The morning of the Trial arrived far too quickly. The sun had barely begun its ascent, its first golden rays filtering through the cracks in the stone walls. I stood in the training courtyard, the silence pressing down on me like a physical weight. Around me, a small group of cadets and instructors gathered, their murmurs hushed and watchful. My sister, Jessica, was among them, standing off to the side, her arms crossed, her expression tight with worry.
"Jasmine," she had said before I left her quarters last night. "Whatever happens, remember: the dragon sees not just your fears, but your hopes. Both can be used against you. Be vigilant."
I had nodded, though her words had only added to the growing knot in my stomach.
Now, as I stood there awaiting the call, I felt the eyes of everyone around me. Some watched with curiosity, others with skepticism. A few, like Sage, wore smirks, clearly confident I wouldn't last five minutes. I pushed their stares aside, clinging to the embers of determination burning in my chest.
The heavy creak of iron doors broke the silence, and the sound of footsteps echoed through the courtyard. Dane emerged, flanked by two armored guards. His expression was unreadable, though his piercing gaze lingered on me longer than was comfortable.
"Jasmine," he called, his voice carrying authority. "Step forward."
I swallowed hard and moved toward him, my boots crunching against the gravel. The guards stepped aside as Dane gestured toward the now-open doors behind him. Beyond them was a dark corridor, lit faintly by torches. The air that seeped through was warmer, carrying the faint scent of ash and smoke.
"This is your Trial," Dane said, his tone steady but with a hint of intrigue. "You will face a dragon. It is not one bound to a rider, nor one trained to be docile. It will test your mind, your resolve. If it sees weakness, it will exploit it. If it sees fear, it will devour it."
My breath hitched at his words. It will devour it.
"You may only bring yourself," Dane continued. "No weapons, no tools, no assistance. Do you understand?"
I nodded, my throat dry.
"Then go," he said, stepping aside to allow me passage. "And may you prove yourself worthy."
I hesitated for the briefest of moments, then forced my feet to move. The corridor seemed to stretch forever, the light dimming with every step. The air grew heavier, hotter, the scent of smoke thickening until it was nearly suffocating. By the time I reached the end, my heart was pounding so loudly I was sure the entire castle could hear it.
The chamber opened into a massive cavern, its walls glittering faintly with veins of molten rock. The ground was uneven, scorched in places, and in the center of it all lay the dragon.
It was enormous, its body a mass of black and crimson scales that shimmered in the faint glow of the cavern. Its wings were folded, its tail coiled lazily around its body, but its head was raised, its golden eyes fixed directly on me. The gaze was piercing, sharp and unrelenting, as if it could already see through me.A Nyxaroin. I thought it was a myth. They do exist. It definitely looks like it couldn't accept a rider.
I took a shaky step forward, then another. The dragon's head tilted slightly, a low rumble emanating from its throat. It wasn't a growl—more like a hum, as if it were amused.
"Why have you come, little one?"
The voice wasn't spoken aloud; it was in my head, deep and resonant. I froze, my breath catching. Jessica had warned me about this, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer weight of its presence in my mind.
"I… I've come to prove myself," I said aloud, though my voice wavered. "To prove that I'm worthy of staying."
The dragon's eyes narrowed, and the rumble grew louder. Prove yourself? The words echoed in my mind, laced with skepticism. And what makes you think you are worthy? What makes you think you are anything but a frightened child clinging to a dream too large for her hands?
I clenched my fists, trying to block out the doubt its words stirred. "I'm not a child," I said, louder this time. "I've worked hard to be here. I'm stronger than you think."
The dragon let out a sound that might have been a laugh, though it was tinged with malice. Its golden eyes seemed to glow brighter, and suddenly, I felt a pull—a sharp, invasive tug at my thoughts.
Images began to flash before me. My hands trembling after sparring with Emerald. My body frozen at the sight of blood. My father's disappointed gaze. Sage's mocking laughter.
"Stop it," I said, my voice cracking. But the dragon didn't stop. The images became more vivid, more personal. A voice whispered in my mind—the same voice from my nightmare.
"You've always been pathetic. Little. So small that anyone could crush you like a bug."
"No!" I shouted, clutching my head as I fell to my knees. The dragon's rumble grew louder, almost deafening, and its presence in my mind became overwhelming.
You are weak, the voice said again, this time layered with the dragon's. Leave now, before you embarrass yourself further.
"No," I said, gritting my teeth. The fire inside me, faint as it was, began to burn brighter. "I'm not weak."
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to focus. I thought of Jessica, of her faith in me. Of the determination I'd felt when I stood before the council. Of the dreams I'd carried since the moment I first set foot in this place. I wasn't going to let this creature take that from me.
The tug at my thoughts grew fiercer, but I pushed back. I imagined a wall, solid and unyielding, between myself and the dragon. I felt its presence pushing against it, searching for cracks, but I held firm.
"I am not weak," I said again, this time with more strength. I opened my eyes, meeting the dragon's gaze head-on. "And you will not break me."
The dragon's rumble faded, replaced by a moment of silence that felt like an eternity. Its golden eyes bore into mine, unblinking, and for a moment, I thought I had failed. But then it pulled back, withdrawing its presence from my mind.
Interesting, it said, its tone unreadable. The dragon rose to its full height, towering over me, and let out a low, thunderous growl. Perhaps you are not as small as you seem.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding as the dragon stepped back, its gaze still locked on me.
"Does this mean…?" I began, my voice barely above a whisper.
You have passed, the dragon said, the words reverberating through the cavern. But remember this, little one: strength of mind is only the first step. Prove yourself further, and perhaps one day, you will be worthy of a dragon's loyalty.
The tension in my chest eased, and a wave of relief washed over me. I bowed deeply to the dragon, then turned and began the long walk back to the surface.
When I emerged into the daylight, the faces of the cadets and instructors greeted me, their expressions a mix of surprise and awe. But it was Jessica's face I sought first, and the pride in her eyes was all I needed.