Chapter 6 #2
“Like you own this place. You might be the king’s son, but you’re the same as us. A candidate who needs to do their best to win this trial,” she continues, looking at me from head to toe. “You look horrible.”
I snort, blocking out the rest of the assumptions she makes of me.
This girl won from me yesterday, blinding and tying me to the ground, using her shadow signet and thinks she can talk like that to me because of it.
Normally, I wouldn’t let her get away with it, but this day isn’t normal, so I look away and start tapping my feet, trying to release some stress.
A door opens and the whole room goes quiet.
The mystery candidate steps through it, lifting her chin every step she makes, her cream-colored dress flowing together with it as a guard leads her towards her seat.
The only empty seat left. In the dress is a girl with her hair so blonde, or maybe better described as golden, it looks like it gives light.
She has honey brown eyes and far too many freckles to count.
She turns her head to look at someone. I turn around to see who she is making eye contact with.
I catch a glimpse of someone silently speaking to her.
Fintan, my fighting and signet trainer.
Is this the girl he was talking about when he said that he had to keep two people alive?
Another student? Still not having an answer to my question, I decide to let it go for now.
Despite the fact that every other girl in this row wears a simple, classy dress like her, she has something bright and shiny over her. I can’t really describe what it is.
“I am glad you all could come. Today I am going to announce the candidates of the trials,” the king speaks up, interrupting my thoughts about this mysterious girl sitting on the left.
“But first, I would like to ask you to cheer for our ten candidates for the first and last trials of Drimyé!” He cheers, making a movement with his hands, demanding us to stand up.
The bystanders cheer and clap loudly. Some people whistle and some scream names.
Some of the candidates turn around to wave or blow kisses.
I keep my gaze straight forward, hands balled into fists as the king continues.
“Now we know that there will be ten candidates. I am proud to announce that eight of them won or lasted during a fight with Prince Braxton Lance Dunkeld, who is also a candidate,” he continues, smiling devilishly as he speaks out my whole name for the first time in years.
It leaves me fighting the urge to gawk at him.
I push the shiver rolling up my shoulders back down.
All I ever wanted was for him to look at me like a person.
Like his son, but the formal look in his eyes when he speaks my full name confirms I just transformed from the youngest invaluable prince to another candidate of the trials that goes by a name instead of a title.
I drop my shoulders. “But nine doesn’t make ten.
I have a surprise for y’all,” he continues, making the crowd go quiet for a few seconds.
“My special guest is also sitting in the front row.”
The bystanders go wild. There are maybe 100 people sitting in this room, but they act and sound like animals.
“I would like to call my first candidate up,” he continues, looking down on his paper. “Aaliyah?”
The girl with brown hair and a white stroke in it, the shapeshifter I remember, walks up the stage.
“It is Aaliyah Nythis to be exact,” the girl corrects him, leaning forward to speak in the microphone. The king looks at her, sharpening his eyes. “Right, Aaliyah Nythis. How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“And where are you from?”
She looks in the crowd, fidgeting her hands before she answers. “Athios.”
“Ah, right.” The king grins, knowing exactly where to hit her. “We have a fighter here, ladies and gentlemen! And what is your signet?” the king asks.
“I am a shapeshifter,” she announces, looking proud again.
After the king is done with interviewing her in front of everyone, he calls the next one up, and after that, the next one and so on.
Eight candidates passed by.
There are two people who haven’t been introduced yet.
Me and the mystery girl. I have seen all the other candidates before obviously.
I had to fight them, but after fighting so many people it happens that you forget some names and faces.
“Braxton, you can come up,” the king goes on.
I stand up and let my feet drag me to the stage.
“As you all know this is my son. I understand that you might think he will have an advantage, I promise you he hasn’t.
He will be treated exactly the same as any other candidate. ”
I shrug my shoulders before I straighten my back.
I look over the crowd, not making any eye contact with anyone.
This is the first time I see my brother.
He is sitting on the top row, close to Fintan.
He stares blankly towards me and the king, but his shoulders are held stiff.
“Since you already know my son, I will not ask him the usual. I do assume you are curious about one thing. What is your goal by entering this trial?”
I blink my eyes, not expecting that question. He didn’t ask anyone else this. I press my lips together as I try to think of how to describe my answer.
“I want to prove what I am capable of,” I decide on saying, feeling a bit shy, but I don’t lower my head.
“We already know what you are capable of! You’re a monster!
” someone in the crowd screams at me. I step off the stage as fast as I can and sit down in my chair, not giving that man the satisfaction of another glare.
The king clears his throat before continuing with his speech.
I try to ignore the aching feeling in my hands to throw out a punch.
“Next up is my mystery guest. Last but definitely not least. Eliane, you may come up!”
The girl with golden hair jumps up in shock, but slips her mask back on again really fast. She holds her head high and takes controlled steps as she walks onto the stage.
“Welcome, dear, what is your name?” the king asks. She crunches her nose before she answers.
“You already know my name, apparently,” she snaps, sharpening her eyes at the king.
“But for those of you who don’t know. My name is Eliane Lux Angevine.
On the day of the trial, I will be eighteen years old.
Which means I am seventeen right now.” She looks around the crowd, smiling widely when she sees Fintan. She looks in control again.
“Why did you enter the trials?” he follows up.
I sharpen my gaze. This, I want to learn.
“Because I have been taken away from my parents by you because of the trials. Because you wanted me to enter.”
Oh manes.
“And what may your signet be?” the king asks, gritting his teeth. She holds up her hand and a ball of light appears above it. She swings her hand up and the whole place lights up. The crowd claps their hands, and some people cheer.
“I am a light wielder,” she continues, smiling, looking at my trainer for confirmation.
“And I am the one and only sun wielder to ever exist.”
The whole crowd goes quiet, and some jaws drop open. The king doesn’t give them the time to react.
“Well thank you, Eliane, we are very excited for what you have to show us during the trials,” he breathes out, rolling his shoulders and giving her a curt nod. She turns around and smirks at the king.
She smirks at my father—the girl smirks at the king.
I can’t help but chuckle a bit to myself. Her face is perfect as she smiles. Freckles moving, making her look like a painting. She looks at me. Actually looks me dead in the eye and grins. I can’t help it. My heart starts beating a few strokes faster.
“Freaking Eliane,” I growl in a whisper, tasting her name as it rolls over my tongue.
I don’t get why I have never seen her before.
She does feel familiar, but I don’t think she lives around here.
Somehow, I do understand why the king chose her now.
If she can really control the sun, she has the power to ruin the world and she might be a real risk if she has been trained correctly, if she has reached the bottom of her magic already.
As soon as the speeches and announcements end, I crash onto my bed, exhausted from the night before.
I close my eyes, and before I even realize it, sleep pulls me under and the nightmares start all over again.
A frightful scream leaves my throat, waking myself.
I clear my throat before sitting right up in my bed.
Cold sweat trickles from my back and my hair sticks to my face.
I hold the bed, steadying myself. My heart pounds in my chest and my ears are filled with buzzes.
It feels like my veins are popping and my heart will explode. I throw the blanket away and jump up.
3:50 a.m. the clock says. I can’t stay here, not if I am feeling like this. Maybe I can go to the garden? I look out the window. A flash of red hair catches my eye, letting me know the woods near my hiding spot are already occupied.
I know what I am going to do. It has been too long, and maybe at night nobody will recognize me.
After fifteen minutes of walking, I reach the bridge.
Our garden is enormous. The bridge leads to the main village.
I look over the rope railing straight into the waters that stream into the abscess.
The bridge I stand on bridges the ground of our palace to the ground of the main village.
I stroll forwards, towards the light. Even in the middle of the night some people are out.
The cozy cottages form pretty alleys that look welcoming.
Out on the market are still standing carts with fruit and other things they sell.
I wear a black, tight long sleeve and black pants.
Most of my tattoos are covered and since the king doesn’t show me off a lot, I didn’t expect all these people to look at me.
“Isn’t he—” someone whispers.
“I thought he was too ugly to be shown off. Well, I was wrong.” Someone else sighs, looking flustered.
I must say, the last comment boosts my ego.
I lift the left corner of my mouth a bit.
They all think I am the monster the king projects me to be.
There might be something in that, but it isn’t the complete truth.
A delicious smell of cinnamon, fresh bread, and wine enters my nose.
I follow the smell and find myself on a square.
On the left and right are cafes with terraces and people drinking beer and listening to music.
The square is surrounded by some columns.
Between each column are lights on wires.
In the middle of the square people are dancing.
And I mean really dancing. They move on the music and let their bodies flow.
They smile widely as they switch partners during the songs.
They sing the parts they know and bystanders in the café clap their hands as encouragement.
Plants wrap their warmth around cottages and columns like a natural embrace.
I’ve seen many beautiful landscapes, but this place feels especially rich and inviting.
I settle into a chair and order a glass of their signature wine.
Everything around me amazes me. I’m surrounded by so much beauty that I almost lose track of time.
It is 9 a.m. when I decide it is time to head back to the palace.