The pale morning sky stretched endlessly above the Zenith Guard training grounds. Eleanor stood at the edge of the field, her wings catching the cool wind. The air vibrated, thick with the nervous energy of fifty young angels.
Today would decide everything.
The night before, Eleanor had stood with Meredith at the edge of the cliffs. The sea wind whipped through their hair.
"Now, listen carefully," Meredith said, her voice firm against the wind. "The Zenith Guard ranks are simple, but the expectations are not. They go from Novice up to Ascendant. You want to skip the bottom rung."
Meredith held up a hand, ticking off the six levels on her fingers:
Ascendant – The elite god-slayers. Highest Rank.
Guardian – Trusted field operatives.
Sentinel – Experienced mid-tier combatants.
Striker – Active combat agents.
Initiate – Recruits who passed the trials.
Novice – Trainees with no field clearance.
Meredith gave her a long, hard look. "The trial supervisors measure what you do and what you might be. Fail, and you're washing dishes somewhere. If I were you, I'd aim for Striker or higher. Get ready to prove your worth."
Eleanor gave a determined nod. "I'm ready."
Three weeks of Meredith's tough training had stripped Eleanor down, then built her back up. Her body no longer stumbled; it moved with brutal precision. Her Sunfire burned steadier now, though fear still made it flicker.
Meredith approached the registration building, her white robes snapping in the breeze. For once, the harsh lines of her face had softened, just barely.
"I've taught you everything I can," Meredith said. "Remember the Golem's weakness. Keep your power steady. And try not to embarrass me"
Eleanor smirked. "I'll do my best not to fall flat on my ass in front of everyone."
"There's the attitude I trained." A hint of a smile touched Meredith's lips.
The training grounds were crowded. Some recruits wore shining, expensive armor. Others clutched ancient weapons. A few stood trembling nervously. Most bounced with barely controlled energy, ready to fight.
Eleanor was scanning the chaos when a voice cut through the noise, bright and completely unafraid.
"Trials, huh? Ten gold says they make us fight a giant hamster or something equally silly. What do you think, Zak?"
The speaker had wild silver hair that seemed to defy gravity and mischievous blue eyes that sparkled with trouble. His name tag read: Theo Vex. His wings twitched constantly.
Beside him stood a taller boy with midnight-black hair and serious brown eyes. He studied the recruits, analyzing them like a military planner. Zakiel Derin, his posture screamed discipline.
"You talk too much," Zak said quietly. "Save your energy for the actual test."
"Come on, you know my jokes help you relax." Theo's grin was contagious.
A voice dropped from above like a stone. "You're both putting me to sleep."
A small, powerful blonde girl landed between them, built like a coiled spring. Her ice-blue eyes burned with impatience, her short blonde hair whipping as she turned her head. Katya Lynne. She looked ready to punch the world.
"Can we just start already?" she growled. "All this standing around is driving me insane."
Theo hopped away from her wing. "Easy there, firecracker. You'll burn the place down before we even get inside."
Eleanor couldn't help but chuckle. The sound drew Zak's attention.
His brown eyes locked onto hers: calm, careful, intelligent. "Oh. Hello there. You're a new recruit as well?"
"Yes," Eleanor replied, keeping her voice steady and calm.
Theo waved enthusiastically. "Hey, you've got that whole 'secretly dangerous' vibe going on. I love it."
Katya gave Eleanor a sharp, judging look. "I bet you're secretly slow. I bet you fail first."
Eleanor's eyes flashed. "We'll see."
Zak nodded once. "Good. There's no time to be slow if you're serious about the Zenith Guard."
"RECRUITS! LINE UP! SINGLE FILE!"
The voice boomed across the field like thunder. Every conversation died. Every angel straightened up.
A senior officer walked onto the field, his silver wings catching sunlight like mirrors. His black eyes swept over the recruits. He raised one hand, and a blue crystal floated above his head like a small sun.
Dozens of glowing trails shot out from the crystal, each pointing in a different direction.
"Follow your assigned trail," the officer announced. "Each of you will face challenges designed to test your specific abilities. You have until sunset to complete your trial and return to this spot. Succeed, and you join the Guard. Fail..."
His smile was sharp as a blade. "And you go home to explain your shame to your families."
Eleanor's stomach clenched as a golden trail appeared before her, leading northwest toward a dense forest that climbed the mountainside like a dark staircase.
"Ohohooo, you got the golden trail," Katya's voice held a dangerous edge. "I heard some things about that route. Good luck, newbie."
Before Eleanor could respond, Katya launched herself skyward, following her own crimson trail.
Eleanor spread her wings and took flight, the golden light pulling her toward destiny.
The forest was ancient. Massive trees blocked out the sun, creating a twilight world of shadows and oppressive silence. Eleanor landed in a small clearing, drawing her axe. The quiet felt wrong, like the entire forest was holding its breath.
The ground trembled. Trees swayed without any wind.
Something massive crashed through the forest behind her.
Eleanor spun around. Her heart sank.
A living statue towered above the treeline, twenty feet tall. It was made of black obsidian stone and carved bone. White fire blazed from its eye sockets as it raised a sword that looked like it could split mountains.
The Golem.
The golem moved with unbelievable speed. Eleanor threw herself sideways as its blade cut through the air. The sword hit the earth and split the ground like paper.
Eleanor's Sunfire sparked weakly. Her nerves were failing her. Focus. You trained for this.
She darted forward, swinging her axe at the statue's leg. Sparks flew, but the blade barely scratched the stone.
The golem's backhand sent her flying across the clearing. Eleanor slammed into a tree trunk, seeing stars. Pain exploded through her ribs. Blood filled her mouth.
Her vision blurred. Her hands shook.
Deep in her chest, the familiar rage started to boil. The same fire that had saved her from the Black Angel.
The statue lumbered toward her, its sword raised for the kill.
Eleanor stopped shaking. Golden light erupted from her skin.
"NOT TODAY!"
Sunfire wrapped around Eleanor like divine armor. Her axe blazed with golden flames hot enough to melt steel.
She met the golem's charge head-on.
This time, when her axe bit into the statue's leg, it cut deep. Cracks spread through the obsidian like lightning.
The golem staggered, swinging wildly. Eleanor ducked under its guard and drove her flaming axe into its spine.
The statue collapsed with a thunderous crash, sending up clouds of dust and shattered stone.
Eleanor stood over the wreckage, her fire slowly fading. Battered, exhausted, but alive.
A crystal pillar rose from the ground before her. Eleanor pressed her trial stone against it, and the crystal flashed brilliant green.
A golden path appeared, leading home.
Eleanor returned to the training grounds as the sun touched the horizon. She was covered in dirt, blood, and stone dust.
Meredith waited for her. So did the stern-faced officer.
"You made it," Meredith said, her voice carefully neutral, but a slight relaxation in her shoulders gave her away.
"Barely," Eleanor gasped.
The officer stepped forward. "Eleanor Aurelis. You have completed your trial successfully, shown mastery of a rare elemental bloodline, and destroyed a level-four combat construct. By the authority of the Zenith Guard, you are hereby given the rank of Guardian."
Eleanor's knees nearly buckled. Guardian. The second-highest rank.
Meredith's smile was small but real. "Well done. Now, look alive. Real Guardians never rest."
Theo jogged over, looking like he'd been hit by a hurricane. "Hey! Guess who didn't get eaten by a riddle-monster!"
Zak followed, quiet as always. "Congratulations, Eleanor."
Katya landed nearby with a ground-shaking thud. "Don't worry, I'm alive! Obviously! And you got Guardian? Seriously?"
Eleanor watched their faces: Meredith's pride, Theo's excitement, Zak's calm approval, Katya's fierce competitive grin.
"The four of you get in line with the other finishers."
The group of four lined up.
"First up... Eleanor Aurelis... Guardian Rank."
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Eleanor stepped forward to claim her badge and pristine new robes.
Zak and Katya received Sentinel Rank, the third highest. Theo earned Striker Rank, the fourth level.
"Awww, what? Striker rank? That's it?" Theo whined.
The officer rolled his eyes. "Be grateful, recruit. You only destroyed a glorified hedge maze."
"Calm down, Theo," Zak said. "You'll catch up with us. At least you weren't assigned Novice rank, or we'd have to listen to your complaining for ages."
"Shut it, Zak! I don't whine!" Theo pouted.
Katya approached Eleanor. "Congrats. Guess I was wrong about you." She scratched her head shyly. "But just so you know, I'm still going to catch up to you. Don't think that Guardian badge means anything permanent."
"I look forward to it," Eleanor replied, a genuine smile replacing her usual smirk.
Meredith walked up and patted Eleanor's shoulder. "Ready to go home and rest? We've got a big day tomorrow."
"My legs feel like wet noodles."
"Then get on." Meredith bent her back slightly.
"I'm not a baby, Meredith."
"It's Guardian's privilege. Get on, or I toss you over my shoulder."
"Fine." Eleanor turned to her new friends. "I'll see you guys around."
They waved goodbye. Eleanor climbed onto Meredith's back and finally let herself relax. Meredith carried her all the way home, gently placing her on her bed.
"Now rest. Don't move a muscle, and especially don't sneak off for midnight training. Tomorrow is your first official day. I need you functional, not falling over."
Eleanor rolled her eyes, catching the half-joking tone. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."
"Good. I'll bring you some food. Eat before bed, then tomorrow we leave first thing in the morning."
Eleanor nodded. After eating and settling in, she closed her eyes.
She was no longer just Eleanor Aurelis, orphaned survivor. She was Guardian Eleanor Aurelis of the Zenith Guard.
And it felt great.