As Alec drags himself to the hall for dinner, his legs tired from training, his stomach sinks. And it's not because he's still recovering from a crazy hangover. Principal Cashore has the same look on her face that she has whenever she has news about The Revealing. Which can only mean that the next round is being announced. The previous challenge didn't go terribly (Sierra's life being endangered an exception), but that doesn't mean he is ready for the next round.

"Thank you for your attention. Once again, I'll keep it short and sharp. According to Professor Bane, the candidates have been training exceptionally hard this previous week. Which is why the council has asked me to announce the next challenge to take place four days from now on Friday at five pm. More details will be revealed closer to the day," Principal Cashore announces.

Professor Bane steps forward, and starts reading out the daily notices composed of game training sessions, meetings for prefects, etc etc.

"Well that's a great end to the day," Orion mutters.

"Could be worse," Day adds, taking a bite of his mashed potatoes.

"How?"

"Terence could see blood," Day says, thinking back to the last time Terence cut his face shaving.

"Is he still trying to petition to remove all sharp objects from the dorms?" Alec questions, shaking his head incredulously and using his fork to shove the mushroom aside on his plate.

"Pretty sure, that's what he's doing right now."

"I hooked up with this chick the other night, and she's a third year prefect, and she had some news," Alec says, leaning in and dropping his voice to a whisper.

Orion glances at Day and then leans in.

"Is it about the statue?"

Alec leans back.

"Oh what? No. Apparently there's going to be a ball."

"Really, Alec?" Orion rolls his eyes. "Your priorities are great."

"Alec, you didn't hook up with Raylene did you?" Day asks.

"No, third year prefect remember. Do you ever listen to me?" Pause. "Anyways, Raylene's a little too into you, for that."

"Cause she's walking towards us," Orion replies.

Alec turns around, just in time to see Raylene standing behind him. The Bender witch is dressed in high waisted jeans and an off-shoulder crop top, and dare Alec think that she looks great.

"Hello boys," she says with a soft smile. "Just wanted to have a little word with Day."

"Now?" Day asks, looking down at his unfinished food.

"Maybe after dinner? Meet me at the North tower."

Day nods, and Raylene walks away.

Orion whistles, leaning away from his finished plate of food. "Someone's about to get laid."

"Or stabbed. You never know with chicas," Alec adds, looking horrified, his brain redirecting his thoughts to a dangerous witch that also looks great in a pair of skin tight jeans.

"Alec, aren't you into Amisha?" Orion says, looking confused.

Alec splutters his orange juice out, pretending to not have been thinking about her.

"What? Where'd you get that idea?"

Day and Orion exchange looks.

"Oh, nothing."

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Day Blackwood climbs the stairs up to the North tower, thinking back to his last conversation with his mother over the phone. He had told her that Raylene Tan was interested in him, and that he himself might just be interested back. Day had heard the smile in his mother's voice when she had teased him relentlessly about making a move. Derek had even yelled a few remarks from the background.

But now as he stands behind her, under the night sky, he can't believe that she has initiated something. She leans against the balcony, lost in thought as she gazes towards the forest.

"You wanted to talk?"

Raylene turns around, her eyes wide in surprise but a flirtatious smile present.

"Who taught you to sneak up like that?" Raylene remarks, ignoring his question.

Day chuckles, glancing down at his shoes for a second.

"I wouldn't call it sneaking, as much as you not paying me any attention."

Raylene raises an eyebrow, and her long legs moves towards him.

"I'd say I pay you plenty attention."

In a practised move that reminds him of Mia, Day brushes a strand of her silky straight hair behind her ear.

"Maybe you can find it in yourself to pay me some more attention on Saturday."

A smile teases Raylene's lips as she replies, "And what pray tell, did you have in mind for Saturday?"

"Guess you'll have to find out."

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

"Are you ready?" Orion asks, shifting from one leg to another.

"I don't think I could ever be ready for this bullshit," Alec replies, his voice as tense as his body. Alec's eyes stay on the brown skinned girl standing a few metres away, who looks like she would rather be anywhere but here.

"Any ideas on what the task is?" Orion asks, hoping to keep the conversation flowing so it doesn't descend into an uncomfortable and all too tense silence.

Day runs his hand over his face, in an attempt to somehow change his attitude on the task, before replying, "Something dumb about team work."

Before the boys can continue their useless chatter, Principal Cashore steps toward the microphone. She's in the same outfit as the morning: a plum-ish coloured button up tucked into black pants and heels. But now, she has a blazer shrugged on top, which baffles Alec as he sweats in his sports shirt and track pants.

They were told to dress comfortable for the task, comfortable but ready to move. So Alec had opted for his running shoes, a simple grey sports shirt that he wore to the academy gym a lot, and his least favourite track pants (just in case they got roughed up).

Looking around, Alec notices that everyone else has donned a similar attire. Except Sierra Kingsley of course. She stands there proud in a colourful, floral top over what looks to be yoga pants. Of fucking course. Alec scrutinizes her outfit and wonders if she can get any more basic. Maybe she'll pull out a Starbucks cup just before they start.

"Good Afternoon candidates, today the task will be testing your ability to work in a team, to lead one when required, and your survival skills. You will be divided into two teams where you will be required to complete tasks, finish puzzles, overcome obstacles in order to gain the items in a list that will provided to you in a moment.

"The team to complete the task successfully the fastest with the least number of injured will be awarded 2 points. The second team will be awarded one point. If you are unable to finish the task within the next three hours your team members will be awarded no points. Using the addition of these points, we will decide who moves forward to the next round."

"Is it bad that I want to be able to choose my team?" Orion mumbles under his breath leaning close to Day and Alec.

"Fuck no, hundred percent agree. I would hate to end up with Bhatia. Walking will break him," Alec responds, his eyes narrowing on the Indian boy who was occupied with biting his nails.

"As for teams, the council has already decided them." Principal Cashore looks around, her eyes bouncing from one candidate to another. "Team A will have: Day Blackwood, Sierra Kingsley, Aarush Bhatia, Amisha Jeet, and Alec Bacani."

Day's eyes move to Sierra just as hers shift to him. Day doesn't look away, but he expects her to. Her eyes stay on his, so in return he stares back, challengingly. She raises an eyebrow in response, and Day can't help but somehow be impressed, but even more he can't help the flutter in his chest. Day's eyebrows furrow in confusion. His mind so focused on unravelling the flutter in his chest that he doesn't even care that Orion is complaining about not being with him and Alec or that Alec won't stop moaning about Aarush being in the same team.

"Hey, at least you have Amisha. Maybe you can finally get her to be okay with breathing the same air as you," Orion says, snickering.

Alec turns his head, shooting Orion a glare.

"Amisha and I are great friends."

"Yes, cause that's what you want to be, friends," Day adds with a scoff.

Before Alec can remark back, the Principal continues. "Team B will have Noah Woods, Lucas Faye, Raylene Tan, Orion Winders and Zoe Argent."

"Oh come on, you get Woods. How is that fair, you've pretty much won now," Alec complains, looking ready to cross his arms and stomp his feet.

"Please get into your teams."

The candidates shuffle around forming two lines facing each other.

Professor Bane steps off the stage and walks towards the candidates holding a stack of papers. As he passes each candidate, he hands out a sheet of paper each.

Sierra's eyes scan the paper.

- A potion for survival

- A potion for strength

- Herb for a bullet wound where the bullet pierced the skin entirely.

- No two like the same, a fire like no other, and a sense of purity unmatched by others.

- The Ring of Morrigan

"You have till sun down to find the listed items. Mr. Huntley will lead you to the starting point."

With those words, Principal Cashore steps away from the microphone. Finn Huntley, a man who Sierra deems rather handsome if you were into the fifty year old kind of thing, walks towards the candidates. He pauses for a moment, and then turns and leads them towards a large green hedge that goes so high, Sierra doesn't know where it truly starts and ends.

Huntley waits for the candidates to form their two lines again, which had somehow gotten lost in the midst of their small walk. Once he finds himself satisfied, he walks to the left side, his hand brushing over the leaves.

The greenery parts, opening a space small enough for one person at a time. Finn Huntley walks towards the right, doing the same thing until there is another opening.

He faces the candidates.

"You may embark."