you work upon yourselves to unlock the secret gifts within, you become a status of power versus an empowering being who can unlock their god gifts that are normally not obtained until ascension."
"We stress the importance of graduation because it's the next step in what you want to achieve. Due to this, the final year is intense. Your actions, grades, and performance are all judged and contribute to your final grade. You can pass with flying colors exam-wise, but if you're unable to meet performance standards, you may lose opportunities that aid you further along the path you wish to walk upon as adults," Professor Phoenix elaborated as Miss Electra nodded her head.
"You realize many shadows were students, including demigods?" she revealed, which had us staring back in silence. She grinned at our response and carried on, "The good side is always transparent with what our intentions are. We aim to help you rise and reach your potential in a gradual period of time. The dark side loves to give power and rank immediately when you join, clouding your view and better judgment because you've received what you've craved right away. It's not as though you've earned those gifts, abilities, or statuses, but it's the perfect way to con you onto their side. That's when you begin to deteriorate."
"Deteriorate?" Finnick inquired.
"Darkness doesn't give without taking in return," Raphael declared. "You're plagued with darkness within your heart, and as you fail to reach the standards these shadow beings place upon you without much knowledge, the darkness spreads until you're consumed and now a puppet to their whim."
I swallowed the lump in my throat as a chill ran up my spine.
Used for their own desires and then forever stuck in that cycle.
Weaklings who can't see the obvious threads of lies and deceit. We won't fall into such traps.
Oddly enough, the voice of darkness had a point.
I really should think of a name for you. Aside from Bri.
Marianna.
Guess that will do for now.
Her laugh was chilling, and I noticed the light squeeze of Jax's hand, which made me look at him. He was eyeing me closely but gave me a tiny smile before we returned our attention to Raphael.
"Regardless of their decisions to recruit, it's in our best interest to ensure our students are safe outside the school walls and aren't being constantly tracked. Sponsored vacations also help determine who's 'watching' which teams and showing interest in giving future opportunities and employment positions."
"Do we get to know who sponsored our trip?" I inquired.
"Oh!" Miss Electra declared with a laugh. "That rich fucker!"
Everyone looked at her as she rolled her eyes dramatically. "What?! He's a rich fucker and everyone hates him. I'm surprised that one came out to be a normal demigod!"
She pointed her fan in one direction and we all looked to see it was pointing to Connor.
"What?" Connor looked confused as he tilted his head slightly. "What did I do?"
Professor Phoenix shook her head before replying, "Your biological father is the sponsor of this trip."
We all gawked and slowly looked back at Connor to see his obvious frown.
"Why would he sponsor this trip when I was a clear hindrance to the point that he discarded my mom like she was garbage so he could continue on with his empire building?"
That was a clear shock to more than just myself; the other guys looked at one another in worry before Kaito reached out to pat Connor's shoulder. "Don't get too upset. We don't want the plane going down."
"It won't go down," Miss Electra assured us. "As for your biological dad, you're right. He's a nut case psycho who figured putting you up for adoption would be easier even though he had all the money in the world. And he wasn't really nice to your mama either, who is now far more successful, loving, and recently beat him in wealth. That must have pissed him off."
"Electra," Professor Phoenix sighed. "You're making him sound like a bad guy."
"He is one in my book."
"You're merely upset because he didn't have white wine at the last annual party."
"How do you have a glamorous party like you're the Great Fucking Gatsby of our century without WHITE WINE?!"
"Sometimes I really believe you're an alcoholic god," Raphael mumbled.
"Oh hush! I have my must-haves in life, just like you do! At least I don't try and hog Aurora for six months of the damn year because 'you feel like it' and start glaring at everyone like the possessive dark god you