The sun hadn't even risen when we were dragged from our makeshift camps—no explanation, no warning, just rough hands and barked orders. Standard procedure by now.
As we stumbled into a clearing, I took a moment to assess. The others looked just as confused and sleep-deprived as I felt, but showing weakness wasn't an option. I stood straight, alert, ready for whatever challenge lay ahead.
Lady Amelia's voice cut through the air, her tone as sharp as ever. "Contestants, welcome to your final trial of this arc. You will be divided into two teams. One team will defend a fort, while the other will attack. The winning team will be safe from elimination. The losing team... well, let's just say failure comes with consequences."
Another team challenge. Perfect. As if I hadn’t had enough of relyi
