[Alaric's Chamber - An Hour Before Dawn]
Alaric stepped through his portal back into the hidden chamber, the Gauntlet was still clutched in his hand. He looked furious and defeated, his shoulders slumped as he slammed the Gauntlet onto a nearby stone pedestal.
Lyra immediately noticed the returned Relic. "Alaric? Why do you have the Gauntlet back here with you?"
Alaric ran a weary hand through his hair, turning to face at two Instructors. "The boy refused it."
Thane, raised a skeptical eyebrow. "How does a human refuse a high-tier Relic? That's impossible."
"Yeah, well." Alaric countered, sinking onto his stool and resting his head heavily in his hands. "Guess we don't know humans like we think we do." He rubbed his temples. "Just when I thought things wouldn't get any worse, now all I can do is hope the Game doesn't choose him."
The chamber door opened and the Librarian hurried in, holding a scroll. He looked stressed and nervous to interrupt the Instructors.
"Uh, sir." the Librarian said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I have reports that Damien and Elena... have been eliminated. Not by other Candidates but by the Game itself. It has already chosen two Participants."
Alaric's head snapped up. "FUCK!"
Lyra stepped forward, her expression grim. "At this rate, that boy will be chosen as well. Our interference failed completely. We need to report this matter to the Council immediately."
Thane, however, stood silent for a long moment. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Or... we leave it as it is."
Lyra stared at him in disbelief. "Are you insane, Thane? The Game might select the Anomaly!"
"I mean, yes, the boy is an Anomaly." Thane conceded. "But he hasn't done anything to make him a real threat to the Game. Think about it, If he was truly set on destroying the Game, he would have killed every other Candidate, leaving only the two most powerful besides himself to force his selection."
He walked over to the viewport, looking out at the city lights. "He didn't. Instead, he even let the Game choose its participants naturally, even with the presence of other powerful SS-Ranks. So, at some point, I think the boy didn't really force himself into the Game. Perhaps there was some sort of misunderstanding that led to his initial Anomaly status."
Lyra frowned, considering the argument. "There's a fifty percent chance that you might be right." she admitted reluctantly. "And another fifty percent that suggests you might be wrong and the boy was only waiting to enter the Game to use his whatever tactics to destroy the Game from within."
The Librarian, who had been hovering near the door, nervously re-entered the chamber and was holding a second scroll. He was trembling.
"Uh, sir, I'm terribly sorry to interrupt again, but... the Game has officially chosen its Thrine for your city."
The Librarian carefully unfurled the scroll, which glowed with the golden light.
He read the list aloud:
"Luna Longford."
"Kyrren Shaun."
The Librarian swallowed hard, his eyes wide as he read the final name.
"Ravyn Grantham."
Alaric slammed his fist down on the stone pedestal destroying it completely.
Lyra took a deep, steadying breath and accepting the inevitable. "Well..." she stated flatly, looking at the furious Alaric. "It's on now."