Chapter 50
FIFTY
Eirabella
“Today,” King Halford begins, his gaze sweeping over the gathered faces lining the four borders of the training field, “we stand on the edge of history, and you all are about to witness the final trial that will crown our next Aquilith.” His voice booms across the training grounds, carrying a commanding authority that silences the murmuring crowd. “This role requires a sacred bond between the Keeper and the land and its people, an embodiment of Celador’s strength and spirit.” His words are met with a hush, each person drawn in by the weight of his declaration.
Behind him, the towering walls of the impending trial maze loom, casting shadows over us, adding to the sense of anticipation that grows with every heartbeat.
Beside me, Selene cracks her knuckles as she adjusts her armour. I stand completely still, as though my feet have adhered to the ground .
King Halford continues, his voice steady yet reverent. “The path to becoming Aquilith is not an easy one. It demands not only skill but resilience and a heart unyielding in the face of darkness. Today’s trial is simple—enter the maze and be the first to emerge to be crowned a Keeper of our great kingdom of Celador.” His gaze shifts to the two of us, almost identical to his son’s unreadable expression. “May Morath guide you, body and heart.” With those words, he steps back from the edge of the balcony.
I swallow.
All or nothing , isn’t that what Rylan said? Leave it all on the battlefield; and make no mistake, with Selene as my competitor, this is war.
I breathe and wait.
The moment the horn sounds, signalling the start, my feet are moving. My breath catches as I race down the long pathway and under the arch that marks the entrance to the maze, walls of slick stone rising around me, casting dark shadows over the twisting path ahead. My fingers tingle with anticipation, my magic simmering beneath my skin. This is it—the final trial. No room for fear, for failure.
For Rylan. For Doran. For Celador. And for me.
My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing in the silence. I’m ready for this.
But the maze is nothing like I expected. The air is damp, thick with moisture, and each step feels heavier, as if the very stones beneath my feet resist movement. Selene’s footsteps echo behind me; her pace is steady, almost predatory. We’ve trained side by side these last months, but there is still no love lost between us—only the knowledge that we both hunger to emerge the victor, whatever our personal reasons for wanting it.
The path splits ahead, and I choose the left, instinct guiding me forward. Wary of traps, I hold out a hand, calling water from the air around me, letting it pool at my fingertips. I force it into a stream, thin yet strong, and send it spiralling down the passage ahead. Like an extension of me, it slithers over the stone, mapping the path for any traps, any danger hidden beyond the corners. A spike of satisfaction ripples through me at the way I use my Strength strategically compared to when I first started, and I confidently follow my trail of water, moving carefully but quickly.
But Selene is close behind. I can feel her presence, her magic crackling with her trademark aggression. She is simply barrelling forward, using her magic to carve out her path, blasting obstacles out of her way. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her raising her hand, her own stream of water forming, but this one is thick and icy, carrying a frigid energy. She’s close enough behind me that I can hear her laboured breath. Flicking her wrist, she sends an icy stream toward my ankles in an attempt to trip me. I jump, narrowly avoiding her attack, my heart racing as I land and spin around to face her.
“Really, Selene?” I call back, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “Still playing those games?”
She smirks, unbothered. “Just making sure you’ve hardened up, Eirabella. This isn’t a trial for the more ooey-gooey soft-hearted.”
I grit my teeth, pushing forward without retaliating. Let her play dirty—I’m not sinking to that level. I’m here to prove my worth, and I’ll do it by skill, not deception.
The maze twists and turns, and Selene and I split up, giving me some relief, but then I feel a surge of frustration as I encounter a dead end. My mind races, every nerve heightened. I close my eyes for a moment, placing my hand against the ice wall, and reach out with my magic. I send the faint pulse through the water within the maze walls. The faint vibration guides me, drawing a map in my mind’s eye. Trusting my magic, I turn right up ahead, only to bang directly into Selene.
She raises her arms, and I see a wall of ice materialising in front of me, blocking my way. But with a focused thought, I melt the ice in front of me, stepping through the puddle left in its wake and giving Selene a quick glance before moving on.
As we push farther into the maze, the passages narrow even further, and the temperature drops, cold seeping through my clothes, biting into my skin. The walls feel like they’re closing in, pressing snugly with each step. My breathing grows shallow; the air itself seems scarce, and with every breath, I feel a little more lightheaded.
I hate small spaces. I fucking hate them. Images flash unbidden through my mind—dark, tight corners, stale air, the sound of Samfer’s mocking laughter as he kept me locked in that wardrobe. My hands tremble as I press them against the wall, feeling the rough, cold stone grounding me, fighting the memories that claw their way to the surface.
“Move or get out of the fucking way,” Selene hisses, shoving me against the wall as she pants, pushing herself ahead of me. The action knocks the air from my lungs, winding me further, and I brace both hands against the wall, struggling to steady my breathing, forcing the flashbacks away.
No. Not now , I tell myself, dragging my fingers along the ice wall, focusing on the feel of the maze rather than the echoes of the past. I’m not trapped; I’m in control. I can breathe; there’s plenty of air, and freedom is just around the corner— the fear is what’s not real. Gritting my teeth, I shake off the last shreds of panic, tightening my grip on the present. I take a step forward, pushing past the weight in my chest, until the trial, the maze, and Selene are all that matter.
Forcing one step in front of the other, I hear a crackling sound, and then feel a blast of frigid air as Selene sends a barrage of ice shards spiralling toward me. I duck, feeling the sharp edges slice past, and immediately form a shield that deflects the remaining shards.
“Aw, cute trick,” I shout at her.
She just laughs, the sound harsh and grating. “You could say I’m determined, Eirabella. Something you seem to lack.”
Ignoring her taunts, I press forward, my heart racing as I reach a wider section of the maze, taking a deep breath when I get there, relief flooding me. I stop, glancing around.
Then, just ahead, I see it—the first checkpoint.
But the floor is slick, treacherous, and I can feel the faint tug of a current running beneath it, suggesting some hidden danger. This isn’t a place to make a mistake. I need to think strategically, not just react to her sabotage.
I crouch, sending a ripple of water across the ground ahead. The moment it hits the centre of the passage, spikes of ice shoot up, deadly sharp, triggered by the weight and movement. I remember Master Tavyn having mentioned them in one of the Defence Warfare classes. I pull back quickly, calculating my options. A plan forms in my mind—a way to get across fast without turning into a skewered Eirabella. I call up a thin sheet of ice, layering it over the spikes just enough to form a makeshift bridge.. It holds as I carefully cross, and I make it to the other side, heart pounding. I let myself feel the victory. The thrill of being in the lead. I glance over as Selene catches up, her expression stormy. She made it too, of course, but the frustration in her eyes tells me all I need to know: I’m still ahead.
And I’m not slowing down.
As I step into the next section of the maze, I stop short. A massive wall—easily 100 feet tall—looms before me, smooth and featureless, towering above everything else. There’s no way around it, no handholds, no rope. The only way is up.
Selene arrives at my side, eyes narrowed as she studies the challenge. Her lips curl into a smirk. Without hesitation, she uses her Strength to create a series of footholds in the ice wall and she immediately starts climbing, barely taking a breath. Her body is easily probably twice as strong as mine, and I wouldn’t make it half way up the wall before my muscles gave out.
She’s fast, but I don’t need speed right now. I need power. This is what I’ve saved my magic for.
I take a deep breath, grounding myself as I stretch out my hands. The moisture in the air condenses in front of me, swirling as I summon every drop of water I can pull from the surrounding environment. The pressure builds, the power thrumming through me like a current.
I don’t just want to climb this wall—I want to dominate it.
With a fierce burst of energy, I channel the water, shaping it into a massive wave. It rises higher and higher, swelling to match the height of the wall. The force of it is exhilarating, the power coursing through my veins as the wave towers above me, the sound of rushing water filling my ears.
“Come on,” I whisper to myself, and then I jump.
The wave catches me, lifting me up like I’m weightless. I ride the crest, the icy chill of the water wrapping around me as I soar toward the top of the wall. The cold nips at my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the thrill of this power, the surge of magic that propels me forward.
The top of the wall comes into view, and I focus, tightening my grip on the water as I guide it forward. The wave crashes against the wall, and I leap off, landing on the top ledge with a soft thud, the water dissipating behind me in a mist of icy droplets.
I glance down just in time to see Selene still climbing, almost three-quarters to the top.
She glares at me, but I ignore her. My heart is still racing from the thrill of the surf, the power of the wave fresh in my mind. Without looking back, I step forward. There’s still more ahead, and I won’t stop until I win.
The moment I step into the third section of the maze, I can almost taste the danger. The wide, circular arena stretches before me, and I know immediately what this means—combat. Weapons of all kinds line the walls, glinting in the low light. Despite knowing I will mostly use my magic, I grab a staff
The second I step onto the field the ground trembles. A low, grinding noise rumbles through the arena, sending vibrations up through my feet. From the centre of the arena, a massive creature—larger than any opponent I’ve ever faced—rises. Its body is made of dense stone and ice, sharp edges and jagged surfaces reflecting the faint light. Its eyes glow a fierce blue, flickering like cold fire, and with every movement, the air crackles with the weight of its power.
Selene arrives beside me, her eyes narrowing as she sizes up the creature.
“Frostfang,” we both mutter under our breath at the same time.
An enormous snow monster, designed to test every ounce of strength, endurance, and combat skill we have.
For a brief moment, we stand in silence, both calculating our moves. The monster roars, its voice echoing through the space, and without warning, it lunges. Its thick arms swing like wrecking balls, and I can hear the grinding of stone as it drags one massive hand across the arena floor, sending sparks flying.
“Move!” I shout at Selene as it leaps into the air.
We both run in opposite directions as it lands mere metres where we stand, the whole arena shaking from the impact. I barely have time to throw up a shield out of the way to deflect the debris. My pulse pounds in my ears, but I know I have to stay focused. This isn’t just about dodging—it’s about defeating it.
“Selene!” I shout across the field to her over the roar of the creature. “We’d be better off working together!”
She shoots me a glance, her lips curling into a smirk. “We’re competitors, not friends,” she spits back, summoning her magic as she conjures a sleek ice spear in her hand. Without another word, she charges the Frostfang.
I’ll give her this, she’s no coward.
I watch her for a split second, frustration gnawing at me. She always wants to go it alone, even when teamwork would make sense, would ensure the survival of us both instead of maybe neither of us. If only it were Doran standing next to me, I think, wishing for the ease and trust I always had when training with him.
But there’s no time to dwell on it. The Frostfang swings its massive arm at Selene, and she’s barely fast enough to dodge the blow. She hurls the spear, the ice glinting as it flies toward the creature’s head, but it shatters against the creature’s stone exterior, leaving barely a scratch.
The monster’s attention shifts to me, and it charges, one arm swinging wide. I leap to the side, sending a freezing stream toward its legs. Ice creeps up the stone, locking its joints, but it’s not enough.
The Frostfang roars in frustration, shaking off the ice with a kick, and I barely dodge its next swing. My heart races as I look for an opening, a way to use the water to slow it down.
Think, Eira. Think.
Suddenly, Selene lets out a sharp cry. I turn just in time to see her hit by a glancing blow from the Frostfang, sent tumbling across the ground. She rolls to a stop, clutching her side, blood seeping through her fingers. My stomach twists at the sight, but Selene grits her teeth and pushes herself up .
Without thinking, I rush over to her side, extending a hand.
Her gaze flickers with something—surprise? Maybe. But her pride is still there. “Why are you helping me?” she hisses through gritted teeth.
“We’re not friends,” I admit, “but right now, we’re not enemies either.”
For a moment, she seems like she might refuse. Then, begrudgingly, she takes my hand, and I help her to her feet. As soon as she’s up, she shakes me off, straightening with an air of defiance.
“Don’t expect me to thank you,” she mutters.
“I’d sooner expect that thing to drop to a knee and propose to me,” I reply, turning my attention back to the Frostfang, which has now refocused its gaze on us. Its eyes flare brighter, and it charges again. “But I have an idea.” I quickly explain and she nods. “Go!” I shout as it gets within striking distance.
We both move at once, running to either side of the creature.
“Catch!” I shout to Selene and send one end of an ice rope to Selene. She deftly catches it. We keep running, pulling the rope taut between us, until it hits the Frostfang at the shin, causing him to trip over it, collapsing like a giant clumsy stone building onto the ground.
Selene circles around to the creature’s left, summoning another spear of ice, while I summon a torrent of freezing water, aiming for the Frostfang’s legs. This time, I pour more power into the attack, the water surging forward and coating the stone in an almost impossibly thick layer of ice.
The Frostfang tries to get to its feet, only stumbling more as it tries, its movements slowing as the ice begins to freeze its joints. Selene hurls her spear, this time aiming for the creature’s chest, and the ice spear pierces the stone, sending cracks spidering across its body .
But the Frostfang isn’t done. With a roar, it swings its massive fist, knocking me backward. Pain shoots through my side as I hit the ground hard, but I grit my teeth, refusing to stay down.
I summon my strength, pulling the water from the air again, and fling it at the monster’s fist, pinning it to the ground.
The Frostfang roars, its limbs immobilised. Selene takes her chance, forming another spear and aiming it at the Frostfang’s head. With a final, powerful thrust, the spear pierces through its left eye, and she screams with effort as she plunges it deep into its skull. The creature lets out one last, deafening roar before it crumbles into a heap of stone and ice.
The arena falls silent.
I stay still for a moment, catching my breath, my heart still racing from the fight. Selene is breathing hard too, her hand still pressed to her side where the blood stains her tunic. She looks at me, her expression hard to read.
“We may not be friends,” I say softly, “but we couldn’t have done that on our own. So, thank you.”
Selene doesn’t respond. She just wipes the blood from her lip and turns away, heading toward the next section of the maze without a word.
I push myself up and follow her.