You Have Made It

Aldrich couldn't help but ask, curious if they had secured first place in the competition.

However, his question was answered not by words, but by a subtle gesture from Trevor who nudged him and motioned for him to look to his right, ahead.

There, beneath the shade of a tree, was the golden-haired boy, Dante.

He lay leisurely, completely at ease, as if he had all the time in the world, his body unscathed and flawless.

"Dante! I should have known!" Aldrich muttered to himself, a mixture of recognition and resignation washing over him.

No surprises there, really. It was as expected.

Just as it was in the story, Dante had been the first to arrive. It had always been that way.

"This test turned out to favour those with artefacts, it seems," Aldrich mused quietly, his eyes flicking to Fiona's waist where her sword rested.

From it, he could sense a faint, pulsing glow—clear evidence that it was an artefact.