Ren's blush deepened, caught off guard by her charm. "You're just adorable, Thalia," he said, chuckling with warmth and a hint of embarrassment.
"Me?" she gasped, as if surprised to be the center of such attention.
"Painfully so, Aphrodite," Camden smirked from across the table, the nickname slipping out with mischievous delight. "You don't even notice."
Thalia pouted, pretending to be scandalized but clearly amused. "I just thought the food was heavenly," she replied, her smile softening.
"Well, it's a good thing, kid," Mateo said with a gentle chuckle. "Just be yourself."
She hummed in agreement and took another mouthful, her eyes closing once more as the flavors melted over her tongue. She almost looked on the verge of tears, so moved was she by the food. Another small, joyful shake of her head, a quiet little dance of her shoulders that seemed to celebrate the moment. And still, she ate. And ate. The portions disappeared faster than anyone could have guessed, plate after plate, mouthful after mouthful.
Nearly everyone else at the table was finished, pushing their plates aside or picking up glasses, but Thalia continued as if she had only just begun. No one said a word—no one wanted to break the spell she seemed to cast with every bite. They simply watched.
The Snake's jaw dropped slightly, their eyes flickering between the mounting pile on her plate and the unflinching glow of her face. Where was it all going? It was like watching a living contradiction—a delicate, ethereal creature who devoured food like a tempest. And then, just when they thought she might pause, the dessert arrived: a dazzling display of creamy custards, rich chocolates, and fresh fruits arranged like jewels.
And she repeated it all—the joy, the grace, the utter delight. Every movement was poetry, every smile a beacon. She was pure sunshine slicing through the shadows of the night, and all of them found themselves mesmerized by the youngest at the table. Not once did she make a mess; she ate with a politeness and an elegance that only made her all the more magnetic.
"How... do you eat so much?" Samira finally gasped, jaw slack, unable to mask her astonishment.
Thalia blinked as she finished the last bite, delicately dabbing her lips with a napkin before reaching for a glass of water. "My metabolism is extremely fast," she explained simply, her voice light but certain. "I burn calories real quick, and I've had the habit of training a lot since I turned seventeen. The training only intensified after I signed the contract to take part in the trials. So I can eat with ease. I only gain the weight I need and burn the rest."
"I wish," Asha from the Bears cried out dramatically, "I gain weight just by breathing food." She looked at Thalia with unabashed admiration. "And you look absolutely amazing, Aphrodite."
"Thank you, Asha," Thalia smiled brightly, the compliment lighting up her whole face. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so thank you—that's sweet of you."
"Why didn't you thank us when we complimented you earlier?" Samira pouted, clearly puzzled.
Thalia chuckled softly. "Because Asha has a wedding band on her left hand. She's married. She isn't complimenting me with any intentions of getting physically involved with me, Cleopatra." She winked playfully. "I'm not going to delude anyone who's interested in me."
"I'd say it's safe to say that everyone here is interested in you," Camden giggled, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Thalia turned her breathtaking gaze toward Camden, locking eyes with him in a moment charged with unspoken questions. "Are you?"
His cheeks flushed crimson, but he kept his cool, nodding shyly. "I am, yes."
She turned to Ren next. "Are you?"
Ren, already flushed, turned an even deeper shade of red. "I... also am."
Her eyes moved to Anastasia. "Are you?"
Anastasia chuckled, cheeks warming. "I… am flustered and attracted. But I'd never been attracted to girls before… until you entered the room."
Thalia smiled warmly, then faced Mateo. "Are you?"
Mateo blushed, shifting nervously. "I am attracted, but not interested," he said carefully. "You're very, very attractive, but I don't intend to fight two teammates and these..." He cast a sideways glance at Alessandro, Elijah, Rafael, and Samira. "...vultures who are circling you. And you're also very young."
Her smile broadened, revealing deep dimples on both cheeks that made everyone at the table gasp softly.
"I appreciate your honesty, Matt. Thank you," she said softly.
Mateo swallowed hard, struggling to tear his eyes away from her smile, instead sipping his wine awkwardly. "Y-y-you're w-welcome, cub."
"Anyone else?" Thalia's killer smile swept over the rest of the table.
A chorus of nervous shuffles and flushed faces followed.
"I... um... agree with the Canadian," Minho of the Serpents blurted, his skin matching the deep red of the juice in his glass. "It's safe to say... um... everyone is attracted to you."
"But I... didn't do anything," Thalia murmured, her lips parting as she sucked gently on her bottom lip, clearly puzzled. Her brows knitted together in soft confusion, the moonlight catching the subtle shimmer of her eyes. She looked genuinely lost in thought, as if trying to piece together a puzzle no one had explained.
Alessandro chuckled low, that grin stretching across his face like he was privy to a delightful secret. "That's exactly the problem, principessa greca," he said, his voice smooth, almost teasing. "You don't have to do anything at all. It's just... natural. You're simply charming—hypnotizing, even. The kind of charm that doesn't need effort. It just is."
The table fell into a quiet reverence for a moment, all eyes on her as she slowly ran her slender fingers through her long, dark hair, the silky strands slipping between her fingers like water. A collective breath was drawn in, as if the room itself was holding on to the magic she unknowingly cast. But she didn't seem to catch on. Instead, her voice softened, tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I don't know what to do about that. I'm here to compete with you all, right? Doesn't that make it... weird?" Her eyes glowed faintly in the silvery moonlight, a subtle fire beneath the surface.
Camden laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Motivational is a better word for it," he said, eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'm pretty sure everyone here is going to give their absolute best—not just in the competition, but in trying to look good for you. Just in case you change your mind and decide to... try something with one of us."
Thalia's eyes widened, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. "I don't think that's a very... healthy mindset."
Elijah, with that thick Australian drawl rolling off his tongue like liquid velvet, leaned forward and purred, "Nothing about these trials is healthy, love. It is what it is. The competition? It's going to get heated—no doubt about that."
Thalia hummed thoughtfully, fingers absentmindedly tapping her glass. "Okay... I hope I don't disappoint if all eyes are on me. I'll try my best, really. And I won't hide any of my strengths—that'd be unfair. It should be a fair fight, right?"
The group nodded in unison, voices blending into a chorus of agreement. "Yeah, absolutely."
Just then, Mr. Vogel entered the room, his presence commanding enough to quiet all conversations immediately. "How was dinner?" he asked, his gaze settling on Thalia with an expectant smile.
Without hesitation, Thalia's face lit up like a dawn sunbeam. "It was absolutely divine, Mr. Vogel," she exclaimed, her voice full of warmth and genuine delight. "Your chef has angel hands. Every bite was a masterpiece. Please, compliment them on our behalf." Her words floated effortlessly, carrying the admiration of everyone at the table who found themselves unable to match her eloquence. "I honestly don't even know what I was putting in my mouth—flavors I'd never imagined. It tasted like ambrosia and nectar of the gods. Each bite felt like I was ascending. This isn't just food—it's art. If I could, I'd kiss the chef myself! You've made both my stomach and my heart incredibly happy. Efharistó polí!"