Cyrus Solaris
The morning after I vandalized House Obalex, we got a message from the headmaster.
Surprise! A mandatory assembly will be held this morning before classes begin. I expect everyone to be there on time. In the past couple of weeks, I'd learned that the headmaster loved surprises.
Whether it was a sudden drop-in during specialty classes or calling an all-school gathering at the strangest times, Headmaster Naga enjoyed keeping us on our toes.
Professor Rhondall made sure we all walked to the auditorium together. Gingerly, I stayed toward the back end of the group. The blisters I received from Sora's lightning cage popped with each step I took, causing small shocks to ripple all over my body from the trapped electricity inside them.
Many of my housemates glanced back at me, their eyes narrow, as they heard the winces I tried to hold back.
I was regretting not going to the nurse's office when it opened early this morning, but I was far too tired and sore to bring myself to make the trek.
It wasn't long before all the houses were in the auditorium. At this point, there was no mixing among the students. Everyone sat with their housemates.
Tensions were high.
House Bronzard seemed upset with House Warnareth, and House Obalex walked into the auditorium last, also seeming to be having a bad morning.
All of the Arbiters looked embarrassed as they trotted into the auditorium with pink, blue, and yellow uniforms.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the display. At first, I was the only one laughing, getting looks from the cotton-candy students. Soon after, everyone in the auditorium followed suit.
This was the first time some of those kids had been knocked down a peg.
The chatter in the auditorium died when the headmaster stepped onto the stage. I admired how his presence commanded so much attention.
That's something I strive to have.
He tapped the mic.
"Good morning, students, I'm sure you are wondering why I have called you here today," the headmaster said, strolling across the stage.
"Today, we start the next phase of your training as starbound and rift runners. We will be diving deeper into your cosmic energy affinities we discovered from your astral reflections, and the relationship with the rift runner position you have been assigned to. As well as administer the first of your three midterms here at Xhatal Academy, which will be in the form of group evaluations. You all will be placed into groups of six, forming your first cluster."
The auditorium went into an uproar, but headmaster Naga just seemed to smile in response. Making me wonder if this was the reason the teachers didn't get too involved in student conflicts.
"These midterms will count for twenty-four percent of your final grade, and will heavily affect your rankings here at the school before the final rift exam, which makes up forty-eight percent of your final grade. So if you would like to change your living conditions here and improve your chances at gaining your provisional license, I recommend that you not take these midterms lightly. Otherwise, you will be a second-year student who doesn't get the chance to do a co-op with a guild, and remain on one of the floating isles you see that is not attached to the main one here. You don't want to be on that isle as a second year."
The crowd of students simmered. But a couple of agitated Arbiters shouted out, "So our fate at this school is determined by others, and not our sole merit. That's not fair."
Raising his hand again to silence the Arbiters, Head Master Naga continued. "When you become official Rift Runners, you will inevitably be tasked to work with others you don't like. But your preconceived notions and ideals take a backseat when it's time to conquer a rift. That's what the greats did, and that is what you will do as well."
Head Master Naga let his words linger, filling the gaps of silence in the auditorium, " But I'm also a man of reason and compassion. That's why I am announcing that there will be a school dance at the end of the midterms. We are pushing you harder than any other teenagers in this world. But you still deserve to feel like kids and have fun. So work hard for me, and who knows, I might just have a surprise waiting for you all at the dance."
As he finished his speech, all of our watches dinged. It was another message from the Head Master.
I didn't know why he didn't just tell us himself, but it read: Morning classes are canceled. Students will take their first group test of the year. Proceed to the teleportation terminal. Further instructions will be given at the test facility.
The Head Master looked at us and gestured for us all to do what the message asked. Students weren't eager to move. Many stood waiting for someone else to make the first move.
"Hurry along." The headmaster commanded. Then everyone scattered towards the side door.
In the teleportation room, students were being sent off to the test site. No one seemed to like the way our midterms were formatted.
Before my house was transported to the test site, Professor Rhandall tried to give us a pep talk, but no one wanted to hear our eccentric teacher's words.
A few short moments passed, and we were all teleported to the same forest that the totem games took place in.
This time, the test facility had multiple buildings at its core. The buildings were massive silver rectangles that stretched for what seemed like the entire diameter of the isle.
We were rushed inside the building by the proctors waiting at the entrance.
Inside, the building had high ceilings, with rows of fluorescent lights hanging from above. There was a loud clanging, as if gears were moving or shifting, but nothing could be seen behind the high, plain grey walls before us.
It felt like entering an amusement park, maybe a haunted house.
There were doorless paths set into the gigantic grey walls, and everyone around me was trying to figure out their purpose.
Looking above, there were multiple floating platforms hovering above these paths.
I had an idea of what this place was, and goosebumps prickled across my arms.
I hated mazes.
One of the floating platforms lowered itself. Headmaster Naga stood atop it, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Now that we are all here. Clusters will be assigned," he said, as all of our watches dinged once again.
I hoped that I didn't get stuck with someone I despised or found incompetent. The mere idea of it made me realize how good I had it, having my father as my partner for those two years.
My finger hovered above the message for a while. The faces of the students around me varied.
A couple of kids from my house seemed excited about being paired with an Arbiter named Cendra, while others got paired with an Arbiter whom they feared, which happened to be one of those ice twins that knocked me out during the Totem games.
Hearing their results, I prayed to Solaris and finally clicked on my message.
My stomach dropped. I didn't end up with Stravos nor Bogdan. But I did end up with people just as problematic.
My Arbiter was Sora, my Concordant was Jace, my Truth Seeker was a girl named Nerena, my Vitalist was Voen, and my armament tech was Mira.
"Just my luck," I muttered, heading towards the entrance my cluster was assigned to.
We all met at the maze entrance; the tension could have been cut with a knife.
Jace and Sora didn't meet my gaze. Voen's eyes were inviting, but he didn't speak as he stood next to Nerena. The four of them looked like a solid unit, and I was the odd man out.
A long pause filled our little bubble until I felt someone tap my shoulder.
"So they put me on a team with screwhead and company." I turned to my side to see Mira standing next to me, sporting a light brace around her neck.
"What happened to you?"I asked coldly, still upset she bailed on me as I pointed at her neck.
"Things got interesting on our Isle. What about you? Your arms are messed up?"
I looked at Sora, who was staring at the ceiling before responding, "I had a few hiccups."
Mira followed my gaze, "I see...awkward."
"Yeah, very."
Then a professor approached our group.
"Group twenty-one, it's your time to start the group test," he said, gesturing for us to follow him towards our entrance.
We all started to enter the maze.
Then another soft ding rang from our watches. Another message was sent to us.
One last surprise. You are stuck with your group for the entire year. Best of luck!
"I'll be right back!" Sora said, running to leave the building.