Chapter 13: Welcome to Tavill 3.0

The students observing Nathaniel and Selene on the orb are left speechless, their mouths hanging open in shock and disbelief. What they have just witnessed is beyond their comprehension as they watch the couple spreading the snake innards and guts around the cave.

From the perspective of the spectators, Nathaniel and Selene seem like notorious serial killers, their actions gruesome and unsettling. The onlookers can only stare in silent horror, their expressions a mix of fascination and revulsion.

As more students gather to watch the scene unfolding on the orb, the size of the image grows larger, capturing the attention of an increasing number of curious onlookers. The cave and its surroundings are now coated in a macabre display of snake remains, painting a disturbing picture that leaves the spectators at a loss for words.

~

Laughter suddenly erupts from the Master of the House of Shadows, breaking the shocked silence among the chairs. His booming laughter fills the arena, drawing annoyed looks from the others seated around him.

"I'm sorry," he manages to say between fits of laughter, but it only serves to intensify his amusement.

"Ethan had the same idea, you know, but his son is insane," he says amidst his laughter, trying to catch his breath. "Look at this gruesome scene," he continues, pointing at the orb displaying Nathaniel and Selene's actions, which only sends him into another round of laughter.

Finally regaining his composure, Elder Archon Shadowcrest wipes tears from his eyes. "This is the most fun I've had in over 40 years, since I've been here at Tavill," he admits with a grin, the amusement still lingering in his eyes.

Addressing the others seated around him, he adds, "Don't be stingy with your merits, despite the... interesting display." He nods towards the orb showing the couple covered in snake innards. "There's definitely no beast that will come within a few feet of their cave. Didn't you see the way the young lady broke down her dress for makeshift weapons? I can come up with multiple reasons," he says with a mischievous glint in his eye, challenging his colleagues.

With that, Elder Archon Shadowcrest turns his attention back to the orb, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he continues to watch the intriguing duo in action.

~

Unaware of the reactions of the spectators watching their actions on the orb, Nathaniel and Selene sit inside the cave. They have created a cozy space with a pile of leaves, using it as their makeshift seating. In front of them, two snakes are skewered and roasting over a small fire.

The crackling of the fire mixes with the occasional hiss of the roasting snakes, filling the cave with a warm and comforting ambiance. Nathaniel and Selene sit close together, their expressions calm and focused as they tend to their impromptu meal.

~

Amidst the bored and dozing students, one pair of eyes suddenly snaps open. Student B notices movement on the orb, his attention immediately captured by the unfolding scene.

His eyes widen in disbelief as he watches Selene on the orb, being chased by a grey wolf. The intensity of the chase and the danger of the situation jolt him awake.

"Everyone, wake up! You have to see this!" Student B exclaims loudly, his voice cutting through the drowsiness of the other spectators.

His urgent tone and excitement draw the attention of those around him, causing a ripple of curiosity to spread through the group. As they turn their focus back to the orb, the scene of Selene being pursued by the wolf grips their attention, the previous boredom replaced by a sense of anticipation and concern.

~

Through the dark woods, Selene races with all her might, her heart pounding in her chest as she's chased by a large grey wolf. It's a marvel how she navigates the terrain with such speed and agility, deftly avoiding roots and branches in the night.

Visible exhaustion begins to show on her face as the relentless wolf gains ground, its powerful legs propelling it forward with determination. Just as the wolf is about to close the distance and strike with its sharp claws, Selene makes a sudden sharp turn to the left, deftly climbing over a slight incline.

The wolf, unable to stop its momentum, slams straight into a tree with a resounding thud. Angered by its mistake, the wolf quickly recovers and accelerates even faster in pursuit. Selene can feel its hot breath on her heels, the danger imminent.

With the wolf closing in, Selene narrowly dodges its snapping jaws and slashing claws, the rush of adrenaline fueling her movements. But the wolf is relentless, its proximity almost suffocating.

Just as the wolf is about to pounce and end the chase, Selene is suddenly yanked up from the ground with incredible speed. The wolf, momentarily confused, fails to notice the hidden vine that causes it to trip and stumble.

Seizing the opportunity, Nathaniel leaps onto the wolf's back with a makeshift spear in hand. He plunges the crude weapon into the wolf's side, eliciting a howl of pain. Undeterred, Nathaniel retrieves another spear and strikes again, his movements swift and precise.

With the wolf now struggling on the ground, Selene steps forward, her expression steely and determined. She holds out another spear to Nathaniel, who takes it without hesitation. Together, they stand before the wounded wolf, their eyes cold and unforgiving.

Nathaniel delivers the final blow with a powerful thrust, the spear piercing the wolf's heart. As the creature breathes its last, its eyes meet Selene's, and in that moment, it realizes it was never the hunter but the prey all along.

Selene approaches the fallen wolf and gives it a slight kick, but the creature remains unresponsive. Nathaniel, feeling mischievous, grabs a nearby branch and carefully pokes the wolf. Seizing the opportunity for a playful moment, I sneak up behind Nathaniel and shout, "Boo!" startling him so much that he falls to his feet. I burst into laughter at his reaction.

"How mature, Selene," Nathaniel says with a grin, reaching out his hand for me to stand. As I reach to take his hand, he suddenly pulls me down to the ground with him, both of us now laughing uncontrollably. The rush of adrenaline from the intense encounter with the wolf begins to wear off, leaving us both exhilarated and slightly bewildered.

"That was insane," I manage to say between laughs, the absurdity of the situation hitting me. Why had we decided to do this? The question lingers in the air as we continue to laugh, the tension of the moment giving way to shared amusement.

~

The spectators on the orb watch in disbelief as the duo, who moments ago were engaged in a life-or-death battle with a grey wolf, now goof off and laugh together. It's a stark contrast to the intense and dangerous situation they had just faced.

Some of the spectators shake their heads in wonder, realizing that Nathaniel and Selene had hunted the wolf with a level of efficiency and skill that they had never witnessed before in first years. While they had seen others hunted in groups of five or more, or even by accident, this was very impressive for 15 year olds.

The onlookers exchange bewildered glances, trying to make sense of the sudden shift in mood from intense battle to carefree laughter. As Nathaniel and Selene continue to laugh and play, the spectators can't help but feel a sense of admiration mixed with curiosity for the remarkable duo before them.