There was a moment of silence as everyone processed Reya’s revelation. Before Arwin could say anything, Olive jumped out of her sheets and grabbed the other girl’s shoulder. “What do you have to do?” “Huh? It’s not really that specific,” Reya replied, flinching slightly in response to the touch. “I just have to master Wyrmhunger. Why? Do you know something?” Olive breathed out a sigh of relief and let her hand slip off Reya’s shoulder. It took her a second to realize that everyone was staring at her. Her face paled a shade and she busied herself re-collecting the sheets she’d lost. “Have you heard of Challenges before?” Arwin asked when it became clear that Olive wasn’t about to volunteer any more information on her own. Olive paused halfway through bundling herself back up. Her gaze bored into the floor for nearly a second before she let out a sigh and straightened back up. “Yes. Unfortunately.” “Unfortunately?” Rodrick asked. “It sounds like there’s a story in the making.” “There’s no making.” Olive hopped back onto her chair and leaned against the counter. “It’s already over. Challenges are a curse.” “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to tell us what you know about them?” Arwin asked. “We were all under the impression that they’re concealed or otherwise hidden from the general public. Nobody here knows anything about them.” “You don’t typically need your eyes for an arm-wrestling contest,” Olive said. “Thank you, Olive,” Jason said dryly. “Come on. I’m starving, and we’ve been wasting time here for hours already. No point tiring ourselves out before tomorrow. Big day and all that. Everyone coming?” The others all nodded, but Olive hesitated. “I’m not done with my training for today. Maybe I’ll—” “Join in a few hours,” Jason finished, the inflection of his voice changing to match hers as he rolled his eyes. “Right. See you tomorrow morning, Olive. Make sure you aren’t too exhausted. We can’t afford to fail. This is our chance.” “I know,” Olive said. Her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword as the others all headed out, leaving her alone in the arena. She kept her features flat. That did nothing to still the clenched knot in her stomach. It was her choice, after all. She was the one that stayed to practice instead of spending time with the others. It wasn’t fair to complain when they left and did what they’d been planning on doing. Nobody wanted to spend all their time practicing. That didn’t stop her from wishing that someone would stick around a bit longer, even if she wasn’t going out with them. It would have been nice to have company. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is getting stronger. Jason was right. Tomorrow is our chance. We can get ourselves ranked. We’ll get access to so many restricted dungeons. The fame and money wouldn’t hurt either. Olive adjusted her grip on her sword, raising it in her right arm and going through a form. It felt like she’d practiced it more times than she’d drawn breaths. Olive’s eyes drifted shut as she sank into the movement of her blade. Her mind followed its path in the air around her. She didn’t need to see anything. She knew its exact position. It was more than just a weapon. It was an extension of her body. An extension of her mind. It was part of her. Olive danced with her sword, pressing herself as hard as she could. There were always spots to improve in. Her legs could move just a bit faster. Her balance could be just a bit better. Every single bit counted. Every single improvement was a step closer to her goals and every single step was a reminder of how far from them she really was. She pushed herself harder. Mediocrity wasn’t enough. There was an entire world of power stretched out before her, waiting to be claimed. If I just try harder, I can — Olive missed a step. It was a small mistake, but it was enough for her to trip over her own feet. She stumbled and caught herself before she could fall, her teeth gritting. It isn’t enough. No matter how hard I try, I’m not good enough. The others don’t get it. I don’t just want to be strong enough to survive. I want to be better. She let her eyes drift open — and froze in place. Golden letters shimmered in the air before her, patiently awaiting a response. Challenge: [Master thy Sword] has been offered. [Master Thy Sword] – You have sought mastery over the sword for your entire life, striving to achieve it with such intensity that all other aspects of your life have been left to fester. Here’s a chance to claim that power you so desperately desire. Rewards: Variable depending on level of success. Milestone 1: When the time comes, restrictions will be placed upon you by the Mesh. Defeat an opponent the Mesh selects to remove the restrictions and advance upon the path of the blade. Would you like to accept the Challenge? Olive stared at the words floating before her, her mouth falling askew in shock. She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was around. The arena was empty. It wasn’t like it mattered. The only person that could see the Mesh’s offer was her. What in the world is a Challenge? I’ve never heard of anything before. Her confusion did nothing to change the letters. Olive didn’t know what had caused them to appear. This hadn’t been the first time she’d thought about trying to get stronger. It hadn’t been the first time she’d failed in her forms, nor had it been the first time she’d beaten the others in a fight without skills. There was no reason the Mesh would have offered her anything. And yet, the floating words remained all the same. She swallowed and glanced over her shoulder again. Her eyes were drawn back to the Challenge almost instantly. The Mesh offers things directly to people? That’s a bit concerning. It almost feels like making a deal with a devil. But it doesn’t lie. If this is really the Mesh… it could be the solution I’ve been trying to find. Olive lifted a hand. It drifted in the air, not even daring to reach out and touch the glowing offer. She swallowed again, then steeled her nerves and set her jaw. She’d come this far in the pursuit of her dream.