The Phantom’s Gambit

The mage who had been observing the commotion, began to stroll towards the cluster of individuals, including Octavius, who had failed to form a group of the required number.

"I see we have a few stragglers who didn't quite make the cut," the mage said, surveying the group with a discerning gaze. "Only groups with 20 individuals can participate. Please exit through that route." The mage pointed to a direction, indicating where the dismissed individuals should go.

"But we haven't even taken the test. You've not seen what we can do." The girl, recognizable by her long hair, who Octavius had earlier noticed standing first in line during the queue, spoke up. 

The others nodded in agreement, supporting her protest.

"Please use the exit," the man repeated, before turning to address the rest of the group. 

"Wouldn't it be a waste, and a great disadvantage to you, if you don't know our talents?" The long-haired girl persisted, her words causing the Mage to halt in his tracks and turn to face her. 

Noticing she had caught his attention once more, she added, "The top ten individuals you need might just be amongst us." The mage started chuckling, but what began as a small, amused laugh soon escalated into a bizarre, unsettling cackle. 

The other completed groups began to protest loudly, disgruntled that the incomplete group was hindering their progress. "This is ridiculous!" they shouted, frustrated that their own goals were being delayed.

The mage's laughter abruptly ceased, and he took slow, deliberate steps towards the girl. His intimidating aura sent a shiver down her spine, but she stood her ground, refusing to back down or cower in fear.

"What's your name?" The mage asked her.

"Ma—rilyn." she stuttered out.

He enclosed the space between them and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Well, Marilyn… consider this the will of the Fates' way of sparing you, allowing you to live a blissful life by not selecting you to join the other teams. Now, if I were you, I'd honor this fate and return home to find a more worthwhile pursuit in life." His whispered words left Marilyn stunned and shocked.

Satisfied with her reaction, the mage turned to leave, but his departure was halted once again. This time, it was Octavius who stopped him. The mage may have assumed that only Marilyn had heard his whispered warning, but Octavius had also caught the words.

"Wait, sir, I propose a wild card option," Octavius said, his words sparking a mixture of curiosity and apprehension among the remaining incomplete members, who exchanged uncertain glances.

"Allow the leaders of the selected teams to witness the powers of the remaining individuals," Octavius continued. "If any of the leaders are impressed, they can choose to replace any of their existing members with one of us." As soon as Octavius finished speaking, the room erupted into a cacophony of disagreement.

The complete groups vehemently protested, arguing that they had already been chosen and shouldn't be subjected to the risk of being replaced. Fear of being opted out hung palpably in the air. Meanwhile, the incomplete group also voiced their dissent, unwilling to accept the possibility of being sent home if they weren't selected.

"Silence!" the mage thundered, his voice cutting through the din and commanding immediate attention. The room fell silent in an instant.

"Alternatively," Octavius continued, seizing the opportunity to present his proposal before the mage could interrupt him. "You could give the incomplete group a chance to prove themselves through a special test. If they succeed, they can participate in the challenge alongside the other teams, despite being incomplete. And if we fail, we can all agree that we were cut off because we didn't qualify."

Octavius's words hung in the air, awaiting the mage's response.

The rest murmured to themselves, seemingly not opposed to the second option, while the other groups considered it a waste of time. 

Meanwhile, the mage deliberated on the proposals with an unreadable expression.

 After a moment of contemplative silence, he nodded. "Very well,"

He motioned to one of the guards, who disappeared in through the school gate and returned with a large, intricately carved wooden box.

The box was adorned with strange symbols and markings that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.

"Here is your test," the mage announced. "Within this box is a complex puzzle that requires a combination of skill, strategy, and teamwork to solve. If you can unlock the box and claim the reward within, I will grant you the opportunity to participate in the challenge alongside the other teams."

"You have just ten minutes to attempt this," the mage added, struggling to suppress a grin. Confident in their impending failure, he recalled the wooden box's storied past. It was an artifact the former headmaster had unearthed from the depths of an abyss, long before the school's founding.

When the late mage's office was cleared, the council members had divided his possessions among themselves. The wooden box, adorned with intricate designs, had been discovered, but despite repeated attempts, none of them could unlock it. Assuming it was merely an ornamental piece, they had relegated it to the Architect mage, the lowest-ranking member of the council.

The mage's grin threatened to resurface as he thought to himself, "There's no way they can open it. This is merely a formality, a brief delay before their inevitable elimination."

Void's gaze fixed intently on the wooden box. [How could they leave something so priceless unguarded?] he wondered. 

The wooden box was more than just a simple container – it was a relic tied to a powerful being, one he knew all too well. The same being who had breathed life into his brothers and granted them their powers. The same powers that had been used to cast Void out.

[Where do they think their essence comes from when they turn eighteen?] Void wondered to himself again.

A sense of unease settled within him as he reasoned, [Why would an artifact of such immense significance be treated with such casual disregard? Unless, gods now walk amongst men]

But no one could manipulate the Fates; they knew the past, present, and future. Void's gaze settled on Octavius, who had gathered the rest of the group to tackle the puzzle.

A haunting thought echoed in his mind: [No one could manipulate the Fates, except the Creator. I thought Octavius was my Gambit, but why does it seem like I've played right into the Phantom's hand?]