Page 27

Chapter 26

Selestina

T he sun barely peeks over the horizon as we gather at the edge of the Dark Forest, the air thick with tension. I glance around at the other students, each one looking more nervous than the last. I can’t blame them. This is the first trial, and no one knows what to expect.

Me? Well, I can’t shake the chaos of the last 48 hours—it’s all spinning in my head like a storm I can’t control. Who the hell was Etzli Moreno, really? And what’s Kaelion going to do when he realizes he’s gone? Will he think Etzli just disappeared, or will he start putting the pieces together? Etzli was supposed to be the next general in training. Metztli’s council will definitely know something isn’t right.

Fuck. I am so fucked.

I’ve killed higher ranked officials than a general, but had the time to plan it. Make it look like something it’s not. That definitely didn’t happen with Etzli.

And Rhyker… gods, Rhyker. His kindness while I completely fell apart. What the fuck was that about? Did he see it all? Did he hear my identity? Did he catch Etzli drinking the vial on his neck? And if he did, why hasn’t he said anything yet?

Then there’s Nasarea and Nazriel. Fuck. As if Nasarea didn’t hate me enough already, she’s going to lose her shit when she finds out exactly what went down with her brother. The fallout is going to be unbearable.

This is one colossal clusterfuck, and I’m right in the center of it. But none of that matters right now. Our first trial in the Dark Forest is finally here, and if I don’t get my head straight, it won’t matter what anyone knows or thinks. I won’t survive long enough to care.

Professor Karr stands at the front, his arms crossed over his massive chest, surveying us with those sharp, assessing eyes. His voice booms out, cutting through the early morning fog.

“Today, you will face your first trial in the Dark Forest,” he says, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “You will be paired up, and the pairings cannot be changed.”

I stiffen, already sensing where this is going. I don’t trust anyone here, let alone want to be paired with them. Especially Nasarea. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since arriving at this academy, it’s that she and I do not get along. At all.

Professor Karr calls out names, and each pair steps forward to receive their envelope. The students clutch the sealed envelopes like they hold the keys to their fates—maybe they do.

And then he calls my name.

“Selestina and Nasarea.”

I blink. No. Absolutely not.

“No way,” Nasarea says immediately, stepping forward with a scowl. “You can’t expect me to pair up with her . ”

I cross my arms, mirroring her glare. “I second that. This isn’t going to work.”

Professor Karr doesn’t so much as blink. “You don’t get a choice.”

I grit my teeth. “There has to be someone else?—”

“Enough.” His voice cuts through our protests like a blade. “The pairings are final. You will either work together or fail.”

I glare at Nasarea. She glares right back. The idea of being stuck with her in the Dark Forest is bad enough, add in the fact it’s for some unknown trial, and I want to punch something. Preferably her.

Before either of us can argue further, Professor Karr hands us an envelope. It’s plain, sealed with a wax emblem of the academy’s crest. “Your destination is inside. The paper will guide you to your location. And remember, success depends on how well you work together.”

Nasarea snatches the envelope from him, muttering something under her breath that sounds an awful lot like curses and something about me being a cantankerous bitch, but I’m honestly trying to tune her out.

I roll my eyes but hold back any more comments. There’s no point arguing with Karr. He doesn’t care. He’s made that clear.

Nasarea rips open the envelope, pulling out a slip of enchanted parchment. She squints at it, then passes it to me without a word.

“Mizecca River. Find both flags.” I read aloud and glance at her. “Do you even know where that is?”

Nasarea huffs. “Of course I do. The paper will guide us, anyway.”

The enchanted paper shifts slightly in my hand. It feels warm, alive, as if it’s urging us to move. Great. I hand it back to Nasarea and start walking. She follows after a moment, her footsteps heavy with reluctance.

The forest looms ahead. Trees stretch high above us, their twisted branches creating a canopy so thick that barely any sunlight filters through. Shadows dance across the ground, and every now and then, I hear the rustle of something moving just out of sight. The air feels heavy with every breath I take, thick with moisture and the scent of damp earth and decay.

“This place is a nightmare,” Nasarea mutters beside me, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Well, at least we agree on something,” I say dryly, stepping over a twisted root that is trying to trip me.

We walk in silence for a while, the tension as thick as ever. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves has my senses on high alert.

Nasarea isn’t any better company. She keeps glancing at me, like she’s waiting for me to screw up.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity of walking, she breaks the silence.

“As much as you say you’re trying to just go to school here with no hidden agenda, you sure are on many people’s radars,” she says, her tone sharp.

I don’t bother looking at her. “Yeah. If I am being completely honest, it’s all I’ve thought about over the past couple days, Nasarea.” I sigh at my admission.

She scoffs. “Oh, I am not falling for that.” She scrunches her nose and lips, looking at me with pure disgust in her eyes.

“Do you ever stop talking?” I mutter under my breath.

She hears it, though, and stops in her tracks. “You think you’re better than everyone here? Is that it? Because I have news for you, Selestina, you’re nothing special. ”

I turn to face her, my eyes narrowed. “I never said I was special. But I’m not the one throwing a tantrum because I didn’t get to pick my partner. We have to get along for us to get through this. Obviously we can’t do that while talking, so I vote for neither one of us speaking to the other for the rest of our journey.” I smile brightly.

Nasarea’s face flushes with anger, and for a second, I think she’s going to swing at me. But alas, she never does. I half wish she would. At least that would be a distraction from this hellish forest.

Before she can say anything, the enchanted paper flares to life, glowing brighter in her hand. We both turn toward it, the magic tugging us forward, urging us along the path.

“Come on,” I say, brushing past her. “Let’s just get this over with.”

The walk drags on. The forest seems to close in around us the deeper we go; the air growing colder, and darkness consuming our every step. Strange sounds echo in the distance: growls, whispers, and the sound of something slithering through the underbrush.

Nasarea walks beside me, her steps quick and irritated, but neither of us says anything. I keep my senses sharp, scanning the trees, the sky, the ground, but nothing moves beyond the usual rustle of leaves. Still, the further we go, the more on edge I feel.

I subtly glance over at my archnemesis. She has fire in her that makes her fear nothing, but she’s also not spent a lot of time in the Dark Forest. While I don’t doubt she’s lived through trauma, she reeks of it, she also hasn’t been dropped off in the middle of these woods and expected to find her way back. At least, I doubt she has. And look, I’m genuinely not trying to compare trauma, I just need to know that she’s going to be a liability here .

I lift my face up to the sky, praying to the moon goddess to help me keep both of us safe.

Hours seem to pass as we walk, the path twisting and turning in ways that don’t make sense. At one point, I swear we’ve walked in a circle, but the paper continues to guide us forward, so we keep moving.

The trees begin to thin out, and I hear the sound of running water in the distance. The Mizecca River. We’re getting close.

As we approach, I feel it. A shift in the air. A coldness that has nothing to do with the early morning chill. My steps falter, and I slow to a stop, scanning the area. The river comes into view, winding through the forest like a dark, gleaming serpent. But something feels off.

Beside me, Nasarea stops, too. I glance at her and see the same tension in her posture. She feels it too.

“You feel that?” she asks quietly, her voice serious.

I nod, my hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at my side. “Yeah. Something’s not right.”

And then I see it.

A black river of tar rests in the distance. Definitely not the river we are looking for.

The water bubbles, then ripples, deepening in intensity, spreading outward like it’s driven by an unseen force. Then from the water’s depths, a figure begins to rise. At first, it’s just a silhouette, its shape indistinct and almost fluid. But as it emerges, the moonlight reveals its form. Pale, emaciated, with long, tangled hair clinging to wet, lifeless skin. Her tattered dress hangs in shreds, soaked and clinging to her gaunt frame. Her eyes are black and hollow, as they lock onto mine, and an icy dread creeps over me.

“A Velasha.” I breathe, the words barely audible. My heart pounds against my ribs. A predator of the night. A creature that consumes all in its path for vengeance. For retribution for all that she has lost.

“Not any Velasha,” Nasarea barely whispers. “It’s La Llorona.”

The Velasha tilts her head, the motion jerky and wrong, like a puppet on strings. Her lips part, and a low, mournful wail begins to rise. It builds, piercing, cutting through the forest like a blade. The sound rattles in my skull, and I fight the urge to cover my ears. My hands tighten around my weapon instead.

Nasarea starts breathing heavily and she quickly glances my way, fear leaking through her icy facade. “Fuck. Why couldn’t it have been something easier? Like a pack of night wolves or a pit of venomous vipers?” She’s terrified, sure, but there’s also a resolution. I see the determination start to build.

I nod my head. Letting her know I am with her on this. “We can do this.”

She narrows her eyes at me before she heaves a deep breath and gives a sharp nod back. “We can.”

Before I can respond, my attention snaps back to the Velasha. Her wailing stops abruptly, the silence almost more unnerving than the sound. Her gaze flicks to Nasarea, then back to me, and I see the calculation in those hollow eyes. She’s not mindless. She’s planning.

“She’s protecting something,” I say, my voice low but urgent. My gaze darts to the far side of the black river, where a glimmer catches my eye. A flag, tucked into a crude nest of broken branches and tangled leaves. The crest of Obsidian Academy is barely visible.

Nasarea follows my gaze, and determination hardens her expression. “I’ll get it. You keep her busy. ”

“Are you out of your mind?” I snap. “She’ll rip you apart.”

Before I can stop her, she bolts toward the riverbank, her movements quick. The Velasha lets out a guttural hiss; her form jerking toward Nasarea. Instinct takes over and I lunge forward, my blade flashing as I strike at the creature to draw her attention.

“Over here!” I shout, my voice cutting through the tense air.

The Velasha swivels toward me, her gaunt face contorting with rage. She moves faster than I expect, her claws slashing through the air as she lunges. I barely sidestep her attack, the force of her movement sending a spray of river water into the air. My blade arcs toward her, catching her side. The cut is shallow, the resistance unnervingly soft, as though I’m slicing through mist rather than flesh. She shrieks, a sound that reverberates through my bones, and she strikes again.

I dodge and counter, each movement precise but utterly desperate. The Velasha’s attacks are relentless, her speed unnerving. I focus on her movements, the erratic jerks of her limbs, the glint of her claws in the moonlight. My body moves on instinct, every muscle screaming as I keep her away from Nasarea.

Behind me, I hear Nasarea climbing the riverbank, her breaths quick and labored. The flag is almost within her grasp. I risk a glance over my shoulder, and my stomach drops. The Velasha notices too.

She lets out an ear-piercing scream and surges toward Nasarea with terrifying speed. I move without thinking, pushing my body to its limits. My blade catches the creature mid lunge, slicing through one of her arms. Black tar sprays into the air, the severed limb falling to the ground with a sickening thud. The Velasha reels back, her wail splitting the air like a storm.

“Nasarea, move!” I shout, my voice hoarse.

Nasarea grabs the flag, tearing it free from the nest. She turns to run, but the Velasha is already recovering, her remaining claws poised to strike. I step between them, my blade raised. The creature barrels toward me, her speed blurring her form.

Time slows. I can see the fury in her hollow eyes, and feel the oppressive weight of her presence. My body reacts before my mind does, my blade driving upward in a final, desperate strike. The steel pierces her chest, sinking deep. She freezes, her form shuddering violently. For a moment, her eyes meet mine, and I see something almost human in them. The deep and immense grief in her eyes. Then, with a guttural cry, she dissolves into a swirling mist, her essence sinking back into the river.

The forest is silent. My chest heaves as I lower my blade, the adrenaline leaving my limbs weak and trembling. Nasarea stands a few feet away, the flag clutched tightly in her hands. Her eyes are wide, her face pale as she stares at the spot where the Velasha had been.

“Holy…shit,” she says, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. There’s no cocky smirk now, no flippant remark. Just genuine shock.

I manage a weak smile, sheathing my blade. “You were quick. Quicker than I thought you would be.”

She hesitates, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Thank you,” she says at last, the words clearly grudging but sincere.

I nod, feeling the weight of the moment settle over me. For all her bravado, Nasarea just saw firsthand what I’ m capable of—and for once, she doesn’t seem inclined to argue.

“Let’s go,” I say, my voice firm. “This trial isn’t over.”

Without another word, we disappear into the trees, leaving the rippling river behind us.

The Mezzecca River winds before us, finally. Across the water, perched high on a twisted, gnarled tree, is the final flag, its crest unmistakable. The wind catches it briefly, making it ripple like the river below it. Victory is so close I can taste it.

“We just need to grab it,” Nasarea says, her voice steady but tight. She’s masking her exhaustion well, but I can see the strain in her shoulders, the lingering tension from our last encounter with the Velasha.

“Just,” I repeat dryly. “Like it’s that easy.”

The space between us and the flag is open, unnervingly so. My instincts scream that it’s a trap, but there’s no other way forward. I glance at Nasarea, and she gives me a shrug and then a determined nod. We’ve come too far to stop now.

As we step closer to the riverbank, a strange mist begins to rise, curling like tendrils from the water’s surface. It thickens fast, spilling outward and swallowing the ground around us. My vision narrows to only a few feet ahead, the haze wrapping around everything like a suffocating blanket. The air grows cold, so cold it feels like it’s seeping into my bones and making my chest burn, a heavy pressure building with each breath.

“Do you feel that?” Nasarea asks, her voice shaky now .

I nod, my words caught in my throat. This isn’t just mist.

Then, Nasarea screams.

It’s a sound I’ve never heard from her before—raw, guttural, like it’s being torn from the depths of her soul. I whirl around, but I can barely make out her form in the fog. She’s clutching her head, stumbling backward, her sword forgotten at her side.

“Nasarea!” I shout, rushing toward her, but the mist presses against me like a wall, and for a moment, I can’t move. My chest feels tighter as if the forest itself is trying to crush me. My heartbeat thunders in my ears, drowning out her screams.

I realize quickly that this is Forrizia mist and she will be unharmed. So, I force myself forward, gritting my teeth against the burning sensation spreading through my body. My skin feels too tight, my breath too shallow, but I push through. Somehow, the heat in my chest drives me onward, each step a battle against the oppressive weight of the mist.

“Selestina! Help me!” Nasarea’s voice cuts through the haze, shrill and desperate. I stumble toward her silhouette, but as I reach out, my hand passes through nothing. She’s moved, or the mist has shifted. It’s disorienting, like the world is warping around me, bending to some unseen force.

And then I see it. The flag. Its crest burns through the fog like a beacon, perched high above the chaos. My legs move on instinct, carrying me toward it even as Nasarea’s screams grow louder behind me.

I dive right into the river feet first. The current is strong so I crouch low as I trudge across.

The heat in my chest intensifies, like fire coursing through my veins. The weight pressing against me grows unbearable, yet I press on, my fingers outstretched toward the flag. The mist seems to pull at me, whispering in a voice I can’t understand, but I block it out, focusing solely on my goal.

I reach the other side of the river bank and climb the tree quickly.

When my hand finally grasps the fabric, the weight lifts just enough for me to catch my breath. The flag is smooth and cool against my skin, and for a moment, relief washes over me. But it’s short lived. Nasarea’s screams pull me back to reality.

I turn, flag in hand, and follow the sound of her voice, making my way back the way I came from. The mist resists, tugging at me like it doesn’t want to let me go, but I refuse to stop. My boots slide against the slick ground, my muscles scream in protest, but I keep moving. When I find her, she’s curled on the ground, her hands clawing at her face, her eyes wide and unseeing.

I seize the back of her leathers and haul her forward, the rough ground scraping beneath her as I grit my teeth and pull with all my strength. My arms burn, my legs ache, but I don’t stop until we’re clear, the mist finally thinning and retreating behind us.

“Nasarea!” I shout, dropping to my knees beside her. She doesn’t respond, her screams tearing through the night, wild and uncontrollable. I grab her shoulders, shaking her. “Nasarea! It’s over! Stop screaming!”

She thrashes against me; her nails catching my arm and drawing blood, but I don’t let go. “Nasarea!” I scream again, louder this time, my voice cutting through the cacophony. “Look at me! It’s over!”

Her movements slow, her screams fading into ragged sobs. Her wide eyes finally meet mine, filled with confusion and terror. “Selestina?” she whispers, her voice trembling. Her chest rising and falling in desperate breaths.

“Breathe with me, Nasarea.” I mimic what Rhyker did with me. Having Nasarea breathe with me.

Her breathing finally becomes normal again. “How…how are you okay? That was Forrizia mist.” Forrizia mist makes you face your worst fears, but I’ve been in it many times before. If one just focuses hard enough and trains against the magic of the mist, it’s easy to pull yourself out of it.

I shrug, my breath still coming in shallow gasps. “I’ve already faced my worst fears,” I say simply, helping her to her feet. My voice is steady, but the weight of my words lingers in the air. I don’t elaborate. I don’t need to.

Nasarea looks at me like she’s seeing me for the first time, her expression a mix of sadness and disbelief. “You… you really are something else,” she mutters, brushing dirt from her clothes.

“Come on,” I say, ignoring the comment. “We need to get back before something else finds us.”

She nods, still shaky, but the determination in her eyes has returned. Together, we make our way back to the edge of the river; the mist receding as we move farther from its source. The forest is eerily quiet now, the angry energy dissipating, replaced by the hum of insects and the rustle of leaves.

The flags, one clutched in my hand, the other tucked into Nasarea’s belt, are tangible proof of our success. We’ve survived the first trial. Somehow, against all odds, we’ve made it.

The campus gates loom ahead, the sight of them bringing a rush of relief I hadn’t realized I needed. Nasarea and I exchange a glance as we step through, both of us battered, exhausted, but alive. The weight of what we’ve just endured hangs between us, unspoken but undeniable.

For the first time, I see something different in Nasarea’s gaze. Respect. Gratitude. Maybe even a hint of fear. She doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t have to. I know what I did back there, and I know what it means. She saw me at full strength. A nobody human going against one of the fiercest creatures in existence while also walking through Forrizia mist not affected.

Together, we walk toward Combat Hall, the flags in hand and our first trial behind us. The day isn’t over, but we’ve proven one thing; we make one hell of a team.