"This is it."
Vladimir found himself paralyzed in his seat, an unforeseeable nervousness gripping him tighter than ever before. His clammy palms and rapid heartbeat were new foes as he sat there, his gaze locked unwaveringly on the television screen ahead.
Everyone has finally left their own chambers...
Except, of course, the new witch of Thornwood Academy, our princess Raena herself.
The main chamber was filled with the remaining students who survived the grueling second trial of the Thorn, all congregated while watching the luminescent screen that displayed the live feed of the trial chambers.
There was a moment of hushed silence before Professor Elara's voice, audacious and clear, broke through, resonating around the crowded hall.
"Now, the only one left," she declared, eyes fiercely watching the uncommonly silver-headed girl hailing from the darkest part of the Elarian Kingdom.
A wave of muttering and whispers unfurled through the crowd at the mention of Raena—the girl who wove shadows as effortlessly as others breathed air.
Her affinity for dark magic and reserved nature often made her the target of scorn among her more boisterous peers.
"She's going to fail miserably," Ivana snickered, her voice thick with contempt as she folded her arms across her chest.
"Yeah, what good is dark magic if you can't even use it with any real skill?" Lucius added, his snide comment drawing chuckles from those around him.
As usual, the heir's grin was one of unearned superiority, irking those who sought to defend Raena.
Vladimir rolled his eyes. 'I don't know how much I can tolerate with these dumbasses..."
Within the stir, Vladimir and Jaun suddenly exchanged meaningful looks, a silent agreement passing between them.
The dark knight raised his eyebrow, as he could never understand why Jaun, even if he is one of the most elite students in their batch, somehow stuck with protecting him and Raena from others.
Meanwhile, Jaun, the more serene and composed of the duo, pushed up his glasses before addressing the crowd. "You all underestimate her potential. Let the girl prove who she is."
"Oh, come on, brother!" Jaime countered swiftly, his skepticism clear as day. "Yeah? Well, a potential that she's yet to reveal."
"She's more a liability than an asset at this point," Zorina laughed, trying to get a good side with the elitists.
"If the day ever comes that I would be partnered with her, then I might as well leave Thornwood for good," Cleagor joked, with Talon silently nudging his friend's remark.
Vladimir's hands curled into fists at his sides, the urge to retort burning within him. However, he recognized that actions would prove louder than words at this moment.
"Just watch. She's more than what you all give her credit for," he stated with conviction, always being Raena's fervent supporter amidst a sea of doubters.
The derisive comments persisted, piercing the air with their negativity, but Vladimir chose to disengage, his focus narrowing on lending his silent support to Raena.
Deep down, he harbored the belief that she would defy the odds, leveraging every ounce of strength for the trial ahead. In his heart, he hoped that Raena's critics would witness her true potential unfolding under the harsh lights of the trial chambers when the dust settled.
"She can do it..." Vladimir whispered. "Show them, Raena!"
---
Raena stood alone in the center of the dimly lit chamber, her heart pounding fiercely against her ribcage as if it were trying to escape the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.
The cold, ancient stones beneath her feet seemed to pulse with unseen energy, wrapping the room in an aura of anticipation and shadow.
Memories flooded her mind like a relentless tide—each one a vivid brushstroke painting of the life she lived in the past when she was still in the Shadowlands.
The tender echo of her grandmother's gentle voice, a soothing balm in her tumultuous life, taught her the virtue of perseverance through whispered tales and age-old wisdom under the moon's soft glow.
Her grandmother's eyes, alight with the flames of the past and the strength of generations, seemed to gaze into her soul, whispering, "Perseverance, Raena. Remember that."
To the young princess, it was more than just a lesson. It was a lifeline.
Then came the chorus of her family's steadfast belief, their voices a harmonious blend of hope and expectation that filled the hallways of her childhood home.
"We believe in you, Raena. You can do this. Bring honor to our name."
Amidst these personal echoes, the unwavering support of the Shadowmen enveloped her in a cloak of solidarity and mystery. "We are with you, Raena. Always."
All her fear was cast aside, the audience was caught off guard when they saw Raena suddenly slap both her palms to her face! "Urgh... Focus, Raena!"
She couldn't—wouldn't—let them down! Not now, not when so much was at stake.
"I can't fail them," she whispered to herself, the words barely escaping her lips as she fought to shake off the overwhelming pressure that constricted her chest like a vice.
The walls of the chamber seemed to close in on her, their oppressive weight threatening to crush her spirit. But in the darkest recess of her fear, a spark of defiance flickered to life.
Gritting her teeth, Raena pushed the fear aside, her resolve hardening like steel in the forge of her will. As the chamber plummeted into deeper shadows, a monstrous entity, a Shadow Wraith, emerged—a terrifying spectacle of swirling darkness, its glowing red eyes and sinister grin piercing the gloom.
"You believe you can best me, small one?" the creature sneered, its voice reverberating off the ancient stones, icy and mocking.
Raena remembered the last time she encountered this beast. It was the time she lost her carriage in the forest!
She groaned... 'Of all things that could possibly appear?'
Raena, with hands shaking not from fear but from the surge of dark power within, conjured orbs of shadow fire, flinging them with defiant might. With mocking ease, the Wraith swerved around the furious assault, its laughter a cacophony of horror.
"Is that the extent of your power? Truly pathetic."
"Nyaah!"
The air rippled with malice as Raena's scream pierced the night; the Wraith's talons carved agony into her flesh. She faltered, her mind a tempest. She had to harness that newfound power, the 'finger of death', lying dormant, waiting.
The Wraith, relentless, bathed in her despair, every attack a taunt, every move a step closer to her demise!
"All it takes is just a fireball!" Raena was convinced, as she tried to cast her power—"ARGH!"
The poor princess could barely help herself! One at a time, the shadow wraith keeps twisting her around! Raena is now filled with so many bruises that every single shriek was heard from outside.
"I will... I will—Hngh!" It felt like her bones started to break; it hurt so much!
Will she ever survive this? She does not know anymore. She does not even have the time to worry about herself because the monster keeps attacking her!
Her shadow fire, once a proud weapon, now seemed but a flicker against the darkness.
Outside, an audience of destiny watched.
"RAENA!"
Vladimir, fists clenched, barely contained his fury as Raena was outmatched.
"Come on, fight on, Raena," he silently urged, a tempest of worry and hope.
Ivana's scornful laughter sliced through the tension, "She's as good as dead. Why do we even need to watch this shitshow anyway?"
Professor Elara, eyes glued to the unfolding drama, remained an enigma, while Headmaster Zelbus, the epitome of calm, murmured, "Have faith in the girl."
Vladimir could not help it. He bit his lips, and he could not stop shaking his legs at all! The young knight felt like he must do something... 'It cannot be like this forever!'
Unable to bear the sight, Vladimir confronted the headmaster, "She's being destroyed out there! We must do something!"
"Patience, I know how much she means to you," the headmaster intoned, a storm hidden beneath his calm. "But she will rise."
As Vladimir watched, heart racing, Raena was dealt another vicious blow. "Kyah!" Vladimir could hear Raena from where he was sitting, and mind you, the walls were thick!
He could not bear it... he could not stand what they were doing to her!
Ignoring the headmaster's counsel, he surged towards the chamber, bursting through just as Raena wobbled on trembling knees.
As Raena faced the towering Shadow Wraith, her body ached from the relentless assault. Each strike from the beast felt like a crushing wave, but amidst the chaos, she remembered her grandmother's teachings. Her dark fireballs were proving insufficient, and desperation clawed at her mind.
The Wraith mocked her with every failed attack, its sinister laughter echoing in her ears.
"Is this all you've got, little witch?" it sneered, circling her like a predator.
Raena's vision blurred from the pain and exhaustion, but a flicker of determination sparked within her.
She could not fail her family, her supporters, or herself.
"Raena... you have so much potential within you..."
"Raena... you are a witch for a reason..."
"Raena... PERSEVERE!"
Closing her eyes, Raena delved into the depths of her dark magic reservoir with a sense of urgency, seeking the elusive power she had not yet mastered—the Finger of Death!
With every fiber of her being focused, she could feel the dark energy swirling eagerly at her fingertips, anticipating its release.
The air around her seemed to respond, growing colder and heavy, pulsating with the promise of unleashed force.
Her hand, though trembling with the magnitude of the power it was channeling, was steady in its aim at the Wraith, a manifestation of her resolve.
With her heart pounding and a defiant cry tearing from her throat, Raena let go of the pent-up energy.
A jet of pure, inky darkness burst forth from her fingertip, slicing through the air with a sound that promised oblivion.
It seemed as if time slowed, the anticipation hanging heavy in the air.
The Wraith, caught in its mockeries and overconfidence, had its expression morph from taunt to terror in an instant, as the beam made contact, boring into its essence.
Its form convulsed, then disintegrated under the weight of Raena's attack, leaving behind only the fading echoes of its scorn.
As the threat faded into nothingness, the anticipation Raena had felt morphed into exhaustion.
"I..."
Did I...?
Did I... do... do it...?
Her strength ebbed away, and she felt herself collapsing, the floor rushing up to meet her.
The last bit of consciousness before the darkness claimed her was filled with the sound of the chamber door bursting open and Vladimir's voice, tinged with fear and relief, calling out her name.
"Raena!"