Page 258 of The Wishing Game

"Everything all right?" she whispers as I squeeze between her and another girl—anything to have someone familiar by my side. My limbs are still trembling from the residual anxiety, adrenaline pumping in my veins and urging me to run away and never come back. Yet I can't do that. Not yet...

I nod, straining a smile.

"Luce?"Ze's voice resounds in my mind.

"Ze! The high priestess took my bracelet,"I hurry to say.

"Do not fret. I presumed she might take it."

"But what will I do now?"I mutter, agitated.

"You will do nothing. Continue on, and should you fail the first test, you will come back to me."

"But... I let you down. I'm sorry."I sigh.

"You did no such thing,"he immediately replies. "Everything is going according to plan, Luce."

"But she took my bracelet..."I grumble, realizing how disappointed I am that she took it from me. Will I be able to get it back? It was a gift after all, regardless ofwhyZe gave it to me, and I happened to like it very much.

"I will recover the bracelet for you,"he intones confidently."I shall see you soon, Luce," he adds before he severs the connection.

I didn't even get to ask him how his demon slaying is going.

Huffing out a breath, I look around, noting that the high priestess has not made another appearance yet.

"Do you know what's going to happen next?" I whisper to Wyn.

She shakes her head.

"I am not entirely certain. From what I've heard, the first test measures spiritual power, after which, those deemed worthy advance to the next stage. But I don't know what the test entails," she whispers back.

My lips flatten into a tight line. Okay, so I'll wait to fail this spiritual power test and then I can be on my way. Still, I can't help but feel a slight disappointment at not being able to help Ze further. I promised him I'd disable the runes, yet not even five minutes into the mission and I'm singled out, my only advantage taken away from me.

A sigh escapes me, my fists clenched by my side.

Why can't I be just a little more useful? If only I had some cool abilities to help me navigate these circumstances... Then I wouldn't have to depend on anyone to help me in The Wishing Game either, and I could simply move from one trial to another until I'd get my crowning wish and Nikki would come back to me.

Yet things are not as simple as that, are they?

I'm just a lowly human to everyone around here, and no matter how much I wish otherwise, the truth of the matter is that Iamrather useless.

Wyn's question echoes in my mind.

Why would Ze want to associate himself with a human? He told me countless times how weak and breakable I am due to myhuman condition, yet he still continues to hang around me, beingniceto me.

What would a powerful god like Ze—one who is feared by most of his world—want with me?

My musings are interrupted by the sound of a horn reverberating through the air. My gaze snaps forward, my eyes focusing on the fountain where a flash of red announces the appearance of the high priestess. She's sitting on the ledge of the fountain, walking along the thin border in her high heels.

"Welcome, my darlings," she calls out as she spreads her arms. Her voice booms in the entire courtyard, snapping everyone to attention.

"Thank you for joining me on this marvelous day. I cannot wait to get to know some of you over the course of the next week. After the tests are over, one of you will join us at the temple for a permanent position."

Low cheers erupt among the participants, but a severe glance from the high priestess and the entire courtyard falls silent.

"The duty of the temple is to preserve tradition, and from its inception, priestesses have been tasked with protecting the ancient artifacts left behind by the Primordials. This is a duty that no one should take lightly. The temple needs its priestesses to be strong both in mind and spirit. Loyalty, honesty, and perseverance are the three qualities we look for in our recruits. As you have noticed, some participants have been excluded, and that is because they were caught using underhanded ways to secure a spot at the temple. I understand that this is a prestigious position, but trickery willnotbe allowed." Her eyes meet mine, holding my gaze for a second before moving on.

I swallow hard, somehow feeling that was directed at me. But if she thinks I was trying to use the bracelet to get ahead, why didn't she expose me? Why let me continue?

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