"You have to try harder, Blake." Lyle was pushing me.
I rolled my eyes with a groan, "Shut up Lyle."
I continued to run aross the field. We have a day off before the magic trial and Lyle is pushing me with my stamina, considering I am weaker in that department than everyone else. My lungs burned, legs and arms were like jam, and sweat pooled on my forehead and fell down to the rest of me.
"You're almost there." He pushed me again. He was at my finish line and he was right, I am so close. Gritting my teeth I surged power to my legs, propelling me forward. Crossing the finish line was such a sweet moment, and I fell to the ground, splaying out on the field, "Good job, Princess."
"Shut." Breathe in, "Up." Breathe out.
Lyle extended a hand out to me, I grabbed his hand with a small groan before he hauled me up on my aching feet. It's time for some food.
"C'mon Princess, let's go get some food."
Raising my eyebrow I nod to his suggestion and we walk in silence back to the cafeteria. Grabbing a plate full of fruit and some slices of bread with butter I sit with Lyle at our table. We chew in silence, our plate's nearing empty. The seat next to me rattles, I look over and there sits Addison with a wide smile, her guard Vance stands behind her silently.
"Hello Addison." I say with a small smile and a bite of this juicy fruit.
"Blake! I have news for you today." If she could smile more, she definitely would.
"Yes?" I question with a hint of curiosity.
"We start the magic trial tomorrow AND rumor has it our guards are going away for the night." She said with a waggle of her brows.
I couldn't help but smile at that. Ever since Lyle and Knox got into it at the library, he really hasn't been around much. I see him lurking around corners here and there, but he hasn't been beside me a whole lot. I wonder if it has anything to do with them trying to find out who the "traitor" is.
"Do you know where they're going?" I put a small bit of butter on my last slice of bread, taking a bite.
She looks over her shoulders to Vance, who slowly peers down at her, her cheeks pink slightly and she leans towards me with a whisper, "They're going to find someone who has been walking around on the edge of the island."
Knox was right, they're looking for someone among us. I look back to Lyle who continued to chew on his last piece of meat and bread, seemingly not paying much attention. Addison's hand grabbed my arm gently, leaning forward to whisper again, "They know that they've been meeting with a Human, but they don't know which one of us it is. They've caught the Human, interrogated him, and when they didn't get any information they released him back to the King of the Human Kingdom."
Lyle's body tensed and did one last swallow, "I have to go. I'm going to go shower and get ready for tomorrow. I'll see you guys later."
Watching him walk out the door I look back to Addison, "Who do they think it is?"
She shrugged, "The Human didn't give any information like they hoped. They even searched his mind, but he was so mentally built that they couldn't."
Knitting my brows together I looked down at my plate, "Mentally built? Like his mind was stronger than the powers of our Psychics?"
She nodded with wide eyes, they sparkled with interest, "I don't know how they do it. I thought Humans didn't possess anything like us."
"Yeah we thought that they didn't possess common magic like us either, but yet here we are." I bit my lip, concentrating on the information I just received. They don't want us to know something. I just don't know what that is, "I'm going to go shower and head to bed, Addison. I'll see you later?"
"Yes! I'm about to eat with Ridoc and also rest before tomorrow." She beamed a smile before getting up from her seat and bounding towards Ridoc.
Knocking on Lyle's door, it opened surprisingly quickly. Lyle's towel was wrapped around his waist, much lower than I was expecting. One slip could reveal– Stop! Shaking my head I step inside of his room and turn towards him. Lyle closes the door behind him with a sigh, "Yes?"
"Do you know anything about the Human sighting?" I pressed.
He brings his hand to his forehead and rubs it gently, "Blake, I–"
"No, tell me yes or no." I held my position firmly. He looked at me, his eyes held a battle within to tell the truth or not.
"I know about it, but I don't know who it is." Is that a half truth, full truth, or a complete lie? He doesn't trust me.
"Lyle, we have to trust each other. My Court is the keeper of secrets. Please, be honest with me.
He walks up to me, putting his hands on my shoulders and leans down to my ears, "Shh."
He leans back and stares at me with wide eyes, "I don't know who it is." Nodding my head I shrug off his hands and leave his door, going to mine to sleep.
Today's the day. It's finally time for the magic trial. Am I nervous? Hell yeah. Am I going to kick ass? Welun I hope so. I don't even know who my opponent is. I haven't seen Raleigh since the dining hall incident. Lyle and I walk together silently towards the field. Upon getting there we see mats laid out on the grass in a half circle and the Professor standing in front of them.
"Welcome! Aren't you all excited for the first trial? I know I am. Today is the day where we assess your skill and determine whether you pass this or not. And of course, we have that pesky chart to worry about, don't we? Well, as it may be I have who will go against who," with a wave of his hand he materializes a piece of parchment, "Alright, so I have Second and seventh seed Ridoc and Saxon. Third and sixth, Remington and Landon. Fourth and fifth, Addison and Byron. First and last seed Lyle and Blake."
Professor didn't give us our official rankings, we might kill each other for that but knowing that is enough to know I'm doing the worst somehow, "Um, Professor? Where's Raleigh?" I asked.
Professor skimmed me over, "Dead. Now everyone get on the mats."
What? Lookig over to Remington and Ridoc, their eyes were bloodshot as they slowly stepped on their mats with their sparring partners. Oh… that's terrible for them. Both of their sisters went within a couple days of one another.
"Looks like we have some visitors!" Professor exclaimed. Looking up at the sky I squinted against the cloudless day and saw the Dragons. They were gliding down towards us and stopped on the ground. The Earth shook beneath their massive weight and when they laid down on the grass the wind that came from underneath blew among us, "Alright, pupils, do well."
I don't know if it was intentional, but everyone got someone from a different Court where I got Lyle. Coincidence? I'd think not. Stepping up to the mat I looked at Lyle and his body was relaxed. Odd.
"You ready, Princess?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded once, "Yes. Are you?"
"Born ready." He curtly nodded, shaking out his limbs.
We both got into our comfortable positions. I haven't been able to practice what he said about the different bending techniques for the different elements, but I am confident I can try today. If I fail, I fail. No. I won't fail. Lyle strikes first using his hands to create a strong vortex of air and forcibly sending it my way. Grabbing the vortex with my hands I continue to spin it; I have an idea but it might backfire. Taking in a deep breath I feel the simmer beneath my skin, forcing the fire to replace the air. Continuing to spin it I create a vortex of fire instead and throw it back. I see the shock on his face before he catches it, sweat beads on his forehead and he sets his jaw. Fear settles in his eyes before it disappears.
Calling water from his fingers he dissipates the flames and balls up the water into a ball, "That was a neat trick, Blake. Show it to me sometime?"
I smiled, relaxing a little bit, "You did say use other techniques to your advantage."
He smiled back, "Well, someone's a fast learner. Think fast," he hollered, his arms raise and he threw the ball towards me.
With a yelp I raise my forearm calling the Earth to make it steady, my muscle grow taut with an ache. The water falls to the Earth and I lower my arm to look at Lyle who kept a calm, emotionless demeanor. No pride? Damn, I was really wanting something there. Okay, my turn. Letting Earth fall from my muscles, they relax and take their normal position. The cooling sensation of Water ran over my skin and I grew a ball of water, grabbing her in my fingertips, sinking my fingers in the fresh ball of water and doubling it in size. Moving my hands to the left of my hips I guide the water to wrap around my body and with a quick push of my right hand the water flies towards Lyle, hitting him in the shoulder before he has a chance to deflect.
"Harder next time. You can do better," his voice was hard, sweat beaded on his brow. Is he pushing me?
"Fine, Lyle. For real this time?"
"That's all I ever wanted, Princess," his eyes seemed to tell something he's not saying. He looked me up and down then his gaze settled on my face. Fine. In this you have to use your opponent's weakness against them. His is Fire. Unfortunately, that isn't my strongest skill either, but I just have to be better than him.
He gestured for me to go again and I bit my lip. Alright, Blake, it's go time. Feeling the simmering heat of Fire beneath my skin I close the gap between us and extend my leg to strike his leg. He jumps in time to avoid the collision, but not in time to avoid the fire that extended from my feet and hit his pant leg, causing a sizable burn hole to appear.
"Aw, Princess, these are my favorite pants." Lyle's lips upturn into a small smile as he stands at the edge of the mat.
I chuckled, "Shouldn't have worn them here then, huh?" I make time and strike once more, but this time with my arm. My right foot was planted in front of me and leading with that foot I swung my right arm with a fireball and punched him. His arms were up to deflect, and I caught the side of bicep and I let the fire do its job. It caught quickly on his long-sleeve catching a burnhole on the sleeve, and after a quick little water rescue for his shirt he forced out his hands, Air gushing out of his palms and shoved it towards me.
I fall on my back, knocking the air from my lungs. Sputtering, I put my feet flat and force myself to get up. Lyle didn't stop though, he continued with waves of strong wind to keep me down on my back, I felt his slow steps towards me on the mat. Gritting my teeth it was my turn to sweat; I struggled to move my hands together where my palms were touching. Shoving my hands down the center of me I pull them apart, causing the air to split around my body just long enough for me to get up. Quickly I turn my palms outward and grab the air, pushing my palms up towards the sky. I start circling my hands creating a six foot tornado above me.
Lyle's eyes went wide and his stance changed, his heels forced to the mat. I rush my hands down and let loose the tornado of air on him. His body was rock solid though; he yelled while the tornado moved through him and after the assault was done it dissipated into the air like it never existed.
"You know we have to go until one of us yields, right?" I questioned.
"Yes, I do, Princess. Who's it gonna be?" he questioned right back. We're both stubborn enough to where we won't yield willingly. Will I let him win? I have nothing to lose, really. I'll just have to be better in the other trials rather than this one.
"Lyle?" My voice was soft, I don't want to hurt him. I know he doesn't want to hurt me.
"Yes, Princess?"
"Are you going to yield?"
Lyle looked at me then down at the mat, "Just try your hardest, okay?" That's a no.
He then grabbed a chunk of the Earth behind him, the size of a large boulder, and chunked it at me. Without being able to react quick enough it slammed into my torso causing me to fall back with a scream. The air, once again, knocked out of me and an audible crack from within rang through my ears. Gods, that hurt. Intaking a deep breath I felt a sharp pain in my lungs. It must've cracked my ribs. Grabbing a hold of my torso with a yell I shove my heels into the mat and heave myself off the ground with tears stinging my eyes. This is the worst pain I've ever been in. Keeping my right hand against my ribs I keep my breath shallow to avoid the sharp pain; well at least he got my dominant hand. Lyle's eyebrows shot up and he took a step towards me. Putting my left hand up I forced a shield of wind and pushed him back. His hard eyes looked down to my ribs then back up to my face.
Biting my cheek I bring my right hand away from my ribs and set my right foot in front of my left, dropping my body slightly. A small whimper escaped my lips when I moved my right arm to a defensive position in front of my body; this fucking sucks. With a sharp intake of breath I forced the heat beneath my skin and with my left hand I brought forth a ball of fire the size of a large melon. Sweat runs down my forehead and with a cry I force my right hand to my left I stretch the flame more. My lips trembled while I tried to stay up on the mat as my vision started to go black around the edges. A scream flew from my lips as I stretched the flame into the shape of a spear, the hilt grew, and the spear head was sharp. With my left hand I raised the hilt above my head about to throw. Looking at Lyle in the eyes I see it again, fear. Fear of fire, the burn marks on him. Lowering my left arm I flicked my left hand and dropped the spear; the fire disappeared into the air. I can't. The fear alone in his eyes of what the fire could do to him is too much, and I can't bring myself to bring back such fear and cause him such pain.
"I yield." I whisper before falling back to the mat and blacking out.