EQUINOX || The Catalysts Series, #3

XVI

It appears that Lena can't avoid the Annual Games entirely.

Arcana made an announcement just before the end of classes earlier today, further confirming the special preliminary round proposed by none other than Azrael, the sponsor of the competition. This round is compulsory for all students, and is a kickstarter kind of event for the entire city. It will consist of several knockout rounds of games until only less than fifty percent of the students of Arcane Academy are left for the official commencement of the games.

Lena has just been informed that this is because while the games aren't compulsory for all students, not all students who want to participate can participate, either.

Because this year, the preliminary round is going to be a show. And every student is told to be involved.

They were initial complains from the students, some of them claiming they have the right to participate should they want to, when they wish to; they demand that this is an academy of opportunities. Lena's classmates from Aquila were apparently full of questions this morning—hence the busy Neesha, answering all their queries. Neesha justified to everyone that the Annual Games is different each year, but the fact that only the qualified or at least 'above average' students are able to participate in this event is consistent. In some years, abilities are tested and only the ones with B-class and above are allowed to enter the games; some others, they go through a different kind of stage to filter the better students, since the tournament itself consists of many different rounds.

"It is the same thing, essentially," Neesha was explaining earlier. "In a different form or variation. And you should be grateful, in fact, because everyone is forced to participate for the initial round this year, which is publicised and sponsored especially because... you know."

To cover the Andromeda incident, were her unspoken words. She did not need to voice them.

"Besides," Neesha emphasised with an authoritative tone, eyeing them all, "aren't you all students of Arcane Academy? What are you all here for, if not to fight to be the best? What's a little competition?"

Neesha was right. The students were just looking at it differently and were somewhat confused that the Annual Games this year took a different kind of execution. Once they'd heard Neesha's logical reasoning, they soon came to understand that there was never free participation all these years—they'd had to earn it each year, somehow or other. This year's no different; in fact, they are provided with additional spotlight and support, with greater opportunities.

It quelled Aquila for the rest of the day, and on the contrary managed to get them more excited for the Annual Games commencing the following week.

Classes will resume, with more physical classes this week to prepare the students for the tournament.

Lena is already feeling dreadful, but finds that she manages to drag herself to the Precision room, thinking she shouldn't slack off. She'd been able to master her abilities quite well so far, even possibly already have found her own unique weapon—the short daggers with the help of her good, quick aim.

But she still has no idea how the time travelling works.

She isn't sure she needs to know. No, she decides just then, she won't need that knowledge, or that power. According to Arcana, they have settled themselves for this world—this better world. That is why Lena allows herself to be part of it, living as a student in Arcane Academy, striving to be a Catalyst. This is her goal, she reminds herself.

The least she can do with what she has, Lena has come to realise, is to master what little time travelling she can muster—to change the events of the battlefield to her advantage. It's not a historical type of moment that changed the entire world's reality; no, it only affected her and the outcome of what she's fighting for. At most, it touched on a few of the people around her.