Page 44 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)

Meaning that she was officially deemed a mundane.

The possibility of evolving into an elemental at Mageia was forever lost to her, with her life as the price for daring to play against the odds.

The brutal reality of the Burn Trials hit us all at once, the high stakes and unforgiving nature of the challenge laid bare in the ashes of what once was a cadet with dreams of power and glory.

The crowd’s earlier excitement now felt hollow, replaced by the somber weight of the cost of loss.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of emotions. Most cadets thankfully passed the Burn Trials, but sadly, four did not. Each time we felt the relief of someone surviving the trial, it was quickly followed by the devastation of mourning another loss.

We were given a midday break for lunch and were free to roam throughout the valley.

As my group exited the bleachers, Shayde was waiting at the bottom of the platform, holding our lunches in his hands.

My friends sent me off with teasing whistles as they went to grab their own sack lunches, leaving me blushing as I approached Shayde.

We found a quiet spot against the mountainside, nestled in a field of wildflowers, where we could escape the weight of the day for a moment. Shayde held up the two sack lunches and asked, “Turkey or ham?”

“Hmm. Turkey,” I replied.

He opened the brown paper sack and handed me a turkey and cheese sandwich, potato crisps, and an apple.

As he began opening his lunch, he asked, “So, how are you doing with all of this? I know from experience it’s hard.

Last year… we lost a lot more cadets to the trials than this year so far.

It may be hard to hear, but at least that’s a positive. ”

I munched on my potato crisps and the realization of how hungry I was hit me. “It’s… a lot to process. I’m overjoyed for the ones who have passed, but I can’t help but be heartbroken for the ones who didn’t. How will their families be notified?”

Shayde reached over and laid a comforting hand on my knee, his touch instantly soothing.

“Relaying the information to their families will be a priority once the trials are over. Our military will travel to deliver the news in person. Although the fallen cadet’s bravery is seen as honorable, it is still a time to mourn. ”

His words brought a mix of solace and sorrow. The reality of the day settled in as we sat together in the peace of the wildflowers, trying to make sense of the balance between triumph and tragedy.

I broke the silence, “Did you participate blindly in the Burn Trials last year, or had you already channeled?”

Shayde looked away, taking a moment before responding. He inhaled deeply, then slowly let out his breath. “I hadn’t channeled an element yet.”

I don’t know why his answer rattled me. I knew he had survived the trials—he was sitting right next to me, bonded with Drithan.

But just imagining Shayde standing in that pit, with only a chance of being chosen by the fire element, was horrific.

I blinked away the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes.

He cleared his throat and wrung his hands together, the tension evident. “Rhodes channeled fire before we even applied to Mageia. So living in his shadow was tough,” he paused. “But everyone in my family is an elemental, so I went into the Burn Trials with high hopes.”

I could only imagine how difficult it must have been for Shayde, watching his twin brother channel an element long before he showed any signs himself.

The constant comparison, the envy—it must have been painful.

Perhaps that was one of the things that drove them apart, the pressure to measure up to a brother who had already wielded an element.

The silence of the moment became uncomfortable.

Shayde scooted closer to me, gently tilting my face towards his. “But hey, this year, I’m just glad you don’t have to experience that. I don’t know how I would manage seeing you in that pit. Even the idea of it hurts.”

I felt one side of my lips curve up into a small smile, and he leaned in to kiss me. It was soft but claiming, a moment that might have been romantic in this field of flowers if not for the grim reality that cadets had died today, and more probably would before the trials were over.

Shayde pressed his forehead against mine, his voice tender as he said, “I would much rather spend the day with you, away from all of this.” He kissed my forehead softly. “But lunch is about over. Would you like to meet up for dinner tonight? My friends and I plan to head to the Sanctuary.”

He helped me up, and I dusted off my breeches. “Sure, sounds good to me,” I replied, trying to hold on to the warmth of the moment, even as the weight of the day loomed over us.

I started walking, but Shayde’s hand on my shoulder stopped me.

I turned, surprised, and saw him holding a delicate purple wildflower; his warm brown eyes softened in a way that caught me off guard.

The breeze tousled his unruly cowlick, and under the bright sunlight, he seemed to glow, almost like he belonged to this moment.

“Would you do me the honor of being my date to the All Hallows Eve Ball?” he asked amorously .

I couldn’t hold back the grin that spread across my face. Shaking my head, I bit my lip, flustered by how unexpectedly sweet this moment was.

Tilting my head slightly, I took the flower from his hand. “Of course, I would.”

Shayde’s eyes sparkled with relief and mischief as he winked before pulling me into his arms. His hand cradled my jaw as he leaned down, his lips meeting mine in a slow, lingering kiss that made the world around us disappear.

When we finally pulled apart, reluctantly, he took my hand in his and, without a word, led me back toward the trials, where reality waited.

We returned to the bleachers, and I rejoined my friends as we lined up, waiting to ascend the steps. Rhodes walked past us, and when he noticed me, he stopped.

“Scarlet,” he nodded at me. He seemed like he was about to say something more, but his attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere. I followed his gaze and saw his brother, Shayde, deep in conversation with Professor Yearwood.

“Rhodes, thank you for the coffee,” I said, hoping to break his fixation.

Rhodes just stood there, his eyes locked on mine. His expression shifted to one of unreadable complexity, as if he was unsure of how to process the moment. The line began to advance, and I managed a slight grin at Rhodes as we walked past.

Laney winked at him, “Hey, Row.”

We settled into our seats, and the blaring horn signaled that the break was officially over. I set the wildflower down on the seat next to me. Two more sets of cadets took turns in the trials, and thankfully, we only lost one more to the flames.

War Chief Kalluri made his way to the center of the pit, holding a megaphone.

“This is the last call for any first-years wanting to participate in this year’s Burn Trials.

Any cadets who haven’t channeled an element by the end of today will be excused from Mageia and sent home by tomorrow evening.

If you wish to participate, please make your way to the pit. ”

For a moment, there was silence. We all turned our heads, scanning for any of our fellow cadets who might be stepping forward. My heart sank when something caught my eye—Tatum stood up.

“What are you doing?” Laney asked, panic lacing her voice.

Tatum began making her way through the bleachers, ignoring our shouts.

“Tatum!” Cleo cried out, her voice filled with desperation.

Panic gripped my chest. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Tatum lined up with other cadets, ready to exit the bleachers. She refused to acknowledge our shouts.

Laney stood, but a cadet beside her pulled her back down by her arm, whispering urgently, “You aren’t allowed to intervene. It’s the cadets’ choice to make.” Laney reluctantly sat back down, tears streaming down her face.

I was frozen, unable to move or speak. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had actual friends. Losing Tatum for being a mundane would hurt, but it would hurt less than losing her completely. Because if she was excused from Mageia, at least she would still be alive.

My hands trembled uncontrollably, and I tucked them between my legs in a desperate attempt to calm myself.

The final cadets were placed in the pit, and Tatum finally looked up at us from below. Tears streamed down her face as she mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”

The horns blared again, signaling the dragons.

My heart pounded once. Every sound around me was muffled as I tried to steady my breathing.

Three dragons made their descent.

My heart pounded twice.

Two brown dragons and a blue landed within the pit .

My heart pounded thrice.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the dread. The muffled sound of flames reached my ears, making me open my eyes again. Fear seized me as I realized it wasn’t Tatum who was chosen. One of the brown dragons found its rider.

I closed my eyes again, only opening them when I heard flames erupting. The remains of another cadet lay smoldering on the grass. Laney began to cry beside me.

The blue dragon continued its search, eventually stopping in front of Tatum. Despite the impending danger, Tatum stood tall, refusing to cower. Her shoulders were back, her head held high, and she looked the dragon straight in the eyes.

The blue dragon’s jaws opened, a ball of flames growing within its throat.

That was when I lost control. I blacked out from fear and adrenaline, sprinting from the bleachers, leaping over cadets in my way.

I stumbled as my feet hit the ground, my world narrowing to a single purpose: reaching Tatum.

I ignored the shouts of professors and the screams from the bleachers. Nothing mattered except saving her.

Tatum’s terrified face met mine. I think she was screaming my name, but I couldn’t hear her over the roar of my own panic. All that mattered was getting to her before the flames did.

But I wasn’t fast enough.

The blue dragon unleashed its silvery flames upon Tatum.

My heart stopped as I saw the fire engulf her, and I threw my hands up in a desperate attempt to shield myself from the heat.

The searing intensity of the flames made me stagger back, and I collapsed onto the ground, teetering on the edge of hyperventilation.

The world around me seemed to blur as I lay there, struggling to catch my breath. But then, the crackling of the flames ceased, and the crowd’s roar pierced through the chaos.

I forced myself to look up, scanning the scene through the haze of smoke and destruction.

To my astonishment, Tatum was rising from the ground, her arms shielding her chest as she stood tall.

From this distance, I could see the deep red dragon mark that looked like flames dancing along both of her shoulders.

Despite the ordeal, she didn’t cower or hide.

Instead, she stood with a fierce pride radiating from her smile.

With a defiant, victorious gesture, she raised her hand.

She had made it. Against all odds, she had survived and passed the Burn Trials. The realization washed over me, mingled with relief and disbelief. Tatum was not only alive but had emerged from the flames with an awe-inspiring strength and resilience.

The crowd’s cheers echoed around me, a thunderous celebration of her triumph. I sat there for a moment, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions, grateful beyond words that Tatum had prevailed.

I stumbled to my feet, my heart racing and my breath coming in ragged gasps.

The frantic beats of drumming wings filled the air as my hearing slowly returned.

My panic began to fade, replaced by pure joy.

I watched as Professor Scrivens guided Tatum toward the triage tent, her victorious smile still visible despite the chaos.

Then, the crowd’s shouts grew louder, pulling my attention to the stands. Rhodes was leaping down the bleachers, his movements urgent and desperate. Shayde stood among the crowd, cupping his hands around his mouth, his words lost in the cheering crowd.

I spun around, my gaze drawn to a deep, resonant thrum of wings beating fiercely behind me. The most enormous red dragon I had ever seen soared towards me, its gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that sent icy dread down my spine. That was when Shayde’s shouted warnings became clear.

He was yelling for me to run.

Panic surged through me, but I forced myself into action, sprinting away from the bleachers.

My only thought was to find shelter, my eyes scanning the mountain walls for any sign of safety.

Several caves were carved into the stone, and I aimed for the nearest one, hoping to enter before the red dragon could reach me .

This is my punishment for attempting to intervene in the Burn Trials.

And this red dragon was coming to claim the price.

Every sound around me was muffled again, the crowd’s roar and the beat of my heart drowning out everything else. The sheer size of the red dragon made it impossible to escape. The weight of its presence pressed down on me, making each step feel heavier.

Despite the growing fear, I refused to let it overpower me.

Like Tatum, I wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

A fight that I would never throw.

I pushed myself harder, my lungs burning with each desperate breath. The distance to the nearest cavern felt insurmountable, but I kept running, determined to make it there before the red dragon’s wrath overtook me.

My vision blurred with exhaustion and fear as I neared the cavern entrance. My legs threatened to give out beneath me, but I kept moving forward. The dragon’s roar echoed behind me, a reminder of the peril that drove me onward.

That was when my time was up. I heard the crackling first, and then the smell of sulfur washed over me.

And then there was nothing but flames.

I fell to the ground, curling into a ball. My eyes were on fire. The pain was worse than any pain I’d felt before. I screamed, begging for mercy.

I survived Rock Bottom only to be burned alive.