Chapter 42 – The Hammer and The Shadow

  The sun hung low in the sky, stretching shadows across the academy’s proving grounds. Golden light bathed the gathered students, casting a warm glow over their tense faces. Despite the crisp afternoon air, a thick anticipation weighed over the field, humming like an unseen force waiting to be unleashed.

  Kaelin stood in the midst of the crowd, arms crossed, gaze locked onto the ruins ahead. The sight of them sent an odd mixture of excitement and unease curling in her stomach.

  The ruins were vast, their jagged remnants clawing at the sky like broken teeth, crumbling stone softened only by time’s relentless march. Vines wove through the cracks like veins, nature slowly reclaiming what had once been lost. But the beauty of it was deceptive. Beneath the aged stone and creeping moss, danger lurked.

  This was no ordinary training exercise.

  This was a battlefield.

  And although the mid-years’ were tough, this was her first real test.

  Her fingers twitched at her sides. She needed to prove herself. To herself. To them.

  A sharp voice cut through the low murmur of students.

  “Alright, listen up!”

  One of the instructors, a stern-faced woman with piercing eyes, strode forward, her boots crunching against the dirt. Silence fell instantly.

  “Your objective is simple,” she continued, sweeping a glance over them. “Retrieve the idol from the deepest chamber of these ruins and bring it back to the surface. First team to do so wins. Expect resistance – both from the ruins and each other.”

  A ripple of excitement coursed through the crowd. A race. A fight. A test of skill, endurance, and strategy.

  The instructor’s voice remained steady, unwavering. “Teams have already been assigned. You’ll be facing another duo in this challenge, so don’t expect a free pass. Be quick, be smart, and watch your backs. The monsters inside won’t kill you, but they will make you regret letting your guard down.”

  A murmur of unease followed her words, but Kaelin barely registered it. She already knew her partner. She had known for days now.

  That didn’t make it any easier.

  “Kaelin Crown and Kana Elysion,” the instructor called out.

  Kaelin’s stomach twisted.

  She didn’t turn to look, but she felt it – the slow curl of Kana’s disappointment, manifesting itself on her face, the weight of her gaze like a knife pressed against her back.

  This was going to be a disaster.

  The names of their opponents came next:

  “Rhen Alden and Sienna Vale.”

  Kaelin’s jaw clenched.

  That wasn’t good.

  Rhen was a powerhouse, his body held cast amounts of muscle, he often gave himself stone gauntlets and just beat down on his foes. It’s hard to imagine where this brutish nature may have come from, him being Professor Alden’s son.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Sienna, on the other hand, was a ghost in the darkness, slipping between shadows with unnerving ease. Kaelin couldn’t quite remember what affinity she had, her lack of contact with the class was really showing. Much unlike Kaelin and Kana, they complimented each-other perfectly.

  Kaelin shifted, shooting Kana a glance.

  She was inspecting her nails, the picture of boredom.

  She doesn’t care.

  Frustration burned in Kaelin’s chest, but she swallowed it down. Getting angry wouldn’t help.

  But it didn’t stop the thought from creeping in—

  We’re at a disadvantage before the test even starts.

  ***

  The stone bench was cold beneath Kaelin as she sat with her arms crossed, staring at the ruins in the distance. The proving grounds stretched before them, bathed in the late afternoon glow, but the sight did little to calm her nerves.

  The ruins were ancient, their skeletal remains jutting toward the sky like the ribs of some long-dead beast. Crumbling stone archways barely clung to their foundations, draped in creeping vines that had long since claimed dominance. From this distance, it almost looked peaceful, bathed in gold from the sinking sun, the jagged edges softened by the shifting light. But Kaelin wasn’t fooled.

  That place breathed danger.

  She should have been excited. This was a test, an opportunity to prove herself. A chance to show the instructors, and everyone else, that she wasn’t just another thread-wielder struggling to keep up. That she deserved to be here.

  But instead, she was stuck with her.

  Kana Elysion.

  The girl lounged against the bench beside her, arms draped lazily over the backrest, looking as if she had no care in the world. She had the kind of effortless confidence that made Kaelin’s teeth grind, like she was always in control, always one step ahead, and didn’t need to try.

  Kana turned her head, expression amused. “So,” she drawled, “do you actually have a plan, or were you hoping to just wing it?”

  Kaelin shot her a glare. “We’ve done our strengths, now let’s work out how to cover our weaknesses.”

  Kana smirked. “That’s cute. You think we have weaknesses. Maybe you do… actually, you definitely do.”

  Kaelin clenched her fists, pressing her nails into her palms. “If we want to win, you need to take this seriously.”

  “I am taking this seriously.” Kana gestured vaguely toward the ruins. “I seriously think we don’t need to overcomplicate things.”

  Kaelin inhaled sharply through her nose, willing herself to stay calm. “Fine. Let’s start with the obvious. We’re against Rhen and Sienna.”

  Kana hummed, tapping her nails against the bench. “He’s a hammer, she’s a shadow. Straightforward enough.”

  “They’re fast,” Kaelin pressed. “They’ll take the direct route. Rhen can just punch through obstacles, and Sienna will find shortcuts in the dark. We can’t out-muscle them.”

  Kana rolled her eyes. “Yes, thank you, O’ Lord Strategist… I can see the obvious.”

  Kaelin ignored her. “We need to be smarter. The ruins are ancient. There will be traps, shifting pathways, things they won’t anticipate.”

  Kana tilted her head, dark eyes glinting. “And how exactly do you plan to anticipate them?”

  Kaelin hesitated. She hadn’t wanted to bring this up, but—

  “…I’ve been practicing Futuresight.”

  Kana stilled. For the first time, her expression changed. The usual smirk faltered, curiosity flickering across her face. “No shit, I was there.”

  Wait… I forgot about that.

  Kaelin shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. “Look, I can see a good 2 seconds ahead right now. It’s enough to let me avoid the odd trap or ambush.”

  Kana nodded. She studied Kaelin for a long moment before exhaling dramatically. “Alright. That’s actually useful.”

  “Glad you approve,” Kaelin said dryly.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Kana said, her smirk creeping back into place. “I’ll be doing most of the work.”

  Kaelin rolled her eyes. “You have Mind Threads. How exactly are you planning to help?”

  Kana waved a hand. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll make Rhen hesitate for a split second while you don’t get turned into a smear on the ground.”

  Kaelin scowled. “You can influence thoughts, not control them.”

  Kana grinned. “Exactly. Influence them. Just enough to throw them off.”

  Kaelin hesitated. As much as she hated to admit it, Kana had a point. A single moment of hesitation from Rhen or Sienna could make all the difference.

  She sighed. “Fine. But if we’re doing this, we do it my way.”

  Kana raised an eyebrow. “Your way?”

  “We use Futuresight to navigate the ruins and avoid traps. You keep them distracted when we need it. And we don’t waste time arguing in the middle of a fight.”

  Kana gave a mock gasp. “Are you suggesting I might waste our time? How could you.”

  Kaelin shot her a flat look.

  Kana laughed. “Alright, alright. I’ll play nice.” Then she leaned forward, smirk widening. “But just so we’re clear, I still don’t think you can keep up with me.”

  Kaelin smirked right back. “Then you shouldn’t find it hard to not slow me down.”

  bell rang across the field, sharp and clear.

  The trial was about to begin.