The female instructor suddenly smiled.
She walked out from behind the stage and approached the guy who just walked in. "Ah. Welcome, Lord Wade. Nice of you to join us today."
Vivian blinked. Why did this scary woman suddenly become so friendly? Lord Wade?
Wade looked around the massive arena, offering the instructor a smile. "Good morning. Am I late to the party?"
The instructor let out a soft, polite laugh. "Not really. You’re still on time."
Vivian’s jaw tightened as she folded her arms over her chest, glaring at them. What the hell? Didn’t this woman just tell me I failed the entire test because I was late? And now this blonde guy walks in whenever he wants and gets welcomed with a cheerful smile?
She glanced around at the other students. Some of the freshman girls were literally smiling at him, whispering and blushing. He was probably an elite Sentinel.
What is wrong with this school? This stupid place only worshipped high ranking Sentinels. As if they were the stars of the academy and everyone else was lucky to breathe the same damn air.
Vivian looked at Wade again.
Every awakened person has their own unique abilities. Why the hell do they act like Sentinels are gods? Without Guides to ground them, they would lose control.
The instructor turned toward Wade. "Since you’re here, why don’t you join Miss Rubio?"
Vivian’s head snapped. "Me?"
"Yes," the instructor replied with a dismissive nod.
Wade looked around the group until his eyes landed directly on Vivian. Recognition immediately flashed across his face, followed by a slow, amused smile.
Oh, no. Please don’t, Vivian groaned.
The male instructor pointed directly toward her. "You two will take the assessment together. You will be temporary partners for the next three days."
Wade walked toward her. "Well." He stopped right beside her. "Looks like we’re stuck together. Did you sleep well? Or did you study all night again."
Vivian’s face heated. She knew exactly what he was talking about. "You..."
He laughed softly. "Try not to drool this time."
Why the hell did I poke this man’s face last night? she scolded herself, forcing a fake smile. "Haha, not funny."
The lead instructor cleared his throat, drawing back the crowd’s attention. "Since both of you arrived after the initial briefing, you’ll be taking the final available rift."
Vivian’s fake smile vanished. "The final rift?"
"Yes," the instructor glanced at his clipboard. "Unfortunately, that one is an S-Class rift."
S-Class rift?
Around them, the whispers started again.
"They’re taking the S-Class rift?"
"They’re going to die before they even touch the creature."
"I heard three freshmen refused it last year and automatically failed."
Vivian slowly turned her head toward Wade. He looked calm, his hands shoved into his pockets, staring at the gate. She leaned closer to him. "Can you hear what they’re saying?"
Wade glanced down at her and nodded. "Yes. I can hear them. I can even hear what the people in the next building are whispering about right now."
Vivian rolled her eyes. Right. Sentinel enhanced hearing. Of course. Show-off. Did he not hear the part where we are going to die?
She looked toward the seven enormous containment boxes lined up near the training area. Her palms had started to shake.
It wasn’t exactly fear. Vivian had faced death countless times in the wasteland. She knew what it felt like to stare at something that wanted her dead. But this was different. She had no idea what was waiting behind that rift, and she hadn’t prepared for any of this.
And now, because she had overslept, she has been paired with a cocky stranger and assigned a death trap on the first day.
"This is going to end badly," she muttered under her breath.
Wade noticed her expression. "Don’t worry so much. We’ll pass."
Vivian looked up at him. "And how exactly are you so sure about that?"
"You studied all night in the library. I’m sure you’re prepared," he winked playfully.
Vivian stared at him in disbelief. Is he serious right now? "Why the hell would you assume I’m prepared? I fell asleep on the desk!"
"You were studying until two in the morning," he laughed again, shaking his head. "I’m just kidding. Relax."
Vivian turned back toward the front podium. "This is going to end so badly."
The instructor began explaining the final instructions. "Each pair will enter through the assigned portal located behind the containment zone. Once inside, you will have exactly two hours to capture and eliminate your designated target. The rift will automatically close once the assessment timer reaches zero."
The giant timer on the screen appeared.
[02:00:00]
She looked at the locks near the instructor. "Are there really actual monsters in the rift?"
"Mh-mm," he replied, leaning down slightly to hear her. "Yeah."
"Like..." She gulped. "Something that came straight from the Underworld? Like in the fairy tales?"
Wade’s lips twitched as if he wanted to burst out laughing. "People really believe that’s where they came from?"
She stared at her fingers. "I’m starting to think the zombie apocalypse was the easy part."
The instructor began calling the pairs forward. One after another, students collected their capture locks and approached their assigned zones. Vivian watched them disappear through the barriers, her heart kept beating faster and faster with every pair that went inside the light.
Then, the instructor called their names.
Vivian froze, then forced her legs to move. She grabbed the giant metal lock waiting for her from the rack. It was heavier than she thought. Wade gave her a quick nod, as he collected the locks.
Wade reached out and opened the containment door.
The second the seal broke, a massive, black portal flared to life right in front of them, swirling with unstable energy. Vivian had never seen anything like this before. It was dark, deep and scary.
Wade stepped right up to the edge, looking back at her with a grin. "Well, partner. Let’s see what’s waiting for us in the dark. Time to play... fetch."