~Aurora~

　　The night after the second trial, while everyone was gone to have supper, I sat in the middle of my room while pondering. The clue I was given, the script…it was about the pack's artifact. Why was this my final reward?

　　I couldn't help but grow curious, what is our pack's artifact? I'm sure it should be mentioned in the history books somewhere. No one has ever told me about our pack's artifact before.

　　Curiosity got the best of me as I ran down to the library that was always accessible for knowledge. I went through many books, for half an hour, I couldn't find anything about the Darkforest pack's artifact. This made me consider asking Beta Torin about it...

　　Suddenly, an emblem was seen.

　　A wolf mounted on top of the hill. It had to be ours...

　　From the lore, it is said that this artifact not only improves cognition of the user, but does many unfathomable things as well. Upon possession, our pack's artifact strengthens the vision of the user. It might be useful in many scenarios.

　　Additionally, the artifact helps see the future...

　　It is an impossible task even for witches of this age. But with the artifact's assistance, one can become superhuman!

　　No one would ever want to let go of this ability. To be superhuman comes with perks. Everyone is looking up at you. You suddenly become everyone's God...

　　I often imagined my life with the artifact in possession. Oh, how great would it be to be in power. To be the leader and get the amount of respect you deserve~

　　People will come to me with their problems, and with me being an alpha and a strong one at that, I will offer a helping hand regardless of the situation. Because my people come first, at any cost.

　　My reward differed from the others. I'm sure none of them got something even remotely close to my kind of reward. It makes me wonder if something was leading me up to it, or if it was a clue...for something.

　　If I think of it more clearly, the reward I've received is close to my goal than just leadership and attaining a piece of land. My goal to come here includes the fact that my parents' death investigation is still under process. If it is making any progress at all!

　　I came here, so I can get my position as alpha of Darkforest pack back, and run a thorough investigation myself on their deaths. Since no one else is interested in doing it anymore...

　　The dots were connecting slowly, but surely.

　　I sat up against the bed, it was around midnight as I was thinking and thinking again about my reward.

　　Let me brief to you what I've concluded on so far,

　　The Darkforest pack's artifact is wished to be possessed by many, many people. The desire to have it is not only limited to common werewolf folks like Leif, Alexia and other people. The greed to have it in their hands also extends to other packs' alphas...which doesn't leave someone specific out of the charts.

　　That leads me to think...

　　Isn't Prince Emeric the designer for all these trials? I've heard that each reward for all 48 of us was planned specifically by Prince Emeric with enough assistance. Since the beginning of these trials.

　　I know this sounds messed up already, but I couldn't help but think why my reward differed from others.

　　Prince Emeric...might be involved in the decision of my reward.

　　Does he have the greed to take my pack's artifact under his possession as well? If that is the case, then I'd rather confront him right now than never!

　　But no, the last part is just an assumption. I cannot target him so early and ruin my chances of knowing his real intention with the reward he had given me. I have to speak with him, politely and get answers out of him.

　　Placing the book back, I walked out of the library with the words being practiced in my head. I will ask him why he decided such a reward for me which was so personal and slightly offensive. Yes, I have taken offense to it. It is because he might think he is helping me gain another reason to win these trials, but in all honesty...I think he is mocking me yet again.

　　Walking past the training ground corridor, I took a turn into the interior of the east wing, closing into Prince Emeric's office room.

　　The guards stood outside the room, and light was spilling out from the crevices. Meaning, he was inside the study and working for his kingdom.

　　"Excuse me, I have to talk to his majesty." I say to the guards. They looked at each other, as if exchanging signals which confused me slightly.

　　"He is busy at the moment, contestant Aurora Fangborn. Please come with your query or request tomorrow morning, at around nine. You may head back—" the guards were politely talking to me and convincing me to go back to my room for the night. But the man opening the door from within interrupted his talk.

　　All three of us bowed to him, to show respect to the Prince.

　　"Guards, you may leave for the night. Cadet Fangborn, you may come in and discuss." Upon his strong instructions, the three of us couldn't help but abide. The two guards leave for the night, pairing up and finally dismissed from their duties. I watched them remove their helmets and smile for the first time I've ever seen. I guess being relieved from duty after a long day surely puts a smile on anyone's face.

　　"Cadet?"

　　"Y-Yes, your majesty." Like a gentleman he is, he kept the door wide open for me to enter. Some things are good about him, and some things are just derogatory. However, upon entering his study, he didn't push me right away to start speaking, putting my query forward.

　　I watched him slowly close the door, take his sweet time sighing and walking towards the desk and sit on his expensive, comfortable swivel chair.

　　"Your majesty,"

　　"Call me Prince Emeric when we are the only ones talking, Cadet." My eyes widened,

　　"O-Okay, Prince Emeric. I wanted to ask you about my reward. For today's Trial of Wits, I believe it was you and the committee responsible who arranged everyone's rewards at the final vault. Am I right, your ma— Prince Emeric?" He blinked thrice, and tilted his head to the side.

　　"Yes. We indeed were 'responsible' for everyone's rewards for today's trial. What about it, Cadet?" I take it that he stressed on the word deliberately to mock my choice of words. Well,

　　"I wanted to know why you've given me the ancient runes that lead to the existence of the artifact's existence that belongs to my pack. Was there any intention behind it...Prince Emeric?" He furrowed his eyebrows as well before he proceeded to explain,

　　"I'm sure your reward was only because we know your pack. The artifact is rumored to have great power, and there are no hidden meanings from our side on giving you that reward. I take it that you weren't happy with what we've suggested for you."

　　Suggested? As a reward?

　　"Okay...I understand, Prince Emeric. Well, I wanted to clarify just that. Since there are no 'hidden motives' behind awarding me the script, my discussion ends here. Have a good evening, Prince Emeric." With a curt nod, he dismisses me.

　　But I wasn't a fool to not notice how he dodged my question so cleverly.

　　There was definitely something hidden behind the reward he and the committee planned for me. I just have to crack it, by myself.