, I hope you're prepared for ranking day."
The mood in the room felt tense as the faces of those around Elena went blank with trepidation.
"Failure won't be tolerated." Kai's pointed glance at Elena let her know who they meant that warning for. "Fall behind and you will be discarded."
There was a snicker from the rest of the children.
Elena played dumb, blinking innocently up at the Sye. Go ahead, laugh it up. They'd see who was laughing later.
Ajix appeared in the opening. "Are they ready?"
Kai nodded, striding toward him. The children marched in formation after the Sye, Elena bringing up the rear. Ajix waited for her to pass, falling into step beside her.
"Be careful, young one," he murmured in a voice only meant for her ears. "Today promises to be a very difficult one for you."
What else was new?
Every day since her arrival had brought new challenges she had to overcome. It was really no surprise that this wasn't any different.
"Whatever happened to the woman who arrived with me? I think her name was Elise?" Elena asked, pretending to forget.
Ajix's look of warning was stern. "Focus on your own survival. Fail this ranking battle, and I promise you, you will not like what comes next."
Why was it that every time she turned around in this place, someone was threatening her? Sheesh. No wonder Auntie hated the Tsavitee. They were so dramatic all the time.
Fourteen
Kira - Above Rothchild
