Chapter 25 - Part 1

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" Screech yelled at the top of his lungs, trying uselessly to grasp at Haiden's face, only to pass through. Not even the tingling sensation of Fios nudged him from his deep sleep. Not only had Haiden spent most of last night talking with Screech but his intrusive t thoughts about Tasgal kept him from any shut eye.

The sun shined up in the sky beating down heavily on everything in sight. Many excited voices boomed throughout the grounds but none reached Haiden. Not even Screech's constant screaming. After a while he gave up and decided to try a more direct method and so Screech gathered all the energy he could spare. It wasn't a lot, there were very limited things he could do without being corporeal. He cursed his almost useless ethereal body and focused on one singular spot on Haiden's body that he knew would get an instant reaction. His crotch.

Screech giggled as he prepared his attack. "Suit you right." he told himself and coalesced the energy in a pinpoint where he knew his genitals were. An evil look took over his face as the moment of release came close. His deformed features scrunched up in a grimace-like smile.

Before he knew it a force blast released reaching the point of no return. It hit Haiden with the force of a slap right in his jewels making him bolt off the bed in a panic jump.

"What the fuck was that!?" He yelped, sprawled on the floor. Pain came with seconds of delay, his face twisting with a knowing realization as he grabbed his genitals and began to moan and grunt. He crawled up into a ball rocking back and forth. "Fuck!" His voice pitched high.

Finally Screech said, his expended energy had been too great even for such a small spell. He could no longer hold a shape and resided within Haiden's mind.

"Screech. You. Did. This?" He asked between breaths, the pain began to make its way up his abdomen.

No matter who or what did it. Quick. You're late. The trial. He urged.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck!" Haiden ignored the pain and jumped to his feet in panic. He got dressed in a rush, unsure if he had his breeches backwards or not but it did not matter. His stomach rumbled as he ran towards the gardens where Headmistress Helena told them to meet.

He spotted Camila and Maree looking around worried at the entrance and dashed to them.

"Where have you been! It's about to start!" Camila grabbed his hand and sighed exhausted, dragging him towards a small group of his classmates that was led by Rwoy.

"We looked everywhere for your ass!" Maree rushed after them. "Haiden, why are you walking so weird?"

"Sorry I overslept." Haiden said ashamed, ignoring Maree's question.

"Asleep?" Maree's mouth was agape. "We banged on that door for the better of a half an hour!"

"Incredible!" Camila said in disbelief. They quickly settled in the back of the group. Haiden was trying to catch his breath.

"Good for you three to finally join." Master Rwoy said with his back at them. Camila jabbed Haiden in the ribs and he mouthed another apology. "Now, settle down. It's about to begin,"

Haiden looked around, his gaze bouncing off familiar faces in the group of Wielders confirming who passed the first Trial. Six out of seven, he counted: Bras, Malticia, Nolan, Justinia, Maree and himself.

"Is this it?" he leaned and whispered to Maree. Camila already had left to join the audience.

"Yeah, not a lot of people cared enough to join. You know, they already have wealth and rank."

"Right. What about them then?" He cocked his head towards the others.

"It's quite simple. Malticia wants to prove to everyone that she's the best, as always. Justinia just got dragged into this mess by Malticia. Look at her; she's about to cry. Poor mindless girl. She can barely send a force blast straight. Nolan said she wanted to test how much she had improved. That's quite an admirable reason, if I'm being honest. Brave but still dimwitted; the other day after Master Coner's class she poked herself with a Gern needle, knocking her out in a heartbeat. Look, you can still see her head bump." Maree laughed. "And then there's Bras, who wants to pummel you into the ground erasing all traces of your existence."

"Not if I get to him first." Haiden glanced over to catch a glimpse from Bras and saw him staring back with a crazed venomous look and a sickening smile on his face.

"Yeah, better ignore him from now. He's been staring at us all this time. Creepy, isn't he."

"Aren't you scared he'll try to do something?" Haiden asked to which Maree shrugged.

"We're surrounded by people, what can he do?"

"I guess you have a point, but I don't trust him." The stare began to feel uncomfortable and he looked the other way only to see Tasgal in a crowd of Ashen.

Maree followed Haiden's gaze. "Oh, yeah. There are like twenty Ashen. Not fair, if you ask me."

Haiden tuned out for a moment, focusing on Tasgal's face. He looked like nothing had happened to him. No bruises, scrapes, no limping. He joked with Vick, Kip, and Mar as always with friendly punches and wrestles. He was smiling. Haiden sighed in relief, but then his heart sank after a student realization.

Where was he last night...? He felt Screech desire to say something but was glad he didn't.

Tasgal noticed Haiden's intense stare and stopped to briefly wave at him. Haiden waved back but then turned his attention to Maree, ignoring Tasgal all together.

How dare he act like normal. Haiden pouted. "Can you even believe -"

"Shh!" Maree silenced him. "It's starting." As soon as he said that Haiden followed his gaze and saw Headmistress Helena sitting on a tall podium alone. Her always neutral and unimpressed face waited for everyone to quiet down which did not take long. The moment she cleared her throat everything went quiet. Her simple presence demanded respect, she was intimidating, and she knew it well and used it to her advantage.

She rose from her throne like chair that always seemed to accompany her in these types of speeches. "Well done. All of you." she waited for everyone to applaud. "I want you to remember this feeling. The joy, the pride that you outsmarted your fellows in a trial of witt! That you are better." She paused and looked around to see proud faces and puffed chests. Her smile was evil and she squinted her eyes. "Feels good, right?" People agreed and nodded and she nodded along with them in sympathy when her smile dropped and she snarled at them. "Only fools take pride in undemanding challenges and effortless achievements! If you can call it as such." she added under her breath. "Were it after me not even half of you would have been here! In the olden times they gave us real challenges, real trials. Not these games. Child's play!

From today you will stop this silly game you've been playing so far and become real Wielders! You will be taking your life in your own two hands and show me you have what it takes!"

Master Rwoy and Istrek began scooting everyone to the sides and gave a nod to the Headmistress as soon as everyone was out of the way.

Helena lifted both of her arms and the earth began to shake. Haiden immediately felt powerful Fios wash over him in almost visible static, it gave him goosebumps. Everyone took a step back just in case as the earth cave in.

Haiden had felt that something was off about the gardens, but couldn't place it. But now it was clear as day. The huge fountain was missing along with the stone benches and any sign of plants and flowers that usually stretched across the huge gardens. Whole threes were removed along with any trace of their existence. Between the Wielder and Ashen group laid a solid, flat patch of earth that stretched towards the backwoods with the gates fully open.

The earth broke into rectangular patches and shifted around on their own. The headmistress was emanating vast amounts of energy, but her face was not even strained. She showed no weakness, no exhaustion from the feat. The ground shifted around creating a canal in the shape of a V that stretched beyond the gates. Trees cracked, visibly moved and rearranged as the spell the Headmistress was casting continued pouring seemingly endless energy.

Gasps and awes escaped everyone including Haiden. The canal was rough, with rocky geometric obstacles and a small stream of water gathered at the lowest point. This went on for some time and after a while the effects of the spell had stopped being visible around them.

A sudden stop of energy flow had caught Haiden's attention and noticed that the Headmistress exhaled deeply.

"There you have it!" She boomed. "The Trial of Agility!" A round of cheers and applause echoed throughout the gardens. "Both Wielders and Ashen will use the full extent of their abilities to navigate this trench! There are only two rules! Set foot outside the trench and you are immediately disqualified! Lose your baggage and you are immediately disqualified! Masters will hide themselves throughout the track and will attack you. Your fellow competitors WILL attack you! You need to prove yourself in your agility, split decision making, and tenacity. Each one of you will carry on their backs a bag of sand! You must protect it at all costs. Defend yourself, avoid obstacles and dodge attacks while at the same time you will be also on the offensive.

Master Coner is here if anything happens. You have one hour."