At the side of the camping grounds, a massive screen was shown on the side. It was several feet tall and wide enough for everyone outside the labyrinth to see what was happening inside clearly.
The screen was one of the technologies that the Aurelius Empire created.
Professors and instructors gathered in front of it. Their eyes were glued to the scene before them.
"Look at them go!" Professor Darius leaned forward, practically bouncing on his toes. "Cassian's group is blazing through this year's labyrinth!"
"Of course they are," Another professor, Professor Rowan, said confidently.
"Cassian was the son of the crown prince after all. His father was a known genius in the entire kingdom! I don't expect anything less than him!"
A few professors chuckled, while others nodded along.
"I heard from the Group Coordination that you guys are starting a bet," another professor murmured.
"Of course! It's tradition." Darius placed a golden coin down. "My coin's on Cassian's group."
Rowan smirked and also placed a bet.
On the screen, Cassian's group appeared, moving smoothly through a wide path. Their steps were quick. It was Cassian who was leading them.
"Look at that pace," someone said. "There's barely any hesitation there!"
Then the image shifted. It flashed Lionel's group into view.
"Ah, here comes Lionel's group," a professor commented, amused. "I heard that they were in second place in the quiz. Not bad."
At first, Lionel's group looked promising. They were moving quickly, communicating smoothly, even switching positions intelligently on who to lead.
A few professors looked at them in appreciation.
"That boy Lionel has good command presence," Rowan observed. "He leads, but he also lets his teammates lead."
"But look. It's a dead end." Darius winced as Lionel's group stopped before a wall of tangled roots.
And another dead end.
And another.
Cassian's group, on the other hand, walked forward with near-perfect precision.
"Well," one professor sighed dramatically, "I suppose this year's finish is predictable."
"It seemed like our student here would win."
"I agree on that, Professor."
"Lionel's group is losing too much time."
"But they have impressive teamwork," one murmured. "Even when they look lost. They were still calm and regrouping."
On the screen, the professors watched Lionel split his group into four to scan for a new path.
Some nodded, impressed. But still, everyone expected Cassian's group to reach the end first.
Not until the screen suddenly zoomed in on Rufus, who raised a hand and shouted something.
"Oh?" Darius blinked. "What's that?"
The projection followed Lionel and Rufus as they inspected a thin, nearly hidden trail.
"That path…?" Rowan frowned. "That wasn't supposed to be easy to find."
"It isn't!" another professor exclaimed. "It's the hidden passageway. Students rarely… rarely find that route!"
"It's the path that leads straight to the end," someone whispered, stunned at it.
The group of professors leaned closer as Lionel's team stepped inside the narrow arch of branches.
The screen panned forward and showed how they moved swiftly without any obstacles.
"I-impossible," Rowan murmured, eyes widening. "They actually found it."
For the consecutive years that they held this retreat, it was the first time that someone found that route. Cassian's group was still moving efficiently. They were still in the lead visually. However, their route was long.
On the other hand, Lionel's group may be at a disadvantage at first. But their way was short and one that was almost never discovered!
Darius suddenly burst into laughter.
"Well, well, well! Looks like they will be the ones to win!"
A few professors who had confidently bet on Cassian groaned.
"That hidden path hasn't been touched in five years," someone whispered in disbelief. "And they found it like it was nothing."
"I guess their luck is good," Rowan said, crossing his arms.
The screen brightened suddenly. And in there, they could see Lionel's group emerging into the final path.
A glowing golden light pulsed ahead of them.
"Hah!" Darius slapped the table. "They found the exit now!"
"That's unbelievable."
"Amazing."
"That group actually did it."
As Lionel's team stepped toward the lightscreen, the screen shimmered and speakers all around spoke, announcing the final result before anyone could react:
[FIRST GROUP TO REACH THE EXIT: GROUP 2]
[CONGRATULATIONS, GROUP 2!]
- - -
Inside the labyrinth, Lionel and the others completely froze.
"…Wait," Simon said, looking around wildly. "That's US!"
"WE WON!" Aster burst into laughter.
"I guess we did," Rufus smiled in victory.
Simon quickly tackled Lionel and Rufus in a hug. "You two carried us!"
Lionel stumbled back, laughing.
"Alright, alright, calm down—"
But none of them calmed down.
Aster grabbed Rufus, and Simon grabbed Lionel. All of a sudden, the four of them ended up hugging each other.
"We beat Cassian's group!" Aster gasped.
"We DID IT!!!" Simon also shouted.
Lionel just shook his head. But after a second, a soft and proud grin formed on his lips.
"Yeah," he murmured. "We did."
On the other hand, Cassian's group had just reached a wide and promising turn when the announcement sounded above their heads.
Just like Lionel's group, the four of them also froze in place when they heard that.
Nathaniel's jaw dropped so hard.
"Group 2," he said weakly. "Don't tell me it's that group two…"
Arwen also looked as if he couldn't believe what he had heard.
"Group… TWO?" he repeated, horrified at it.
One of their teammates groaned loudly, throwing his head back.
"You gotta be kidding me!"
Nathaniel spun to Cassian.
"But we were in the lead! We were RIGHT THERE! How… how did they—?!"
Cassian didn't answer at first.
He stared at the ground.
Then exhaled through his nose… slowly. He kept his composure, controlling the annoyance that was now surging in his chest.
"They maybe got the hidden shortcut," he muttered under his breath. "They must have found it."
"But that shortcut is practically impossible to find!" Arwen clutched his head. "Our seniors in the academy have already told us about that!"
"How can they beat us?" Nathaniel really looked offended now. "They must have cheated!"
Cassian remained quiet, but his eyes squinted. A faint, unreadable smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"It must be that Rufus…"