Being frozen was weird.
Selene could feel everything staying exactly the same from the moment it happened.
The ground.
The air.
Everything had this strange sameness to it, kind of like lying in bed when you were trying to fall asleep.
So while Selene would not admit to it one way or another, she may have fallen asleep.
"Hey, Selene," Jax said. "Seleeeeeeeene. If you don't wake up, I'm gonna have to lick your face and make it all slobbery."
Jax and Beatris stared at her through a small crack in whatever she was inside.
Selene groaned and shifted her arms, feeling walls around her as she looked toward the crack where dim, but still piercing, light came in.
"J-Jax," Selene asked, "what exactly am I in right now?"
"From the looks of it, a stone coffin," Jax said. "We moved the lid slightly, but it's not something we can really lift without fingers."
Selene nodded.
Then she pressed upward.
The once-dark space filled with light as she easily tossed the stone lid aside and stretched.
After lifting herself from the coffin, Selene walked with Jax and Beatris toward a large door that led into a graveyard.
As they went, they explained the game, the goals, and everything else.
While they walked, a notification appeared, telling them that only five puzzles were left.
The end point was coming soon.
Wow.
Can you believe we almost slept through the entire game?
Talk about embarrassing.
Another part of Selene complained that it had been comfortable, and honestly, who wouldn't fall asleep in a setup like that?
As they made their way through the house, they spotted Aiden, Liora, and Thalia talking nearby.
"We would have been here faster if someone hadn't run face-first into the door after forgetting she was in a puzzle room," Thalia said, crossing her arms.
Beside her, Liora held a handkerchief to her nose, a bit of red marking that she had a nosebleed.
"Well, I was a tad bit distracted by learning what Ymer had been planning," Liora said. "Ow. I hope it's not broken."
"Hey, guys," Jax called as they jogged over. "How have things been going for y'all?"
Liora turned with a look of relief, as if she had been worried the round would end without everyone meeting up.
"Okay," Liora said. "A lot has happened, but the biggest thing is that we learned about a drug Ymer's group is planning to use on Selene."
Everyone went still.
"We don't know exactly what it does," Liora continued, "but from what was left of the files, it's bad. Like either so scared they can't stop screaming, or straight-up kill-your-friends bad."
Everyone turned to Selene.
Selene pointed a finger at herself.
"M-Me?" she asked in a surprised gasp. "But why?"
Liora looked awkward for a moment.
"Uh," she said, "well, Ymer is having the tiger beastkin do it, soooo."
Selene's thoughts flashed back to the party.
The stuffed animal.
The apology.
Everything that had happened.
She shook her head.
"So because I rejected him, he is planning to drug me into killing you all or running away?"
"That seems like a grave simplification," Beatris said, sitting down beside Jax. "But generally."
Everyone found seats.
For a moment, silence settled over them as they all locked into thought.
Then Aiden spoke.
"In a turn of good news," he said, "we have a sample of the drug in question, so I think I can make an antidote if needed."
Selene looked toward him.
"However," Aiden continued, "I think I should stick with Selene after this match during the downtime before our next round. For all we know, the drug also incapacitates its target, so it would be better to have someone nearby who can apply the antidote."
Warmth pulsed in Selene's chest.
Once again, her mind went to war.
It's just logical.
For all we know, this drug will leave its target twitching on the ground.
It makes sense.
Oh my gods, is he asking to be alone with me?
I know he probably doesn't mean anything by it, but we have gone shopping together, and he is still using and taking care of that spear, not to mention all those little moments.
Selene kept her expression curiously neutral despite the clash happening inside her.
The others continued discussing strategies.
As a group, they agreed that while the games were something they could aim to win, that was now a secondary goal.
Right now, they had to focus on Ymer and his group.
They would be free of their players' influence after the tournament.
So the party just had to hold on until then.
They ended up sitting and waiting for the round to end, while the other teams ran past them, continuing to fight for points as they strategized.
When the round ended, they came in last by a little over ten points.
But they had only been partially paying attention.
"Welcome back, challengers," the announcer blared as their columns began to lower. "After a heated fight of intellect and strategy, we have our leaderboard set. Stay tuned for the next few rounds to see the other teams in action. Your next event will be in three days. Good luck."
As they walked, the others remained in deep conversation.
Selene was lost in her own thoughts.
She was somewhat drawn away from them when Aiden placed a hand on her shoulder.
"After we get back and take a chance to wash off," Aiden said, "let's head to a shop to gather materials to work on this antidote."
Selene nodded.
That heat in her chest pulsed again.
Makes sense.
The sooner we start, the more we can perfect the antidote.
This is totally a date.
What do I wear?
I have my dress from the ball, but that seems way too formal.
Do I wear makeup?
Wait, no, I don't know how to use makeup.
Can Liora teach me in ten minutes?
Doubtful.
Selene's head was once again locked in civil war over the implied intentions as she nodded.
Making their way toward the hotel felt like a blur.
It was only when Liora waved a hand in front of her face that Selene snapped back to the moment.
"Selene," Liora said. "Selene, you in there?"
Selene blinked.
Looking around, she saw Beatris, Thalia, and Liora watching her with worried expressions.
"Hey, Selene," Beatris said, giving her a nervous smile like she was not sure if this would be reassuring, "we get you're worried about the Seed of Betrayal and all, but Aiden should figure something out. He's good at those kinds of things."
"A-Ah," Selene said. "No, it's not that. I'm just trying to figure out what the next event may be."
Thalia gave her a look.
One that lasted a bit too long.
Then there was a knock at the door.
"Is Aiden or Selene in there?" a voice asked. "The Hallowcreek children are downstairs with their parents to deliver your reward for the quest."
"O-Oh," Selene called, turning from where she had been planning to head to the bathroom. "I'll be right down."
She went out the door.
Selene took a moment to make sure she was not covered in cobwebs or dust from the coffin, then descended the stairs.
Downstairs, she saw Canna and Abel sitting with a man and woman.
The man, in many ways, looked like an older Aiden.
He had a similar set of glasses and wore a nice deep green suit. He was a bit wiry, but there was an air of intelligence around him.
Sitting across from him in a frilly light-blue dress was a woman with long blonde hair and deeply emerald green eyes.
Eyes Selene recognized from Aiden.
Probably where he had gotten them.
She sat with a small fan as the four of them talked.
Selene made her way down the stairs.
Canna and Abel recognized her and stood, walking over.
"Selene," Canna said, "this is my dad, Damian, and my mom, Patricia. Mom, Dad, this is Selene. She's part of the adventuring group that brought us here."
The two adults stood and made their way over.
Selene noticed their eyes linger on her arm for a moment before Damian held out a hand.
"It is wonderful to meet you," Damian said. "Canna and Abel can't seem to stop talking about your group. Little Canna practically checked out every book in the local library about learning magic after the demonstrations that girl Liora gave her."
He spoke with a chuckle as Selene shook his hand.
Behind him, Canna seemed mortified to have this revealed and kicked her father's shin in annoyance.
Patricia walked over next, and Selene shook her hand as well.
"My dear," Patricia asked, "whatever happened to your arm? If you would like, we can see to it that a doctor takes a look at it."
There was a familiar lilt in her tone.
A genuine desire to help.
Something Selene recognized from Aiden.
It made her chuckle.
"Aiden has the recipe for a cure," Selene said. "We are just trying to gather the tools needed to make it."
Damian smiled in a jovial way and let out a hearty laugh.
"In that case," he said, "once he comes down, let's discuss the recipe after we talk about your reward. A tip is understandable, considering your service to us, so I think we can at least help you get a couple of the tools you need."
From upstairs came the sound of running feet.
Aiden practically slid to a stop just before the railing.
He stared down into the mostly empty room of tables.
His face held a look that could only be described as a mix of anger, sadness, and guttural hope.
His eyes locked onto his parents.
Yet no spark of recognition found its way to their gaze.