Medora had spent the better part of the week convincing herself that their first meeting wasn't as disastrous as it felt. Even if they hadn't gotten as far as she'd hoped, and some had relentlessly fought her control, they had at least come up with a direction for their project. Plus, no one had been seriously injured after shoving seven very different people into one small room. So that was something, right?

She'd arrived at school with a renewed sense of hope- or maybe it was just the added pressure from her mother this morning. Dreadfully disappointed didn't even begin to cover how her mother would feel if Medora was not on that stage, presenting the top project with a group she'd led effortlessly to victory.

Either way, her attempt to focus on the positives had been stopped cold after Saija slipped her the notes on Adonis.

She wasn't quite sure what it was, but Saija's information had stirred something she couldn't ignore. Sure, Saija had gone out of her way to dig up dirt on him, just so Medora could knock him down a few notches and regain control of the group. But why go to such lengths?

She'd been grateful- admittedly impressed- by her friend's cleverness. But the way that Saija had shared the information, her careful phrasing and quick exit, left Medora with an uneasy feeling.

She tapped her pen against the edge of her notebook, the steady rhythm echoing the restless energy simmering within her group.

Kane had come in first this time, his posture rigid and his leg bouncing under the table. Medora had tried to ignore the way the table jolted with every tap of his foot, but it was too hard to focus.

The others had filed in shortly after, surprisingly chatting amongst themselves. Medora was jotting a note when Evrin's voice cut through the buzz.

"You know," he began, leaning casually against the back of his chair. "If we're trying to stand out, why not go all in? Everyone's going to be giving the same talk about unity and history, no matter what about it they choose to present. But we could show them what disunity looks like."

Medora's pen froze mid-tap. She turned to Evrin, both skeptical and intrigued. "And how exactly would we do that?"

Evrin's grin widened as he gestured toward the group. "The temple ruins. It's the best example of what the curse has done to Carnis. The very birthplace of our division."

Medora couldn't help but feel uneasy about Evrin's suggestion. The temple wasn't just another relic of the curse- it was it's birthplace, or so the stories went. It was said to be where the Emperor performed the very ritual that sent the empire crumbling into disarray, containing traces of the most potent sources of their sins.

The idea of stepping foot there sent a shiver down her spine, but at the same time, it was exactly the kind of bold, daring move that could set their project apart. If they could survive it.

The room fell silent as the weight of his suggestion sank in. Kane was the first to break it.

"You mean the cursed temple that's been abandoned in ruins for decades?" His tone was laced with sarcasm. "Great idea. We'll really show them when we all turn to stone and become gargoyles for the place. Or one of us slips into the Veil and falls to our death."

Evrin shrugged, entirely unbothered by Kane's biting remark. "Better than boring everyone to death." He muttered, slumping back into his chair.

There was another short silence where some went back to their work.

Medora had read about the Veil once in her studies- an unseen force said to reside under the ruins, swallowing anyone foolish enough to venture too close. Some say it holds nothing more than crumbling stone and whispers of danger, while others believe it to be a punishment, a warning to those who sought to reveal its secrets. She couldn't decide which version unsettled her more.

"Actually, he has a point."

Medora looked up, brows raised, to see Adonis lounging back in his chair with a nonchalant shrug. "You're agreeing with him?"

That aggravating smirk was back on his face. "What? I like a little risk. And let's be honest, we need something big if we want to make an impression."

Kane scoffed, his jaw tightening. "Big or stupid?"

The smirk on Adonis's face widened, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. "Aw, afraid of a little old temple?"

Medora's patience was running thin. She raised her hand sharply, her tone commanding. "Okay. Stop. We need to be smart about this. It's not just about making an impression. If we fail, we'll be remembered for all the wrong reasons."

Adonis tilted his head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Well, princess, if you have a better idea, I'd love to hear it."

Medora scoffed. "Yeah, I'm sure you would. Then you could take all the credit for it. As a matter of fact, why don't you go prancing off to Dr. Lennox and just ask him to hand us the top spot? You've gotten real good at that, huh?"

The words came out faster than she'd thought them up, and for a split second, she regretted them. But the smug look on Adonis's face erased any chance of an apology. His mouth opened to retort, but Kane interrupted with a groan.

He slammed his hand on the table, making Medora flinch. "You're all so focused on showing off that you're forgetting what this is actually about!"

All eyes turned to Kane, whose fists were clenched on the table. His voice was sharp, each word cutting through the tension like a blade.

Adonis raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Enlighten us, Mr. Temper Tantrum."

"Yeah," Evrin chimed in, leaning back in his chair with a smirk of his own. "Let's hear the advice from someone who almost destroyed an entire arena after losing one match."

Kane's chair screeched loudly as he stood, the sound echoing in the small room. Medora watched, startled, as he began packing his things with quick, jerky movements.

"I don't have time for this," he mumbled, his voice low and simmering with anger. "This is supposed to be about all of us working together. But all I see is a group of haughty people trying to one-up each other."

He slung his bag over his shoulder and stormed out, leaving the door to swing shut behind him.
The group sat in stunned silence.

Saija stood abruptly and hurried after him. Medora frowned, watching her go. At first glance, it seemed like Saija might be following him to convince him to return or smooth things over on behalf of the group. But the deliberate way she snatched up her notes felt calculated, as though she was chasing a story, not offering comfort. The thought sent a flicker of unease through Medora's chest.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, the weight of the group's dysfunction bearing down on her. "Fine," she said, breaking the silence. "Let's hear from everyone. Does anyone actually think this temple idea could work?"

The group exchanged uncertain glances, but it was Nadia who spoke first, setting down the sleeve of cookies she'd been nervously consuming. "I mean... I think it could be cool," her voice was hesitant yet determined. "If we want to show what the curse has done to Carnis, and how each sector has come together since, the temple is a powerful symbol. I think people would remember it."

Cassian crossed his arms lazily over the table. "Yeah, or they'll remember us as the idiots who got themselves killed for a school project. This sounds like a lot of work just to stand out. Do we really think we're that desperate?"

Nadia frowned, but instead of retreating, she pressed on. "It's risky, sure. But wouldn't that be kind of... fitting? To show us all having to work together to make sure none of us gets hurt? I think it could be a brilliant representation."

Medora couldn't help but smile faintly at Nadia's optimism, but her gaze shifted to Cassian, whose expression was unreadable. "What do you think? It actually ties in perfectly with what you said last time."

Cassian tilted his head, his gaze thoughtful. "It's not the worst idea, I guess," he admitted. "If we're careful, it could work. But we'd need to be smart about it. We only know stories about this place- no one's ever gone to the ruins with good intentions."

Evrin let out a chuckle. "I don't think careful is one of this group's strong suits."

Medora shot him a warning look before turning back to the others. "Alright. If we're going to do this, we can't rush in blind. That means finding out what we can about the temple's history, the known effects on it from the curse, and figuring out exactly what it is we're looking for there."

Adonis leaned forward, a glimmer of intrigue flashing over his features. "I have to say, I'm surprised you're going through with this. What will Mommy and Daddy think?" His voice dripped with mockery.

Medora ignored him, though her grip on her pencil tightened, and she returned her attention to Nadia and Cassian. "Nadia, you seem to know a lot about the history side of things. Can you handle the research?"

Nadia's face lit up. "Absolutely! I'll start tonight." Her excitement faltered as she twirled her pen between her fingers. "But, there's not much to understand. All the records talk about are the disappearances. People who tried to explore the ruins or find answers to the curse. They vanished. No bodies, no evidence- just gone."

The air thickened as Nadia's words hung in the air, making Medora hesitate once more.

With a sharp nod, she turned to Cassian. "You mentioned being careful. Start looking into logistics- what we need to bring, how we keep everyone safe while we're there, and any backup plans."

Cassian nodded, his usual slouch replaced by a rare focus. "Sure, I'll think of a plan. Just don't expect me to lift anything heavier than a pen."

Finally, she turned to Evrin and Adonis,who were both watching her with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "And you two- if you screw this up, I'll make sure everyone knows whose fault it was."

Adonis performed a mock salute, his face infuriatingly smug. "Aye aye, Captain."

Evrin shrugged, "Sure, let's risk our necks," he gestured toward the door. "But don't blame me when muscle-man brings the whole place down."

His remark received a snicker from both Cassian and Adonis, but Medora only shook her head, catching Nadia glancing at the door with a worried look.

"Well, off you all go then. I'll let the others know." She grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled her address a few times before ripping it into strips and handing one to each of them. "Here's my address. We can meet there in the morning. But please- don't come through the gate. I'll meet you out there."

"Ouch," Evrin mumbed, though his sly smile didn't waver as he packed up his things. Adonis and Nadia followed suit, and soon they were gone.

Medora let out a long sigh, sinking back into her seat to review her plans. The silence in the room was almost comforting until she caught movement in the corner of her eye.

"Why are you still here?" she asked without looking up, her pen scratching against the page.

"Well, if I go home, there's no way I'm getting anything done." He joked, leaning forward over his notebook. "Someone's gotta start pulling their weight, right?"

She didn't respond, just let out a short, disbelieving laugh. She'd be grateful for the help if he actually opened a book, but he didn't. Instead, he sat there, studying her.

"You know," he began after a moment, "we're not as bad as you think."

The comment caught her off guard, and her pen paused mid sentence. "What?"

"You may be little miss perfect, but we all have our strengths, too. Kane is passionate, Saija's ambitious, Evrin's too clever for his own good, Nadia's positivity keeps us grounded, and Adonis- annoying as he is-  has charisma that could be useful, whether you like it or not."

Medora looked up, blinking as his words sank in. He had a point. Perhaps it was the whole point of why they were all there. In their own way, they had all become the best of the best, and Medora had to respect that, as much as it grated on her pride.

She offered him a soft smile, appreciating his insight even if it stung a little. "And you?"

He leaned back, his arms sliding off the table and into his lap. "I'm here to sit back, look pretty, and keep you from becoming a cautionary tale about working yourself to death."

She let out a laugh, this one more genuine. "I'm not working myself to death." Her tone was sharper than she intended, but he didn't flinch.

He stood, sliding her notebook from under her hand and snapping it shut. "Then I'd say I'm doing my job well." He grabbed her tote and began packing her things.

She clicked her pen closed, crossing her arms. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure I don't find you in this exact spot tomorrow, drooling over your notes." He said with a teasing grin, sliding both of their totes over his shoulder and heading to the door. Despite the humor, his eyes were serious.

She hesitated, her skepticism clear as she studied him. Finally, she lifted her chin, an amused grin playing on her lips. "Fine. But I'm only leaving because I'll be late to dinner otherwise," she sauntered toward him, stopping just shy of the door. "And I don't drool."

He said nothing, just smiled as she brushed past him, her confidence lighting the way as he followed her out and quietly closed the door behind him.

The group had agreed on a plan- an ambitious, reckless plan- and while Medora had reservations, she couldn't deny the spark of potential she saw in each of them. Maybe they could pull this off. Maybe they'd manage to surprise her.

The temple was only a shadow of the empire's golden age, but it loomed large in the stories they all grew up with. Medora could practically hear her mother's disapproving voice at the mere thought of stepping foot near it.

But they'd made their choice.

Cassian slid past her to push open the door leading outside. "You think we'll survive this little field trip?"

Medora glanced at him, the crisp evening breeze making a few strands of his hair fall over his eyes. His slouched posture was a stark contrast to the determination she'd seen just moments before.

"I think we'll survive. But, something tells me that's not our biggest concern."

Cassian breathed a short laugh, but there was no humor in it, only quiet resignation. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."

Medora turned her gaze forward, the warm glow of street lamps casting long shadows across the road.

She drew a long breath, her steps heavier with every thought. For the first time, Medora wasn't entirely sure if she was leading them to victory- or straight into disaster.
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{had to keep my promise of two updates a week! Enjoy two days in a row of SF! Let me hear your thoughts- what're y'all thinkin👀}