CHAPTER 31
“This year, the end-of-semester challenge our first years will face is called the Labyrinth Trial,” Chancellor Grimshaw said.
He stood at the top of the stairs just outside Heartstone’s main entrance, along with Professor Holt and the other teachers.
“Your mentors should have prepared you for this day with the knowledge and experience they gleaned from their own trials. Although no two trials are exactly alike, they faced a similar trial during their first year.”
His commanding voice echoed over the gloomy clearing and down the stairs to where the student body congregated in pairs.
Thorne stood beside me, tall and imposing.
The warlock’s arms were crossed, yet his posture was relaxed, calm.
He didn’t touch or even look at me, and I was grateful for his businesslike demeanor.
I could tell that last night’s rumor was still on everyone’s minds, and I didn’t want to fuel their imaginations by acting too chummy with my mentor.
At least the trial was keeping them properly distracted. Well, except for Blaze, who kept giving me dirty little looks every few seconds. I wasn’t the only one who noticed his attention, and after a dozen or so looks, Thorne shifted his body to block Blaze’s view.
“It was him,” he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to catch the words. When I saw one of his hands form a tight fist, I knew exactly what he was referring to.
“Probably,” I murmured back, feeling dumb that I hadn’t suspected Blaze in the first place. He’d been acting extra sketchy last night before the gala, and I couldn’t forget Alma’s cryptic warning.
He’d probably hoped that publicly humiliating me in front of our community’s most prestigious members would finally break me, and it almost had. If not for Thorne, it would have.
“Wait until I get my hands on him,” Thorne quietly seethed, and the promise of violence in his tone sent a shiver up my spine. Not of dread. Of excitement.
“Not if I get to him first,” I grumbled back. My reaction should have troubled me, but I was too busy feeling vengeful. Maybe this bloodthirsty school was finally starting to rub off on me.
Or I was just really, really tired of that douchebag picking on me.
I wasn’t the sad, meek little stray anymore.
I’d started to accept myself, to prove that I belonged here.
I might not have allies to watch my back during this trial, but I had the Arcane Three.
Their belief in me alone would get me through this trial, of that I was certain.
And a vindictive bully like Blaze wasn’t going to stand in my way.
“The goal of this trial is to use your intellect, instincts, and abilities to find your way out of a dangerous underground maze,” the chancellor went on.
“If you’re going to lead our community someday, you’ll need those tools to face real challenges.
But a council is not made up of just one individual, which is why teamwork is heavily encouraged for this trial.
There are traps and all manner of unpleasant surprises along the way, so having someone to watch your back is essential. ”
He paused, and I could have sworn he looked directly at me before continuing, “I hope you have all chosen your allies wisely. If not, they could hinder more than help you, even cause you to fail. Unlike your class demonstrations, failure to complete this trial will result in expulsion from Heartstone Academy. Exploitation during trials is allowed, yet another reason why forming trustworthy alliances is so important. You can complete the maze together or individually, but the first student to reach the end and portal back to school will reap the most rewards. Audentia et Fortitudo to you all, and may the most worthy among you succeed.”
Cheers and clapping erupted all around us, the chance to earn better accommodations and social status whipping the first years into a frenzy of excitement.
Oz was close by with Damien, his first year partner.
The Fire Elemental rarely spoke to me, but he acknowledged my existence in a respectful way, so that was something.
Alma stood beside Riku and didn’t look as excited as I thought she would.
This was her chance to climb back to the top, but she was too busy flicking glances at Blaze, who was hooting and hollering beside his new mentor.
Two first years hadn’t shown up for the trial this morning.
Seeing their families again must have proven to be too much, and they’d left Heartstone sometime in the middle of the night.
I hadn’t really known either of them, but I still felt bad that the pressure had broken their spirits.
At least they hadn’t committed suicide. Then I would be the broken one.
Blaze had immediately jumped on the opportunity and secured himself a third year mentor, which he seemed particularly pleased about.
“Mentors, prepare your portals,” Chancellor Grimshaw shouted over the chaos. “Once you deliver your first year to the designated drop-off point, the Labyrinth Trial will begin!”
More cheers as portal after portal sprang into existence.
Swirling vortexes of greens, blues, whites, oranges, and purples lit up the gloomy morning.
Nerves tumbled in my stomach, but excitement did too, the energy around me contagious.
I’d never seen so many portals at one time before, and certainly not this diverse.
Thorne lifted a hand, and a portal edged in crackling electric blue emerged out of thin air.
I’d never traveled with anyone besides family members before, but the thought of stepping into the Ether with him didn’t fill me with terror like I thought it would.
The binding oath we’d made to each other aside, his confessions last night had affected me deeply.
I wanted to trust him. I did trust him. Despite everything, I knew that he wouldn’t let anything harm me inside that void of endless darkness.
Knowing that the second Chancellor Grimshaw gave the word, the time for speaking would be over, I looked up at Thorne and said, “Any last words for me?”
“Don’t die. I’ll be very upset if you do.”
I cracked a weak smile. “We can’t have that. You’ll lose your bet.”
He focused on me, his expression dead serious. “I don’t care about that anymore. All I care about is you making it back to me alive.”
My eyes widened a fraction, my heart skipping a beat.
“First years, get into positions,” the chancellor shouted over the humming portals.
Before I could move an inch, Thorne snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me against him. It was far more intimate of a position than was needed, but I soaked up his nearness like a bone-dry sponge.
“On my command,” Chancellor Grimshaw said, raising his hand. I glanced at Professor Holt to find her gaze already on me, reassured when she gave me a small, albeit encouraging smile. “Set!”
I fisted my trembling hands in Thorne’s shirt. “Don’t let me go.”
“Never,” he replied, tightening his hold.
The chancellor dropped his arm. “GO!”
Thorne lunged for his portal with me firmly locked against him, and the darkness swallowed us whole.