11. A Challenge

Early the next morning, she was woken up by a knock on the door.

She opened her eyes, meeting that now-familiar roof. The soreness in her body reminded her of what happened last night. Her hands curled. Lysha!

She staggered to the door and opened it, only to find Elsa standing outside. Did that fool come about the duel? To give her nonsense that she was stronger than Lysha?

Elsa stared at Radella's bruised face with concern. Then she bowed slightly. "Luna, Madam Viola ordered that you prepare yourself and join the gathering of unmated girls per Eon's orders."

She heard about it when she was locked up and even considered it. But to be a girl to serve them?

Elsa continued, "It was a direct order from Eon that you should be there." Sincerely, she added, "Don't worry, there wasn't any dark energy around them."

Radella pierced her with a look. "Was I supposed to be thankful?"

Elsa shrunk back. "But if you defy them, they might kill you."

"I'm not going." Saying that, she intended to close the door.

But Elsa stopped it with her palm. "I'm sorry, I can't let you die. You must go, Luna."

Elsa pushed the door, overwhelming Radella easily, and got inside.

Radella's teeth ground together until they hurt. Even a servant could do as she pleased with her.

---

In the hall, a young woman stood at the center, singing an opera.

Celia watched it with a frown.

Adrien leaned forward, paying attention.

Menelyck... dozing off.

As the girl finished, Adrien clapped. "Good."

"What are we doing?" Menelyck asked as he leaned on the chair lazily, watching with disinterest.

"What else? Finding her," Adrien replied without looking at him, paying attention forward.

Menelyck stood up, ready to leave.

"Where are you going? It's just getting started."

"To kill the seer," Menelyck casually replied.

A week now. He roamed over the pack, searching for that one he was told, to no avail. Either the seer lied or she wasn't here. And he believed the first.

"Remember her?" Adrien asked and pointed with his eyes at the center.

Menelyck turned to the front and stopped. He had almost forgotten about that girl. Remembering his encounter with her, he sat back in his seat.

"Archery?" Adrien mused, looking at the bow in her hands and the quiver beside her. "Wasn't it supposed to be a flute?"

Radella was the one at the center. In the end, Elsa did make sure she joined this gathering. She even prepared her.

"Do you know why you're here, little Luna?" Menelyck slowly asked.

Radella stared at him, not even trying to mask her seriousness. "To make your stay worthy, isn't it?"

Adrien laughed. "You could say that."

Radella prepared a bow and held it, facing them.

"You should think twice," Celia said, a clear warning in her voice as Radella prepared her arrows.

Radella turned to her and sneered. "Why are you so alert? I cannot even touch you."

"Quite a sharp tongue. Be careful, it might lead to your death," Celia added.

"Thank you for your concern." Radella took two arrows from the quiver and targeted the guests.

Radella pulled the string back with all her strength.

Then she released.

The arrows struck the table, piercing the fruit in a bowl just before Adrien.

Adrien stared at them for a moment, then looked back at Radella, something shifting in his expression. Slowly, he began to clap.

"Goddess. Let me have her."

No one in the hall cheered, even though the shot had been perfect.

Menelyck's hand twitched slightly. That girl... was she challenging him, or was she just a fool who didn't know what she was doing?

Celia slammed her hand on the table. "You are seeking death!"

Celia didn't finish her words, only to see Radella picking up another three arrows, maintaining the same expression.

Radella pulled the string back again. For a brief moment, she paused. How she wished the target pierced him.

The arrows cut the air, heading toward the guest at the center. Menelyck. This time, not a table.

The arrows froze mid-air before they could reach their destination.

Radella turned her gaze to Celia, who had her hand extended. It was she who stopped the arrows with her air element, which then dropped to the floor.

Of course, killing them was almost impossible.

Adrien's expression hardened for a moment, then he laughed and clapped. "Awesome."

Celia rose abruptly, her patience gone. She lifted and waved her hand, and a powerful invisible force surged forward like a violent storm.

Radella tried to move, but it was too fast.

The nearby tables shattered, sending the other girls aside.

She prepared for the hit and closed her eyes. Nothing had landed on her.

When she opened them, she was face-to-face with the man with red hair. Which, to her, meant her plan worked. He noticed her.

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill you?" Menelyck evenly asked, but his voice was edged with coldness.

"Who told you I want to live? After you killed my father, the only thing that kept me till now was to kill you," Radella said fearlessly and with anger.

"Your father?" Menelyck tilted his head. Right, the Alpha of this pack was executed by his father. "You're trembling, yet you still dare to do all of this? For revenge?"

A smirk spread across his face. "I... accepted your challenge. In five days, if you fail to kill me..." He leaned closer, his voice dropping. "I'll help you meet your father."

His smile widened even further.

"Menelyck!" Celia shouted in great protest.

"Stop overreacting," Adrien said, never letting go of Celia's hands.

Menelyck headed outside, leaving Radella just like that.

"Next time, he won't be stopping you," Celia threatened after she neared Radella, looking her in the eyes.

Radella lightly replied, "We will see about that."

Celia fumed. How could this little ant...

Then Adrien approached Radella. He smiled. "You can call me Adrien."

Radella only stared.

Adrien, finding no reply, chuckled. Then he leaned closer, looking directly into her eyes. "I can tell what you're thinking. Don't keep those naive thoughts. There is a difference between courage and foolishness. All the best."

He winked before he rushed to catch up with the others.

Radella let out a heavy breath. Five days?