They had us change into matching uniforms before the game. Each team wore the symbol of a different Magik's creature.

We were the Phonix.

Cedrick smiled hopefully and said, "Well, let's just hope the Phonix will keep us going".

Danial just stares and Hana looked dumbfounded. "What?" she demanded.

Cedrick suddenly sunk back into his shell, clearly bothered that they had also heard something that was only directed for me to hear. "The Phonix," he stammered. "I mean, it's about rebirth. New beginnings and such. I was saying how it could inspire us as well. Or something".

"Or something". Hana nodded unconvinced and turns around to face the courtyard.

Ahead of us was an obstacle course.

Salvador left to talk to the other facilitators and was just walking back to get us started.

Looking to my right, there were 4 more teams, one being Yolone and Georgia's- each with another Magik's creature on their uniforms.

They didn't have it on for the teams participating in VR, but I guess you could tell who was part of what team when they were essentially in the same clustered area. In an obstacle course, we would be scattered, so I guess the matching uniforms is more so for the people watching us. As I looked over at the teams, I saw that while three of the other teams had Magiks-creatures inspired outfits, one team was dressed in all black. I guess that makes sense since there were four creatures and five teams playing. The team in black wore their colour with confidence, while the other teams held apprehension in their stance.

Maybe Cedrick's onto something, I think as I watch the team's behaviors. What if our Magiks patron has an effect on us, and the only team protected from that is the one not wearing any affiliation to the creatures.

I shrug. These games weren't high on my worry list, though saying that aloud may be blasphemous. I have never seen a normal high school take football as seriously as Fizi Tal Obasi takes these trials. Because winning is everything, as they say.

The bleachers are floating around the sides of the field, like how our chairs in our classes are floating above the teacher's podiums, giving them the perfect view of the course. There was also a moving camera of some sorts, or something related to that— though I couldn't tell where it was. I could just see the projection in the sky.

Ahead of us, Salvador began to speak.

"Your challenge, contestants," he said as he faced us, "is simple— Get to the other side. There are a total of five obstacles you must cross. The Wall, Bridge, Fence, House, and Forest. The first team to get all their members to the other side wins, but that is aiming impossibly high. Your goal should be to get as many members through each obstacle. Three points awarded per member who passes. These activities are aimed to help teams work together, so anyone member who fails an obstacle, results in the whole team has to start at Obstacle One with zero points. Failing an obstacle can be among many things depending on whichever one you are on. As you race along, I will follow and explain the rules. Understood? Good, everyone to the start line".

The crowds cheered as he made his way to the front and got ready, while I fumed that he hadn't actually waited for a response to his question. We learn the rules as we go? What type of organizing is that?

Looking at the course laid out in front of me, it looked simple enough.

Some things seemed pretty straightforward, like the Wall. It was a dauntingly high rock, basically. I could see dents and such through the lump, and concluded it had something to do with rock climbing. A Bridge followed it, and the only thing that I could connect it to probably speed— a race perhaps? It was just a bridge— a uselessly grand and big bridge, mind you, but a bridge nonetheless—and I couldn't decide what else we could do with it if not racing. The Fence, I couldn't make out from my position at the back, and I had no clue about what we would do at that station. I couldn't even see the place for the House. I could the Forest, which I assumed was the circle of trees in the far corner, and there was this empty area where I assumed the House was supposed to go, but it was just a large, unoccupied area of land. Did they know this was an incomplete trial? Would we even be allowed to compete if they aren't done with construction or whatever? The Forest, I think was a maze, which I can proudly say, I'm a bit of an expert on. My whole childhood was spent on the forest floor with maze books and other bits and bobs.

Overall, it seemed hard, but just because of all the unknown elements, but impossible was at least not something I could call it.

Salvador talked into his walky-talky, and suddenly, the game came to life.

The Wall manages to lift higher into the air, making it almost taller than the actual school, and it began to move from side to side like a pendulum, and forwards and back like not a pendulum.

The Bridge sprouted water, which didn't seem too bad, but the Fence began to have axes swinging back and forth, and some chopping at the bottom of it.

The ground began to tremble, and I tried to steady myself, I saw the ground open up and a full-on house passes through. A House! The House!

The Forest grew actual trees and plants, in less than a minute.

None of this is normal.

I heard the groans and fear of the groups around me, which I felt mirrored in myself.

A turn of my head reveals that my team is on the projectors, looking about as ready as can be expected. Cedrick's earlier nervousness came back, and he fumbled with his vest as he gazed cautiously at the scene in front of him.

Danial, ever so organized, held his emotions in check as he took in the sight with a calculating look. He gazed with determination and confidence, and the way he was looking at it told me he was not just looking for a way for him to win, but a way that will get the entire team through the course.

Good luck to him.

I saw my own face looking back at me on the big screen just in time for the cameras to turn to another team.

At the sound of giggles, I turned to see Yolene and Georgia laughing about the easiness of this. Hana looked at them with a look of pure hatred.

She turns towards us, her anger taking in Cedric's nervousness, my apprehension, and Daniels's calculating look.

She lets out a frustrated sigh and stomps her foot, causing Cedrick to finch. She rolls her eyes at him and turns to Danial. "Dan, what are our chances?"

He keeps his eyes trained on the scene in front of him, "The Wall and Bridge look easy enough, but with the added weight" his eyes flick to me and Cedrick, " I don't know how long it will take".

"The Fence looks time-consuming, I'm guessing at least 30 minutes on that. The House is a complete mystery to me, and I can only guess what the Forest is".

Hana nodded, not seeming too happy but willing to roll with it.

She turns to face me and Cedrick— oh wow she remembered us— and said, "We need to win. My reputation is on the line. Don't make us lose". Great pep talk.

Danial jumps in and says to us all, even Hana "Don't expect a win. This is our first game, our first time working together. We don't need to do everything, we just need to do as much as we can. Even if we can't finish the whole thing, we'll still get the points, and if not that then at least we'll learn to work with each other for the next trial".

I love how we're not even done this trial and he's already talking about the next one. Like he expects me to live through this.

Hana seems mortified at his words. "Danny, you may not need to win, but I do."

He shuts her up with a look, and she huffs and turns away.

He sighs and draws a hand across his face saying "Look. It's nice to dream big, but you gotta be realistic". He turns to face us all. "We don't need a win, we just need points".

That's when it dawned on me, and I think Hana as well as she turned to face him with a realization on her face.

"Ohh, you're trying to get back the points you lost," she says.

He purses his mouth, looking sour but nods.

They share a look of understanding, and a feeling of immense rage shoots through me. Why can't they include everyone in their conversations? Why leave us in the dark?

Hana turns to look at Georgia and Yolenes team and pouts. "Fine, we'll do this your way".

She faces me and Cedrick. "Plan change. Just try to pass as many obstacles as possible. Get us points".

I mock her words silently. Get us points, as if it's that easy. There are freaking axes swinging, just looking for heads to chop off, and I'm supposed to worry about points? I'll worry about my life, thank you very much. Everyone knows that axes are attracted to heads, and I am attracted to my head, so we are going to be having some problems.

I look to Cedrick and squeeze his hand at his fearful look. "We got this," I say to him, to Daniel, to Hana.

"Besides," I say, "Even if we mess up, we'll just be reborn. That's a Phonix thing, right? Coming back after defeat."

And together, we walked to the starting line.

The wings of the Phonix spreading behind us as we attempt to fall under its shadow.