See you soon, Elara.
The vow burns in my chest. It’s a fire, fierce and desperate, pushing back the fear and revulsion. I’m here for her, and nothing else matters.
See you soon, Elara.
Games Master’s Post
31st Day of Mors Half, Stellar Year, 1200
Citizens of the Triumstellar Accord,
Aurora Isle is proving every bit as treacherous and exhilarating as anticipated. The second trial saw our competitors united as two teams, one red and one green, but it wasn’t long before fractures began to form. Our competitors abandoned their alliances in pursuit of glory on their own terms. Ah, how very predictable!
Deep within the jungle, among the ashen remains of a forgotten village, two red team members, Troy Fuller and Selene Forsythe, launched an ambush on our privately trained pair, Maeve Speck and Wren Hull. A fierce battle ensued, and I must say, our privately trained pair are determined, if nothing else. Troy and Selene were formidable competitors, but in this instance, the island favoured our underdogs. Their luck seems to hold … for now.
Elsewhere in the jungle, a roar shook the ground. What was it, you ask? A white dragon, long thought to be extinct, breathed fire across the skies. Some of our competitors were reduced to ash, while others scrambled for cover. It was in this chaos, dear friends, that our competitors at last decided to work as one.
The green team, under the impressive leadership of Kara DeLange, rose to the challenge. Their coordinated effort wasnothing short of masterful. Gigi and Gunther Beck unleashed flames to match the dragon’s scorn, while Mei Sato, Flora extraordinaire, skilfully deployed a net of vines to restrain the beast.
Our red team, unfortunately, suffered heavy losses. Let us remember those who perished, for their efforts were not in vain. Though they shall not return from Aurora Isle, their brilliance remains with us always.
Rest in peace to the following competitors:
Cleo Triton and Xander Rocco (Astraloria)
Troy Fuller and Selene Forsythe (Wrisha)
Marlow and Carla Bennett (Astraloria)
Felix Jensen and Ronda Hart (Solara)
Annora Rheal and Eda Kit (Solara)
Sofia Popescu and Anders Muller (Wrisha)
Layla and Jay Foody (Wrisha)
As our survivors regroup, one thing remains clear: the Reckoning is far from over. There is the third and final trial to undergo. While today saw fleeting moments of cooperation, rest assured, dear friends, there will be no teamwork from here on out. Who will emerge victorious is anyone’s guess…
Yours ever-watchful,
The Games Master
Chapter Twenty-four
A narrow dirt path curls through the jungle ahead of us. Roots and vines twist along the edges, coiled tightly together as if choking the very air around us. The canopy overhead is dense, allowing only fractured rays of sunlight to pierce through.
I drag my feet through the undergrowth, each step heavier than the last. It feels as though stones weigh me down, but, at the same time, I’m so tired I’m weightless.
Finally, the greenery parts to unveil a clearing. A campsite with six cabins positioned in a semicircle, their wooden frames gleaming with moisture from the humid jungle air.
In the centre of the clearing is a blazing fire pit. Tall flames lick at a bubbling cauldron suspended over them, painting the late afternoon sky with coils of smoke.
The smell of salty meat and boiled vegetables wreaths us. My stomach grumbles, but it doesn’t feel like the pangof hunger I’m used to. It’s a dull, aching hollow sensation that settles deep, almost like a cramp that won’t ease.
I realize the last time any of us had anything to eat was at the banquet.
To the left, nestled against the treeline, an outhouse stands squat against a log shower house. Steam rises gently off the wood-fired water heater beside it, promising relief from the dirt and sweat that cling to me like a second skin.
