"Those are the twins, Diosa Lumbre's children." The next morning Niya had taken to pointing out all of the competition as she squeezed the life out of Soul, whom she'd found out was like a small heater that stayed at the perfect temperature. "Then there's Dezi son of Amor, Marino son of Agua, Ocelo child of Guerrero, and Xochi daughter of Primavera."
"Twins?" Soul inquired, and Xio translated.
"Ugh, the annoyingly hot Golds." Niya groaned "That chick with the ponytail is Auristela, she sucks. Her brother's name is Aurelio, and he sucks slightly less- but he still sucks."
Soul gave out breathy chuckle, neither beside him seeming taking notice.
"Actually, everyone but you two and Teo are Golds." Niya realized. "Woah..."
"How are we sure that Soul's not a Gold though?" Xio asked, frowning. "He didn't let you hurt him, and he doesn't seem to be keen on breaking this thin lining of light he has around him."
Soul nodded, not giving anything else.
"Well he doesn't seem like a Gold, but he has Sol's power- maybe you're more than a Gold!" Niya gasped "That's so sweet! We have you on our team!"
Soul's eyes crinkled, a symbol they were quickly leaning meant he was amused.
"We should ask Teo, he might know." Xio pointed out.
"Good idea!" Soul was swung off of his feet, now being carried by Niya. Xio stumbled to catch up, clearly new to Niya's habits just as Soul was. "TEO!" She slid into the dining room as Teo was sitting down, most of the other competitors there for breakfast "We need your help with Soul!"
Teo raised an eyebrow "Seems like you got him just fine." The other muttered, clearly still sleepy "Can't this wait until after the first trial?"
"No! I wanna know what he is before we get told by a stupid ass stone!" Niya whined.
"To be fair, it probably doesn't know either." Xio speculated, Soul tilting his head.
"You could just ask him what color he bleeds." Teo suggested, mouth now full of toast.
"Yeah well that's not as good an idea as stabbing him-" Niya started, dropping Soul so she could go argue with Teo.
"To be fair, we kinda did assume." Xio said apologetically, scratching the back of his head.
"It's alright." Soul shrugged "I look forward to seeing what the stone says of me though."
Xio wrinkled his nose "You don't even know?" He asked, confused.
"I do, I want to see if it does."
***
The first trial loomed above Soul's head, the odd one out of the other nine competitors who stood in front of their family. Niya was talking excitedly with Xio just across from Soul, but Soul did not contribute unless they asked him a yes or no question.
It was clear that he wasn't there to make friends now, he was just there to not die. He'd taken only the watch from the provided uniform, wearing something comfortable enough so he could focus. Auristela already glaring at him for breaking the chain.
"Hey Soul, whatcha thinking about?" Niya asked, leaning to examine the slightly shorter.
"How much Auristela is going to age with all that frowning she's doing." Niya snorted out a chuckle, while Xio could barley get through translation without breaking into a fit of giggles.
"You're not wrong." Niya nodded.
Luna stepped into their view, gaze fixed on the only member with nobody behind them.
"Your first trial was set by Tierra himself, and it is an obstacle course." She spoke slowly and clearly as she also signed what she'd spoken, Soul would have time for questions later. "Each of you has your parent's glyph embedded to your watches, and you mush go through the course and touch a stone with your parent's glyph for you to finish. Once you're on top of the mountain, you are done." Her eyes swept across the ten teens "You have ten minutes when your watch buzzes, I wish you all luck in this trial."
As the competitors stepped forward, Soul watched as Teo seemed to be all by himself. for a moment, Soul wondered how Teo really felt about the trials. He knew the odds of a Jade winning verses loosing, and he was sure Teo knew the odds too.
Softly, Soul shot a small orb of light to Teo. He watched as Teo gently grasped it once he realized who it was from, and Soul hoped that Teo got the message.
I am here to guide you.
"Are you flirt-" Niya started, interrupted when their watches buzzed.
From there, it was an all-out war. Soul figured that if he could get far enough ahead he'd be fine, but he'd need to dodge some serious fire first.
"Hey weirdo!" Soul's feet caught just in time for a fireball to hurl over his head, barley missing where his silk mask was tied. "Get back here!"
Soul didn't listen as the sound of splashing water sounded, a hiss coming from Auristela.
Coming to a small canyon, Soul didn't hesitate to run over the edge.
Sunburst stairs formed where he walked, and Soul's fingers were the first to brush a glyph engraved with the burning star that watched them overhead. Soul felt a small jolt as his watch vibrated, but he marched on anyway.
"SOUL, DUCK!" Though Soul was ahead, that didn't stop Niya from warning him about something.
The shorter obeyed, watching as the female slammed into the mountain side as Soul still climbed. It was now a race between teammates, both clearly not wanting to win more than the other.
"Uh oh, twins on our tail!" Niya warned, watching as Soul's fingers brushed his next Glyph "What is that, Diorite?!"
Indeed it was, gold inlaid against the white and black stone. Soul's watch buzzed again, distracting him as he was hit by a fireball.
Slamming into the mountain, those watching Soul saw him struggle for a moment as his competitors moved passed.
Soul glared, eyes snapping up as he recovered moments later and was back on his way.
"Ocelo, just get onto the platform!" He heard a female warn "Ocelo!"
Soul caught the edge of the cliff with his hand just as he ran out of energy. Lifting himself up, he was faced with his competitor's side as they peered down the mountain.
Ocelo was smirking, though Soul was the only one who saw it. Soul watched as they stepped away from the finish line and moved to push a boulder, quickly finding a new surge of energy. It was clear that Ocelo's intentions were not good, and Soul needed to assume the worst so he could keep his teammates safe.
From the line, everyone who'd finished watched as Soul started toward Ocelo just as they tipped the first round of rocks down in Teo's direction. Niya cheered loudly when Soul jabbed his elbow into the back of Ocelo's head, causing the buzz-cut Semidiose to topple like a stack of bricks. She unknowingly shared the same look that Soul had as Ocelo fell over the edge, down the mountain and unconscious.
From there, Soul quickly moved back into the finish line where Niya was.
He'd just crossed when Teo started to fly.
