The three of them arrived at a cliff where Klyran quickly noticed many young men and women gathered. They were all wearing standard Greenyard clothes. The people were of different ages as well, some were young, barely 13, while the oldest being 30. Apparently the knowledge that the Yakards would catch those who fall made many confident in trying the test multiple times. There were also a few who successfully jumped, but were unable to run to the finish line.
"Who will pursuit me?" Klyran asked and Ranya rose her hand.
"I will" she said with a wink, "Since you are faster than a human... And Midryl and I are the fastest Greenyards."
"We actually played rock, paper, scissors to see who would try to catch you" the brother then explained.
"Now that I remember... Weren't the two of you supposed to go the Silver City?" Klyran then asked, remembering the two horses that were lent to them.
"The horses weren't exactly for us" Ranya said with a shrug.
"We give the Silver City some herbs in exchange for other things, like clothes. But Ildurin did ask me to go to the Silver City, thought I'll first wait for the rangers to come down from the North and go with them. Other than that... We don't really have any business there at the moment" Midryl finished for her.
'So Ildurin told us a lie so that we will take the horses' the Ryan raised an eyebrow, somehow not believing it.
Then, Klyran went to the edge of the cliff and looked down. Like many others of those who wanted to take the test. Some looked at him with a smile, while others with a frown. Those displeased by Klyran's presence disliked that a stranger would be taking the test meant for their people.
"Remember" Ranya said as she approached him, "No wings" she said with a wink and then jumped off.
Everyone of the contestants ran to see her jump. They tried to memorise the place where she would fall.
Under the cliff was the forest. The thick branches with green leaves surrounding the stone from all sides. It didn't allow simple eyes to see what was under them. It didn't allow simple eyes to discern between leaves and branches. Someone who would fall from that height would surely die if they didn't know what they were doing or were not caught.
When it was finally time. The people were told to jump when they were ready. Some, more brave, approached the edge, but didn't dare to jump yet.
"Someone who is scared will never jumped" Midryl shouted out, "And there is no shame in being afraid to jump" he then said and looked at everyone.
"Take as long as you want until sundown" he then told the people, "And those who do not have the heart to do it shouldn't force themselves."
His speech continued for a few more minutes and in the end. A girl left after bowing her head. She was scared of the height. The few Greenyards who were present at the top approached her and assured her that it was all right. That she could try again next year if she wanted.
"Do you have any advice?" Klyran then asked, as he approached Midryl.
"Other than what has already been said?" he asked and received a nod in reply.
"Yeah…I do" he said and the shouted again, "Those who will jump, always remember. Never. Stop. Running" he said accentuating every word at the end.
"The jump isn't the full trial" he then continued.
There were a few people who have previously taken the Trial, but still didn't jump. Despite having done it, they were waiting at the edge, for someone to jump first.
Then, Klyran approached the edge again and looked down. With a deep breath he turned around and looked Midryl in the eyes.
"Well this brings back memories" he said with a smirk and rubbed his shoulder.
It made the young Greenyard realize that this was not Klyran's first time jumping from heights. In that moment, he wondered if the Ryans were taught to fly just like birds did, by jumping off heights.
"Someone had to catch you?" he then asked his friend jokingly.
"Yeah.." he said with a nod and then titled his head, "My brother and cousin caught me like five times."
"What happened on the sixth?" Midryl then asked with a smirk of his own.
To that, Klyran didn't answer. He simply waved his hand, the smirk still on his face, and did a back flip, right over the edge. His jump prompted others to take action. Even a few who were staying far away from the edge ran right to it. It didn't feel right to them that a stranger jumped, while they trained years for this moment.
The free fall was exhilarating to Klyran. The knowledge that he wouldn't use his wings also caused a new feeling to bloom in his chest. An excitement that he only felt during battle, only this time, it was different. It felt more addictive to him.
Once the Ryan jumped, he quickly used his new skill. The world decomposed back to the threads that tied it together. Klyran quickly noticed how the magic waved around the trees and knew his next movements. The fall, the Ryan could not help but think, was a sort of freedom. The seconds seemed to stretch forever. And there were no problems, or worries that tied him down in that moment. Then, he saw the trees approaching his view.
Klyran quickly put his hands in front of him, to protect his eyes from the incoming leaves, that at his speed, could turn rather sharp. Once pass the first layer of the forest, the serpent quickly grabbed a branch that he was aiming for form the start. He tightly grasped it and used the speed too swing his body and throw it into the direction that he wanted.
Remembering Midryl's words about never stopping, he didn't even take a second to catch his breath. Once his body approached another tree, he used his arms again to grab a branch and swing his body a bit side way, just in time dodge an arrow. With a smile, he put his legs on the tree trunk and with all of his strength he pushed his body off the tree, flying without his wings into the forest.