The waves lap gently at the shore, leaving behind foamy traces that glimmer like pearls before retreating into the sea.
Just past the edge of the sand, the jungle rises abruptly. Twisted vines and roots sprawl over each other, weaving into an almost impenetrable wall of green.
I’m not sure what I expected Aurora Isle to look like, but it’s strangely reminiscent of the forest back home – the trees murmuring their secrets and lumen flowers unfurling in the sheltered corners where dawn’s light has yet to reach.
Somewhere within the thick jungle, a massive stone arch juts from the canopy like a tooth. I recognize it from the map Taron made us memorize. It’s our next marker, the checkpoint for the second trial. Only the first six teams to reach it will move on to the final round. As for the rest … well, I’m not sure.
I suppose those who survive will be lost to the jungle until the tournament is over and the High Council sends in a recovery team. They will have to hope they’re found before the island disappears for another ten Stellar Years.
I breathe in, my nostrils stinging from the sea’s sharp air, mingling with the rich, earthy smell of the island. Despite the swelling sun on the horizon, the air is cool. I look around, trying to gauge the reactions of the other contestants.
The cogs are turning behind their eyes, everyone tryingto make sense of the landscape. From where I stand, I can see two more arches, one red and one green, located on opposite ends of the beach that fringes the jungle.
“Our starting points, perhaps?” Savannah’s voice comes from behind me, as though she’s reading my mind. And, as though her words were a command,The Leviathan’s crew comes charging on deck.
They’re preparing two large dinghies – one red and one green – on either side of the ship. Chains grind and scrape against rusty pulleys. It’s a harsh, grating sound, echoing through the air as the dinghies plunge into the water below.
The crew waits until they bob gently in the water before lowering rope ladders in preparation for our descent.
My heart begins to race, a cruel, nauseating mix of dread and anticipation swelling in my chest. This is it. It’s happening. The air feels electric, a hum of stirring emotions vibrating through my bones. We all stand in silence, watching the island.
And then it comes.
A deep, resonant gong echoes across the water.
Competitors’ Brief
From the desk of the Games Master…
Esteemed competitors,
In this trial, majority rules. I hope you studied your maps, because only one team, red or green, will advance. The trial appears to be a simple one: starting from the corresponding arch, it’s a race to the next checkpoint. But is it really that simple?
While I cannot ask you to set aside your differences, I can leave you with this: the warrior who dares face the jungle alone may get scorched by its breath.
See you soon, dear competitors. Some of you, at least…
Yours ever-watchful,
The Games Master
Chapter Twenty-two
I emerge from the ocean with water cascading off my drenched uniform. For all its weightlessness, it’s certainly not waterproof.
The salty air puckers my skin, and I shiver from the sea’s chill. My waterlogged boots struggle in the sand as I trudge on to the beach. I immediately check on my shears.Thank the stars.They’re still safely tucked near my heel.
“I’ve got sand in places where sand should never be,” Taron grumbles.
“That makes two of us,” I say. But there’s no time for discomfort.
The red team is already on the move, a flash of colour disappearing behind a rocky outcrop. In contrast, our green team is a mess. Some are frantically adjusting clothes, and others checking gear. We don’t have time for this.
“Everyone all right?” Kara shouts as she yanks her wethair into a ponytail. “Looks like we’re working together for this round.”
“Nice,” Rhius muses.
“Not happening.” Cyrus buffs the brooch pinned near his collar, a hexagonal bronze piece adorned with a blazing sun. The Solaran crest. “Gideon and I work better alone. Ready to go, Gid?”
