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Chapter 55
Dani could name and draw every spell circle that was listed in the four books that sat on her bedside table. Each was difficult to obtain in the north, but she managed to collect them over time. It was also largely thanks to her hungry nose and genuine obsession over all things spellcraft that she was able to sniff them out. However, as Ezabel ignited the magic within her fist and threw it straight into the center of the boulder, Dani knew then that her ability to weave a spell circle was up in the air.
Twice she made an attempt at the assessments and twice she failed. There was no wonder as to why she felt so far away from both Ezabel and Soren at the moment, even though she stood ten feet away from them. Their conversation was close and their words were clear. Still, they seemed distant. She felt as if she would never attain the ability she hoped for herself.
All of it was almost enough to make her forget about the pair of glasses across her face. They were just on the verge of falling off of the bridge of her nose. With a quick jolt, Dani pushed them back onto her face. It was clear to her the disappointment she had in her own self was beginning to be a burden, one that she had no idea how to get rid of.
There was nervousness on Ezabel’s face, but joy was not far behind. Dani watched her friend dive straight into the depths of the Echo; her eyes traced down her arm and locked onto the knightstone in Ezabel’s hand. That singular object was the key to all of her hopes and wishes. Yet, it was the same object that she feared most. She had been lucky the last two times she tried to wield it. The third could very well be costly.
“Let’s take a step back. Ezabel, adjust your approach to the knightstone for the time being.”, Soren said before turning to Dani. “Dani, it’s your turn. Come give it a try.”
Dani gulped a ball of dry air. Her gaze immediately fell to the dirt below, incapable of meeting Soren or Ezabel. She even closed her eyes tight and prayed into the nothingness. Please, please let this work.
°°
Three more hours stood between the candidates and their first trial. Altogether, it was a nerve wracking wait for any one of them. Fortunately for Ezabel, the thrill of being able to finally wield a knightstone was still flowing through her. If she had her way, she would still be in the garden practicing with Soren. But, he insisted that she retire to her room in order to ‘rest up’ for the evening. Admittedly, it was a good idea, but Ezabel still did so reluctantly.
The Echo was just beginning to feel good in her hands. The way it flowed through her became almost natural. The sensation was similar to the way water went down one’s throat, except it was far more spiritual. It only took a handful of attempts for Ezabel to finally blow through the boulder, but when she did so, she jumped with joy. Even though the ensuing fatigue was real, it could not overshadow her pure elation. She hoped that in time, the fatigue would be something her body would get used to. Afterall, it did not feel as bad as she thought it would.
If only Dani could experience the same thing. The thought immediately took Ezabel by surprise. At that moment, Dani was the only thing that was able to change Ezabel’s train of thought, especially since she sat on the armchair across from her bed. She had invited her to her room before the trial started and hoped to help recollect her thoughts.
It simply felt wrong for Ezabel to be so joyous about her success when Dani fell flat on her face. The knightstone did not cooperate with her. Or rather, her body was not quite robust enough to handle its power. Both Ezabel and Soren were there to watch Dani’s failure first hand. The first attempt she made only lasted several seconds, she dropped the stone soon after. It was like holding onto a burning pot according to her.
Her second attempt lasted a little bit longer. She fought through the strange unwillingness of the Echo, even though it began to pain her entire arm. In the end, there was no success. Soren stopped Dani then and there for fear of injury. It was clear to the Attendant that Dani was forcing herself to persevere to the point of recklessness, and he was quick to tell her just how bad of an idea that was.
Ezabel’s gaze drifted around the room, unsure of how to approach the situation. She thought that company would, in the very least, be of some kind of comfort for Dani. But, her friend sat there alone on the other side of the room with her head low. Was she sad? Ezabel could not tell. Perhaps she was frustrated. Ezabel certainly would have been if she were in the same position.
“Thanks for letting me come here.”, Dani muttered.
It was sudden and entirely unexpected for Dani to say something first. But, it was somewhat of a relief to Ezabel, who smiled in return.
“You don’t need to thank me. I know what it’s like to be stuck in your own head. - My brother always tells me to figure out a way to clear my thoughts and find another thing to think about whenever I’m feeling that way. I usually take a long walk, but I figured you wouldn’t want to do that right before the trial.”
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“Your family is pretty talented, Ezabel. - I wish I could be like you all.”
It was a peculiar thought to ponder. It even surprised Ezabel when she considered that Bastion, Xavier, and Vance are all Attendant Knights. Even she was on the cusp of becoming one. Perhaps there was some sort of innate talent in her blood. But, that was of course something that Ezabel was reluctant to entertain. She had plenty of her own difficulties. So much so that it felt as if she was the weakest candidate in the capital. Ultimately, she understood where Dani was coming from. It was a coincidence that her entire family was part of the Order, but nevertheless, it was an impressive feat.
“A-are they?”, Ezabel chuckled and scratched the back of her neck.
“They are. You all make me feel as though I’m not cut out for all of this. I can’t even hold onto a knightstone long enough to do anything.”
“It takes time, Dani. I’m sure of it. I bet even some of the most renowned Attendants had trouble in the beginning. - The Echo is a tough thing to comprehend. I would be lying if I said that some of what I did today wasn’t pure luck.”
“You might be right.”, Dani lifted her head. “I just hope that I can figure it out before it’s too late.”
“If there’s anyone that can do it, it’s you, Dani. I don’t know anyone else that can memorize all those spell circles!”, Ezabel pointed at herself. “I don’t even think I can draw out a single one of them right now.”
“Perhaps all that time you have used on storybooks has left you with no time for anything else!”
Before they even realized it, light laughter floated between the two of them. Their conversation flowed as if they were sisters; it was almost too easy. Nevertheless, they managed to pull out a genuine smile out of Dani. More than that, they recovered some semblance of hope within her. Their earlier practice was just that: practice. It was not the end of it all. More was soon to come and they would take on every challenge together as members of Group Eight.
Was it foolish to be so lighthearted? Was it wrong to be so easily swayed? Neither were sure. In the end, they could only take the trials as they came. Both Ezabel Dani hoped in secret that luck would be on their side. For neither were able to say that they were entirely as comfortable as some of the more established candidates.
°°
It was a roar. No, it was a rumbling. Maybe it was a screech. Whatever it was, Ezabel was terrible at handling it. Her feet trembled and her balance was on the brink of tipping over. None of it was what she expected when she was told that all candidates would be boarding five separate airships prior to the evening’s trial. She was ready like the rest of them, with her equipment and her spirit excited for the first airship ride of her life.
They were absolute giants in the sky, large enough to see from a distance and loud enough to hear from most anywhere. Before coming to Gracewind, the only airship she had ever been able to lay eyes on was a small speck over a faraway mountain range. She only caught a glimpse of it because of a break in the clouds that Xavier pointed out. They were probably fourteen or fifteen years old at the time, and the memory stuck with her ever since. They were wondrous. To think her first ride on one would be enveloped by anxiety and slight motion sickness.
The deck of the ship was quite vast, where plenty of space separated the retinue Ezabel was a part of. It was not until moments before they had boarded that she learned her entire class of candidates numbered exactly one hundred. Of the one hundred, each airship took on twenty-five and soared away in a different direction from Gracewind. Even now, as Ezabel clenched the side ledge of the ship, the flickering lights of the capital could be seen behind them.
Wherever the ship was taking them, it was surely going to be the site of the first trial. When she was not shutting her eyes tight to shake off the nausea, she stole glimpses at nearby groups. Many seemed to have shared a similar tension or caution that she felt, which was strangely comforting. However, far off on the opposite end of the ship, there was a group that seemed far too comfortable with their entire situation. At a glance, every single person within their five member group held a similar disposition as Kieran, which disgusted Ezabel to a certain extent. It was clear to all that they were sponsored candidates; nobles who were very much expected to be the strongest of the bunch.
None of them were familiar to Ezabel, which should have been an interesting thing to ponder if she was not incredibly occupied with maintaining her balance. The rest of Group Eight was gathered somewhere else. She began to regret stumbling away from them in order to find the ledge of the ship. But, her hands were desperate for something to latch onto. She needed stability.
With any luck, her senses would recover by the time something happened. So, she leaned her head low and rested against the ledge. It was then that the deck of the ship stirred. The commotion saw Ezabel’s attention pulled toward the half-deck of the ship. It was elevated several feet above the rest of them. More importantly, appearing suddenly on it was none other than Priam, whose presence instantly quieted the entirety of the ship. Even the low hum of the magitech engine below seemed to be muffled by his arrival. Through his thin, rimless glasses came a cold gaze, but it was very quickly replaced by a smiling welcome. His arms lifted as if to celebrate the beginning of the trials.
“Good evening to you all.”, he announced. “I am proud to say that you are about to begin a journey that can make your name a legend! If you are here, it means that above everyone else, the Order sees great potential in your futures.”
The candidates across the deck of the ship exchanged curious glances at one another as they listened. Understandably, excitement mingled with uncertainty. It all made for a highly strung atmosphere.
“However, I am here to tell you that only a select few of those futures will ever see the light of day. Our purpose here is to discover who among us is capable of fulfilling everything that is expected of an Attendant Knight. Loyalty, commitment, resolve, and power. - The Order is as powerful as it is because it chooses only those who can be perfect.”
Priam pressed his iron cane into the deck of the ship and rested both hands across it, just before adjusting his glasses. And, for a moment, he scanned the deck of the ship with a judging leer.
“This is your warning. No longer will the frivolity of the festival be upon you. The trials will push you to the brink and we will not hesitate to fail anyone who shows the slightest sign of weakness. - Look around you and hold your group members accountable. Your failure here may very well be the fault of someone else..”
It was at that point that the ship began to slow to a hover and the winds picked up across the deck. Ezabel lifted an arm to shield her face, even as her hair was swept back and pulled at her. Not a single moment of pause was afforded. She needed to return to her group.
“With that being said..”, Priam smirked before the candidates. “Welcome to your first trial.”
At once, every group stepped towards the sides of the ship and leaned over. Below them was a broad expanse of forest. It was an endless space of green and in its center was a calm lake. The image of their airship reflected upon its surface, right next to the radiance of the moon.
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