Page 45 of The Song of Sunrise
“Yes!” I whisper aloud to myself as I make it across.
I dab the sweat on my brow with the back of my hand. Before me is the last section of the course. Two rotating barrels with spikes jutting outward, beckoning to skewer an unlucky victim. I reach into my breast pocket and feel the dark green patch Marrow gave me.
Live a life worthy of Telling, he told me. Deep within myself, in this very moment, I can feel the threads of my story beginning.
I stare at the twisting barrels, watching for the pattern. Like harp strings, there is a rhythm, a pattern.
I roll my shoulders. Watching, waiting.
There it is. The pattern!
I smirk and bolt, sprinting toward the death trap. This time I don’t choke or fall into the water.
Keeping my pace, I jump toward the final sand pit… and land! My body hurls forward, and I throw my hands out just in time. My palms take the brunt of my landing so my face wouldn’t have to.
“Akemi! You made it!” Ramona runs toward me and offers me a hand up, but Leaf beats her and pulls me into a huge, spinning hug.
“Welcome to the club, Kem!” he says.
“Thanks,” I say as Leaf lowers me down. I wince. My body hurts everywhere, but completing the course is worth it.
I fucking did it.I made it into the Presentation! One step closer to earning the Helios Stone.
Leaf leads me to the side while other cadets attempt the course.
Castor slowly approaches and pulls me into a crushing hug. “You are amazing, Akemi. I wasn’t sure if you could do it.” He pulls away but grasps my shoulders. Something like pain flashes in his eyes. “I asked, and cadets can forfeit their spots. You can get out of this. It’s too dangerous.”
I just did one of the most impressive things of my life, and Castor wants me to step away? “I’m not going to forfeit my spot, Castor. I deserve to compete like the other cadets that earned their spot!”
“It’s just something to think about. The Summit is notoriously dangerous. Students have died in past trials. I don’t want you to get hurt.” He squeezes me again, and I wince.
He goes rigid. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I respond, ignoring the searing pain in my arm, not wanting to look weak in front of my classmates. They already saw me nearly drown on my first attempt.
Let them wonder how I grew from almost drowning to completing the course.
“Just a little sore,” I say quietly.
He doesn’t probe after that, though I can sense his concerned glances, tracking up and down my body, checking for signs of injury.
We watch as a few other cadets make it across, though many end up falling into the water and thus forfeit their spot to the Presentation.
“That concludes the final. Please join me in welcoming our Presenting cadets,” Commander Hogsmith announces and points toward the wall of cadets where I stand. The crowd cheers and claps, celebrating fervently the fifty or so cadets set to compete for the few coveted Summit spots.
“Winter Solstice break begins tonight. Celebrate with family, relax, and come back ready to showcase your best weapons and magic skills. The Presentation will take place the night of the Summit Gala when our royal delegates arrive. There, the royals will select their champions. Only fifteen will be given this honor.” The Commander looks at us sternly, then adds, “Be ready to impress. We will prove to all watching that Humans are not a lesser race!”
Cheers erupt from the crowd. Cadets around me clap, so I join. I know from my stories that humans are anything but perfect. Practically evoked the Elf Wars, though most accounts will share a different side of history. That is why it is so important for Tellers to exist. Marrow and other Master Tellers pass along the truth, responsible for the story’s integrity first and foremost, egos and politics aside. Protecting the truth was one of the most honorable things for a Teller, half of which attracted me to taking on the apprenticeship.
I had hoped to find that honor in Telling, but now I am on a different path to seek justice. Getting selected as a champion is just step one toward my destiny. I can feel it.
“Be gone! Cadets, see you in four weeks’ time.” Commander Hogsmith raises his hands above his head and claps. The course behind him disappears as if it was never there.
17
A Weapon for a Tale
For the next two weeks, Leaf, myself, and only a handful of other cadets and professors will occupy the Academy while others visit home.
