Chapter 34 Dragontail Trials
By sunset the next day, I stood in the arena with the Dragontail Legion first-years. The day we had all awaited had come, the day to prove we were worthy of being in the Dragontail Legion.
We lined up, the stone beneath our boots warm from the lingering sun.
Shakari stood beside me. Our eyes locked for a moment, and I could feel her determination in her gaze.
The stands were packed, more than ever for a Dragontail trial. The whole academy gathered. Nobles, court members, and journalists filled the rows.
As I glanced through the stands, I found my mother in her white gown.
Beside her stood General Barret in a white tunic, his silver hair shining in the light.
His presence was intimidating as always.
When I looked at him, I felt strength and order.
On my mother's other side stood Zeci Aric, Camelia’s mother and my mother’s right hand in court.
She wore Emberkeep colors as well, looking poised, composed, and beautiful.
Her long brown hair and porcelain skin made her resemblance to her daughter all the more vivid.
My mother and I locked eyes. She didn't move or reveal any encouragement or fear for what lay ahead.
My gaze lingered on General Barret. Just then, I noticed Thalen beside him. Neither met my eyes. They spoke quietly, seriously, and unreadable as they watched. Thalen looked composed, even refreshed, no sign of any consumption of Auroric potions.
I pulled my gaze and thoughts from the stands, the observers, and the politics, though it was nearly impossible.
The expectation pressed down on my chest anyway, heavier than armor.
This wasn't just another trial. It had never been.
Everyone knew it, this was the deciding test. If I would be able to keep my spot at the academy, and if I would be able to rule Rionis.
Not passing the trials would mean I couldn't finish my studies—Dragontail or Emberkeep —which would disqualify me completely from the crown.
And today the whole Kingdom was watching.
Just months ago, all I wanted was not to rule. But now, desperation fought with hope inside my ribs. Now there was something I wanted more than anything. I ached to defend our island with my legion. I needed to confront the wildweavers and end this war, no matter what it cost me.
Across the arena, the second-years stood ready for the trials. They'd be called one by one to fight. Lorik told me yesterday that they didn't know their pairings and joked that he wouldn't go easy on me if we fought.
Scanning the second-year line, I spotted Lorik standing tall and relaxed wearing his green uniform.
His sun-kissed skin was radiant and his honey-brown hair shone lighter in the flickering sunlight.
At my glance, he gave me a half smile and nodded, giving me strength and confidence.
That I had everything it took to pass these trials.
Then, Professor Hog walked the line of first-year Dragontails, giving each a map to our three trials. When he gave me mine, I just nodded in appreciation.
"See you on the other side, Solenhart," he said flatly and unimpressed as he continued down the line of students.
I shoved the map into my shirt pocket and zipped it safely.
We couldn't open it until the trials began.
Then, I checked my supplies one more time.
One healing potion in my other shirt pocket, my clock on my wrist, and the golden ring on my finger, where I could collect the gems of each test. Nothing else, no water, no food.
Just my body and magic. My wrist was bare; though I had mental immunity, I couldn't use the protection heirloom.
Headmaster Marvek stepped to the center of the arena, his presence silencing the crowd. Marvek’s voice echoed. "Dragontail trials were never meant to be fair. They reveal the truth."
He let the silence stretch.
"The truth of whether you are worthy of this academy. Worthy of this island. Worthy to stand at the border and defend it with your life."
His gaze moved deliberately across the first-years, then to the second-years waiting opposite.
"You will be tested for strength. For magic. For your ability to defeat a dragon." He paused.
"But these trials go beyond that."
A murmur rippled through the stands.
"You will carry only one auroric healing potion. Use it wisely. You will be given no food. No water. You will survive by resourcefulness alone."
Above him, a massive fire clock formed, its numbers burning over the arena, marking twenty-four hours.
"In twenty-four hours, we will know who is meant to stay." Marvek lifted his hand.
"Let the Dragontail Trials begin."
In twenty-four hours, my destiny would be forged here or destroyed.
No, not destiny. That word was a lie, shriveled and weak.
My hands tightened into fists. I would seize my own future and carve my path through whatever trials awaited me.
Failure was not an option if I wanted to defend the island or forge a new path for Rionis.
The crowd's noise drowned out my thoughts as they joined Marvek’s countdown.
"Ten."
"Nine."
"Eight."
My heartbeat matched every number, my focus fixed straight ahead.
"Seven."
"Six."
"Five."
I looked at Lorik one last time.
"Good luck. Not that you need it," a voice said in my mind. Not any voice, Lorik's voice.
His lips hadn't moved. I must have imagined it. I swallowed, forcing the thought away. I didn't have time to question my sanity. I had to stay focused. I looked straight ahead again, where a portal would open for me shortly.
"Three."
"Two."
A portal opened before me.
"One."
The crowd erupted in cheers, but I ignored them. Without hesitation, I jumped through the portal. After crossing it, I felt the noise vanish behind me as the portal closed.
I took in my surroundings. I was alone. The portal had left me at the edge of a dense, unfamiliar forest. Tall trees filtered the last light into streaks of gold and shadow. The air was damp and sweet with rain-soaked earth and wildflowers.
These were not the sequoias near the Glass Castle, but palms, sea grapes, and banana trees, lush and coastal.
I was on the island's south, usually uninhabited, miles from any town or shelter.
Somewhere in the distance, waves crashed loudly against rock, confirming my thoughts.
I pulled the folded map from my pocket and opened it. The outline of the island was familiar, the boundary of the veil around the King's Forest clearly marked. A single golden mark pulsed toward the southwest near the cliffs. My first trial.
If my bearings were correct, it would be near.
The second trial location remained hidden, locked until I retrieved the topaz gem of the strength test.
I folded the map again, already planning my route. Time was of the essence. If I could clear the first two trials during the night, I'd have the daylight to recharge my magic and face the third and final trial, the longest and most dangerous one, traditionally.
I reached the sea after sunset. Checking the stars, I saw the Osiris star above the island, confirming I was south and near my first trial. I ran west along the cliffs; the moon lit the sea and rocks ahead. The faint light was just enough, but I refused to use my fire and drain magic early.
I reach the location quickly. Tropical forest behind me, cliffs in front of me, and to the dark, deep ocean.
But no one was here yet. I double-checked the map; certain I was right.
My heartbeat raced with anticipation and uncertainty.
For a long moment, all I could hear was the sea below me.
Then, a voice cut through nature’s voice.
"You are in the right spot, Solenhart," I heard from behind me. A female voice I could almost place. I turned around immediately as an auroric suppression veil surged above us, my magic getting stripped out of my veins in an instant.
Of course, it was her. Marla Yung. I quickly shoved the map back into my pocket as she walked toward me with ease.
"I prayed to the Gods of Solvir and Lunareth alike that I would be paired with you," she said with a wicked smile. "And it worked."
I instinctively raised my guard and shifted into a defensive stance, ready for the fight to begin, but Marla kept striding toward me slowly, appearing almost uninterested.
"You really think you have a chance, do you?" she said, letting out a low laugh. "You don't. You will leave this forest without a gem."
Marla rushed at me, swinging punches at my face. I shielded myself with my hands and, seeing an opening, kicked at her. She caught my leg, twisted it painfully, and hurled me several feet away.
“Why do you hate me so much?” I gasped, struggling to my knees. Marla’s hatred was venomous, her glare almost a physical blow. It couldn’t just be rivalry over a Sunheart male—it couldn’t. The rage in her eyes burned deeper than anything I’d ever seen. Dread twisted in my stomach.
"Where to begin?" she said, looking toward the horizon for a second. "You're a Solenhart. That's enough."
I stood to face her again. I was done explaining myself, done paying for my family's actions, whatever it was she thought we had done to her. Today, I was fighting my trials, and time was already ticking.
I launched at her with fury and pushed her to the ground. I landed on top of her and threw punches at her face until blood appeared. She only smiled before kicking me and throwing me closer to the cliffs.
"I don't know what we did to deserve this hatred," I said as I slowly stood up. Marla was already on her feet, blood dripping from her nose onto her green uniform.
"You might be fooling everyone in this academy, softening hearts and making people forget," Marla said as she walked toward me. "But you don't fool me, Solenhart. You will be the same piece of trash as all royals before you."
She smiled. "If I stop you from getting your topaz today, I'll be doing everyone in Rionis a favor."
I raised my arms again, ready for her. Marla came at me with a brutal hook. I lowered myself, dodged it, and struck her with a left hook straight to her side.
She let out a low growl and drove her knee into my chin, sending me crashing backward into the rocks below, the cliffs now dangerously close behind me. I touched my jaw; certain it wasn't broken despite the blinding pain.
Marla stepped over me and kicked my ribs again. And again. I cried out.
The pain was excruciating. If nothing had broken yet, it soon would or I would faint, losing the trial altogether.
Then I remembered my fight with Lorik.
The night on the sky terrace, how I had swept him off his feet and pinned him when he least expected it.
With the bit of strength I had left, I kicked Marla's legs. She lost her balance and fell beside me. In an instant, I was on top of her again. I punched her once but she just grinned.
Before I could strike again, I felt her hand slide into my pocket.
What was she doing if not defending herself, fighting me? Then realization hit hard. She had taken the healing potion.
"You can't," I shouted, lunging for it, but she threw it away from us. I saw the glass vial flying into the air and shattering as it hit the ground.
I screamed in fury.
Without the healing potion, I was going to continue my trials with bruises and pain if I got past this one.
I launched at her again, landing punch after punch as I pinned her down with my body weight but she grabbed my wrists and used my momentum to flip me over her.
I slammed down at the very edge of the cliff.
Marla rose slowly, smiling as she held something up in her hand.
A Paper. But it wasn't just any paper, it was my map. She had also taken it sometime during our fight.
"There are no rules against sabotaging your trials. It's all part of the survival," Marla said with a smirk I wanted to wipe off her face.
I pushed myself to my feet, but she threw the map, landing dangerously close to the cliffs. I had seconds to decide, fight her or retrieve the map.
I took a deep breath and let logic take over instead of impulse. If I didn't win this trial, the map wouldn't matter.
So I chose to fight Marla and end her.
With a sharp cry, I drove an uppercut into her face. Bone cracked on impact. I had broken her nose. Marla lashed out with a kick, which I blocked and twisted, throwing her off balance. Then I landed a final kick that sent her face-first into the ground.
She didn't move.
Had I just knocked her out?
I rushed to her side and checked for a pulse at her wrist. She was alive.
I searched her pocket to see if she had a healing potion. I never knew what second years were allowed to bring to the first trial, so it was worth checking. But I found nothing, just an empty vial.
The Auroric suppression veil began to lift as a portal formed beneath Marla's body. Slowly, she was pulled into it. Then, a gem fell from the sky and anchored itself on the golden ring on my finger.
I had passed my first trial. I had achieved the topaz.
The rush of victory barely had time to bloom before it vanished. My gaze snapped to where Marla had thrown the map.
An orange light shimmered in the paper. The second trial spot had just appeared on the map.
But then, a light breeze swept through the clearing, nudging it closer to the cliff's edge. I launched my sun ropes, trying to snatch it back but the wind caught hold and carried it over the edge.