Chapter 11 Descent begins
Eloise
“Well, aside from the fact that he's a massive dick, I don't think there's anything to worry about.” Tina said the next day as we walked down the hallways, leading to the assembly ground. That was where The Descent would begin.
After Tina mentioned the Descent the previous day, I had asked her about it.
She had simply said, “it's just a test for first years to test their capabilities, the first of three tests. It takes place once in a month for three months. The Descent is the first, then The Binding, and lastly, The Severing. Only after the three tests will you be recognized as warriors in training.”
She hadn't offered any more explanation when I asked her to tell me more about the tests. Apparently, seniors were not supposed to talk about it or there would be dire consequences. I had stopped my questions after that.
But as we drew closer to the assembly ground, I couldn't help the uneasy feeling at the pit of my stomach. A hand gripped my shoulder harshly and yanked me back.
“By the Hearth! Ellie! What were you thinking about so much?” Tina's worried face came into view.
I snapped out of my thoughts just in time to hear someone charge towards me with a snarl, “Useless wolf!”
Tina whipped her head towards the person, her teeth bared in a snarl, a ball of water already forming in her hand. The dragon stepped back, his eyes flickered with fear. He cast one more disgusted look at me before scurrying off.
Tina flicked her finger and the water ball evaporated into the air, not a drop falling off. I stared at her in awe. It was the first time I'd seen her display her power. It would be nice to watch if I wasn't so shaken up.
Her face softened as she turned to me.
“Ellie, are you okay? You almost knocked that guy over.”
I opened my mouth to tell her I was fine but the words got stuck in my throat. I wasn't fine. Just a week ago, the biggest thing on my mind had been my eighteenth birthday and my first shift.
But somehow, I had ended up in the dragons territory, thrown into their war college to study a magic I didn't understand, and someone had even tried to kill me. As if that wasn't enough, I had to participate in a test I knew nothing about.
No, I wasn't okay.
But those words didn't come out. Instead, I just stared at her, hoping she would hear the screaming in my head. I didn't know the extent of Waterborn magic, but I knew no supernatural was capable of mind reading.
“Thomasina!” a deep voice interrupted the tensed sience. The softness on her face diappeared, replaced by annoyance.
“And here comes the massive dick.” she muttered before turning towards the direction of the voice.
I followed her line of sight to see a young man, walking towards us with a cocky grin on his face. His dark hair and deeply tanned skin gave away his breed. Shadowborn.
“It's Tina, asshole. But I guess I'll have to keep reminding you for Hearth knows how long it'll take for your brain cells to develop.” Tina tossed back at him, her smile was sweet and venomous.
The newcomer either didn't notice or he didn't care. I suspected it was the latter.
“Oh I have them all complete. I just like to pretend in the presence of some people so they don't feel intimidated by their lack of. I'm that generous.” he shrugged.
Tina rolled her eyes at him. “Ellie, this is Raihn. Your assigned protector.”
I didn't know why I was surprised. I expected Raihn to be as broody as the Shadowborn Heir, not this…whatever this was.
His attention flickered to me and immediately hardened. I immediately understood he wasn't a fan of werewolves too.
“I take it you're Elena?” he said.
“Eloise.” I corrected.
“Same thing.” he shrugged.
“No, dickhead. Those two names are clearly different, but of course, you'd think they were similar.” Tina scoffed.
She was clearly not happy with Raihn’s presence. I didn't understand why the Shadowborn Heir assigned him to take Tina's spot when he was just a first year too. He couldn't possibly protect me from all the horrors of this place.
Tina's eyes flickered to me and I knew she felt my doubts. I groaned inwardly and immediately banished the thoughts. I didn't know how to block her out yet. So for now, I just had to not think of anything.
“I wrote you a message this morning. It contained all my class schedules, lunch, bathroom, and other errands that might require me to leave Eloise by herself. You're required to fill in during those times.” Tina said.
“And here I thought you were professing your feelings for me by sending me your bathroom schedule.” Raihn grinned. He pointedly ignored every other thing she said. I arched an eyebrow but he didn't even acknowledge me.
“By the Hearth! Raihn, will you please focus?” Tina groaned.
The Shadowborn only grinned wider, seemingly enjoying the situation too much to stop. Tina muttered a string of curses under her breath.
“I have to go now. The Descent is starting soon.” she said.
“Is she participating?” Raihn asked, his tone laced with surprise.
“All first years are required to. Since there hasn't been any words from the High Lords stating otherwise, she has to participate.” Tina said, a mix of anger and sadness in her tone.
I wanted to ask again what The Descent was really about, but the look on Raihn's face made me stop.
“You can't be serious.” he hissed, his face turning serious for the first time since he walked up to us.
“Every dragon here today has been training for The Descent for at least a month. She has no idea what she's walking into. Letting her participate would be a death sentence. She won't survive.”
Tina's glare turned so cold that it could freeze anything. “She will participate in The Descent and she will survive.”
“Come on, Tina. You know she won't.” Raihn tore his gaze away from Tina and stared at me intently. “Almost half of the first years would lose their lives today. Most of those people have been training their entire lives for this. Once you go in there, there are no second chances. You either make it out or you don't.”
“Raihn!” Tina called sternly.
I stared ahead at the row of first years who had already formed a line few feet from where we stood. I saw varying emotions on their faces. Eagerness, nervousness, anger, happiness, but not one of those faces held regret. They all knew what they were walking into and were prepared for whatever outcome. They had chose to be here.
I, on the other hand, had no idea what was happening. I wasn't here by choice. I was forced by people who didn't care whether I lived or died. The Heirs who had brought me here and the High Lords who had passed the verdict.
As if my thoughts had summoned them, a swirl of black smoke suddenly appeared on the dais, revealing the three Heirs and a boy who seem to be around my age. I glared at the heirs with hatred even though they couldn't see me in this crowd.
I glared. I wanted them to feel my hatred, just like I felt the animosity of every Dragon in this place. I wanted to punish them for it.
“Is that–” Raihn's voice cut through my thoughts before Tina interrupted him.
“Aeron?” she frowned. “What's he doing here?”
My gaze went to the podium and I saw the boy I had saved. His body was badly burnt the first time I saw him, but he seems to have drastically healed from the wounds. Now, he stood beside the Heirs, his face lifted in a confident poise.
“Bigger question, why is he in uniform?” Raihn added.
It was after he mentioned it that I noticed that Aeron was in a first year uniform. He strode away from the dais and joined the row of first years waiting for The Descent.
“No, no, no!” Tina whispered. Her face had gone entirely pale and her body trembled. She stumbled forward a step but Raihn immediately pulled her back.
“Don't.” he said firmly.
“They can't make him do this. He's not supposed to go through this until next year. He's not even of age. Why are they making him do it?” Tina's voice quivered as she spoke.
“They're leadership. They can do anything.” Raihn said casually, but I sensed the retrained anger in his tone.
“He'll die.” she sobbed silently.
“He won't.” Raihn replied. “It doesn't matter when he does The Descent, he has been training for this his whole life. Taking the test one year earlier means nothing. He will survive, Tina.”
His words were firm, like he wouldn't accept any other alternative. The two of them exchanged a look. Tina dipped her head slightly in appreciation.
Raihn and I went to take our places in the row after that. I felt it before I saw it. The swirling black. The intense smoke.
“Don't die, then maybe we can talk about protection, Elena.” Raihn said.
I didn't correct him again. Instead, I focused my attention on the professor that stepped forward.
“Students of Drakmor, today we begin The Descent. The trial of the dark. The rules of this test are simple, you are to survive based on your wit only. The use of magic, no matter how small, is forbidden. Failure to adhere by the rules means death.”
The crowd cheered at the last word while I shuddered. I lifted my eyes to the dais, my gaze was immediately met with the Heirs. I didn't know what I was expecting to see, but I wasn't met with any sympathy.
The Shadowborn Heir's gaze flickered to Aeron and I immediately understood the silent worry in his eyes. It only lasted for a second before he looked away.
The professor lifted his hand, “Let The Descent begin!”
And just like that, chaos erupted.