K_Mopo

Eileen Caldwell had always been the epitome of a laid-back individual. From her early years to her teens, her passion for leisure rivaled that of any professional napper. School was merely a necessary inconvenience, and she found herself comfortably situated at the bottom of her class hierarchy, much to the chagrin of her teachers and the bemusement of her peers.

However, all of this changed on her 18th birthday signaling her transition into adulthood, a mysterious system was activated, one that would upend her world of sloth and slumber. Gone were the days of lounging around without consequence; instead, Eileen found herself thrust into a destiny she could scarcely have imagined.

This newly activated system, with its stern mandate against idleness, revealed to Eileen her true potential: she was destined to become one of the most formidable mages the world had ever seen. No longer could she while away the hours in blissful ignorance; instead, she was called upon to harness her latent magical abilities and rise to the challenge that lay before her.

Become a top mage at all costs

"I give up," Thalira suddenly declared, her shadows dissipating.

I stared at her, my flames flickering out as her words sunk in. "What? No! You're not giving up!" I shouted, stepping closer to her. "You were going to win!"

Thalira gave me a tired smile. "Eileen, it's okay. Sometimes it's not about winning."

"That's ridiculous!" I argued, my frustration boiling over. "We were in the middle of an epic fight! You can't just quit!"

She chuckled weakly. "You're really something, Eileen."

"Don't laugh at me!" I said, folding my arms. "This is serious."

But before I could continue my tirade, Thalira swayed on her feet, her eyes rolling back as she collapsed. "Stop faking," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

However, the medics from the infirmary rushed onto the arena floor, lifting her onto a stretcher. I felt a pang of guilt. Maybe she wasn't faking after all.