Chapter 30 Trial Practice
During the first week of trial practice, I almost reached the ruby more than once, but I always ran out of time.
The practice window was brutally shortened to learn the shape of the trial, not enough to conquer it.
It felt nearly impossible. Not even one person had retrieved the gem under the magma dragon.
My physical combat had improved, partly because I was excused from Emberkeep classes.
With nothing to divide my attention, I focused on refining my technique, footwork, timing, and control.
Even Rory Rey commented after I defeated a second-year, saying I finally didn’t look like I had two left feet. I chose to take that as a compliment.
Today, I chose to only do some drills in the Sky Terrace with Tran. Few people were here today as it was Saturday. Many from the Dragontail legion, as usual, were probably getting ready to leave too soon for Wolventon for their night out. After my last episode in
Wolventon, I would rather stay in the academy and focus on passing my trials in a couple of weeks.
Even though I was exhausted, I pushed my limits as always. I stayed defensive, arms up, protecting my face, anything to avoid a broken nose.
I didn’t see Tran’s roundhouse kick coming.
As he pivoted, his leg swept up and struck my side.
I tried to block it, but the impact buckled my already weakened legs, and I crashed to the mat.
Before I could recover, Tran pinned me, locking my wrists to the floor and bracing his weight to cut off every avenue of escape.
My pride was burning as I tried to break his
hold, but I couldn’t budge him.
Finally, against every instinct I had, I tapped three times. Tran released me and offered a hand to pull me up.
“I can stand up on my own,” I said with a wicked smile while standing up.
“Stubborn princess,” Tran said, heading toward the bench a few mats away to grab some water. “But good job.”
When I stepped off the mat and looked up, my gaze landed straight on Ugo and Lorik. Of course, they were here. This was their typical Saturday one-on-one sparring session. I
hadn’t noticed them arrive and just wondered how much they seen.
They were already shirtless, barefoot, wearing nothing but their green uniform shorts.
All week, I hadn’t spoken to or really seen Lorik. No exchanged glances. No accidental run-ins, until today. I had only managed one week away from him.
“Finally, the princess knows her limits and knows when to stop,” Ugo said while walking to a mat on the far side of the terrace.
Lorik glanced at me for a brief moment, then looked back down at his hands as he wrapped them for combat. I’d never seen him do that before. If he was wrapping his hands, this was going to be an intense session.
“No lecture today? ‘No control your emotions mambo jumbo, or don’t be so stubborn and tap reminders?” I asked Lorik with a hint of mockery edging my voice.
His silver eyes met mine again while he said, “No, not today.” Lorik’s voice was flat and dry. His gaze immediately returned to his wraps.
“This is what you wanted, for me to stay away. So, I am staying away.” His words cut deeper than any blade, stinging with a finality that left me painfully hollow inside.
“I did, but you still got me a dragon guide with a hand-written note,” I said with challenge in my tone. “How is that staying away?”
Lorik glanced up again, his wrist already wrapped with black textile. “That’s a nice way of saying thank you,” he said, his expression unreadable.
I almost rolled up my eyes, but instead I just said: “Thank you, that book is quite amazing.” Lorik stood up, his sun-kissed skin wrapping the large muscles of his stomach and arms. The sun's fading light cast shadows on his core, defining every perfect muscle. Stunning didn’t begin to describe this Moonveil.
Not only his looks, but his power, his strength, and his mind.
“What’s the deal with the wraps? You never wore them.” I said, trying desperately to add anything to our conversation. I knew I had to stop and walk away, but logic was not driving this conversation.
Lorik smirked. I had just given myself away. He knew I was paying attention.
“I broke a couple of knuckles this week,” he replied, taking two slow steps closer. “I’m tired of getting my hands healed every day after training and wraps help. I just need to blow off steam.”
“Why do you need to blow off steam, Moonveil?” I asked, placing deliberate weight on the word.
Lorik didn’t react. Instead, he stepped forward, closing the distance between us until he was in my personal space. He remained far enough away not to attract attention from the others on the terrace, but close enough that he could speak so only I would hear.
“You know why,” he murmured, my breath catching for a second at those words.
“So what is it? You want me to stay away or just... stay,” Lorik whispered. Just those words sent heat through the middle of my body, my body clearly speaking for itself.
“We dislike each other. I want you to...” I faltered, the words stuck in my throat. My mind scrambled for excuses, but the frantic ache in my chest drowned out logic. The truth
burned through my body, I wanted him to grab me, to kiss me, wild and desperate, just like last week on this very terrace. I ached for the press of his body against mine, a need so sharp it left me raw and trembling.
“I thought we were past that,” Lorik said, tilting his head right. “I don’t hate you.” He stopped for a beat. “I want you.”
His silver eyes caught the light, reminding me exactly who and what he was.
“You’re a Moonveil,” I said, turning away before the weight of his gaze could break me.
The silence between us bristled with things unsaid. I could feel him studying me, each second thick with tension and expectation, unhurried, as if he already knew how close I was to surrendering, how much I was breaking inside.
He opened his mouth like he meant to say something but nothing came. Instead, a rough cough scraped out of his throat, sharp and uncontrollable, as if the words had lodged there and cut off his breath.
He took a deep breath, then finally said, “I wouldn’t do anything that would harm you.” And I knew he meant it.
I closed my eyes, drawing strength from the God of Solvir for the words I was about to speak. When I opened them again, I met Lorik’s bright eyes.
“I...” I started, my heart and body trying to change the words that were about to come out of my mouth. “I... want you to stay away.”
Without hesitation, Lorik responded. “And then I will.”
Lorik brushed past me, his toned arm grazing mine as he walked by. I closed my eyes at the brief contact, skin tingling and yearning for more, the ache for the dangerous closeness we’d shared before returning as strong as ever.
Then a voice cut through my thoughts. It was Tran. “Are you OK? What did he want?”
I quickly opened my eyes and turned around to face Tran.
“Yes, I am,” I swallowed hard. “Nothing I cannot handle by myself.”
Tran raised an eyebrow as I quickly looked away from him to find Ugo and Lorik fighting. Lorik
looked like death itself. Throwing punches and kicks with the intention of breaking bones. “Whatever you told him got him very worked up,” Tran said mockingly.
I walked back to the library with Tran. We were going to meet with Rowan and Shakari to review the trials strategy. When we got there, they were nowhere to be found.
We then walked to the Solphire Tower. Shakari and Rowan were in the common area, lying on a couch, kissing. Tran and I stood in front of them. Tran cleared his throat to make them aware of our presence, but they didn’t flinch.
“Guys, stop!” I said loudly, and annoyed.
Shakari stepped back and looked at me, reading all over me. I wasn’t in my right self. “Sorry,” I apologized. “But we were going to meet at the library.”
“I know, but we were done studying,” Rowan responded. “We know the strategy for the trials too well. Get through the first two trials during the night so we have time to recharge our magic during the day. Then, we have enough time during the day to defeat the dragon illusion for our third trial.”
I just gasped in anger, but an anger they didn’t deserve.
Shakari looked at me, knowing something was off. She looked at Tran and back at me. “What did he do?” Shakari asked.
“Don’t look at me,” Tran said, raising his hand up in the air, pleading innocence. “The princess was talking to the mysterious, lethal Moonveil.”
I gave Tran a death look.
“I am fine, I am just tired. I will take a shower and sleep,” I said flatly. “I am sorry, I am not feeling it today. Good night.”
I turned around, and before I got to my room, Shakari cut the path in front of me.
“What is going on?” She asked me, clearly expecting an answer. She knew me better than my own mother.
“I am tired,” I responded. “I am sorry I was such an ass back there.”
“No, it’s not just being tired,” Shakari spat. “I know you. You look... defeated.” “Yes, I am clearly defeated. This whole legion is just too much.”
“No, you love the legion. You are obsessed with the trials. You want to strategize, plan, and study. You might get beaten here and there, but you live for this challenge. This is... different.”
I stood in silence, her golden gaze examining me up close.
“It’s Lorik Draventh, right?” She said, brushing her golden hair back as my heart stopped in my chest.
“What about him?” I asked, maintaining my expression flat and uninterested.
“That Moonveil seems to always be lurking around. First, he seemed to want to kill you, and his girlfriend nearly beat you to death. Then, he protects you beyond the veil when you impulsively jump through a portal. And finally, he saves your life from a royalist. What is it now?” Shakari asked.
My chest is tightening. Had she figured it out?
What did she know? “What does he want with you? Is he threatening you?” she pressed.
She didn’t know. I exhaled in relief while she continued. “I would kick his ass and all his friends' gladly. Just tell me.”
I let a low laugh out of my mouth in realization that my best friend still hadn’t put all the pieces together.
“I know you would, but I can deal with him myself,” I said, trying to play it lightly. Shakari raised a brow. I had to give her something and quickly. So I said the first thing that came to mind.
“When I realized Lorik Draventh was one of the only ones in Dragontail history who grabbed the ruby in the five-minute dragon illusion, I asked him how he did it. But the Moonveil just gave me another of his lectures. That I cannot take shortcuts. So we just got in a heated argument, and I am done with him.”
After I told her that story, I realized how stupid it sounded, but I had to give her something, and the truth was not an option.
“I know what you are doing,” Shakari chastised. Evidently, she has just seen through my lie. “Ever since you set foot in this academy, you have tried to apologize and make him like you. That is a lost cause. Stop trying to make everyone like you and stop apologizing for your family's brutality.”
She paused for a second, my eyes wide open, listening to her lecture. “You are the princess of Rionis, whether you like it or not, and you might rule after your mother, whether you want it or not. You will be hated by many, so just accept it.”
Her words weren’t filled with discipline or strength, but with kindness and love. It was good advice, useful, even but not what I needed in that moment. What I truly wanted was for my best friend to take my hand and tell me she would stand by me no matter what came
next.
But she couldn’t, since I wasn’t going to tell her I had kissed the Moonveil, that he wanted me, but I had no option but to push him away.
I ached to tell her everything, the argument tearing through my mind, the kiss, the pull, the desire but I couldn’t. Shakari couldn’t know. It was dangerous knowledge, the kind that could cost her life to be a witness to such a crime. And I loved her too much to ever risk that.
“I know, you are right. I am done with the Moonveil.” I said simply. “But now I need to sleep.” And that wasn’t a lie. Deep sleep was all I needed to take off the heat of today’s conversation with Lorik Draventh.