Chapter 7: The First Trial – Learning to Survive
The academy courtyard was loud, filled with nearly a thousand students. Everyone looked more prepared than me—most had weapons, some wore armor, and others already knew how to handle themselves in a fight. I, on the other hand, had none of that. I was barely holding myself together, still sore from the journey here.
Principal Eldara stood tall on the stage, her presence commanding every eye in the crowd. I'd heard of her before—who hadn't? She was a Tier 8 mage, one of the strongest in the kingdom, and known for her no-nonsense attitude. Her icy blue eyes seemed to pierce through every student standing before her.
"Welcome to Valen Academy," she began, her voice echoing across the courtyard. "This is a place where the strong thrive, and the weak are weeded out. Out of the 900 of you here today, only 300 will remain by the end of this trial."
The announcement hit like a hammer. I glanced around, noticing a mix of determination and fear on the faces of my peers. Me? I didn't know how to fight, let alone survive a trial like this.
Eldara continued, her voice sharp. "This isn't just about raw power. Strength is meaningless without wit, teamwork, and strategy. If you think you can coast through on talent alone, you'll fail."
I swallowed hard. She wasn't wrong—I had no idea how to use my powers effectively. Lightning manipulation? I could barely spark a flicker. Shadow manipulation? Forget it. I hadn't even figured out how to summon it yet.
We were divided into groups shortly after. I ended up with three strangers who looked far more capable than I did.
The first to introduce himself was Aric, a tall guy with fiery red hair and a confident smirk. "I'm Aric. Earth magic," he said, his tone suggesting he already considered himself the leader. "Let's get this over with."
"Theo," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Lightning."
He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Lightning, huh? You don't look like much of a fighter."
He wasn't wrong, but I didn't need him to know that.
Next was Lyra. She had dark purple hair and piercing red eyes that seemed to see right through me. "Lyra," she said curtly. "Aero magic."
Her gaze lingered on me for a moment, her expression unreadable.
Last was Kieran, a quiet guy with silver hair and a calm demeanor. He gave a small nod. "Kieran. Earth."
"Great," I said, clapping my hands together like I had any clue what I was doing. "We've got a solid team here. Should be fun."
Lyra shot me a look, clearly unimpressed. "This isn't supposed to be fun."
"Depends on your perspective," I said, offering her a small smirk.
She rolled her eyes, and I could tell she wasn't buying it.
Principal Eldara's voice cut through the murmurs. "Your trial begins now. Survive, strategize, and prove you belong here. Remember, only 300 of you will make it."
We were led to the trial grounds—a dense forest that seemed designed to swallow us whole. The trees loomed tall, their thick branches blocking most of the sunlight. The air was heavy, and the silence was unnerving.
Aric turned to the group, his confidence showing. "All right, here's the plan: I'll take the lead. Lyra, you can scout ahead with your Aero magic. Kieran and Theo, you watch our backs."
I raised an eyebrow. "So I'm on defense now?"
"Unless you have a better idea," Aric shot back, clearly testing me.
I didn't. But I wasn't about to let him know that. "Fine by me," I said casually, as if I had any idea what I was doing.
As we moved through the forest, I stayed at the back, trying to figure out my next move. I didn't know how to fight, and I definitely didn't know how to use my powers properly. But if there was one thing I did know, it was how to stay out of trouble—or at least, how to talk my way out of it.
The first trial had barely started, and I already felt out of my depth. But I wasn't going to let that stop me. I'd figure it out. I always did.