Ultimate Temptation

~Chapter 8~

I impatiently waited as Aunt Tessa fussed around me. She re-did my braids and shone my boots till they were a shiny black and cross check everything else, barely allowing me to do anything else. Finally stepping back, she gave me a look over and nodded in satisfaction at her hardwork.

"I think I'm done now. You look so...wow," she says gesturing to the full length mirror I barely used which was located at the right side of the cabin.

I check my reflection in the mirror and gasped. I looked so badass and professional. My long black curls was side braided to my scalp while the rest of hair was tamed into a braid that prevented it from whipping into my face. The outfit my parents sent fit like a second skin, the black straps and harnesses wrapping around my arms and thighs giving me a lethal 'do not mess with me look'.

"Thank you," I say  to Aunt Tessa as I step out of the cottage.

"Wait! Your parents said I should give you this!" She called after me struggling with her purse. She brought out a golden hairpin and handed it over to me. It glittered despite the light fog in the air which covered the early rising sun. It was no ordinary pin, it had the kingdom's emblem imprinted on it but yet there still something different about it. The kingdom's emblem; a small skull with horns was inside a pentagram. A pentagram which was a known symbol among the witches.

I gasped in awe at the beauty in my palms, this was unique, the first of it's kind and it was given to me.

Overcome by emotions, I flung myself into Aunt Tessa's waiting arms and hugged her tight.

"Thank you"

"No problem. I'll be waiting for you at the finish line." I nod and push my self off her and beginning walking to the place where the evaluation will begin.

The evaluation exam was an event I had absolutely no idea of. All we heard were rumors about what happened there and there were common cases of broken limbs and even a rare situation whereby two students didn't make it back alive. Half of their parts of their bodies was found in shreds with blood on the surrounding while the other half was found in the belly of an uncommon wild beast. Ever since then, the evaluation became a little less dangerous.

The shofar horn was blown as I entered into the stadium signalling the commencement of the exam and I quickly jogged over to where my other fifteen classmates stood in the middle of the field.

"Today is a great day! The 45th Evaluation Examination of the Class 15 students..a day we have all been waiting for. Without further delay, I would explain what tests are used to evaluate the final scores," The principal began her voice amplified through the mic. "There are three test; Physical test to evaluate your endurance level and how well you can adapt in the wild, putting everything you've learnt so far to test. Soul test to reveal your inner intentions are..whether they are good or not and finally, Mind test to figure out how smart you are and how fast you can solve a problem under pressure. You'll be given thirty minutes to organize your selves and in those minutes, your coach will explain the tests in more details after that, you will all meet here and the test will begin" She says switching off the mic.

We were ushered away from the centre of the stadium to a part behind the bleachers where some tents were clustered together with numbers written on them. I was taken to tent 7 and told to wait for my coach.

"How's my favorite niece doing?" A voice I'd come to love said and Aunt Tessa came into the tent.

"What are you doing here?" I ask. "Aren't you supposed to be somewhere in the stand?"

"No, I'm meant to be here. I'm your coach," she says beaming at me.

"I thought it'll be a teacher coaching me"

"Well you thought wrong" She says and I squeal before a thought popped into my head.

"Wait...did you know that you'll be my coach when you came here to train me?"

"No, I didn't. I knew I'll be your coach just yesterday but I'm certain that even if I wasn't your coach, you'll be among top 3 " she assures.

"We don't have time to waste, so I'll be fast with my explanation so listen attentively. Firstly, I'm to give you a band," she says bringing out a purple band which she wears on my wrist"

"What's this for?" I question.

"You'll find out as I explain the tests to you. So, you already know there are three tests; Physical, Soul and Mind" she says pausing to see if I was following and I nod. "For physical test, you're to go deep into the center of the island on Kilf and retrieve a flag. Your class consists of fifteen students but you there won't be a flag for everyone. You have to get up little mountain Kilf, get a flag or collect one forcefully from your peers-"

"That's not cheating?"

"No. Apparently, it's accepted. After getting a flag, you're to stay and survive on the mountain for 24 hours after which you can come down from the mountains with the flag in your possession to win the physical test. For the Soul test, after staying on the island for a day with no food-"

"No food?!" I exclaim, certainly not believing my ears. "They won't give us any food for 24 hours?"

"No, they won't. There are some fruits on the table in the corner. I suggest you start eating them now before they blow the horn"

I snatch an apple from the fruit basket and begin munching on it.

"For the soul test, you are given a liquid which will make you go into a trance and you have to make and important decision in there. The liquid will help reveal what is hidden. Your cup will be wrapped in a band too, the colour alike with the band on your wrist so you can know which cup belongs to you. Moving on, for the mind test, you're given a riddle and you'll be timed for it. I wasn't given much details about it so that's all I know. I think I've covered it all," she says stroking her chin deep in thoughts. "Oh, the band is also magical, it won't fall of till the end of the tests as it shows us your location on the island. Do you have any questions?"

I run all what she has said through my head trying to assimilate and make it all sink so I don't make any mistakes.

"Are there any rules?" I ask.

"I don't know but if there are, it will be passed across to you before the test begins. It's best to avoid contact with your mates especially if you get one of the few flags available. Find a secluded place to stay and spend the night. You should be familiar with the layout of Kilf by now, I made you go there everyday but be warned. There are new and dangerous traps-"

The horn sounded and Aunt Tessa shooed me out of the tent to where my classmates were all gathering in a straight line.

Wasting no time Agnes picked up the mic, "By now you should have been put through the test..and if you haven't, well your luck. To make the tests more interesting, for the physical test which is the first, you are to form pairs. How you pick each other depends on you and you have just a minute to do that"

Immediately she said that, my classmates ran to their friends and quickly formed pairs making me the odd one out. I was already used to it and was now indifferent anytime I'm the only one not in a group and this was no different. They had an edge over me but I wasn't going to let that pull me down.

"So we have 8 pairs and a 'one man group'...nothing we can do about that," she shrugged. "There is only one rule guarding this test.. 'Do not m**m or inflict any life threatening harm on any of your fellow classmates as whatever grave harm you do on them will be done on you too. Remember we are always watching...May the best man win"

Immediately the horn was blown once more and we all took off into the dense woods which covered the hill which was named Kilf.

With my demon speed, I was currently in the lead and the first to reach the edge of the forest when an arrow shot past me barely grazing my shoulders.

I had unknowingly hit a trip wire buried under the shrubs.

Skidding to a halt, I peered at the woods in front of me, dim due to the little light which managed to break through the cover the tall trees provided. I hadn't expected to encounter a trap so soon into the game.

Carefully watching my steps, I picked up my pace with all my senses high on alert and my face set with determination.

I will survive 24 hours in here and come out with a flag. I mean..how hard could it be?