###Chapter 17: Trauma

Arie, usually the one that is calm and almost

emotionless. He was calm, steady, and always seemed to know what to do, no matter how dangerous the situation. But this time was different. As soon as he saw the note about their opponent, something in him broke.

As Arie stepped into the arena, his head hung low, his face partially obscured by the shadows. His eyes stayed fixed on the ground, avoiding the curious stares of the crowd.

It wasn't like him to appear this way—reserved, almost hesitant—but something about his posture made it seem like he was carrying an invisible weight. Murmurs rippled through the audience, their excitement dimming into confusion as they tried to make sense of his demeanor.

The teacher stepped forward, his voice booming across the arena. "Today, your challenge will be unlike any other. You will face a dragon!"

Gasps erupted from the crowd, their shock palpable. Whispers spread like wildfire. "A dragon? Are they serious?" "But dragons are divine creatures—they're not supposed to be here!" Even the competitors exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier confidence shaken by the announcement. The atmosphere grew heavy, the gravity of the situation sinking in for everyone—everyone except Arie, whose eyes remained hidden, his expression unreadable.

Years ago, a dragon had destroyed his village. He had watched as flames swallowed the houses, the people, and everything he had ever known. He could still hear the screams, still feel the heat of the fire on his skin.

As the teacher's announcement echoed across the arena, a sudden rumble filled the air, silencing the murmurs of the crowd. All eyes turned to the center of the battlefield, where shimmering light began to twist and swirl.

A massive, glowing gate of magic materialized, its intricate patterns pulsing with energy. The air grew thick, buzzing with power as the gate widened, casting an eerie glow over the arena.

From within the swirling portal came a low, guttural growl that sent shivers down everyone's spine. Slowly, a massive claw emerged, its scales glinting like molten gold.

Then came the head—a dragon's head, with piercing eyes that burned like embers and horns curling back like a crown. As the beast stepped fully into the arena, its enormous wings unfurled, casting a shadow over the entire field.

The audience was frozen in awe and terror, the divine creature's presence overwhelming.

The dragon let out a deafening roar, the sound reverberating through the arena and shaking the very ground beneath their feet. Its gaze swept over the crowd, as if sizing up its prey, before finally settling on Arie and the Princess.

The creature's massive wings spread wide, its scales gleaming in the sunlight, and its piercing eyes fixed on them. For most people, facing a dragon would be terrifying, but for Arie, it was much worse. It wasn't just fear—this was his worst memory come to life.

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That day had shaped his life in ways he didn't like to think about. Now, standing in front of a dragon again, all those memories came rushing back. His hands shook, his breath quickened, and for the first time in a long time, he felt completely powerless.

The dragon roared, the sound vibrating through the air like thunder, but Arie couldn't move. He couldn't even think clearly.

The Princess, who had been fighting alongside him, noticed his sudden change. She looked at him, her sword drawn and her stance ready for battle.

"Arie!" she shouted, trying to snap him out of it. "What are you doing? We have to fight!"

But Arie couldn't answer. He tried to focus, tried to remember the spells he'd learned, but the moment he attempted to gather his magic, his mind betrayed him. Instead of power, all he felt was fear. It was as if the dragon's presence had locked away everything he knew.

The Princess didn't have time to wait for him. She charged at the dragon, her blade glinting in the light. She dodged its swiping claws and the blasts of fire it breathed, her movements quick and precise. She was strong, determined, and clearly not afraid.

"Arie! Snap out of it!" she yelled again, her voice cutting through the chaos.

He wanted to respond, to do something to help her, but every time he tried, the memories came back stronger. The screams, the fire, the sight of his village crumbling—it was all too much. His legs felt like they were stuck to the ground, his hands refused to move, and his magic wouldn't come to him.

The Princess gritted her teeth as she fought. The dragon was relentless, swinging its tail and breathing fire at every turn. She was doing her best to hold it back, but she couldn't do it alone. She glanced at Arie again, frustration clear on her face.

"Arie, I need you!" she shouted, barely dodging another attack.

He clenched his fists, trying to push past the fear. He closed his eyes, attempting to block out the dragon and the memories. He could hear the Princess fighting, hear the clash of her sword against the dragon's scales, but it only made him feel worse. She was risking her life while he stood there, frozen.

Finally, the Princess shouted again, her voice filled with anger and desperation. "If you don't help me, we're both going to die!"

Her words hit him like a slap. He opened his eyes and tried once more to summon his magic. A faint glow began to form around his hands, and for a brief moment, he thought he had overcome it.

But then the dragon roared again, and the sound dragged him back into his memories. The glow vanished, and his magic disappeared with it.

The Princess kept fighting, but it was clear she was struggling. Sweat dripped down her face, and her movements were getting slower.

She managed to land a few hits, but the dragon didn't seem to notice. It was too strong, too massive, and too dangerous for her to handle alone.

Arie knew he had to do something. He couldn't let the Princess fight by herself, not when she had already done so much for him.

He tried to move, but his body wouldn't listen. He tried to cast a spell, but the magic wouldn't come.

The Princess dodged another swing from the dragon's tail and shouted again, her voice hoarse. "Arie! Please!"

Her plea broke through his fear, if only for a second. He forced himself to take a step forward, then another.

His legs felt heavy, like they were weighed down by chains, but he kept going. He didn't know if he could fight, but he had to try.

As the battle continued, the Princess fought harder than ever, refusing to give up. She didn't know if Arie would come through, but she couldn't stop now. The dragon roared again, its massive body lunging toward her, and she braced herself for the impact.

Arie, still shaking but determined, reached for his magic once more. This time, he didn't try to push the fear away. He let it wash over him, let himself feel the pain and the memories.

It wasn't easy, and it wasn't pleasant, but somehow, it worked. A small spark of destruction magic flickered in his hand, and he held onto it like his life depended on it.

The dark spark grew, and with a deep breath, Arie focused all his energy on the spell. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't as strong as he would have liked, but it was something. He raised his hand, the magic growing bigger, and aimed at the dragon.

And when the spell hit the creature's side, it created a small explosion, distracting it just long enough for the Princess to land a powerful strike. The dragon roared in pain, stumbling back a few steps. It wasn't defeated, but it was weakened, and that was enough for now.

The Princess landed her strike and shouted, "Finally!" she turned to glance at Arie, expecting to see determination or at least relief on his face. Instead, what she saw stopped her in her tracks.

Arie's face was pale, his wide eyes filled with fear and disbelief. He wasn't looking at the dragon as an enemy—he was staring at it as if it were a ghost from his past.

His entire body trembled, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, but not in preparation for battle. It was as if he wasn't there with her at all, trapped instead in some memory far removed from the present.

"Arie..." she called out again, softer this time, her frustration giving way to concern. But he didn't respond. He didn't even seem to hear her. The fear in his expression was unlike anything she had ever seen, and it sent a chill through her.

Arie still hadn't come to his senses, and in this state, he was completely vulnerable.