[Instructors]
Alaric's chamber was heavy with dread. Lyra stepped through her portal, followed by Thane.
Alaric looked up from his stool, his expression defeated. "I still haven't figured it out." he said, running a weary hand through his hair.
"We're out of time, Alaric. The Game will be claiming its Thrines tonight. If we don't act now, it might choose him." Thane said.
"I know that." Alaric countered, rising. "But there's nothing I can do now other than hoping it doesn't choose him."
Lyra stepped closer. "There must be something, Alaric, anything."
"I got it." Thane said, snapping his fingers. "How many Candidates are left in your city?"
Alaric quickly calculated. "Six, including the Anomaly."
"And how many are you sure are stronger than him?" Thane pressed. "We've never been in a state where there are more than three when the Game starts but there was an old saying that said the Game chooses it's thrines based on strength."
Alaric frowned, shaking his head. "Yeah, except there is only one candidate whose power is currently above his."
Lyra's eyes lit up. "Or what if we give them our Relics? There's no rule saying Instructors can't give Candidates Relics, except for our Divine Relics, of course."
Thane nodded, catching the strategic implication. "Yes, some Candidates, when they first manifest their abilities, receive a Relic instead of a basic ability. If we give them high-tier artifact relics, the others won't notice the interference."
"We could equip the remaining Candidates who are associated with him." Lyra elaborated. "Boosting their overall mana levels and increasing the chance that the Game selects them instead of the Anomaly."
"And after they get into the Game." Alaric mused, "I can just take them back so that they can participate fairly."
Lyra smirked. "Since when do you care about playing fair?"
Alaric sighed deeply. "This problem... made me think that maybe I'm being punished by the Game for playing dirty all those years. So, I'm done with that."
"I like this new." Lyra quipped.
Alaric walked over to his vault, opening the protective seals. He retrieved two powerful Artifact Relics: a silver-edged Gauntlet and a set of shimmering, black Curved Daggers.
He held the Gauntlet. Called out to the room and the Librarian walked into the chamber.
"Help them find Elena. I'll take this Gauntlet to Damien." He opened his personal portal and stepped through instantly.
Thane walked over to the Librarian. "It isn't necessary for you to come." Thane chuckled, adding, "I think Alaric forgot the power of my Divine Relic."
Thane's Relic manifested, a dark violet Orb. He focused on the Orb, calling out Elena's name. And a clear, three-dimensional image of Elena, currently standing alone in a ruined alleyway, appeared on the surface of the Orb.
"Perfect." Thane stated. "Let's go, Lyra."
Lyra stepped toward the wall, channeling mana to open a portal. And they both walked through.
They materialized instantly in the alleyway. Elena, feeling the wave of mana, spun violently, drawing her daggers in a blur.
Lyra looked at Elena's disheveled, bloody state. "You look like a mess, Elena."
Elena snarled, her eyes narrowing. "Who are you? And how did you find me?"
"We are Instructors." Thane replied. "And we are here to offer you..."
Elena cut him off, her voice laced with cynical amusement. "A deal to kill the Anomaly and then I'll get to be a Thrine member? I've already heard that nonsense and I'm not interested."
"You should've let me finish, girl." Thane reprimanded. "We're here to give you this." He took out the curved daggers.
"These will increase the power of your current ability to a peak." Thane said. "And with it, you'll surely become a Thrine member. There's nothing we want in return for making you a Thrine member, we just don't want the Anomaly to be chosen."
Elena stared at the weapons, desire replacing suspicion in her eyes. "That boy must really have you all stressed out, huh?" She shrugged, her avarice winning. "But whatever. I can't say no to a second chance."
She dropped her current daggers and reached for the new blades. The moment her fingers closed around the hilts, a massive surge of dark mana flowed into her. Her veins pulsed purple beneath her skin and she arched her back, letting out a sharp cry as the uncontrolled power flooded her system.
She instinctively stabbed the blades downward, trying to ground the excess force but the power surged back into her body.
Lyra stepped forward. "Don't fight the process, Elena."
Elena gasped, gritting her teeth against the pain. The power continued to flow, merging with her's.
When the purple pulsing subsided, she stood up slowly, her wounds already beginning to close. She held the new daggers with an effortless familiarity.
Thane smiled, satisfied. "And now, you're an SS-Rank Candidate."
Elena looked at the Instructors, the contempt in her eyes replaced by renewed ambition. "Thank you." she said, bowing her head slightly.
Thane dismissed the gesture with a wave of his hand. "No need to thank us. This isn't about you anyway."
He nodded to Lyra. She channeled her mana and the shimmering purple portal snapped open behind them.