8: The Final Trial Begins

Blaire barely slept again.

She lay stiffly on the thin mattress, staring up at the plain ceiling of the small dorm room provided at Silvercrest. The air was cool, the faint scent of old wood lingering in the space. Across from her, Lydia was curled up under her blanket, her breathing deep and even.

Blaire envied her.

Sleep had been impossible. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind replayed yesterday's events—Larkin's cold amusement, Orion's predatory gaze, the brutal trials. She hadn't expected the shapeshifters to treat humans as equals, but the way Larkin and Orion watched them, as if humans were nothing more than entertainment, unsettled her deeply.

And it wasn't just her.

Lydia had noticed Blaire's tension last night. When Blaire warned her about Orion, Lydia didn't dismiss it outright, but she also didn't fully believe her.

"I'll keep that in mind," Lydia had said, her tone careful. "But maybe you're just overthinking it. You're exhausted."

Blaire didn't argue, but she knew what she saw. Orion was dangerous. And Larkin? He was worse.

Now, as morning crept in and faint light seeped through the curtains, Blaire sighed heavily.

She needed to clear her head.

Swinging her legs over the bed, she stood and stretched, her muscles aching from previous days trials. The room was quiet aside from Lydia's soft breathing. Blaire moved carefully, slipping into her clothes, tightening the laces of her boots, and grabbing her jacket before heading for the door.

"You're up early," Lydia mumbled sleepily, cracking one eye open.

"I need to think."

Lydia yawned, rubbing her eyes. "You're stressing yourself out."

"I'll be fine." Blaire forced a small smile before slipping out.

The cafeteria was already open, but it was mostly empty, save for a few students eating in silence. Blaire scanned the room out of habit.

She spotted them immediately.

Larkin and Orion sat comfortably at a table near the back, exuding an air of effortless authority. They weren't eating—they were watching. Observing.

Blaire's stomach twisted, and she immediately turned away. She grabbed a simple sandwich and walked out before either of them could notice her.

Outside, the air was crisp and refreshing. She took a deep breath and sat on a stone bench near the courtyard, unwrapping her sandwich.

Her appetite was nonexistent, but she forced herself to eat.

She needed energy for today.

The final trial.

Only ten people would move forward. That meant twenty would be eliminated today.

Her grip tightened around the sandwich.

She couldn't afford to lose.

By the time Blaire entered the training hall, the atmosphere was thick with tension.

Thirty students stood scattered across the wide space, each of them watching one another with wary expressions. The air was heavy with unspoken aggression—everyone knew what was coming.

Lydia found Blaire quickly, her brows furrowed in concern. "Are you okay? You've been tense since last night."

Blaire forced a small smile. "Just... preparing."

Before Lydia could press further, the proctor from the previous trials stepped forward. His sharp gaze swept over the group before he spoke.

"Congratulations on making it this far. You are the top thirty from your respective districts. However, only ten of you will move forward to Aetheris Academy."

A murmur rippled through the group.

"To decide who earns that spot, today's trial will be divided into two rounds. First—a battle royale. All thirty of you will fight at once. The last twenty standing will move on to the final one-on-one matchups in the afternoon."

Blaire's stomach twisted.

A battle royale.

No rules. Just survival.

"This is brutal," Blaire muttered.

Lydia nodded grimly. "They don't care about fairness. Just strength."

The proctor raised a hand. "Take your positions."

Blaire exhaled sharply and moved to the center of the hall with the others, keeping her distance from the more aggressive-looking competitors.

She scanned the crowd, analyzing potential threats.

Then—

She caught sight of Orion and Larkin standing near the edge of the hall, watching with thinly veiled amusement.

Their expressions made her blood boil.

A sharp whistle sliced through the air.

"Begin."

Chaos exploded instantly.

Blaire ducked as a fist swung toward her, the rush of air brushing past her ear. She shifted back, watching as the attacker—a broad-shouldered boy—redirected his attention to another target.

The battle was ruthless.

Fists flew. Bodies collided. Some students clashed immediately, while others hung back, waiting for an opening.

A girl in a boxing stance caught Blaire's attention.

She was scanning for opponents, bouncing lightly on her feet.

Blaire didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, slamming her shoulder into the girl's chest. The girl stumbled, eyes wide with surprise.

But she recovered fast.

She threw a sharp right hook.

Blaire dodged, twisting to the side just in time.

Then—

A tall, muscular guy nearby suddenly joined in, targeting the same girl.

Blaire barely stepped back before he delivered a brutal kick to the girl's ribs.

She gasped, falling to her knees.

The guy moved to strike again.

The girl threw up her hands. "I surrender!"

A proctor stepped in immediately, pulling her away.

One down.

Blaire exhaled, heart pounding.

She needed to be smart.

Not just strong—smart.

She weaved through the battlefield, dodging attacks when necessary. People were dropping quickly. Some students surrendered the moment they were overwhelmed, while others fought desperately, refusing to go down without a struggle.

A movement to her right—

A sharp kick aimed at her ribs.

Blaire twisted, grabbing the attacker's leg and shoving them backward.

She stumbled.

But before Blaire could follow up, another student charged at her.

She barely dodged in time, rolling to the side.

This wasn't about proving strength anymore.

It was about lasting.

The fight stretched on.

More students fell.

Blaire stayed on her feet, moving strategically, picking her fights wisely.

Then—

A loud whistle.

"Stop!"

The proctor's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.

Blaire halted, chest heaving.

Around her, only twenty students remained, scattered across the hall. Some were battered, bruised. Others looked barely winded.

She exhaled shakily.

This world was ruthless.

They were given a short break before the one-on-one matchups.

Blaire sat on a bench, stretching her sore muscles. Lydia flopped down beside her, wincing as she touched a small cut on her lip.

"You okay?" Blaire asked.

Lydia huffed. "Yeah. You should see the other guy."

They shared a look, then chuckled softly.

Then—

"The final matchups have been decided," the proctor announced. "Come check the board."

Blaire's stomach dropped as she walked up.

Her eyes scanned the names.

Blaire Delpine vs. Dion Pierce.

Shit.

A man.

Her gut twisted.

Lydia nudged her. "Do you know him?"

Blaire shook her head. "No. You?"

Lydia pointed across the hall.

Blaire followed her gaze—

A well-built guy with a tan complexion and brown hair stood with his arms crossed. His sharp eyes locked onto her.

Lydia leaned in. "He's one of the top from my district."

Blaire let out a low breath.

"Oh, shit."