章節 14: Chapter 14; Welcome to Tavill Final

With 12 more hours to go, Selene sits by the pond, expertly roasting a rabbit over the crackling fire. Despite the snakes lurking in the area, they seem to keep their distance from her, unable or unwilling to approach.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel lounges lazily in a nearby tree, taking advantage of the momentary respite. The peaceful ambiance of the secluded space surrounds them, the only sounds being the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional crackle of the fire as Selene tends to their meal.

Tyler's stomach growls loudly, a reminder of the empty pit he's been enduring for what feels like ages, but in reality, it's only been 24 hours. Glancing at his lackeys, he can see the hunger mirrored in their eyes. He lets out a frustrated sigh, feeling their uselessness in this moment of hunger.

Then, a tantalizing scent reaches their noses, the unmistakable aroma of something roasting over a fire. Intrigued and driven by their gnawing hunger, Tyler and his lackeys follow the scent through the woods.

There, they come across a beautiful pink-haired girl, Selene, busy roasting something over the fire. Their stomachs growl even louder at the sight of the cooking food. Tyler waits for a while, expecting her partner to appear, but after 20 long minutes, no one else shows up.

Giving a subtle signal to his lackeys, they decide to approach the girl. The hunger is too much to bear, and they are willing to take the risk to satisfy their empty stomachs.

Nathaniel watches from his comfortable perch in the tree, a faint smile playing on his lips as he observes the five guys stealthily approaching Selene. He couldn't help but be amused by the situation. Selene? That female was capable of single-handedly destroying organizations overnight. There was a time when she had sneaked into a fully armed military base, eliminated their commander, and left without a scratch.

Settling even more comfortably into the tree, Nathaniel continues to observe the scene with keen interest.

"What type of man is he?" one student whispers to another, casting a doubtful glance at Nathaniel lounging in the tree.

"She might have some combat skills, but that's 5 big guys against a girl," another student chimes in, nodding in agreement.

As the scene unfolds before them, more students express their opinions on why Nathaniel is seemingly relaxed in the tree while his beloved, Selene, is potentially being attacked by the group of men. Some speculate on his courage or lack thereof, while others question his loyalty and bravery.

The murmurs and whispers among the spectators create a buzz of speculation and judgment, each student offering their own interpretation of the situation. It's clear that Nathaniel's actions, or lack thereof, are being closely scrutinized by those observing the unfolding drama.

Nathaniel observes Selene's interaction with the group of men, his curiosity piqued as he listens to their conversation.

"May I help you?" Selene's voice is soft, but there's a hint of steel in her tone.

The guy who appears to be the leader stammers slightly before replying, "Nothing, nothing. We just came to look over, seeing visages of smoke."

Selene simply looks at him, her expression unreadable.

"I don't know who your partner is, but since you were able to catch this rabbit, I'm sure you can catch more later," the guy says with a self-righteous air.

Selene's response is subtle but cutting. "And if I say no?"

"Then you'll have to forgive us," the guy replies, taking a step closer.

Without hesitation, Selene throws a stone at his feet, causing him to trip and stumble.

"You bitch!" he exclaims, his anger flaring as he and his companions rush towards her.

Nathaniel watches with a mixture of amusement and admiration as Selene effortlessly handles the men, like they're mere toddlers. Her movements are precise and efficient, each strike calculated to incapacitate without causing serious harm. Nathaniel knows from experience the pain they'll be feeling for weeks, having been on the receiving end of Selene's moves himself.

The spectators are stunned by what they've witnessed, their earlier doubts about Nathaniel's apparent inaction quickly dispelled. They had assumed Selene needed protection, perhaps from Nathaniel himself.

If Nathaniel were to hear their thoughts, he would likely scoff at their misconceptions. In reality, Selene proves her capability in less than 5 minutes, swiftly and effectively handling the group of men without breaking a sweat.

A few minutes later, Nathaniel gracefully jumps down from his perch in the tree. With confident strides, he steps over the unconscious men and settles down next to Selene by the crackling fire.

As Nathaniel joins her, the atmosphere shifts from one of action to something more intimate and romantic. It's as if figurative flowers and bubbles pop up around them, creating a sense of tranquility amidst the chaos that had just unfolded.

Selene leans her head gently on Nathaniel's shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips. He wraps an arm around her, pulling her closer, and takes over the task of roasting the rabbit. The soft crackling of the fire fills the air, blending with the comfortable silence between them.

The tension of the earlier encounter melts away as they sit together, enjoying the warmth of the fire and each other's company. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows across their faces, creating a serene and peaceful moment in the midst of the secluded space's challenges.

Time seems to stand still as they sit there, lost in their own world, the only sounds being the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. It's a moment of quiet intimacy amidst the chaos of their surroundings, a brief respite from the trials they face.

***

Suddenly, bright light surrounds them, and just as quickly, they find themselves back in the arena. Nathaniel looks down to see two small snakes, excitedly wriggling in his direction. With a smile, he carefully picks them up and plops them into his hair. Since he's only in his underwear with no pockets, his hair seems to be the best place for the little companions.

Meanwhile, Selene attempts to comfort a small white snake, but it seems determined to ignore her attempts at comfort. Nathaniel chuckles at the interaction, amused by the snake's antics.

Glancing around the arena, Nathaniel notices a golden-haired boy cuddling a large lion. It dawns on him why they weren't allowed to enter with their contracted beasts. Unlike the Shadowcrest family, the royal family's children grow up alongside their contracted creatures.

Taking in the scene further, Nathaniel observes the other students. They look exhausted, dirty, and visibly stressed. What could have possibly happened in there to leave them in such a state? It couldn't have been that bad, could it?

Nathaniel's attention is drawn to Gregory, who he finds passed out on the floor a few feet away. With a smirk, he kicks Gregory lightly to rouse him from his slumber.

As they catch their breath in the arena, a sudden burst of colorful lights heralds the appearance of Thaddeus, the vice headmaster.

"It was certainly an eventful welcome for you all," Thaddeus says with a hint of amusement, "but I can see you're all quite tired now."

He gestures towards a shimmering scroll that appears before each student, displaying the list of five houses: Shadows, Seas, Skies, Forest, and Golden.

"In front of you is the list of houses," Thaddeus continues, "Please click on the house of your choice, and Welcome to Tavill!"

Nathaniel and Selene click on the House of Shadows without hesitation. In an instant, they disappear into shimmering black smoke.

Standing before a miniature replica of the imposing Castle of the House of Shadows, Nathaniel and Selene take in their new surroundings. The scaled-down version still carries an air of grandeur, though it's a far cry from the original.

Suddenly, an old man appears next to Nathaniel, holding a cane. "Ho ho ho, you did me proud, boy," he says with a warm smile, patting Nathaniel's head. "I am Elder Archon, the man in charge of the House of Shadows. I welcome you both to Tavill."

He addresses the group, acknowledging their efforts over the past few days. "Some of you have honored the name Shadowcrest, while others have embarrassed it," he says, giving Nathaniel a wink. "But remember, this is just the beginning. You can redeem yourselves."

With a theatrical slam of his cane, students start to disappear until only Nathaniel and Selene remain. Elder Archon's gaze falls upon them, and he offers them a gift.

"Do you wish to be in a single room or separate?" he asks, eyeing them with a knowing look.

"Single," Nathaniel and Selene reply simultaneously, their decision made without hesitation.

The old man bursts into laughter at their synchronized response. "In the west wing, first floor, third door on your right, there's an alchemy office. You can go and ask for certain potions to avoid certain... accidents," he says with a mischievous wink.

Selene blushes at the implication, and before Nathaniel can come to their defense, they are enveloped in black smoke, whisked away.