chapter 4 : the trial

A few days later, everything was ready for Stella to officially join the special school where the group was already enrolled. They had planned everything: the trip, the administrative procedures, and even a small surprise to help her feel at ease. But that morning, Stella was nervous.

Lizzie, who had stopped by her house to accompany her, noticed her unusual silence.

— "Don't worry, it's gonna be fine," she said with a reassuring smile. "You'll see, they're a bit weird there, but deep down, they're cool."

— "That's not it..." Stella replied, fidgeting with the sleeve of her sweater.

— "Then what is it?" Lizzie squinted, sensing there was more to it.

Stella hesitated for a moment before admitting,

— "What if I'm not good enough? What if... I'm not cut out for this place?"

Lizzie stopped, placing a firm hand on her shoulder.

— "Listen, no one's perfect. Nobody shows up there knowing everything. When I started, I was a walking disaster. But that's exactly why we're there: to learn and grow stronger. You belong here just as much as anyone else."

Stella looked up at her timidly.

— "Are you sure?"

— "Positive," Lizzie replied with a wink.

A few minutes later, they joined the rest of the group outside the school. The building was impressive: a large structure surrounded by lush gardens and an air of mystery. Stella felt her heart racing.

Daisy ran up to her with a big smile.

— "Stella! Are you ready?"

— "I think so..." Stella murmured, looking around nervously.

Kyla arrived next, arms crossed.

— "Don't stress. We've got your back. If anyone messes with you, they'll have to deal with us."

Cléo let out a small laugh.

— "Well, mostly Kyla. She loves a good fight."

Kyla shrugged with a smirk.

Isaac then spoke in a calm but warm tone.

— "Welcome to our world, Stella. It's not always easy, but I promise you'll find your place here. Take your time."

Stella took a deep breath and nodded.

— "Thanks... all of you. I'll do my best."

As they walked into the school together, Théo, walking beside her, whispered softly,

— "You won't regret coming here."

Stella didn't reply, but a faint smile appeared on her lips. Despite her doubts, she felt like she was taking a step toward a future she had never imagined.

Inside the school, Stella quickly learned that she couldn't simply join without passing a test. The entrance exam was a mandatory tradition, allowing the professors to gauge the skills and potential of new students.

Stella, nervous, found herself in a private room with Lizzie, Daisy, and Isaac trying to reassure her.

— "It's just a test," Daisy said with a confident smile. "They just want to see what you can do."

— "Yeah, but I don't even know how to use my powers properly," Stella replied, pacing nervously.

— "That's exactly why you're here," Isaac added calmly. "The goal isn't to be perfect, it's to show you have potential."

Lizzie, sitting on a table, shrugged.

— "And if worse comes to worst, we can always convince the headmaster to let you in. We've got our ways."

— "Like what?" Stella asked, curious.

Lizzie winked at her.

— "Like the fact that you're one of the only people who can put up with us every day."

Stella let out a nervous laugh, but it lightened the mood.

---

A few minutes later, Stella was called to the training arena where the exam would take place. She entered, her palms sweaty, as a dozen pairs of eyes focused on her. Professors sat on elevated stands, observing her every move.

The headmaster, an imposing man with a gray beard and piercing eyes, spoke up:

— "Welcome, Stella. This exam is not here to judge you but to reveal what you are capable of. Show us what you've got."

Stella nodded, her throat dry.

A professor approached and explained the three trials she would face:

1. Power control: She had to manipulate magical energy to prove she had control.

2. Physical trial: A simulated combat to test her reflexes and courage.

Power Control Trial

When Stella stepped into the arena for the first trial, her heart pounded wildly. In front of her, a magical orb floated gently in the air. Her task seemed simple: make the orb glow by channeling her inner energy.

— "The color of the orb will depend on your magical intensity," a professor explained. "White for very weak, yellow for average, green for good, and red for legendary. Do your best."

The murmurs in the audience began. Lizzie, Daisy, and the others watched from the stands, holding their breath.

— "Go, Stella! This is your moment!" Daisy shouted encouragingly.

Stella nodded, tried to steady her breathing, and reached out her hands toward the orb. She closed her eyes, searching for the hidden energy within her.

But nothing happened.

The orb remained dull, motionless. Disbelieving whispers echoed among the spectators.

— "She's scared, it's obvious," Isaac muttered.

— "Focus, Stella!" Lizzie added.

Stella took a deep breath and tried again. A faint white glow began to appear but wavered, ready to disappear.

— "You need to calm down," Stella thought aloud. "Come on... do it for yourself."

Closing her eyes once more, she thought about all the hardships she had faced, the reasons she wanted to succeed. A more stable white glow emerged from the orb, but the color didn't change.

The headmaster frowned slightly but said nothing, watching intently.

Daisy clenched her fists.

— "That's already good! She managed to activate the orb—that's a start!"

But in the arena, Stella felt a pang of disappointment.

— "White," she murmured, lowering her eyes.

A professor stood up.

— "Well done, Stella. The trial is over."

— "But… that's it?" Stella stammered.

— "This test doesn't measure only raw power," the professor explained calmly. "It's an indication of your current potential. And potential can always be developed through hard work."

Stella nodded, but the weight of failure hung on her shoulders.

Returning to the stands, Lizzie and Daisy greeted her with reassuring smiles.

— "White or not, it doesn't matter," Lizzie said. "I didn't get past white on my first test either."

— "Really?" Stella asked, surprised.

— "Nah, I was green right away," Lizzie said, bursting into laughter. "But it's not a competition, so chill!"

Stella managed a small smile despite herself.

Daisy placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

— "Don't worry. It's just the beginning. And hey, you made the orb glow—that's more than some people can say."

Stella felt a wave of comfort and pulled herself together. The exam wasn't over yet, and she was determined to give her all in the next trials.

The arena was shrouded in a heavy silence. The spectators watched Stella intently. She was facing a massive creature, a monster covered in dark scales, its red eyes glowing with relentless ferocity.

Stella was breathing heavily, her hands trembling slightly. She had read about this kind of trial in books, but experiencing it in real life? That was an entirely different story.

— "Come on, Stella, move it!" Daisy shouted from the stands.

The monster roared and charged at Stella. She tried to react, raising her hands to channel her magic, but nothing happened. Just a faint white glow that fizzled out almost immediately.

— "No, no, no…" she murmured, panic setting in.

The monster's blow was swift and brutal. Its massive tail struck Stella on the side, sending her rolling across the ground. A muffled cry escaped her lips as she crashed, her body protesting in pain.

— "She's gonna get crushed…" someone whispered in the crowd.

The professors exchanged skeptical glances. One of them, an older man with salt-and-pepper hair, sighed.

— "Her magical intensity is too weak. It's no surprise she's struggling."

In the arena, Stella lay on the ground, unable to get up. The monster loomed closer, ready to deliver the final blow. The pain in her body was unbearable, and her vision blurred.

— "It's over," she thought, feeling a tear slide down her cheek.

Suddenly, everything went black. The noise of the arena disappeared, and she found herself in total emptiness. In front of her, a familiar, dark, and imposing figure took shape: her demon.

— "Well, little Stella, you're struggling, huh?" he said with a carnivorous smile, his voice smooth but tinged with cruel amusement.

Stella, kneeling, looked up at him.

— "What do you want now?" she whispered, her voice trembling with anger and exhaustion.

The demon tilted his head, a fake innocent expression on his face.

— "Me? I'm here to help. You need me, Stella. Look at you—pathetic, unable to defend yourself. That monster is going to crush you, and all those people will see you fail. Is that what you want?"

She clenched her fists, biting her lip to hold back her tears.

— "I don't need you…" she murmured.

The demon laughed, a chilling sound that echoed in the void.

— "You're funny. But look around, Stella. You have nothing—no power, no strength. And yet, I can give you what you need: a chance to win."

Stella turned away, her heart heavy with doubt.

— "Why would you do that?" she asked cautiously.

He crouched in front of her, his piercing red eyes locked on hers.

— "Because, my dear Stella, you and I are bound. If you fail, I gain nothing. But if you succeed… let's just say we both stand to benefit."

— "And what do you want in return?" she shot back.

The demon grinned, revealing sharp fangs.

— "Oh, nothing too complicated. I just want a little more control. Let me take the reins, just for a moment. I promise I won't disappoint you."

— "If I say yes… you'll help me win, right?"

— "Exactly," he replied with a sly smile.

Stella closed her eyes, her breath shaky. She had no other choice.

— "Fine… do it," she finally whispered, defeated.

A dark smile spread across the demon's face as he took control. Stella's eyes snapped open, but they were no longer hers. Their usual glow was gone, replaced by a deep, menacing red.

Her body rose suddenly, with an almost supernatural ease. The crowd, who had written her off as a loser, froze at this sudden change.

— "What the hell is going on?" Lizzie murmured in the stands.

Stella—or rather, the demon within her—raised a hand. A dense, dark energy gathered there, forming a pulsating black sphere. The monster, which had seemed invincible until now, hesitated for a moment, sensing danger.

— "Don't come any closer," the demon said coldly, through Stella.

With a swift motion, he hurled the energy sphere straight at the creature. The impact was instant and devastating. The monster was thrown back, crashing into the arena wall. A heavy silence fell as the smoke began to clear.

When the dust settled, the monster lay motionless on the ground. It had been defeated in a single blow.

The spectators were speechless.

— "What just happened?" one of the professors asked, visibly worried.

— "That girl… she's…" the headmaster began but didn't finish his sentence.

Stella, still possessed, turned toward the audience. An intimidating aura radiated from her. But gradually, the energy began to fade.

In her mind, she heard the demon again.

— "There you go. Your problem is solved. But don't forget… you owe me a favor."

Stella felt her consciousness return. Her body slumped slightly, exhausted. Her legs trembled, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The professors, spectators, and even her friends were frozen in shock. Daisy rushed toward her, followed closely by Lizzie.

— "Stella!" Daisy shouted, shaking her gently.

But Stella remained motionless, plunged into a deep sleep, leaving behind an arena full of spectators intrigued, terrified, and fascinated by what they had just witnessed.