The day of the tournament trials dawned bright and early, with the academy grounds bustling with students preparing for the first round. The air buzzed with anticipation, tension, and a few overconfident boasts from Daemon, who Rynhara had wisely decided to avoid since breakfast.
The students were gathered in the grand arena, a massive circular coliseum enchanted to host a variety of challenges. Headmaster Solara stood at the center, her voice amplified by magic.
"Welcome, students, to the first round of the tournament trials!" she announced. "These trials will test your combat abilities, magic skills, teamwork, and adaptability. Only the best will advance, so give it your all!"
Rynhara stood among her classmates, arms crossed, her scythe strapped to her back. Next to her, Veloria fidgeted nervously, while Kira and Daemon exuded a mix of excitement and arrogance.
"Think you'll make it through, Princess?" Kira teased.
Rynhara smirked. "Oh, I'm not worried about me.Im more worried about my opponents and you on the other hand…"
Kaelira, who was watching from the sidelines as Rynhara's personal attendant, stifled a laugh. "At least she's confident."
The first trial was a survival course in a magically generated forest teeming with monsters. The goal: survive for six hours and collect as many enchanted crystals as possible.
As the students were teleported into the forest, chaos immediately ensued.
Daemon charged headfirst at the first pack of monsters he saw, yelling, "For glory!"
"Idiot," Rynhara muttered, heading in the opposite direction with Veloria and Kira in tow.
Their strategy was simple: avoid unnecessary fights, focus on finding crystals, and keep each other alive.
Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy.
"Watch out!" Veloria shouted as a massive stone golem burst through the trees.
Rynhara leaped into action, her scythe glowing with dark energy. With a swift series of strikes, she sliced through the golem's legs, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Too slow," Kira said, finishing it off with a burst of lightning magic.
Veloria collected the crystal the golem had been guarding, her hands trembling. "That was too close."
"This is just the beginning," Rynhara said grimly.
An hour later, they ran into another team—comprised entirely of foreign royals.
"Well, if it isn't the Darkness Dragon Princess," sneered Prince Leoric of the Sunfire Kingdom. His team of four stood behind him, each radiating magical energy.
"Oh, great," Rynhara muttered. "More ego driven heroes."
Leoric smirked. "Hand over your crystals, and we might let you leave unharmed."
"Maybe over your dead bodies I will," Rynhara shot back, her scythe sparking with energy.
The battle that followed was a whirlwind of magic and melee. Rynhara's scythe clashed against Leoric's flaming sword, their blows sending shockwaves through the forest.
Meanwhile, Kira and Veloria held their own against the rest of his team, though it was clear they were outnumbered.
"Enough of this!" Rynhara shouted, unleashing her Nihilistic Roar of Victory. The dark energy swept through the battlefield, forcing Leoric and his team to retreat.
Veloria collapsed onto a nearby rock, panting. "Please tell me we don't have to do that again."
"No promises," Rynhara replied, helping her up.
As the six-hour mark approached, Rynhara's team had amassed a respectable number of crystals. However, their success didn't come without a price.
"I'm covered in dirt, my magic reserves are almost empty, and I think something bit me," Veloria complained.
"Welcome to my life," Rynhara muttered.
As they reached the designated extraction point, they found Daemon already there, looking smug.
"Took you long enough," he said.
"We were busy doing actual work," Rynhara shot back.
Back at the arena, the students reconvened to hear the results. Headmaster Solara stepped forward, her expression unreadable.
"The following students have advanced to the next round…" she began, reading off names.
When Rynhara's name was called, she felt a mix of relief and satisfaction.
"See? Told you I'd make it," she whispered to Kira, who rolled her eyes.
That evening, Rynhara returned to the castle exhausted but triumphant. Tiamora greeted her with her usual amused grin.
"So, how was your first trial?" the Dragon Queen asked.
"Chaotic," Rynhara replied, collapsing onto a couch. "We fought a golem, got ambushed by royals, and I had to save Daemon. Again."
Tiamora laughed. "Sounds like you're off to a great start."
Kaelira entered with a tray of tea. "You're surprisingly upbeat for someone who just spent six hours in a monster-infested forest."
"I've accepted my fate," Rynhara muttered, sipping her tea.
Tiamora smirked. "Good. You'll need that resilience for the next trial."
Rynhara groaned. "Why do I feel like it's only going to get worse?"
"Oh, it will," Tiamora said cheerfully. "But isn't that what makes it fun?"
Rynhara wasn't convinced, but deep down, she couldn't deny the spark of excitement still burning within her. This was just the beginning.