Part 1:
The courtyard had quieted while the judges tallied the scores. One by one, the contestants disappeared into the trial gates, returning only after completing the challenge. I paced along the edge, my freshly cleaned armor snug against my chest, fingers brushing the pendant for reassurance. The anticipation gnawed at me.
I hated waiting. My impatience flared as I realized I was going last. Every second felt stretched thin.
Elara went before me. I held my breath, watching her slip through the gates with the grace of someone who belonged in shadows. My heart lifted for a moment… and then a yelp cut through the air.
One of the howlers — Bisky, I realized — had latched onto her leg. The crowd gasped. Elara twisted and freed herself, but the bite left a sharp sting, and the commotion sent the spectators into a frenzy. Despite the bite, Elara had just completed her task — signing her name magically and ringing the bell — before she stumbled out, slightly shaken but triumphant. The sight made my chest tighten with impatience even more.
Julius, of course, couldn't hide his glee. His grin spread wide as he watched the chaos, eyes dancing with mischief. I clenched my fists, ignoring the heat rising in my chest. He had already recovered from the earlier injury — thanks to some careful healing — and now he was poised, smug, and ready to gloat.
I let it go. Focus. This wasn't about him.
Before I could step toward the trial gate, Valeir appeared at my side, cane tapping lightly on the stone. His eyes, sharp despite the faint lines of age at their corners, scanned me carefully.
"I've spoken to the judges," he said quietly. "There was concern about your… recent display. They were close to disqualifying you."
My stomach dropped. "Disqualifying me?" I whispered.
Valeir's gaze softened. "I've handled it. A small… arrangement, nothing more. You need this chance, and I'll ensure it stays in your hands."
Tears pricked my eyes. He had done so much for me — teaching me to calm my magic, guiding me, protecting me from rules and politics I barely understood. I clenched my fists, fighting to keep my composure.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick. "I… I'll repay you someday."
He gave a faint, wry smile. "I don't doubt it, Sa'ha. Now, focus. Your trial begins the moment you step through that gate. Keep your mind steady, your magic calm, and your body silent. Remember everything we've practiced."
I swallowed, nodding. My armor was freshly polished, my pendant warm against my chest. I bent to whisper a small concealment spell. Mud seemed to rise from the ground in faint tendrils, brushing over my silver hair until it shimmered brown in the moonlight. A simple illusion, but enough to keep eyes from recognizing me as I moved.
⸻
The moment I stepped through the trial gate, the first heavy drops of rain hit my face. The sky opened fully, washing the courtyard and castle walls in silvery sheets of water. The rain soaked my armor, ran in rivulets down my arms, and blurred the edges of my vision — but it also masked my footsteps, covering the soft thuds of my boots on the wet stone. My pulse quickened.
Every sense sharpened: the distant echoes of footsteps, the shifting shadows along the castle walls, the scent of rain-damp earth mixing with torch smoke. I had to move quickly, but cautiously. One wrong step, one careless pulse of magic, and it would all be over.
The castle loomed larger as I approached. Its stone walls were dark and imposing, windows like blind eyes staring down at me. I crouched low, feeling the rain soak into my gloves and cloak, testing the ground with soft, controlled steps. Every instinct screamed to run, to rush, but I repeated Valeir's words in my mind: "A still mind guides a steady hand."
Part 2:
The rain fell harder as I pressed my back against the outer wall of the castle. My freshly polished armor was now slick and cold, but the mud spell over my hair made me nearly invisible against the shadows. The storm worked in my favor, masking the faint sounds of my movements. Every heartbeat thrummed in my chest, every nerve alert.
A small spell hummed at my fingertips, dampening the vibrations beneath my boots. I scanned the courtyard and counted the unusually high number of guards. Too many for a simple run, but enough for a challenge I could handle. Focus. Calm. Every step deliberate.
I scaled the wall, wet stone slipping beneath my gloves, and slipped through a narrow window high above the courtyard. The frame groaned under my weight, but no one heard me. Landing silently inside, I melted into the shadows of the wet, torchlit corridor.
Corridors twisted and turned like a labyrinth. I hugged the walls, careful not to touch the wet stones with my armor too heavily. The bell tower loomed ahead, my goal clear.
I found the registry — a blank page waiting for my magical signature. My hands shook slightly as I whispered the incantation. The letters shimmered in the rainlight that filtered through the windows, glowing briefly before settling on the page. My heart raced, but I didn't falter.
A sharp creak echoed through the corridor. One of the judges had entered, inspecting the tower. His eyes widened at the faint shimmer of my magic — a small gasp escaped him. I froze, hiding in the shadow, letting him pass. His expression flickered with surprise and confusion. Small fright, nothing more.
I moved quickly to the bell. Water ran in rivulets down the rope as I grasped it, and with careful precision, I rang it. The deep tone echoed across the castle walls, its vibrations swallowed by the storm, announcing my presence only to the empty courtyard and the currents of magic swirling around me.
Without a second pause, I climbed back to the window I had entered. I jumped. Armor absorbing much of the impact, I landed in the tree line below. Rain pelted my face, but my boots gripped the sodden earth.
From the castle walls above, I spotted movement. Julius's eyes locked onto me, sharp and gleaming, and he shouted over the rain, voice cutting like a whip: "BISKY! On her!"
The howler launched toward me. I didn't hesitate. I sprinted through the forest, branches whipping at my arms, roots tripping me briefly, mud squelching underfoot. Adrenaline surged, each step carrying me farther from the castle, farther from detection.
The pendant swung against my chest, warm and familiar, anchoring me as I pushed toward the shadows of the trees. I didn't look back. Every instinct screamed to run faster, deeper — until finally, the forest opened slightly, and I glimpsed the shadowed mouth of the cave in the distance