He began calling out names, grouping students together regardless of shield teams. When he reached our section, he paused, eyeing Jupiter with interest.
“Black, you’ll work with Hargrave, Nightingale, Daniels, and Wu.” He gestured toward a tall, lanky Sagittarius named Mark Daniels and a compact, serious-looking Capricorn called Peter Wu.
Jupiter nodded, her eyes darting briefly to the snarling bane in the pit below. I could see her fighting to keep her expression neutral, but the tightness around her mouth betrayed her anxiety.
“We’ve got you,” I said quietly as we moved toward the access stairs. “Those things won’t get within ten feet of you.”
She shot me a grateful look. “I can handle myself. But... thanks for the sentiment.”
The observation deck was now crowded with spectators. Not just the axis candidates, but other students curious to see the infamous thirteenth zodiac in action. I noticed one particularly bold Virgo named Amelia leaning over the railing, making eyes at Rowan, who studiously ignored her.
As we descended into the pit, Mark and Peter joined us, both looking somewhat starstruck in Jupiter’s presence.
“It’s an honor,” Peter said formally, bowing his head slightly to Jupiter. “I’ve read everything available on the Ophis designation.”
“Which isn’t much,” Mark added with a friendly grin and his own slight head bow. “Most of it’s classified. Is it true you can create stable portals anywhere you’ve been before?”
Jupiter’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “As long as I have a clear mental image of the location, yes. Or if I can anchor to someone’s magical signature.”
“That’s incredible,” Peter breathed. “The theoretical applications alone?—“
“Less theorizing, more focusing,” Rowan interrupted, positioning himself slightly in front of Jupiter as we approached the containment field. “Those ugly bastards aren’t going to wait while we chat.”
The three Class Two bane were revolting creatures with writhing limbs and gaping maws filled with needle-like teeth. Their bodies were made of dark matter, a thick, black substance that humans couldn’t even see, but Aelari could. They sensed our approach, their screeching intensifying as they strained against their magical tethers.
Professor Saris took his position on the observation platform. “Team one, prepare! On my mark, the containment field on the first specimen will drop. Your objective is simple: neutralize without killing. These are valuable training specimens.”
I glanced at Jupiter, noting the way her hands had begun to glow with a faint silver light. Noodle had slithered to the edge of the arena, taking up residence underneath the overhang.
“Stay between me and Rowan,” I instructed quietly. “Mark, Peter—flank positions. We’ll contain, Jupiter will disable.”
They nodded, taking their places. Above us, the spectators had pressed closer to the glass, whispering excitedly as they watched the shield warriors prepare for combat. One particularly bold Taurus woman was practically hanging overthe railing, her low-cut top leaving little to the imagination as she tried to catch someone’s eye.
“And... release!” Professor Saris called out.
The containment field around the first bane dropped, and the creature wasted no time, launching itself toward us with terrifying speed, its limbs scrabbling against the stone floor.
Rowan moved first, his magic manifesting as a wall of freezing air that slowed the creature’s advance. I followed immediately, my Libra magic creating a field of balanced energy that forced the bane to move in predictable patterns instead of its usual chaos. For a moment, the thing looked visibly confused. Sometimes, my magic was more useful than outright defense. Libras were the opposite of chaos. We were control, patience and logic. I could extend my will towards the creature, and force it to either slow down, speed up, or stand still. The problem was, I could only hold it for a few seconds before my magic began to wane.
Mark and Peter coordinated beautifully, hemming the creature in from the sides. The bane screeched in frustration, its beady black eyes rolling wildly as it searched for an escape route.
“Jupiter, now!” I shouted, maintaining my focus on the bane, making its movements sluggish.
She stepped forward, her silver eyes blazing with light. The air around her hands warped visibly as she gathered her Ophis magic and flung it at the bane. The creature froze mid-movement, caught in what appeared to be a localized spatial distortion. It wasn’t paralyzed—we could still see it struggling—but it was contained within a bubble of warped space that prevented it from moving in any meaningful way.
“Brilliant!” Professor Saris called from above. “Maintain that hold, Black!”
Jupiter’s face was pinched in concentration, beads of sweat forming on her brow. I could see the strain in her shoulders, theslight tremor in her extended hands. This wasn’t easy for her, despite how effortless she made it look.
“You’re doing great,” I murmured, stepping closer to her while maintaining my own magical field. “Just a little longer.”
Above us, the spectators had gone silent, all eyes fixed on Jupiter’s display of power. Even the flirtatious axis candidates seemed momentarily forgotten their mission, captivated by the sight of the Ophis in action.
“Team two, prepare for your specimen!” Saris called, and another group of students moved into position across the pit.
The bane in Jupiter’s spatial trap let out a high-pitched whine, its limbs still flailing uselessly against the distorted space.
“I can hold it,” she said through gritted teeth, as if reading my concern. “This isn’t even difficult compared to Class Five.”
