Elena - Tsavitee Planet
Elena and the rest of the children marched into a mammoth room that seemed to run throughout the heart of the spire. She craned her head back, looking up and up to the ceiling far, far above.
Wide stairs on the opposite end of the structure waited, leading to a platform several hundred feet up.
Unerringly, Kai headed toward them.
No one said anything as they reached the stairs and ascended as a unit.
Elena counted—there were a hundred steps to the first landing. Then seven more landings after that.
Overlooking them was a tall window the height of the space. Its immense weight supported by the ornate buttresses that intersected in the center. Light splayed over the steps, tinging everything with an orange glow from the stained glass.
"Eyes down," Ajix ordered.
Elena obeyed, trusting him to know the best way for her to blend in.
They reached the last landing, stepping onto a wide circular platform covered in the same sand found in the crèche's rock garden. Off to the side, there were several elevated private boxes above, like those you might see in a theater.
Elena cast a furtive look in their direction. The privacy barrier they had in place made it impossible to catch a glimpse of those sitting inside. Though they were definitely occupied. That much she could tell.
Kai stopped in the center of the platform, facing the children. "Today, you will prove your skills. Who is first?"
The children exchanged glances before looking as one in Elena's direction.
Evidently, they’d decided to target the outsider. After all, this was why they'd ostracized her for the past few days. For this moment. So they wouldn't feel guilty when they threw her to the wolves.
Kai beckoned her. "Front and center."
Elena pushed her way through the formation, making her way to Kai's side.
"Do I have a challenger?" Kai asked as Elena faced the rest.
Fyr stepped forward, meeting Elena's gaze with a flat one of his own. "I'll do it."
As expected.
The question was whether he would try to knock her unconscious or incapacitate her in some way. A broken arm? Maybe a leg? Either would take her out of the running and drop her to the back of the pack.
As Kai had said—any weaklings would be cast aside.
They probably thought it was better for that to happen to her rather than one of them.
Elena kept her gaze trained on Fyr as he made his way over to her.
Don't get injured. Don't stand out too much. And don't make it obvious you threw the fight.
So many rules. The fight hadn't even started and she was already exhausted.
"Our exalted ones have let me know this will be a special ranking battle," Kai declared as Fyr faced off with Elena. "They plan to choose an offering from among you. A lucky someone whose contribution to our gods' work will further the Tsavitee's dominance on this universe. I wish you well. Remember—the horde has no place for trash."
Offering? Wow. What a nice word for sacrifice.
Fyr's grip tightened on his staff as his gaze turned unfriendly.
A hush fell over the children. The silence stifling.
Normal children wouldn't be this quiet before a fight. The children Elena knew would be heckling the fighters and placing bets on the winner. Maybe yelling an encouragement or two. Not watching like soulless robots.
