Chapter 358: Numbers, Teeth, and the Shape of Fate

Chapter 357: Numbers, Teeth, and the Shape of Fate

For a moment after Garron’s words settled, no one moved.

Then the first trainee stepped forward.

The platform creaked softly beneath boots as the process began. One by one, trainees approached the raised platform, slipped a hand into the wooden box, fingers brushing against smooth tokens, fate reduced to carved numbers and chance.

They withdrew their hands, raised the tokens, and the murmurs began.

Sophia stood still, hands clasped behind her back, heart thudding a little harder with each number called.

Nia was the first in their group to pick; she had been standing beside Sophia in a different line after all.

She turned back briefly, eyes bright despite the tension, and Sophia leaned forward just enough to catch her attention before she left.

"Good luck," Sophia whispered.

Nia grinned. "You too."

She climbed the platform and reached into the box, hesitated for a breath, then pulled out a token and lifted it high.

"Team One."

A ripple of reaction passed through the crowd. Nia exhaled, shoulders loosening as she stepped aside and moved to the left, standing beneath the marker that designated her team.

Micah followed almost immediately. His hand dipped into the box, closed around a token, and emerged.

"Team One."

Nia’s face lit up. She laughed softly as Micah joined her, offering him a relieved smile.

"Well," she said, nudging him with her elbow, "looks like we’re stuck together."

Micah chuckled. "Could be worse."

More trainees stepped forward. Numbers were called. Groups began to form—small clusters growing larger, faces turning familiar and unfamiliar in equal measure.

Sophia tracked them all automatically, filing it away even though she told herself it didn’t matter.

Dren stepped up when his turn came.

His hand disappeared into the box, lingered a fraction longer than the others, then emerged.

"Team Four."

Dren glanced toward his group instinctively, then back at his token. His shoulders slumped just a little before he straightened and moved to his assigned place. None of his friends were in his group... yet.

Cat and Laia were next—one after the other—and when both called out "Team Eight," Cat whooped softly and pulled Laia into a quick side hug.

"Guess we’re surviving together," Cat said.

Laia snorted. "You’re not getting rid of me that easily."

Sophia exhaled slowly.

Her turn came sooner than she expected.

She stepped forward, boots crunching against the snow-dusted ground, suddenly very aware of Orion’s gaze on her back. She didn’t turn to look at him, though. Her hand slipped into the box.

The token was cool beneath her fingers.

She pulled it out.

"Team Six."

A murmur followed her words.

Sophia moved to the right, toward the marker for Team Six, pulse steadying as she took her place. She scanned the small group already gathered—two trainees she recognized vaguely, both competent, both quiet.

Joren stepped up after her, and Dren wished that the Moon Goddess would take pity on him and put Joren on the same team as him. But his wish didn’t come true. It seemed not to be his day after all.

Joren reached into the box, withdrew his token, and lifted it with a wide grin since he was on the same team as Sophia.

"Team Six."

Sophia smiled at him. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Joren joined her immediately, a bounce in his step, thanking the Goddess that he was on the same team as one of his favourite people ever. Actually, his second most favourite person. Orion was still his first.

From the front, Orion watched the groups form, his brow furrowed deeply now. His gaze flicked from Team One—where Micah stood—to Team Six, where Sophia was.

He sighed just as Noctis chuckled.

*Seems fate has other plans,* Noctis told him.

Orion rolled his eyes but wasn’t able to reply because the last trainee stepped up.

Holly.

She moved with an ease that didn’t quite fit the moment, her steps unhurried, expression neutral. She dipped her hand into the box, fingers brushing the tokens with deliberate slowness before selecting one.

She raised it.

"Team Six."

For a fraction of a second, something sharp flickered across her face.

A smirk. But it disappeared just as quickly as it came. Sophia noticed, though.

Her stomach tightened as Holly walked toward them, boots crunching softly, gaze sliding over Sophia before settling on the rest of the group.

Joren leaned closer to Sophia, voice low. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

Sophia didn’t answer. Her eyes never left Holly.

"The Goddess is playing tricks on us," Joren muttered. "Why would the one person we all dislike be stuck with us?"

"I have no idea, Joren," she told him.

Orion itched to tell Garron to change the group—to put Holly in a different group—but he had promised not to do anything like that. Besides, if he did, everyone would point out the injustice and want the same privilege, working only with those they liked.

He shouldn’t be worried, though, because Sophia could take care of herself. He knew that.

Holly gave Sophia a look as she took her place. Nia stiffened beside Micah, who stared with clenched jaws.

Garron stepped forward, cutting off the thick tension with a clap of his hands to draw attention.

"The teams are finalized. Now listen carefully," he told them.

Every trainee turned to him immediately.

"I’m sure this wasn’t how you thought the teams would be selected, but if we let you pick who you want to work with, then it doesn’t give you the chance to learn," he told them.

"This test will show if you are capable of being a hunter and a guard or warrior. During patrols, you get to work with people who aren’t friends with you. When hunters go hunting, they don’t go with friends, and everyone learns to adapt to each other, and also protect and help one another as the family that we are. That is why the team selection was random. Some of you are enemies on the same team—work with it. And in case I didn’t make this clear enough with my words, let me state it clearly: once in a team, you cannot change. You will finish the test with your team members, and if you want to change, then you can wait for the next placement test."

No one moved at his words. Trainees side-eyed each other. Nia and Micah stared at the trainee who had insulted Sophia—funny how the same trainee was in their group too. They were going to make sure he stayed in the same team; they had plans for him after all.

"Each team will be assigned a different task. The task depends on your examiners," Garron continued. "However, there is one thing that applies to all of you equally—a general task."

He let his gaze sweep over the trainees.

"Teamwork and individual strength," he said calmly.

"You will be observed—closely—on how well you work with your team members and your strength as an individual as well. This test is not just about individual strength; it’s also about cooperation."

Joren raised his hand.

Garron nodded toward him. "Yes?"

"I’m a little confused," Joren said honestly. "Do we complete the task individually, or as a group?"

Garron smiled faintly. "Both."

A ripple of unease passed through the trainees.

"Each individual," Garron explained, "is required to bring back the remains of a beast they personally kill."

Sophia’s fingers curled slightly at her sides.

"Each beast carries a point value," Garron continued, "and your total must reach at least one hundred points."

He paused deliberately. "Fail to meet that threshold, and you will not pass."

A trainee near the back raised their hand. "Sir—what if someone kills something like a Trihydra? Or a Skylur?"

The trainees went still at that.

Garron’s brows lifted just slightly. "Those are not on the list."

A few nervous chuckles followed.

"I highly doubt you’ll encounter beasts of that caliber," Garron went on calmly. "But since you asked..." His lips curved faintly. "I’m not going to tell you what happens unless it happens."

That shut everyone up. They knew it was very unlikely to happen.

"You will have three hours," Garron said. "Anyone who fails to reach one hundred points within that time will automatically have to wait until the next placement."

"The points for each beast have been placed at the gates. You have five minutes—or even less—to observe and plan your tactics. And that’s just the general task. Each examiner will also tell you what beast you are to get for them. If you do not pass your examiner’s test, then you do not pass at all."

Shocked sounds spread through the gathering.

"Sir, I don’t understand. What do you mean by that?" a trainee asked Garron.

Garron gave the trainee a smile.

"Your examiners will explain better. One more thing—if you hear the sound of wolves howling, that means you stop the test and regroup. Is that clear?" Garron asked them.

"Yes, sir!" they echoed.

He nodded and stepped back, his expression hardening into something solemn.

"May the Goddess be with you."