Chapter 17: Trial of Bonds

The dawn over Ember Academy tore through the sky in a fierce crimson blaze.

Obsidian towers cast sharp shadows across the training field — a black sand circle, surrounded by pillars etched with runes pulsing like living hearts.

My body still trembled from the night before.

The wounds from my battle with Kaelith and the Umbral servants burned beneath my tunic.

Black veins of Aether twisted under my skin, a constant punishment.

Lirien's amulet hung cold and silent around my neck —

an anchor to a past that was starting to fade.

Dren's reliquary, hidden in my robes, pulsed with a purple gleam.

It resonated with the runes, echoing the Umbral's presence —

a reminder of the weight I carried.

Nyra stood beside me, her blade spinning in her hand.

Her eyes scanned the field with a mix of caution and challenge,

still tense from our fight with Sylene.

The Umbral whispered in my mind, its voice a blade of ice:

"Bonds bind you, Echo. Break or strengthen — or the throne will crush you."

Master Lysara stood tall before us, her white flames crackling across her robes.

Her presence made the runes tremble.

"Today, we test your bonds," she declared,

her voice booming like thunder.

"Pair up. You will face your rivals.

And fire will judge whether you are worthy."

Her burning gaze landed on me.

"Vaelis and Nyra, versus Sylene and Kaelith.

Begin."

Nyra glanced at me, tense.

Her trust had wavered since she learned of my use of Aether.

"Don't fall behind," she murmured,

the air swirling around her like a storm waiting to burst.

Before I could respond, Sylene stepped onto the field.

Her water whip slithered through her fingers,

her green eyes gleaming with mockery.

Kaelith followed, sword of flames drawn.

His armor was cracked from the night before.

His red eyes blazed with hatred.

"Prepare yourself, Echo!" Kaelith roared,

lunging at me with a flaming slash.

I dove to the side, my dagger deflecting the blow.

The impact sent me stumbling.

Nyra reacted fast —

her blade cut through the air, summoning a whirlwind.

It slowed Sylene.

But Sylene's whip clashed against it.

Steam exploded between them, blinding the battlefield.

"Cover me!" I shouted, rushing toward Kaelith.

I dodged a fireburst, rolling through the sand.

My dagger flew in a deadly arc.

Kaelith deflected it,

but the motion threw him off balance.

I rammed into him, shoulder-first.

We crashed down, grappling.

My fist struck his face.

He tried to plunge his sword into my side.

The heat scorched my skin.

A groan escaped me.

Nyra faced Sylene alone.

Her whirlwind clashed with a torrent of water that shoved her back.

"You're weak!" Sylene laughed.

Her whip coiled around Nyra's arm.

Nyra screamed, slicing the straps with her blade.

But another wave hit her.

She fell to her knees.

I ran to her —

but Kaelith intercepted, sweeping his sword in a burning arc.

"Arion, behind you!" Nyra cried.

She rose again, unleashing a sandstorm.

It blinded Sylene.

I used the moment.

I leapt toward Kaelith, dagger aimed for his throat.

He blocked, but the force pushed him back.

The ground trembled.

Flame spikes burst upward at his command.

I dodged — barely.

One spike tore through my thigh.

I climbed a pillar and jumped,

crashing down on him.

My blade cut his shoulder.

Blood splashed the sand.

Sylene countered.

Her whip lashed out, wrapping Nyra's leg.

She yanked her to the ground.

"Nyra!" I shouted, running to her.

But a rift opened in the ground.

An Umbral servant emerged, its red eyes glowing.

It lunged.

I met it head-on.

My dagger sliced its arm, dodging its claws.

Nyra freed herself.

Her blade stabbed into its chest.

The creature burst into ash.

"What is this?!" Lysara roared.

White fire surged from her,

sweeping across the field and sealing the rift.

But Kaelith took advantage.

He summoned a dragon of flame.

It roared and lunged at me.

I jumped, rolled.

The heat singed my robes.

Nyra unleashed a whirlwind, slowing it down.

I ran for Kaelith.

My dagger clashed against his blade in a storm of sparks.

We struggled —

my strength fading.

A slash tore across my arm.

Blood hit the ground.

"Enough!" Lysara roared.

Her white flames engulfed Kaelith and Sylene,

forcing them back.

The fire dragon vanished.

Silence fell.

Only my ragged breath remained.

Nyra stepped toward me, her face hard.

"You used the Aether again, didn't you?" she asked, voice low.

I hesitated.

"No… not this time," I lied,

hiding the tremble in my black-veined arm.

The reliquary pulsed.

A vision surged through me —

the obsidian throne.

Dripping blood.

Nyra's lifeless body.

Lirien's voice fading.

Then — Envy.

Her mirror-kingdom reflected my face over and over.

And others rose:

The King of Shadows.

The Ice Queen.

The Beast in Chains.

The Golden Specter.

The Mistwalker.

The Warrior with Blood-Stained Wings.

The Phantom with Crystal Eyes.

The Ashen Colossus.

"Bonds will break," the Umbral whispered.

"The throne demands sacrifice."

Lysara stared at us.

"You've shown strength…

but your bonds are failing.

Reflect on that."

She turned and walked away.

Her words remained, heavy in the air.

Nyra turned her back on me.

Her silence cut deeper than any blade.

Kaelith and Sylene retreated,

their eyes promising vengeance.

The reliquary still pulsed.

The trial wasn't over.

The Academy was a battlefield.

And my bonds…

were about to shatter.