Rielen stumbled out of the door of the room she had been trapped in for days. She wasn't sure how long she had been there. Series of tests had been inflicted upon her. It felt like every part of her being had been prodded into. Darkness, pain, horribly twisted memories, and scenes where she had to make terrible choice after terrible choice.
She was truly exhausted. She heard others around her groaning. They had not prepared them for the days spent in the small room. They had not warned them at all. Hyla pulled at Rielen's waist, as she led her into a small room with a bed and basic necessities.
******
Hyla did not speak, and allowed the young mage to rest. This was the first time she had been allowed to take care of an Elite candidate. All the others would leave the Academy after a few years. The haunting look on her young master had silenced her.
Whatever her young master Rielen had gone through the last few weeks had ruffled the girl. Hyla had heard of the horrors of the basic tests to enter the elite Academy. She just thought the other servants were making everything up to scare the younger attendants from serving in the Elite Academy.
She had been assigned to watch over Rielen these last five years. Even been ordered to sleep in her chambers. She knew that Rielen was important. She thought to herself, 'Maybe she will pass the test?' Hyla shook her head. Women don't become rulers of Autra. Leaving the young tired mage to rest, she silently prayed for her success.
******
Rielen had fallen into an empty slumber, finally released from the torture she had faced. Her body didn't wake up for 18 hours. She woke up with a start on the defensive. She looked around her, and noticed she was in a small room, with a light meal waiting on a desk beside her.
Realizing her empty stomach, she hurriedly ate the cold meal. She wondered how much time had passed since she first walked into the empty room until now. When the last bit of food was eaten, she finally let the tears fall. The torture she had endured was meant to break the strongest of people.
Rielen did not know what had caused her to endure. At one point, she knew she had become unconscious from the torture. Soon, she was able to collect herself. However, she knew nightmares would probably plague her for a long time.
The candidates were ushered into the classroom once again. In the beginning there had been 10. Now there were merely five. "Congratulations!" Grend boomed. "We have a big group this year! Welcome to the Elite Academy! I am sure you all have many questions. However, you will have to wait to hear about what awaits you."
Grend left the room, and only left Rielen with more questions. 'Elite Academy? What does that even mean?'
"You made it?" a voice behind her said in relief. She looked into Eon's eyes. "I am not broken that easily." She averted her eyes, as the memory of the torture, of watching him die a thousand times in the test, came to mind.
A hand touched her shoulder. A voice was cleared, and the hand slowly moved away. That small touch was enough for her, though. The horrors were just still too fresh in her mind. An overwhelming emotion was threatening to break through her calm demeanor.
'I must not show any weaknesses!' she silently told herself. Hyla guided her back to the small room. "I will prepare your new room in the Elite Academy Wing. Unfortunately, it is not separated from the regular Academy. However, we have been provided a room that is locked." She slipped away, leaving Rielen to her thoughts.
Rielen was glad that she had left with just those words. She was silently kicking herself for wasting the little time she had with Eon. She had found out that they had spent two full weeks in those rooms. She was not alone in the haunting look on her face.
She could tell everyone had found the experience difficult. She practiced her breathing techniques to calm her heart. He was alive. Her family wasn't being tortured. She was free. Breathe in. Breathe out. By the time Hyla came back to guide Rielen, she found her meditating with a calm look on her face.