The Paradox Legion: Starforged Empire: Omni Tempore 1 by C. E. Foltz

Author:C. E. Foltz [Foltz, C. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2024-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

“It’ll be interesting to see who makes it back after this,” Xion’s voice cut through the murmur of conversations in the shuttle. It was almost crowded this time, with all eight of them headed up to the Epoch’s Echo.

“Personally, I’m hoping the mouthy one finally kicks it,” Mored growled, looking at Lin rather than directly responding to Xion. Lin laughed, ruffling her periwinkle feathers with a shake of her head.

“It was the most annoying one in my last group who never turned back up, so odds are good,” Dasha chimed in, her faux thoughtful tone decisively mocking. Xion shot her a glare, silver eyes flashing behind magenta lenses, and wisely didn’t respond to the bait. They had probably learned how sharp Dasha’s words could become while they had been…dating? Tidus still wasn’t sure exactly how to categorize whatever their relationship had been in his mind.

Xion shrugged their shoulders and changed tactics.

“Helix, didn’t you pass your First Trial, like, seven years ago?” Xion said. Tidus raised an eyebrow. What did Xion think they would get out of this? They had to be thinking it gave them some kind of advantage, but did they really think they could psych Helix out? Or any of the others?

“Yep,” Helix responded easily, locking eyes with Xion and smiling with his sharp, feline teeth.

“Well, if it’s taken you this long to get to the Second Trial, I doubt you’re much competition,” Xion said.

Anger flared through Tidus’ chest, and he opened his mouth to speak in Helix’s defense. But a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

“Maybe you’re right,” Helix said with a shrug. “But you know, from what I hear, you and I got the easy version of the First Trial.”

That sent a hush over the rest of the group. Xion scowled, their silvery eyes boring into Helix for some kind of explanation.

Are you sure about this? Tidus sent the thought to Helix, catching his gaze.

I wanna see them sweat a little.

Tidus nodded. It wasn’t something that was a secret exactly, even if thinking about it made Tidus anxious about the Second Trial.

“The Trials are the same for everyone, genius,” Xion snapped.

“Usually,” Helix said, leaning back in his seat. “But these two,” he nodded towards Tidus and Dasha, “who, you may notice, are being sent to the Second Trial only one year after they arrived at the Cathedral, well, they didn’t have such a cushy time of it as we did.”

Tidus couldn’t help but grin at the look on Xion’s face, nerves and anger slowly taking over their features. The other four also gave him and Dasha a wary eye, shifting uneasily. Dasha brightened, catching on to the game.

“That’s true,” Tidus said, trying to sound thoughtful. “I heard the First Trial is usually pretty easy compared to ours. Like a vacation, basically.”

“Real snoozefest,” Dasha added.

Xion’s face twisted in fury, and they clenched their fists, navy blue skin whitening around the knuckles.

“What are you talking about?” Xion snapped, then scoffed. “Oh, I get it, just trying to make up any story to make yourselves look better.

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