Chereads / The Skyball Chronicles / Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Trial by Wind

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Trial by Wind

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the practice grounds at the Skywell. The swirling gusts of wind that rushed between the floating islands seemed more intense now, whipping at Kai's hair and clothes as he stood at the ready. This wasn't like practicing on his own in the lower districts; here, with the wind surging in unpredictable patterns, everything felt alive, chaotic, and untamed—just like his magic.

Darius stood on the sidelines, his sharp eyes fixed on Kai, while the rest of the Storm Hawks spread out across the field. The tension in the air was palpable. This was no casual practice—it was a test.

"Alright, Stormwind," Darius called, his voice booming over the sound of the wind. "Let's see how you handle pressure. Lira, Suri, Rogan—challenge him."

Before Kai could fully process what Darius meant, the team sprang into action. Suri shot forward, a blur of speed as her body seemed to meld with the wind itself. Lira's eyes glowed violet, and suddenly the glowing Skyball orb in the center of the field was hurled into the air, propelled by her telekinetic power. Rogan, with a grunt, slammed his fists into the ground, summoning a wall of earth to rise up in front of him, ready to defend against any move Kai might make.

Kai barely had time to react before Suri was upon him. She zipped past, lightning-quick, her fingertips grazing the orb before spinning in midair to redirect her flight path. Kai's wind magic flared instinctively, pushing him off the ground just in time to avoid being knocked over.

But Suri wasn't done. She circled back, her movements precise and controlled, trying to disorient Kai as she danced around him like a predator toying with prey.

"Too slow, newbie," she muttered under her breath as she swooped past.

Kai gritted his teeth, feeling the competitive spark light up inside him. He wasn't going to let her show him up. With a burst of wind energy, he launched himself higher into the air, eyes locking onto the glowing orb that was now soaring toward Rogan's side of the field.

Kai thrust his hand forward, the winds bending to his will. A gust propelled him forward at breakneck speed, closing the gap between him and the orb. His fingers brushed the surface of the glowing ball just as Rogan's earth wall shot up in front of him.

Too late, Kai thought, his heart sinking.

But just as he was about to crash into the barrier, he remembered something Darius had said the night before: *Your wind magic is powerful, but it's wild. Untamed. With the right control, you could be one of the greats.

Control. That was the key.

Kai pulled back sharply, his wind magic slowing his momentum just enough to avoid slamming into the wall. With a swift movement, he willed the winds to swirl around him, lifting him up and over the top of Rogan's barrier. Rogan's eyes widened in surprise as Kai somersaulted through the air and grabbed the orb, his hand glowing with the faint blue light of his magic.

"Nice move," Rogan grunted, but before Kai could celebrate, the orb was yanked out of his grasp by an invisible force—Lira's telekinesis.

Kai spun around to see the orb flying back toward the center of the field, where Suri was waiting, her eyes locked on her target. Kai knew she'd get to it before he could, so he decided to do the only thing he could think of: change the wind.

He stretched out his hands and focused, pulling at the gusts around him. The winds shifted, swirling into a vortex directly in front of Suri. She grunted in surprise as the sudden shift threw her off course, the orb slipping just out of her reach.

Kai dove for it, the winds bending to his command. This time, there was no hesitation. He snatched the orb cleanly from the air, the energy humming in his hand, and whipped around to face the team. His heart was pounding, sweat beading on his forehead, but he was ready.

Darius's voice cut through the chaos. "Good! Now hold onto it! Let's see how long you can last."

Kai's pulse quickened. They were coming for him—all of them. Rogan was already on the move, charging toward him with his hammer raised. Suri, now back in control, zipped through the air like a falcon closing in on prey, while Lira's eyes gleamed with focused intensity, ready to manipulate the orb the second she saw an opening.

Kai gripped the orb tightly, feeling its power pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat. He had to think fast. His wind magic gave him an edge in speed, but this wasn't just about dodging. He needed strategy, control, and most of all—he needed to trust his instincts.

As Rogan closed the distance, Kai summoned the wind beneath him and shot upward, narrowly avoiding the swing of Rogan's hammer as it slammed into the ground with a thunderous crack. The wind carried him high above the field, but Suri was already there, her speed putting her directly in his path.

Kai shifted the winds again, jerking to the side at the last second, causing Suri to overshoot. But Lira was waiting. With a flick of her wrist, the orb was yanked from Kai's grip, flying through the air toward her.

Not this time.

Kai inhaled deeply, feeling the wind all around him. He reached out with his magic, not just to push the air but to sense it, to feel the currents like threads weaving through the sky. And then, in a single fluid motion, he pulled.

The wind surged in response, yanking the orb away from Lira's telekinetic grasp and back into his hand before she could blink.

There was a moment of stunned silence from the team.

Kai floated back down to the ground, panting from the effort but refusing to let go of the orb. His body trembled with exhaustion, but his heart soared. He had done it.

Darius stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he approached. The rest of the team gathered behind him, their eyes locked on Kai.

Finally, Darius smiled. "Not bad, Stormwind. Not bad at all."

Kai grinned, though his legs felt like they might give out at any moment.

"You've got talent," Darius continued. "But don't think for a second that means you're ready. There's a difference between practice and real competition. And the Great Sky Tournament is unlike anything you've ever faced."

Kai nodded, still catching his breath. "I know," he said, determination hardening his voice. "But I'll be ready."

Darius's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. Because the tournament isn't just about winning a game. There are forces at play this year that go far beyond Skyball. Forces that could change everything."

Kai frowned, confusion washing over him. "What do you mean?"

Darius's expression darkened, his eyes scanning the horizon. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, get some rest. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

As Kai watched Darius walk away, a chill crept up his spine. This wasn't just about Skyball anymore. Something bigger was happening, and he was about to be caught in the middle of it.