Reynold's boots scuffed on the dry grass as he made his way to the oak tree on the open field.
He dropped himself under the tree, using the rough bark as a support as he sat down, and he let out a long sigh.
He raised his head, and she was still there. Laena was still standing by close to where the first trial was taking place. She was not interfering, but her presence was pulling in more eyes on her.
Reynold saw the tension in her shoulders as they fell, the way she bit her lower lip.
He shifted his gaze, snatching up a flat grey stone from the ground and beginning to bounce it on his thigh making a thwack, thwack, thwack sound.
Reynold cussed at Theron, the Senior Cadet, the smug bastard who is not allowing him take the first trial.
Just then, a wild and reckless thought cross in Reynold's mind.
The other senior cadets were in charge of the rest of the trials, if he could convince them to let him take the Second and fifth trials, and if he passed them... Theron would have no option left but he'd be forced to let Reynold take the first trial.
But how to bypass the protocol and convince the cadets to let me take the test?
He grinned, as another thought cross his mind. He'd worry about the how when he got there.
Reynold stood to his feet, a shot of pure, energy replacing the earlier frustration.
"And just where do you think you're going, Starweaver?"
Reynold's path was blocked by Kael. The rich kid.
Reynold's jaw tightened.
"Get out of my way, rich kid."
Kael didn't move. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his black robe. "And what are you going to do if I don't?"
A murmur left the crowd, eyes snapping to watch tbe show.
"What the hell is going on between those two?"
"It's the Starweaver kid, you know, the one who was blocked from the first trial."
"And Kael! He hates the Starweavers. Something about his father's rank..."
"Seriously? They're going to fight right before the trials end?"
"This is better than the trials! Put a coin on the outcome!"
Reynold closed the remaining distance between them, his eyes locked on Kael's.
He licked his tongue across his upper lip, a nervous habit that always looked like a threat.
"Look, I don't know what your obsession is with the Starweaver name," Reynold began, his voice dropping to a dangerous level, "but if it's true that my parents are the reason your father was demoted, then that just tells me one thing: your father was never fit to hold that rank in the first place. My parents are the most honest people I know, and they don't tear down reputations without a damn good reason, which means your father must have done something truly corrupt to lose his ranking."
Kael's eyes turned red. "You bastard! What did you just say about my father?" He lunged, his right hand forward to punch Reynold's face.
But Reynold's movement was quick. He caught Kael's wrist mid-air, not even bothering to block the punch. Instead, he twisted Kael's arm, a quick, rotation that pulled the shoulder joint to its limit.
Kael let out a choked cry, his face blanching white.
"Now," Reynold hissed, his face inches from Kael's, "get out of my way."
He shoved Kael violently backward, not waiting to see him stumble, and strode off toward the second trial ground.
The crowd didn't hesitate. They formed a wave, scrambling to follow behind Reynold.
Everyone wanted to know what the boy who had been publicly scorned and stopped from taking the first trials would do next.
Laena just stood there as she finally let out a soft sigh. "Come on, Rey... don't make things more hard for me."
"And who is making things too hard for our Laena?"
The voice was like warm honey, and Laena snapped her head around.
Landon. He is Tall, beige skin colour, his angular face was framed by his braided chestnut hair that fell across his high cheekbone. He has hazel eyes that held a certain lazy amusement, and a broad shoulder.
He was a third-Year cadet, noble-born, charming, and alway had a signature, irritatingly bland smile.
He was, to half the girls at Wyrmwood, the picture of perfection.
"Landon? What are you doing here?" Laena asked, her voice instantly hardening into professional formality.
"Just came to watch this year's lot struggle through their trials," he replied, taking a step closer. "Didn't expect to find you posted out here, cadet." He paused, his smile dimming slightly as he looked directly at her side face. "So, that's him, then? The guy you left back home. The Starweaver." He lowered his voice, the amusement entirely gone. "Do you still love him, Laena?"
Laena's breath stopped, her composure shattering. She whipped her head to look at him but then she whipped away from him.
"Landon, you have no right to ask me that."
Landon chuckled softly, recovering his easy smile. "Come now, don't give me that look. I'm not going to hurt the boy. Besides, I've seen you. Countless times. Staring at that old, creased picture of him."
"No!" Laena instantly shook her head, an almost violent movement. "That's... that was in the past. It was a mistake. I don't love him. It's over."
Landon didn't respond immediately. He studied her for a long moment, the smile slowly returning to his face, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He moved closer, his hand reaching out, his long fingers closing around hers.
Laena looked down at their joined hands, but she couldn't bring herself to pull away. She just swallowed hard and remained silent.
Meanwhile, Reynold soon arrived at the second trial field. The Stillness of the Shadow Pond.
It was a wide, obsidian pool, placid and black, surrounded by a ring of low, comfortable stones for the candidates to sit on.
A senior cadet with a shaved head and a stern expression was overseeing this second trial.
Reynold ignored the murmuring onlookers and walked straight up to the desk, slamming his personal plate onto the wooden surface.
"Reynold Starweaver," he murmured.
The senior cadet looked up, his jaw slackening slightly at the name.
He recovered quickly, shifting his gaze back to the plate, but his brow furrowed immediately.
"You have no stamp," he stated, his voice calm but firm. "You did not take the first trial. You cannot proceed to the Second."
Reynold leaned in closer, "Please," he pleaded, his gaze locking with him. "You have to help me."