The rise of the unorthodox

The labyrinth stretched endlessly around us, its dark, towering walls suffocating yet strangely magnetic. With only an hour left, we had no choice but to pick up the pace. Delight had flown high above the maze to scout for an exit, her wings shimmering faintly against the oppressive sky. She descended moments later, urgency etched across her face.

"We're close," she panted. "We just need to keep moving. Fast."

Daniel nodded, his expression as sharp as a blade. "Let's make a run for it."

No one argued. As a group, we bolted forward, taking lefts and rights without hesitation. The adrenaline coursing through us sharpened our instincts; we could almost feel the exit calling to us.

After several minutes, the final turn came into view—and there it was: the bright, shimmering portal marking the end of the labyrinth. Relief flooded my chest.

"Damn, we're good!" Devin shouted, his usual smirk tugging at his lips. "These guys better bite their teeth when they see us!"

I couldn't help but grin. "You know it. Let's wrap this up."

Of course, Daniel had to rain on the moment. "Don't celebrate yet. We haven't rescued the end." His voice dripped with caution, ever the self-appointed leader.

I rolled my eyes, biting back a retort. "We're all equals here, Daniel," I muttered under my breath, though he didn't seem to hear.

Then it happened.

The ground below us trembled violently, a deep, guttural rumble that reverberated through the air. We skidded to a halt, exchanging alarmed glances. The walls groaned ominously, small bits of stone crumbling down.

"What the hell—" Devin began, but the words died in his throat as the earth beneath us gave way.

The ground collapsed, plunging us into a swirling void of darkness.

"A trap…" I thought bitterly, my heart pounding in terror.

"Hold on! Stick together!" Daniel shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

Delight's scream pierced the air, sharp and blood-curdling, her fear palpable. Devin, always quick to act, clamped a hand over her mouth. "Shut up, Delight! Focus!"

Panic threatened to consume me—until I felt it.

My hair moved.

The familiar sensation was foreign now, alien in the way it acted on its own. Black and viscous, it stretched toward the walls, shimmering with an otherworldly light. Tendrils formed, sharp and purposeful, latching onto the crumbling stone like anchors.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, the tendrils wove together into a sturdy net, catching us mid-fall and holding us suspended above the void.

"Beatrix…" Delight's voice trembled as she clung to the net, her eyes wide with disbelief. "How did you… How did you do that?"

I hesitated, my mouth dry. "I didn't," I admitted, staring at my shimmering, liquid-like hair. "It acted on its own."

There was no time for questions. Gripping the tendrils, I swung us forward, my hair obeying my unspoken commands. One by one, I hauled everyone to the solid ground at the labyrinth's end.

We collapsed in a heap, breathing heavily, our hearts racing.

"Congratulations, Squad Black, for completing the course as one of the top three teams!" The commentator's voice boomed overhead, cheerful and oblivious to our near-death experience.

"Top three?" I muttered, craning my neck to see who had beaten us.

My eyes landed on Squad Snow, their leader, Matthew, standing tall and smug amidst his team. Known for their discipline and overwhelming power, they had clearly lived up to their reputation.

"Good job, team. We made it," Daniel said through clenched teeth. He was trying to maintain his facade, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. He was rattled, just like the rest of us.

But something caught my eye—literally. A red aura flickered faintly around Daniel, subtle but unmistakable. The same crimson energy swirled around Delight, though hers was more intense, as if her fear had magnified it.

Devin, strangely, had none. His usual calm seemed unnaturally unshaken.

"What is this?" I whispered, brushing my hand against my eye. Was it… because of it?

High above in the stadium's observation booth, the officials watched the scene with rapt interest.

"Squad Snow continues to impress," said an older man, his white beard gleaming as he stroked it thoughtfully.

"They're strong," Sergeant Fredin grunted, his voice heavy with disapproval. "But reckless. They didn't solve the riddle—they beat the riddler and forced their way through."

A younger man with green hair chuckled, his face partially obscured by the shadows. "Is that a problem? We never said they had to answer the riddle."

Fredin's gaze hardened. "Watch your tone, Kallias. There's a line between strategy and insubordination."

Kallias smirked but said nothing, leaning back lazily in his chair.

Meanwhile, a woman with warm brown skin and dark, curly hair observed Beatrix with a sharp, predatory grin. "She's growing," she murmured. "Soon, she'll be ready to take under my wing." Her words dripped with a poisonous sweetness, her eyes glittering with ambition.

.....

Back at Devin's dorm, I sat on his plush sofa, exhausted but restless.

"Let's figure out what's up with your eye," Devin said, his usual teasing demeanor replaced with rare seriousness.

I removed my contact lenses, carefully placing them in their container. Devin leaned in, his phone's flash startling me as he snapped a picture.

"Ugh, seriously? A warning would've been nice!" I snapped, squinting against the sudden light.

He rolled his eyes. "Shut up. I'm doing an image search. You wouldn't think of that, would you?"

I glared at him but stayed quiet.

After a few minutes, his expression shifted. He handed me his phone, and I read the search result aloud, my stomach twisting.

"The Eye of the Esper."