Chapter 77 To kill two birds with one stone

Chapter 77 To kill two birds with one stone
The ground was still buzzing from the shock of Varian’s appearance and departure, but the challenge had to continue.

Master Damon raised his staff slightly, and the murmurs began to die down. Seniors resumed choosing, though the energy had shifted. Everyone was distracted. Everyone was whispering.

Seraphina stood among the students, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She tried to look calm, but her stomach was in knots.

She kept her eyes forward.

Not because she was confident but because she was scared of looking to her side.

Aurelius stood not far from her, tall and composed, his red eyes scanning the crowd like he didn’t care who he chose. That alone made her nervous.

Her mind betrayed her, dragging her back to that moment in the garden.

The kiss.

It had been short. Awkward. Sudden.

Yet it refused to leave her head.

She could still remember the warmth, the shock, the way her heart had jumped so hard she thought it would tear out of her chest. She hadn’t even looked back at him properly after running away.

And now here they were.

Please don’t choose me, she thought, pressing her lips together. Please just… don’t.

She wasn’t ready to face him.

Not yet.

One senior called out names. Cheers erupted as students stepped forward. Another followed. Then another.

Each name that wasn’t hers made Seraphina breathe a little easier.

Then—

“Seraphina.”

Her breath caught.

The voice was calm. Familiar. Too familiar.

She looked up slowly.

Aurelius was staring directly at her.

Her heart sank and leapt at the same time.

Around them, whispers rose again.

“She got chosen by Aurelius…” “That vampire doesn’t pick lightly…” “She must be strong…”

Seraphina swallowed hard and stepped forward, her boots suddenly feeling too heavy. She avoided his eyes completely, stopping a short distance away.

“Caelum,” Aurelius added.

Caelum stepped out with his usual easy smile, nodding casually as if this was all expected.

Aurelius continued choosing a few more students strong-looking ones, confident ones but Seraphina barely noticed. Her focus was entirely on the ground beneath her feet.

She could feel Aurelius’s presence beside her. Solid. Calm.

Too calm.

Once the group was complete, Aurelius turned slightly to face them. His voice was firm, professional, like nothing had ever happened between him and Seraphina.

“You will follow my lead. No unnecessary risks. No wandering off alone.”

Seraphina exhaled quietly.

At least he was acting normal.

Across the grounds, Valerian stood rigid, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might crack. His eyes burned with fury as he watched Varian’s absence echo loudly in his mind.

Everything had gone wrong.

Elara had chosen Varian.

Varian had taken her.

And the whispers the pity, the shock still rang in his ears.

His fingers curled slowly into fists.

“Fine,” he muttered darkly.

When it was his turn, he didn’t hesitate.

He chose only the strongest students. Fighters. Those known for cruelty and raw power. Those who didn’t hesitate to hurt others to win.

Each name he called was sharp, decisive.

His group gathered around him, grinning, energized by his anger.

They could feel it.

And they liked it.

Master Damon finally stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate silence. His sharp eyes moved over the gathered groups.

“The task is simple,” he said. “But survival will not be.”

A hush fell.

“You will enter the school forest,” he continued. “Somewhere inside it is a hidden treasure. It may be buried, guarded, enchanted, or hidden in plain sight.”

Students exchanged uneasy glances.

“The group that finds it first earns points,” Damon said. “Those points will matter greatly in the upcoming competition.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.

“You may encounter obstacles,” he added calmly. “Creatures. Illusions. Other groups.”

That last part drew sharp smiles from some students.

“You are free to defend yourselves,” Damon said. “But unnecessary killing will not be tolerated.”

Valerian’s lips twitched slightly.

“Enter,” Damon finished. “And may your choices guide you.”

Groups began moving immediately, each heading into the forest from different paths. The massive trees loomed overhead, their shadows swallowing light as students disappeared beneath their canopy.

Aurelius led his group without a word, stepping into the forest with long, steady strides.

Seraphina followed, keeping her distance.

She stayed behind Caelum, focusing on his back, on his footsteps, on anything but Aurelius. Leaves crunched under their boots. The air grew cooler, heavier.

“Are you okay?” Caelum asked lightly, glancing back at her.

She nodded quickly. “Yes. Just… thinking.”

He smiled, unconcerned.

Aurelius noticed everything.

He didn’t say anything, but his eyes flicked toward Seraphina briefly before returning forward. Her tension didn’t go unnoticed.

The deeper they went, the darker the forest became. Strange sounds echoed branches snapping, distant growls, whispers that might have been wind or might not.

Meanwhile, Valerian entered from another path.

He stopped just inside the forest and turned to his group, his eyes cold and sharp.

“Listen carefully,” he said.

His group leaned in eagerly.

“Anyone you meet,” Valerian continued slowly, “is an obstacle.”

Grins spread.

“If they stand in your way,” he said, voice lowering, “break their legs.”

Cheers erupted quietly.

“No mercy,” one boy said eagerly.

“No hesitation,” another added.

Valerian smiled then but it was dark, twisted.

“Let them remember who crossed us,” he said.

They moved deeper into the forest like hunters.

Back with Aurelius’s group, Seraphina felt a chill crawl down her spine. She didn’t know why, but something felt wrong. Heavy.

She glanced around nervously.

“Stay alert,” Aurelius said suddenly, stopping. His voice was low but firm.

Everyone froze.

“The forest is watching us,” he added. “And so are others.”

Seraphina’s heart pounded.

The challenge had only just begun.

And already, the danger was closing in.
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