Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 137 - 135: Athena’s allies...

The chamber fell into a tense hush as the first riddle echoed through the speakers. The mechanical voice rang out with perfect clarity. Simultaneously, the glowing letters appeared on the enormous screen, mirrored perfectly across the glassy walls.

"Listen carefully, Scholars of Gravecrest Academy," the voice began, and the hum of expectation vibrated softly against the polished floor.

"Change one letter in me, I’m a place to rest. Change one more, I can move without legs. Change once again, I am something that guides. What am I originally?"

A ripple ran through the students. Confusion was evident in most of them expression. Some students instinctively leaned forward, trying to trace the letters in the glowing screen as if the answer might appear out of thin air.

Some students whispered...

"Wait... a place to rest? Could it be bed?"

"No... it said change letters. That doesn’t make sense."

"It’s a word chain! It has to be a word chain!"

Several students’ gazes were glued to the screen, mesmerized by the glowing letters, as if the words themselves were performing magic.

Athena looked at the riddle thoughtfully. Her thoughts running wide.

Felicia leaned closer, whispering with a mix of curiosity and nerves, "Athena... do you think we can get this?"

"I don’t know..." Athena murmured back, eyes fixed on the glowing letters, tracing each word slowly.

Behind them, Leo elbowed Levi, grinning mischievously. "What if it’s ’pillow’? Or... ’couch’? Or maybe it’s ’hamster’...wait, no, ’hamster’ moves without legs sometimes!"

Levi snorted into his hand, barely holding back laughter.

Athena and Felicia stifled giggles into their sleeves. Armand cursed softly under his breath, shaking his head, while Alaric sighed, a mix of exasperation and amusement on his face.

Meanwhile, whispers erupted across the chamber: "Did he just say ’hamster’?"

"Pfft... this is ridiculous."

"This is impossible!"

The mechanical voice’s calm tone cut through the chaos:

"Scholars, time is running. Consider your answers carefully."

Athena let out a heavy breath, she actually does have an idea, but she wasn’t so sure. And not to mention her heart was beating do wildly in her chest. The pressure, was pressing on her chest.

After a few tense seconds, both her hand and Rhydric’s shot up simultaneously. Their eyes met for a brief, startled. Rhydric raised a single brow and, said. "You go first."

Athena shook her head faintly, smiling. "No, it’s okay. You go first."

Rhydric inclined his head, taking a deep breath. "Sand?" he said finally, but something about his delivery faltered. His voice lacked conviction.

"Incorrect, Scholar Rhydric. You may proceed with your answer Miss Athena."

A collective gasp ran through the room. Students whispered in atonishment:

"The great Rhydric is wrong?"

"How... how did he get it wrong?"

"Is he messing with us?"

Athena took a breath, trying to calm the sudden flutter in her chest. Then she spoke. "Stone."

The mechanical voice paused, then replied in its unwavering tone. "Correct. Athena Ashbourneis the first scholar to solve the riddle. Athena Asher, you may now select ten teammates."

Athena froze. She hadn’t expected to get it correctly. She just guessed, because no other words fit into it.

Applause and murmurs erupted among the standing students. "How did she do it? Rhydric missed it, and she got it?"

"Did he miss it on purpose?"

Azrael leaned close to Rhydric, eyes narrowed. "You missed it on purpose, didn’t you?"

Rhydric’s expression remained unreadable, his gaze locked forward. Not a word came from him. Like he was going to acknowledge it.

Felicia’s eyes sparkled, and she leaned closer, whispering again, "Now... you get to choose your team. Who are you going to pick first?"

Athena exhaled slowly, her mind racing. She had won, yes, but now the real challenge began. Choosing her teammates could make or break her advantage in the upcoming rounds.

Athena stepped forward, her boots clicking softly against the polished floor of the Visionary Chamber. The students behind her murmured softly, craning their necks to watch her move. Standing alone at the front, she could feel the weight of every pair of eyes in the room.

The mechanical voice broke the tension, echoing smoothly across the chamber. "Scholar Athena Ashbourne, proceed to select ten teammates whom you trust for the next challenge. Choose wisely. Failure to form a capable team may result in loss of advantage. Your decision is final."

Athena’s palms were damp, her heart hammering in her chest. She had to pick the right people, or else, she would fail miserably. Losing this round wasn’t an option, and she wasn’t about to let her team falter.

Her eyes swept across the students standing in front of her. Felicia’s gaze caught hers first. The soft brown of her eyes flashed insistently, silently pleading. Choose me, they seemed to say. A small, tight smile tugged at Athena’s lips, despite her attempt to hide it.

Leo and Levi, ever the dramatics, were next. Their eyes and exaggerated gestures practically screamed, begging for Athena’s approval without making a sound. Athena tried to contain a laugh, covering her mouth with a trembling hand.

Alaric and Armand were harder to read. Alaric’s face remained neutral, with only the slightest twitch at his corner of his lips betraying his thoughts. Armand simply nodded, expression blank as stone. Athena gave them both a long, appraising look.

Her gaze then shifted to the Phantom Fours. Eryx, Theodore, Azrael, and Rhydric. Their expressions were unreadable, they were all hard to read. Except Eryx, even without a word, Athena could feel his desire to be the next. He wanted to be chosen, and she knew it. She could almost feel the heat radiating from him, wrapping around her like a cloak she wasn’t sure she wanted to remove.

She inhaled deeply and squared her shoulders. It was time. She would choose those she trusted, and no one else’s opinions would sway her.

"Felicia," Athena called, a playful lilt in her voice. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Felicia’s eyes widened. She leapt forward eagerly, and Athena chuckled as she took her place beside her.

"Levi," she continued, and he saluted dramatically, walking up with a flourish, chest puffed out like a prince stepping into battle.

What the fuck did Leo feed this guy? Each passing day, his behavior was becoming more of Leo.