~Aurora~

　　It's been a few hours at maximum since the trial had concluded. We came back from the labyrinth by transport and in a few cases, witches had to help the remaining contestants escape the labyrinth. Three trials have concluded, with some participants making it to the four trial.

　　I was too dazed to even look outside the window, from the jeep we were being transported into. "Huh...? What is going on?"

　　Beside me, thankfully, Odin had occupied the space with his team members that he had acquainted back with. It was strange that Odin himself let the team go ahead, entrusting them with his articles while he stayed back to see the situation. The sound of the land kraken creating havoc distracted him. But at the end of the day, I'm more than grateful for what he had done for me. It takes a man guts to leave their trial requirements to help someone in need.

　　And the fact that I've discovered who he really is, the white wolf I've acquainted with, it was a delightful discovery.

　　"What is...happening?" I asked Odin. Before he would answer me, he placed my head against his shoulder. I refrained myself from moaning aloud. If I did, I'd get in trouble. The comfort of his shoulder was so good~

　　"Nothing, actually. I bet the Prince is looking for clues behind your team's incident. You know, there shouldn't have been a kraken anywhere near our routes. None of ours." His words made my eyebrows crush into each other. All the slumber that was within me disappeared as I sat up straight.

　　"What's wrong?" Odin asked, in a soft voice. The jeep was shaking whilst going through rough terrain, but everything seemed stationary around me. I don't want to put my finger on it, but my previous conversations with some people in the past suggested to me whom I could point my blame towards.

　　Looking into Odin's curious eyes, I shook my head, "It's nothing. I'm just too curious about our results. Do me a favor, and wake me up when we reach, alright?"

　　"Yes, your majesty." There he is. Always cheering me up with either his funny wolf blabbering, or movements. I laid my head back on his shoulder. Temporarily, I've decided to forget about my doubts and take some rest. I've done a lot today. But I'm only glad that the trial has concluded.

　　<Contestant Names:

　　Aurora Fangborn

　　Pope Summer

　　Alexia Thorn

　　Odin Blackwood

　　Clara Killarney

　　Jacob Bloodmond

　　Jean Bloodmond

　　...so on>

　　The next moment I opened my eyes, I was in my bed. Everything that happened after the third trial was a hazy memory. I don't even remember hearing other people's names after mine, who had passed the Trial. I didn't even have enough consciousness to listen to the personal commentaries addressed by the adjudicator. In the absence of Prince Emeric, however. He's been way too indulged in the matters of my team encountering the land kraken.

　　Birds have been chirping non stop outside my window. Never had I ever thought I'd be the one who would experience sensory overload. But at this moment, I was.

　　However, there was a knock against my door right before I made up my mind to close the window to my room.

　　"Who the hell is up so early...?" Early, being ten in the morning.

　　"What?" I grumbled at the male, not knowing who it might be!

　　"Whoa. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." I sighed, moving to the side to allow the man inside, but he declined the offer respectfully.

　　"Yeah. Seriously. We slept at 4 in the morning. Can't we get at least an hour more to rest?"

　　"I'm pretty sure you went to sleep as soon as your head hit the bed, Aurora. You haven't changed your clothes. Besides, the time's way past ten, too. Close to eleven." Using the help of his watch, Odin spoke. I looked at him, dead in the eye.

　　"You ought to stand for a friend, Odin. Not give them a reality check." He chuckled at my dialogue, "Well, real friends like me always hit the nail and aren't really afraid to give someone 'a reality check'. Get ready, slots close by eleven."

　　If it was just me, I'd skip breakfast to sleep in. Since I cannot decline his kindness, nor want to make him late for the breakfast schedule, I decided to take the quickest shower the world has ever seen and met him in the corridor again.

　　However, my eyebrows crushed into each other.

　　"Alright. I'll see you around. Bye." Saying, the other woman who was talking to him, left in a haste. Odin questioned the look on my face. I was staring at Alexia's back with narrowed eyes.

　　"What's the look for?" Clicking his fingers in front of my face, he asked.

　　"That's Alexia Thorn, I believe. She's representing Leif's pack..." I didn't quite look at Odin tilting his head in confusion, because I was too busy looking at Alexia who smirked at me. Such a subtle smirk it was, over her shoulder and directed towards me.

　　"Who's Leif?"

　　"No one. Let's go. It's already too late to be fed," him and I raced down the east wing and reached the dinner hall. Our entry was frowned upon by not just our caretakers, but the other contestants who were 'discussing' as well. Apparently, we've ruined their appetite by being loud asses.

　　"Oh, you've got a lot of protein." Said Odin, looking at my plate.

　　"And you've got a lot of greens." I said.

　　"Man...I'd kill to have some meat, Aurora. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Having been seated, he was still eyeing my platter as I squeezed lemon drops over my breakfast.

　　"I'd love those greens, too. If we've come to the same point, we might as well make a deal." I whispered the last part. We looked around ourselves, and exchanged our plates swiftly!

　　"Deal," Odin whispered back and started digging into 'his' breakfast. The hour went on quickly as we sat in silence, except for engaging in trivial conversations and such. In friendships like these, one doesn't need much effort to put into the other person to keep them interested in the friendship.

　　For the second time today, I've encountered Alexia. She walked past our table, her deliberate attempt as clear as day for me. She was walking by at a slow pace, almost as if trying to make me read her expressions. The smirk on her face told me tons about what I needed to tell.

　　Even though Prince Emeric is trying to solve the issue of my team's unfortunate encounter with the kraken, why do I feel like Alexia has a hand in this scheme against me? Even if she pretends to be a normal participant in these trials, I know exactly how cruel she can turn out to be. She's a vile, cunning and betraying woman who could do anything for money.

　　And I'm a thousand percent sure that Leif is holding the strings over her. There is no one else who comes to my mind apart from these two losers.

　　But...how do I prove myself to Prince Emeric? He could dismiss me, saying I am trying to bring my fellow contender down for my own benefit. Even if he wouldn't, the other overlookers for my case would. I am in a pinch. Mainly because I don't have solid proof against her!

　　Ugh! This is more than frustrating!

　　"What do you keep staring at?" Odin tried to look at the direction I was staring at, and turned around.

　　"It's nothing. I'm just spaced out."

　　"With your eyebrows falling into each other? Aurora, if someone or something is bothering you, you can always tell me." I would, Odin. But the fact that you wouldn't believe and Alexia would probably manipulate you is scaring me. That is why I wouldn't open up to you. No one would believe me...

　　Well, apart from that, I wanted to discuss with the other team leader and get his experience from the trial.

　　"So, Odin. What was your team like?" Relaxing back against the chair, Odin sighed and said,

　　"They were alright. Two females and another male. The male was stinky, but his wolf was strong."

　　"He was stinky?" I chuckled, my mood shifting quickly. He giggled as well, for the word he used to describe his ex-subordinate!

　　"Man, I'd never collaborate with someone so unpleasant. Well, there was one time when I almost got my leg stuck into a bear trap and he saved me from it!"

　　"No way. I've saved my teammates several times, but no one could've done it for me."

　　"They couldn't have? Why?"

　　"I was behind all of them, leading them." I confessed, his eyes widened.

　　"Oh, damn! No wonder your demerits were balanced out by your points! Now I see why you passed the Trial. Good strategy, Aurora!"

　　"Thanks, Odin. I've realized knowledge from books never fails a person, ever."

　　"Right...right. Well," and so, our discussion kept going until I asked him desperately. I leaned forward into the table, looking to the sides and asking him,

　　"Hey...uh...do you think I did good? After listening to my experience, do you think I should've done something more?" I asked the man. He looked up at the tall ceiling, thinking about his answer.

　　"Well," He began with a sigh.

　　"First of all, I think it's highly unlikely that a leader would be swayed by the decisions of their subordinates. You were the one who should lead a team, right? I'm still uncomfortable with the fact that the guy named H kept insisting you take the longer route. I'm glad you haven't grown skeptical of him. There were incidents where trial seekers lost their lives in the past, only because they listened to their subordinates and well, the labyrinth isn't necessarily the safest place on earth." As Odin spoke, my heart started sinking deeper and deeper.

　　It shouldn't have been like this...

　　"I know I'm not wrong, but someone is against you, right? I don't want to involve this H guy, but..."

　　"No. I'm not bothered by that alone, Odin."

　　"Then what is it?" His voice was soft, compelling me to spill the truth. About what was actually going on in my head.

　　"The truth is...as they were involved in making decisions with me, I couldn't help but feel inferior. They've got battle experience, while I had none. They all had a wolf, but I had none to coordinate with them efficiently. There were some instances where we started arguing about which route to take. All of them were against me, Odin. I've finally figured out how leadership works...however." At the end of my ranting, I was smiling softly.

　　"Thanks to this experience, I've gotten a taste of a few things I was ignorant about in my previous lifestyle. I'm just glad that I am on the positive side today,"

　　"You should stay on the optimistic side every day, Aurora. This is called Resilience. Once you've mastered the art of it, you'd be like me. Always cheerful, always looking forward to new opportunities without the fear of failure. But, I've got to give it to you. Considering how new you are to this, you've been a great leader, Aurora. Pat yourself on the back, you deserve it. As a person with experience myself, I've seen great practiced people fail in the leadership trial, utterly. You've figured it out on the first try."

　　His words made me feel so confident in myself,

　　"But what have I figured out?" I asked him, he gave me a subtle smile,

　　"You'll know soon what I'm talking about, Aurora."