"I can do this..."
"You will never be able to survive, Raena!"
"No... I can do this!"
"Never!"
"I can!" The witch princess accidentally made her voice loud enough for Vladimir to hear her.
"Are you okay?"
'Ugh, silly me.' She thought to herself as her cheeks started to turn red again. It has been starting to feel pretty embarrassing that Vladimir has to check on her occasionally, but then again, if it makes her heart jolt differently, then why not? "I'm fine, just... thinking of things."
"Come on," Vlad smirked playfully, his hands landing on Raena's back to comfort his princess. "Don't be hard on yourself. It is already enough for them to make it hard for you, and now, you're adding up damn things to yourself more too?"
Yeah... well, Vladimir was right. Raena could only smile in bitterness. But we all know, from the back of her mind, an evil thought she never wants to think of is forming: 'Easy for you to say that because they don't treat you this way...'
Brimming with excitement, the students had just poured their intense energies into the thorn, a ritual that marked the culmination of their efforts. And there, standing imposingly at the forefront, was Headmaster Zelbus. He swept his gaze over the sea of eager faces before him.
Then, with a mere raise of his hand, a profound silence enveloped the room, a testament to the adventure that was about to unfold.
"Excellent work, everyone," he began, his voice carrying through the hall. "You have all demonstrated remarkable abilities in the first trial. Now, it is time to reveal your rankings."
With her commanding aura, Professor Elara effortlessly drew all eyes to her as she stood confidently before her audience. Her hair, resembling moonlight strands, cascaded down her back, lending her an otherworldly appearance.
The light subtly danced in her gaze, hinting at a well of power beneath a calm exterior. Her attire, more than mere fabric, seemed an extension of her magical essence, softly radiating a gentle glow that mirrored the finesse of her light magic.
Professor Elara stepped forward, raising her hands gracefully. The air around her shimmered as she began to weave her light magic. Slowly, a large, translucent screen materialized behind her, casting a soft glow over the hall. The students watched in awe as names and points began to appear on the screen.
"Here are your current rankings," she announced, her voice clear and melodic.
1. Lucius - 1000 points
2. Jaime - 880 points
3. Jaun - 880 points
4. Serena - 850 points
5. Ivana - 830 points
6. Vladimir - 780 points
7. Cleagor - 690 points
8. Zorina - 660 points
9. Ferina - 670 points
10. Gale - 640 points
11. Talon - 580 points
12. Fern - 550 points
13. Cirana - 500 points
14. Moss - 500 points
15. Aurora - 480 points
16. Raena - 360 points
Murmurs spread through the crowd as the students processed the rankings. Some faces showed satisfaction, while others were etched with determination to improve.
Headmaster Zelbus advanced, his presence commanding attention. "Prepare yourselves for the forthcoming trial. This test shall gauge the mettle of your combat prowess. You are to confront monstrous adversaries in singular combat. How you fare in this arena will significantly influence your standing."
At his signal, the ground behind the students rumbled. Sixteen secret doors emerged from the bricks, each marked with a different element's sigil!
The students turned to face the doors, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Professor Thalor, a stern figure with a commanding presence, addressed the students. "You will enter these rooms and face the monsters awaiting you. You have thirty minutes to complete this challenge. The first to exit from the other side will gain an advantage in the subsequent trials."
As the students prepared to face their next challenge, the air was thick with excitement and nervousness.
The poor Raena, lurking in the shadows at the back of the group, felt her heart clutch with suffocating anxiety as her eyes skittered down the rankings.
Finding herself languishing at the very bottom was a crushing blow, a reality too bitter to digest. The realization hit her like a physical force, and her breathing quickened, palms sweating as the whispers began to swirl among her peers, their eyes flickering with a mix of pity and disdain.
This moment, exposed and vulnerable, seemed to stretch into an eternity, each second an acute reminder of her place at the bottom.
Of course, seeing how Raena was reacting, some people could not just back themselves away from the heroine.
Lucius's voice dripped with condescension, and he smirked as he walked past Raena. "360 points? Really, Raena? I thought even someone from the Shadowlands could muster more than that. Perhaps you're better suited to cleaning the academy's hallways."
Ivana, always eager to join in on the mockery, laughed sharply. "Or maybe she should stick to planting flowers. I hear the gardens could use some attention. That way, you can at least make yourself useful."
Jaime, ever the provocateur, chimed in with a sneer. "It's a wonder you even made it into Thornwood. Perhaps they needed a charity case to fill their quota."
With such a witty remark, everyone could not help but laugh or snicker from the background. Raena's cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she forced herself to hold her head high.
"Let them be, Raena. Let them be," She whispered to herself, knowing well enough that responding would only give them more ammunition.
Vladimir, standing nearby, shot a glare at the group. "Lay off, you three. Raena's here because she belongs here, just like the rest of us."
Lucius rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Oh, defending the damsel in distress, are we, Vladimir? How noble of you. Maybe you should focus on your own rankings instead of playing the hero."
Ivana crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "Honestly, Vladimir, you're wasting your time. She's not going to last past the next challenge. We all know that."
Vladimir's eyes darkened, but he held his composure. "Is that so? Or could it be that you're afraid she might actually prove you wrong? From what I've seen, Raena's more capable than you're willing to admit."
At this, a new voice chimed in, carrying a tone of amused neutrality. It was Jaun, leaning against a nearby tree, his gaze fixed on the unfolding drama. "Why don't we all let Raena's actions speak for themselves? The next challenge is not for the faint-hearted, and only time will reveal the true mettle of each competitor."
Raena, who had remained silent until now, feeling every eye on her, finally spoke up. Her voice was calm yet carried a hidden strength. "Thank you, Vladimir, but I don't need anyone to defend me. As for the next challenge, I guess we'll all see soon enough won't we? Actions do speak louder than words, after all."
Lucius huffed, tossing his hair back arrogantly. "Fine, let's see if you can back up those words. We'll be watching closely, won't we, Ivana?"
Ivana laughed, her eyes glittering with malice. "Oh, we will. And so will everyone else. The next challenge is a perfect opportunity to see who truly belongs here and who doesn't."
The group dispersed with that, leaving Vladimir and Raena standing a bit apart. Vladimir turned to her, his expression softening. "Don't let them get to you. You've got this."
Raena nodded with a determined glint in her eyes. "I know. And thank you. Having even one person believe in me here... it means more than you know."
With that, they both turned towards their separate paths, the looming challenge casting a shadow over their determination and the trials that lay ahead.
The others nearby, including Serena, Cleagor, and Zorina, watched the exchange with varying degrees of discomfort and amusement. Some snickered, while others looked away, unwilling to get involved.
Raena's fists were a tight bundle of nerves.
Each finger curled so tightly she could feel her nails digging into her palms. A solitary twitch in her index finger was a silent testament to the ordeal she had endured just moments ago.
With a deep, lung-filling breath, she sought to douse the flames of her rising panic. "Stay calm," she silently commanded herself, a mantra against the storm.
The derogatory words flung at her, meant to weaken her resolve, now echoed mockingly in her mind.
"I cannot—I will not let them see me falter," she thought, casting away the venomous doubt. This was her moment to turn the tides, to stand tall against the tidal wave of skepticism. With renewed determination, Raena vowed, "I will prove them wrong."
As the students moved towards their respective doors, Lucius couldn't resist one final jab. "Good luck, Raena. You're going to need it. Maybe you'll manage to scrape together a few more points if you don't get eaten first."
Ivana laughed, and Jaime shook his head in mock pity. "Try not to embarrass yourself too much, Raena. It's painful to watch."
With that, the students entered their rooms, leaving Raena to face her challenge alone. She took one last deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead.
This was her chance to prove herself, to show them all that she was more than just the lowest-ranking student.