Page 27 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)

“Make sure to use the potty before we head down to the field—nobody wants to wet themselves in front of the entire college!” Laney called out as we were walking out of our dorm room.

“Way to make it awkward, Laney!” Tatum shushed her, rolling her eyes.

Realizing she had a point, I turned toward the bathing chamber door. “Meet you down there,” I said over my shoulder.

The second I entered the bathing chamber, I decided that wetting myself on the field would’ve been the better idea. Pehper was checking her appearance in the mirror as she locked eyes with me in the reflection. I ignored her deviant grin and entered a stall.

She was still standing at the sinks when I approached to wash my hands.

“Ah, my smile is so white and pretty,” she said in her demonic voice.

I glanced over to see her leaning into a mirror now, admiring her teeth.

She straightened, running her fingers through her long, shiny red hair that cascaded over her shoulders.

“And my hair is so shiny! Don’t you think, Scar?

” Pehper turned around, leaning against the counter as I dried my hands .

“You know, I think my toothpaste could brighten your yellow smile. Oh, and my bathing oils could definitely help your greasy roots! But, I mean… they are of high coin. You’re still using the toiletries provided by the college, right?” She laughed impertinently.

I tossed the washcloth onto the counter and turned on my heel.

She clicked her tongue. “You’re right. My toothpaste may not be strong enough to whiten your teeth. I can bring ya a golden wash bucket next time I go home, though. Wouldn’t that be lovely!”

My heels clicked on the stone floor, I pulled the door open.

“He just feels bad for you,” she said, dropping her voice to a hollow sound full of pity and condescension. “You’re not me.”

My skin heated. My fingertips burned.

I met her gaze, “Maybe that’s what he likes about me.”

Pehper’s face hardened. I let my words sink in for a moment before I left, flipping her off on my way out.

Due to its sheer scale, Arcane Battle Simulations takes up almost an entire day. It isn’t just a class—it is an all-encompassing spectacle involving the college as a whole. Cadets, professors, and even a military contingent will be present each week.

Dragon Valley is the only prominent outdoor location guarded enough to host the simulations.

We had to undergo security precautions at the valley entrance, which bonded dragons of military personnel guard.

Rugged mountains that encircle the valley provide natural fortification, making this the best location for grand events like today.

And soon, the Burn Trials.

The mere thought of the trials sends a shiver down my spine. I need to channel an element before the trials. If I don’t, I will be released from the war college. I have nothing to return to. No one is waiting for me with open arms. If I am considered mundane, I will have two options .

Start fresh again with nothing but the clothing on my back.

Or submit myself into the Burn Trials for a chance of being a late-blooming fire elemental.

The first-year professors gathered us and explained how Arcane Battle Simulations would work.

We’ll be randomly divided into groups of five, and each group will ‘battle’ another group in front of the entire crowd.

We are allowed to use our elements but are strictly forbidden from causing serious harm to one another.

Each of us will wear a white leather belt with small red flags attached to each hip.

Our objective is simple: remove a flag from each of our opponents.

The team that captures all five flags will win the battle—and earn visitation leave for the weekend.

Which I obviously don’t need because I have no one to go home to.

But that doesn’t mean I won’t put up a fight.

A wave of relief washed over me when I saw Laney in my randomized team. In addition to my relief, we were paired with three cadets who have already channeled their elements—Hugh and two air elementals I quickly learned were named Waylon and Penelope.

We stood on the sidelines, watching as a few first-years tore into each other.

For those who haven’t channeled an element yet, hand-to-hand combat is the only way to win.

While several first-years have already channeled, most of us have not, leading to a brutal display.

I saw more broken noses and busted lips in one morning than I’d ever witnessed before—not counting my own.

Someone suddenly grabbed me from behind, their arms wrapping tightly around my chest. Instinctively, I drove my elbow into their stomach and spun around, my heart racing. I could feel the stares of cadets around us.

Laney’s eyes widened as she turned to see Shayde doubled over, clutching his stomach. She glanced at me, mouthing, “What the fuck?”

My hands flew to my mouth as I started frantically apologizing. “Shayde, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was you!”

He managed a strained laugh between coughs, his voice still cracking. “Hey, it’s okay,” he wheezed, “I’m actually impressed you can defend yourself like that.”

After apologizing to Shayde what felt like a thousand times, he gently spun me around to face the makeshift battlefield again and pulled me close.

His firm muscles pressed against my back as his arm wrapped around my chest. Strong but not overpowering, he was a comforting presence I didn’t mind soaking in before chaos erupted.

Shayde leaned close to my ear, his breath tickling my neck as he gave me pointers on what to do and avoid during my simulation.

Oddly enough, he knows a lot about each cadet in my year.

But he informed me of elements channeled, fighting tendencies, and weaknesses, so I didn’t question his knowledge.

The weight of what he was telling me was invaluable for a cadet like me who hasn’t channeled an element yet.

Before I knew it, my team was called to the field. Shayde gave me a good-luck kiss on the cheek before letting me go.

My group was discussing a strategy for maximizing our advantage of the three elementals when we turned to see our opposing team approach the field, their flags rippling in the breeze.

Shit.

Pehper.

At least I haven’t seen her channel an element yet.

A professor ran out to review the rules again and had us line up in formation.

I looked up and spied Rhodes standing on the sidelines, away from the crowd.

His eyes were locked on mine, his expression unreadable as usual, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that I hadn’t seen before.

He was standing with his arms crossed, chin dipped, and in his black flying leathers like he was about to take flight.

A blowing whistle interrupted my thoughts. The battle was on.

The crowd erupted in cheers as we charged the other team.

Waylon and Penelope kicked off our offense by channeling a powerful gust of wind that surged through the field, knocking the opposing team backward into the grass.

This gave us a brief opening, but the advantage was short-lived.

An opposing fire elemental conjured a blazing line of flames that arced across the field, creating a fiery wall to stop us from advancing further.

The fire roared and crackled, opaque and tall enough that we couldn’t see the other side.

The fire elemental dove through the flames at the end of the line and tackled Penelope with impressive speed.

Before we could react, she ripped one of Penelope’s flags from her belt, held it aloft for everyone to see, and tossed it triumphantly onto the ground as she raced back toward her team’s side.

Her victory didn’t last long. Hugh, seizing the moment, summoned a thick vine from the ground that coiled around the fire elemental’s waist, dragging her to the dirt.

I was the closest to her and didn’t hesitate.

I dove toward the fallen fire elemental, the heat from the roaring flames close enough to make my skin prickle.

My braid swung dangerously near the unpredictable sparks, but luck—or perhaps the wind—was on my side.

A sudden gust blew the flames away just as I tackled the cadet.

Without missing a beat, I yanked one of her flags from her belt and thrust it high into the air, feeling a surge of triumph.

With that, the score was even—four on four.

Hugh threw out his arm, conjuring more vines that shot up from the ground toward the opposing team. But their remaining fire elemental burned them to ash with a fierce blaze.

“Motherelemental!” Laney shouted in frustration.

“I’ve got this one!” Waylon called out, his focus intense as he pulled the fire elemental toward him in mid-air. They grappled fiercely, each trying to seize the other’s flags.

On the right side of the field, Pehper lunged at Waylon, but he twisted away, his wind element creating a gust that pushed Pehper back. Pehper growled as she struggled to her feet, refusing to take the loss.

Laney called to me, her eyes blazing with determination. “If we’re going to win this thing, we need to stick together. Those two haven’t channeled an element yet, so let’s rush them and fight back-to-back.” Her voice was firm, measured confidence.

I nodded in agreement, and we bolted towards Pehper and the other female, whose name I still didn’t know. We moved purposefully, prepared to take on the challenge as a united front. I ran in the direction where Rhodes stood on the sidelines, but he wasn’t there anymore.

Back-to-back with Laney, we raised our fists, poised for action.

I wasn’t exactly a hand-to-hand combat expert—my skills being mostly derived from what I have learned from the female heroine in Throne of Steel .

The key, I’d learned, was to project confidence and make it seem like you are a skilled fighter, even if you aren’t.

Convince your attacker that you’re not an easy target.

“Get her, Kate!” Pehper’s taunt rang out from behind me.

Kate surged toward me. In one smooth and calculated motion, she wrapped her arm around my neck and spun, pulling my back to her front and locking me in a chokehold.

I dug my nails into her arm, but she tightened her grip on me, pulling the elbow at my trachea with her opposite hand to squeeze harder. White lights flashed in my vision.

My instincts had taken over just moments before this when Shayde spooked me from behind. But stepping onto this field against Pehper... I must have let her presence take a hit on my insecurities.

There was no way in elemental hell I’d let that happen again.

Remembering the heroine’s advice, I stomped down hard on the bridge of Kate’s foot. Her momentary distraction gave me the chance to drive my elbow into her gut. She gasped and loosened her hold, bending over as I twisted around to tackle her.

But I was knocked backward by a powerful wave. Relentless water slammed into my face, sending me crashing to the ground. I tried to keep my mouth closed, but the force was too strong. Rushing water surged into my nose, causing me to cough, which opened the opportunity to flood my lungs .

I faintly heard a giggle through the torrent before Pehper’s voice cut through. “You should have done more research on your opponents, Scrap.”

“Let her go!” Laney’s voice was desperate, followed by a loud slap that sounded like she’d shoved Pehper.

I felt a tug at my belt and then a yank as Kate ripped one of my flags free.

But Pehper didn’t let up, and panic surged through my veins.

Suddenly, I was back in the dark, my mind dragged to my Rock Bottom.

A thin towel was tied tightly around my head while the men laughed maniacally as they poured water over my covered face.

It wasn’t about getting answers but for their pure, twisted enjoyment.

The suffocating sensation, the helplessness, it all came rushing back, threatening to drown me in fear once more.

My lungs were screaming for relief, white lights flashing beneath my eyelids once more.

My body was growing limp when, suddenly, the torrent ceased.

I gasped, pulling in a massive gulp of fresh air.

As I rolled over, coughing up the water I’d swallowed, I caught sight of Pehper being hurled backward through the air.

She landed hard on her back with a thud, the impact knocking her unconscious.

I glanced over at Laney, who was staring at her hands as if they belonged to someone else, her face a mask of shock.

“I—I didn’t mean to,” she stammered. Every part of me wanted to rush to her, to hug her tightly and celebrate her element manifesting, but I was paralyzed, unable to move.

My breath was beginning to steady, and my body felt fine, but I was numb all over.

Instead, I watched as Tatum, Cleo, and other cadets flocked to her, but Laney pushed them aside, sprinting toward me. She dropped to her knees, her eyes wide with concern.

“Are you okay?” her voice trembled.

I cleared my throat, managing a lazy grin. “You’re an air wielder. ”

“That doesn’t matter right now!” she exclaimed, shaking her head emphatically.

Propping myself up on my elbows, I tried to smile. “You should be celebrating. Stop worrying about me. I’m fine.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re down. When one of us is down, we’re all down. That’s what a team is.” Laney looped my arm over her shoulder without waiting for my response and hoisted me up. “We—” she pointed to herself and then to me, “don’t stay down. We lift each other up.”

I felt the sting of tears at the back of my eyes as my mind flashed to Jaelyn, the only person who had ever genuinely fought for me until she couldn’t anymore.

“I’ve got her,” a deep voice said behind us.

“Shayde!” Laney squealed, lifting my arm off her shoulder.

Shayde grabbed my arm and stepped in seamlessly.

“I’m fine,” I grunted as I tried to release myself from his hold.

Shayde stopped and leaned close to me. He spoke low enough that nobody could hear over the celebration. “You froze.”

My eyes snapped to his, and I stopped trying to release myself from his hold. His brown eyes dove deep into my soul as if he could see what actually happened to my mental state when I was being drowned on land.

“I just watched you dive through literal flames to win a pretend battle and free yourself from a chokehold after the color had almost completely vanished from your face. But Pehper hits you with water, and you give up? You didn’t even try to fight it.”

I was so stunned by his words that I couldn’t resist when Shayde slid his arm under my knees, lifted me effortlessly into his arms, and carried me off the field.

“This is me saving you when you can’t see that you need it.”