The forest had grown quieter, save for the distant chatter of other teams echoing between the trees. Dappled sunlight slipped through the canopy, painting shifting shadows across the path as Flora's group trudged
Suzain's smile had grown tighter with every passing minute. She had led them in circles, guided them off trails, and still, somehow, everyone now looked to Liam instead of her. It burned.
Liam glanced at the map once, "We've wasted enough time," he said evenly, folding the sheet and slipping it into his pocket. "The second treasure should be northeast past that ridge."
Suzain's brow twitched. "You're sure? We've been following the trail I found—"
"And we haven't found another after an hour," he cut in, tone calm but final.
He didn't raise his voice, yet something in his quiet confidence silenced her.
Within ten minutes, the trees parted to reveal a small clearing. A chest rested beneath a rope structure tied between two thick trees. A supervising teacher stood nearby, arms folded, waiting for them.
"Congratulations, Group Three," she said, smiling faintly. "You've found your treasure. But to earn the key, you'll need to complete a teamwork challenge. Ready?"
Everyone nodded. Suzain forced a grin, but her jaw was tight.
When the teacher announced the next challenge, Suzain folded her arms, pretending not to care. A thick log was bound by two ropes, each end tied to trees opposite each other.
"This time," the teacher said, "teamwork matters most. The object must stay lifted off the ground while three of your teammates solve puzzles. If it touches the ground, you fail, give wrong ans you fail too."
Flora studied the setup carefully. The log wasn't too heavy, but steadying it required timing and coordination. Liam's calm gaze shifted from the rope to the puzzles laid out nearby.
"Suzain and Tessa can handle the ropes," he said finally. "Rhea, Flora, and I will solve the puzzles."
Suzain scoffed. "Why me? I'm better at puzzles than she is," she said, throwing a glance toward Flora.
"We can't risk it," Liam replied flatly. "This game gives only one chance."
The teacher blew the whistle. The challenge began.
Suzain and Tessa pulled the ropes in sync, the log hovering mid-air. Liam stepped up first. His puzzle a geometric pattern was solved in less than two minute. His focus was razor-sharp, his fingers tracing lines as if he already knew the answer.
"Done," he said simply, stepping back.
Rhea went next, choosing a logic grid. She hesitated at first, but with Liam's subtle hint, she cracked it.
Finally, it was Flora's turn.
She walked up slowly, her eyes meeting the small box with a carved inscription. "Riddle category," the teacher announced.
Flora nodded. Riddles had always been her strength. She read the words quietly, thinking, her lips moving without sound.
Behind her, Suzain's hands trembled slightly on the rope.
"Come on, hurry up," Suzain muttered under her breath. "It's too heavy."
Tessa frowned. "It's not that bad. Just hold it steady."
Flora's eyes lit up as she found the answer. She opened her mouth to speak—
and then there was a loud thud.
The log had hit the ground.
Everyone froze. The teacher raised a hand. "Challenge failed."
Flora blinked in disbelief, her heart dropping. "Wha—"
Suzain let the rope slip from her hands dramatically. "It's her fault! She took forever. I told you, it was too heavy to hold for that long!"
"That's not true," Tessa said, stepping forward. "I was holding it too. It wasn't heavy, Suzain. You dropped it on purpose."
A tense silence followed.
Rhea's eyes met Suzain's, "You've been misleading us since the start," she said softly. "And now you've cost the team."
Suzain flinched, her fake confidence cracking. "You're blaming me now?"
"Enough," Liam said quietly, his voice cutting through the tension. He stepped forward, calm but cold. "Excuses won't change the result."
Flora didn't say anything. She simply looked at Suzain once, her expression unreadable calm, quiet, but distant.
That silence hit harder than any argument could.
The teacher handed them the locked chest anyway. "You still have a few treasures left. Try again at the next checkpoint."
As they walked away, Suzain lingered behind, her nails digging into her palm, glaring at Flora's back.
It's been 3 hour's into game and each group and found at least more than two treasure
Flora's team, however, had only one.
Rhea sighed, brushing dirt from her hands. "Looks like everyone's going to beat us."
Suzain scoffed. "Maybe if someone didn't take hours solving riddles"
Tessa glanced at her briefly. "Or maybe if someone didn't lead us in circles."
Suzain looked away, her jaw tightening. The silence that followed was broken only by crunching leaves and then a familiar voice ahead.
"Flora?"
Austin stood a few steps away, his team gathered behind him,"Didn't expect to see you still searching."
Flora met his gaze calmly. "We're not giving up just yet."
Austin's expression softened, polite as ever. "You should rest. It's almost over." His concern sounded genuine, yet distant as if he didn't know what to do with it.
Flora smiled lightly. "Don't worry. We'll manage."
For a heartbeat, something unreadable flickered in Austin's eyes guilt, maybe. But before he could speak, Liam stepped forward.
"Funny," Liam said quietly, his tone even. "You look at her like you still care, yet you speak like you already walked away."
Austin frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Liam replied, gaze steady. "Just that some people realize too late the difference between keeping promises and breaking them politely."
The words hung heavy in the air, and Austin looked away, his jaw tightening.
Flora blinked, caught off guard. She didn't fully understand what Liam meant — only that he spoke with quiet conviction, but why did he need to say all these.
As their footsteps faded into the forest, Liam glanced back once his expression unreadable. To everyone else, it looked like he was defending Flora.
--
Only he knew he was warning himself.