Eli waited awkwardly as chafflings, servants, and other staff mingled about him with their chores. His sleeveless doublet was blue over a white tunic, chosen in the house colours of the Sorelle’s. Hopefully that would be taken as a compliment and not a slight.

  The Sorelle estate was beautiful. Paintings, statues, and other expensive furniture lay arranged in harmony with one another, framed by rows of marble columns. A fountain trickled quietly in the foyer’s centre where he waited, and to pass the time he created little bubbles off its surface that popped in the air.

  “The Lady Sorelle will see you now.” A servant said, tall and well built, likely a bodyguard of some kind. He spoke too well to be a chaffling, and Eli recognised his voice from the echobeak’s invitation. “Please follow me.”

  Eli obliged, following the servant out into the courtyard.

  The courtyard lay in the centre of the villa, walled in on all sides by the rest of the home. It looked like a jungle, wild with giant palms, ferns, shaved hedges, and unkempt grass that hadn’t been cut in months. A dozen different kinds of trees provided shade from the pink sky of the afternoon, while the birds and crickets competed to see who could sing the loudest song. Nestled amongst it all was a little clearing where Lady Sorelle waited for him by a table.

  “I present the young master Elias of house Valliere.” The servant announced, and Eli bowed.

  She gave him an assessing glare, nodding with approval as her eyes passed over his blue doublet. He had brought clothes in every house colour, just in case, and couldn’t help but enjoy a little self-satisfaction at the fact it had paid off.

  “Please forgive the state of things.” She said, “I consider this more of an embassy than a home, our estate back in Belm is far nicer.”

  “It’s lovely.” He replied.

  Lady Sorelle was a skeleton of a woman. Her sunken eyes sat above cheekbones that rose like twin knives. She was in her late fifties yet looked closer to a corpse. But looks could be deceiving, for the Lady Sorelle was one of the most powerful water mages in the world and could kill a hundred men by her lonesome.

  “Well? Don’t just stand there. Sit, sit.” She said, gesturing for him to join her at the table, and as he sat, the servant poured him a cup of tea. A spread of finger foods decorated the table, flatbread with olive oil, figs, dates, and a variety of different cheeses.

  “I didn’t invite you all the way here just to poison you darling. Drink, eat.”

  If the tea had been poisoned, it was so delicious he almost wouldn’t have minded.

  “You’ve caused quite the commotion today.” She began, stirring a spoon along the rim of her teacup. “A noble, from a house no one’s even heard of, appears out of nowhere one day, only to defeat princess Madeline in a duel. Everybody’s talking about you.” She paused her stirring for a moment to look up at him. “Though I suppose that’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

  “You flatter me.” Eli replied. “But the princess bested me fairly. I surrendered–”

  “And if you hadn’t?” She interrupted. Her posture was straight, rigid. Every movement, every gesture, was measured, calculated. When she looked at him, it was as if he could see the cogs turning behind her eyes. “After that stunt you pulled, we just had to look into you, didn’t we?” She strummed her fingers along the table. “Elias de Valliere. Born to a poor family in Applemouth. An only child to a noble mother and commonborn father. A mere halfblood, and yet you sparked in the womb. I suppose even pigsty’s can have their diamonds in the rough.”

  He masked a rise of anger behind a polite smile. She wasn’t wrong. Applemouth was a hovel of mud and livestock and wheatfields, but it was still his home.

  “And your mother, oh, your poor mother, fallen ill with moonrot. Dreadful condition that, quite untreatable.”

  This time the anger was harder to hide. He ground his teeth as he pushed it down.

  “Although, I did hear of a sanatorium in Qazir who may have discovered an experimental cure. The other houses have been sending their sick there, though as I understand it, the treatment is quite… expensive.”

  “And in exchange for this expense, is there something you wish from me?” He asked, regaining his composure.

  “Like you, I was born a halfblood to a struggling noble father who married a commoner out of desperation. I had to work my way up from nothing. I had to claw my way up to the top. House Sorelle was built on just one thing: ruthless ambition.” She finished her tea in a single gulp.

  “But you see Mr. Valliere, I have a problem. My daughter, my only daughter, has neither ruthlessness nor ambition. Stars know how she survived her baptism. So it falls to me to find her a fitting suitor.” She pointed her teaspoon at him. “I see the same fire in you that once fuelled me.”

  “At the risk of sounding blunt, you… wish for me to marry your daughter?” He asked.

  Lady Sorelle looked insulted. “Do you object?”

  “Not at all. Find me a man that wouldn’t want to marry such a beautiful woman.”

  “Well said.” She replied, toasting him. “There is just one thing I need from you first. You see, while we were looking into you, we stumbled across something quite… interesting.” She pulled out a letter, the seal broken. A seal he recognised as his own. Shit.

  She pushed up a pair of reading glasses as she began to read. “I, Elias of House Valliere, recommend the one Arin Lysandros and Hugo Lysandros to the attendance of Mirion academy…” She trailed off as she shook the letter. “Friends of yours?”

  “They are both fine mages.” He replied. “I only gave my recommendation because I believe they deserved it.”

  “A letter of recommendation like this permits the bypass of Mirion Academy's pre-assessments. It is a privilege reserved for the magically gifted.”

  “As I said–”

  “One magical prodigy born in an outer village is hard to believe, but three? Three is impossible. Growing up in a small village, the only noble around, you had little other choice but to befriend the commonfolk. I would know because I was the same.” She shook the letter in her hand. “You used your noble privileges to help out a few friends.”

  “Would I be the first to do so?” He replied. What was her angle here? Blackmail?

  She chuckled at that. “Hardly. But if you are to marry my daughter, I need to know you are the right fit. You have proven your ambition, now I need to see your ruthlessness.”

  “What would you have me do?” He asked. There was a part of him that already knew the answer. A part he didn’t want to face, not now.

  “Once you become a Sorelle, it will not do for you to be seen mingling amongst the commonfolk. You must leave your old life behind if you are to enter this new one. Those two boys, your friends, ensure neither of them pass the four trials. To prove your ruthlessness to me, you must eliminate them from the next trial by your own hand. Do this, and I promise you your mother will receive the best care money can buy.”

  Shit. The Sorelle’s were one of the most powerful houses in Belm, no, the world. Marrying into such a family was everything he had ever wanted, and she was offering it to him on a silver platter. In one move he could raise his family’s name from the ashes. For that he would do anything. Anything but this.

  “Well, you best be off, your ship will be leaving soon.” She gestured for her servant. “Make sure the boy gets home safe, will you?”

  She looked back at him with a grin. “Good luck in the second trial. I look forward to seeing your decision.”

  Hugo left the airship feeling ragged and weary. He hadn’t slept well over the flight and was starting to feel it. The ride from Orthos to Qazir was only a few hours, but amidst his half dreams and nightmares it had felt far longer. As they stepped out of the airship he noticed Eli pale.

  “Everything alright Eli?” He asked. “You’ve been acting strange all morning.”

  “I’m fine.” Eli replied with a forced smile. “Just…thinking.”

  Unlike the labyrinth of tight corridors and tunnels that lay beneath the coliseum, beneath Qazir’s arena was simply a vast and seemingly endless cavern. Thousands of torches lined its walls, yet even they weren’t enough to pierce the all-consuming darkness. The cavern snaked off, forming a ring that followed the curved shape of the arena. Along the walls hung giant banners, each depicting a different kind of animal. Wolves, lions, bats, and more.

  As the other airships arrived, it became abundantly clear just how many children had failed the first trial. There were now just over six hundred of them, almost half of what they had started with. As he watched the other children gather, he realised they were not just children like he was. They were mages. Mages from all over the world who had proven themselves in the pre-assessments. If another half of them failed here, would he be one of them? In the high of the first trial, in the high of victory, he had almost forgotten, he had almost deluded himself into thinking he belonged here.

  He gazed at his hands solemnly, red from practice. He had spent the entire night desperately trying to spark, clapping his hands over and over and over and over again. Waving wands, chanting, anything and everything he could think of. No. As long as he had Arin and Eli there was nothing to worry about.

  “Good morning.” An adjudicator said, holding out a small bag. “If you would please take a stone from the bag and hold onto it. Do not trade or lose it.”

  He watched as a group of adjudicators pushed through the crowd, each passing out stones. He followed along and drew a stone from the bag. As he rolled it over in his hand he saw a camel painted over it in yellow.

  Arin and Eli followed, before the adjudicator moved on through the rest of the crowd.

  “Good morning everyone.” Kepri, the head adjudicator, announced from the front of the cavern. Behind him floated a boat, and Hugo noticed for the first time that dozens of boats lined the cavern in a ring. “Welcome to the second trial. The trial by water.”

  A wave of hushed murmurs washed over the crowd.

  “Trial by water?” Arin rasped.

  “What kind of tests are in the water trial?” He asked, turning to Eli, but the boy looked deathly pale, staring blankly at the stone in his hand.

  “This is bad.” Eli murmured. “This is really bad.”

  “For those of you who may one day become professional mages you will often have to work in teams with conflicting personalities and magical specialties.” Kepri continued, speaking through his wand to amplify his voice. “The purpose of this trial is to test your ability to work in such a team.”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  A team based trial?

  “Each of you will have drawn a stone, depicting various different animals. These animals represent the team you will be playing with for this trial.” Kepri continued.

  “Show me your stone.” Hugo asked, snatching his brother's wrist. Arin’s stone depicted a dragon, painted in red. Eli revealed his own stone, showing a falcon painted in orange.

  His heart dropped. They were all on different teams.

  “You have all been divided into forty-one teams, each with fifteen members.” Kepri continued. “Each team will be assigned a boat, just like the one behind me here. As you can see, it has no sail to catch the wind, nor any oars. It is also too heavy to float without magical assistance. The only way to move these boats is by pushing water through the waterwheels on its sides.”

  “Eli, what do we do?” He hissed. “If we’re separated, people are going to find out…”

  “I know, I know, just let me… let me think.” Eli replied, frowning at his stone as if it would grant him the answer.

  “The rules of this trial are simple.” Kepri continued. “The arena has been flooded with water, so once the trial begins, you will each sail out onto our artificial ocean. If you destroy another team's boat, you receive a medal, tracked by one of our adjudicators. After thirty minutes, the twenty teams with the most medals will pass the trial. Everyone else will fail. Any questions?”

  “Yeah, uh, can we change teams?” A Suradeshi boy asked from the front of the crowd.

  “No.” Kepri replied. “And if you are caught trying to do so, you will be immediately disqualified.”

  “If our boat is destroyed, but our team also has the most medals, do we still pass?” A Xian girl asked to their left.

  “Yes.” Kepri replied. “Though it will be very difficult to destroy other teams' boats without a boat of your own.”

  “There were six hundred and fourteen of us that passed the first trial.” A Belmish girl said. “Does that mean one team only gets fourteen people?”

  “Excellent question.” Kepri replied. “Princess Madeline, being a dragon, will count for two people during this trial. Thus, her team will only have fourteen members.”

  After a few more questions, Kepri continued. “Please proceed to the banner matching your stone. You have one hour to meet with your teams and vote for a captain before the trial begins. If you cannot agree on a captain, or you are not on your boat before the trial begins, then you will be immediately disqualified. Due to the nature of this trial, it is imperative I remind you that lethal magic is forbidden. If you cast a spell that leads to the death of another player, intentional or otherwise, you will be immediately disqualified and barred from attempting any future trials.”

  There was another wave of murmurs as the crowd began to disperse.

  “Listen to me.” Eli said, pulling them in close enough to whisper. “There are fifteen people on each boat, that’s more than enough to blend in. Stay in groups with others, that way it’s easier to pretend you’re using magic than if you’re standing alone. We might be on different teams, but that doesn't mean we can’t still help each other. The camel, the falcon, and the dragon. Try and keep an eye out for each other's flags, got it?”

  Hugo and Arin nodded.

  “And…” Eli looked as if he were about to say something before changing his mind. “I’ll tell you after. Good luck.”

  With that, the three of them separated, each going towards their respective teams.

  Eli’s meeting with Lady Sorelle stewed in his mind. Her eldest son was one of only a handful of suitors considered for Princess Madeline. If that wedding went through, the Sorelle’s would become one of the most powerful houses in the world. All he had to do was marry her daughter and he would become one of the most influential nobles in Belm. So why was he hesitating?

  Hugo and Arin didn’t need the academy. Once he had his power and prestige, he could raise them up as his vassals. Their family could live in the city, never to worry about food or taxes again. But… if he betrayed them here, if he betrayed him like this, would they even want to be his vassals? Would they even forgive him? He should’ve told them already, that much was obvious. Maybe then they could’ve figured something out. But every time he tried to explain, the words wouldn’t leave his mouth.

  What did it matter? Hugo and Arin were friends, good friends, but they were just friends. He could always make new ones, friends more befitting of his status. He had to do this, not just for himself, but for his mother. Lady Sorelle was likely just preying on his desperation, but if she was telling the truth about the sanatorium, then it could be the last thing left that could truly save her. For the first time in a long time he felt hope, hope that he might one day see his mother healthy again.

  It had to be done. But if he was going to eliminate Hugo and Arin from this trial, he would need to be captain.

  He made his way over to the falcon banner where a large group had already gathered. The boat that awaited him was unlike any he had ever seen before. The hull was fat and squat, unlike the long and sleek designs he so often saw on airships. A metal figurehead jutted out from the bow of the ship, forged into the head of a falcon, its beak sharp and pointed like a spear. At the stern, a metal waterwheel flanked either side of the boat, each rising above the quarterdeck. There were no masts or sails, instead a long pole stood, waving a black falcon over an orange flag. All together it looked like one of those toy wind up boats he played with as a child.

  The boat floated just above a deep pool of water, hanging on a dozen large chains as it was too heavy to float alone. The pool flowed out into the arena, currently blocked off by a stone door.

  He made his way up the wooden gangplank to join the rest of his team as they crowded the boat. A tall looking Xian boy stood atop the captain's quarters, talking down to the rest of them as they gathered on the deck.

  “My name is Shen Lihua, and I’m here to ask for your vote.” The boy announced. His voice was stern, yet measured, and he presented himself with confidence and strength. If it wasn’t for himself, this boy might’ve won the captain’s vote.

  “Hello everyone.” Eli said calmly, and the crowd turned from Shen to face him. “My name is Elias de Valliere, of house Sorelle.” If Lady Sorelle was going to use him as her pawn, the least he could do was borrow the influence of her name for a trial or two.

  “Bullshit.” Shen spat. “Why would a noble be here?”

  “For the same reason the princess is here.” He replied, turning to the crowd. “For too long the nobility have been given a free pass to skip these trials. Why? Because of our blood? If you must prove yourselves worthy to attend the academy, then so shall I.”

  “So you say.” Shen replied with a thin smile. “Yet you come aboard this ship as if you are already its captain.” Shen turned to the crowd. “Look at the arrogance. He thinks just because he is a noble, he can order us around. All of us are equal here.”

  There were cheers of agreement from the crowd.

  "If we are all equal, then why have a captain at all?" he asked.

  “I have more experience.” Shen replied. “This is my third year at these trials and my third trial by water. If there is anyone who knows the ins and outs of these exams, it's me.”

  He snorted, turning to the crowd. “So, you would vote for someone who has failed two years in a row? Perhaps you do not know the ins and outs as well as you claim.”

  The Xian boy scowled. “I will not leave my fate in another's hands.”

  “Better in my hands than yours.”

  “This isn’t your little castle.” Shen said. “The decision is with them.” He gestured over to the crowd. “Those who vote for the noble, raise your hand.”

  The group looked between each other hesitantly. Shen grinned as only six of their teammates raised a hand. “And those that vote for me?” The remaining seven raised their hands. “Then it’s settled.”

  Eli sighed. He wanted to conserve his mana for the trial but there was no helping it now. As he raised his wand, the entire boat began to shake. A wave of confused murmurs washed over the crowd as the ship rocked to the side, beginning to lift above the water. The chains rattled as he raised the boat one story above the ground, and the other teams nearby stared up at them in bewilderment. Once his team realised it was him doing this, their faces fell.

  “Unfortunately, we are not all equal.” He said. “The princess is in this trial too and she is a dragon. She has more mana than all of us combined and if she so wished she could sink this boat with the wave of her hand.” A little exaggeration couldn’t hurt.

  “I–”

  “Careful Shen. If I drop the boat now, you might fall.” Eli interrupted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You may not like me, you may hate nobles, but if we are to pass this trial you need me. For I am the only thing standing between you and a dragon. Now, if you would like to reconsider your vote, please raise your hand.”

  Everyone but Shen raised their hand, and with a wave of his wand the boat gently lowered back into the water.

  Arin strolled over to the dragon team with his hands in his pockets. He looked over the members of his team as they gathered on the boat, a mix of people from all over the world. Belmish, Orthosi, Xian, Suradeshi, and more. It was refreshing in a sense. All his life he had been the odd one out, an Orthosi in a Belmish village. But here, he wasn’t Orthosi, he was just Arin.

  He looked for Hugo in the crowds, out over the dozens of other teams and their boats that stretched out on either side of him. Eli was a few teams over to his right, but Hugo was nowhere to be seen. Dammit. He would have to try to find him once the trial started.

  Now, what to do about his magic? Afterall, what good was his fire magic in a water trial? He had used water magic once before, and he flexed his fingers as if to remember the feeling. It hadn’t rained in weeks, and to save their crops from dying he had showered them with water. His father was furious when he found out, and so he never used water magic again. But now that he needed it, now that it was the difference between passing and failing…why? Why couldn’t he use it? He wasn’t a child anymore. What his father thought didn't matter so… He clenched his fist. If he could pass the first trial without magic, he could pass this one too.

  Maybe he should try for captain? It wouldn’t be laying low, but if he were the one giving the orders, it would look a lot less suspicious when he didn’t use magic. “So, who’s captain?” He asked as he stepped onto the ship.

  “I am.” A girl replied flatly, already directing people across the ship from her perch on the quarterdeck. His heart dropped as he recognised her. Princess Madeline. Something told him it wasn’t a coincidence she was on the dragon team. It was just his luck that he was stuck with only fourteen people.

  “But we haven't voted yet?” He said, raising his voice so the others might hear him.

  The princess gave him an annoyed look, but what really hit him was the layer of pity beneath, as if she thought him truly stupid. “Vote?” She asked, tilting her head. “I’m the princess.”

  He looked to his teammates for support, but they were ignoring the situation. “Uh…right.” He replied. Well, there goes being captain.

  “Wait, you’re friends with that noble boy, aren’t you?” The princess said, a sudden glint of recognition in her eye. “Well, whatever, I’ll just have to get you out next round.”

  Get him out? What did he do?

  “Go starboard for now.” She continued. “You… you do know what starboard means, yes?”

  “The right side of the ship.” He replied flatly.

  “Well, isn’t that impressive? The peasant boy knows his directions.” She looked to the rest of the team as if waiting for them to laugh and pretended not to look disappointed when they didn’t. “Listen up.” She yelled. “Your only job is to do as I say without getting in my way. That should be simple enough for you to understand?” She looked around the group with annoyance. “Say yes, your highness.” She demanded, holding her hand up to her ear.

  “Yes, your highness.” The group repeated.

  “Good.” She replied. “Now let's win.”

  Hugo made his way towards the camel team. A giant metal camel’s head jutted out from the front of the boat that made it look like it had a big nose.

  Three members in the group were in a heated debate over which of them should be captain. A debate he wanted nothing to do with. Lay low. He thought. A trial like this, it was all too easy for his secret to come out. After some back and forths they voted for some girl who claimed to be a sailor's daughter.

  “We need one group under the deck keeping the boat afloat and another two groups spinning the waterwheels. We need someone at the bow for directions, and we need another two groups on either flank for defence.” Their new captain said, wasting no time barking orders.

  He leaned back against the captain's quarters, staring at the stone door that sealed them off from the arena outside. Soon, the doors would open, and he would have no magic to help him.

  He heard a voice beside him and turned to see a girl who looked visibly terrified, mumbling to herself.

  “Hey, are you alright?” He asked.

  She looked stunned to see him talking to her. “I’m fine.” She replied, her tone cold.

  “You two.” The captain interrupted. “What are your specialties?"

  “Defensive magic.” The girl replied.

  “I uh… me too.” He said in a panic.

  “Great, can you two stay portside? If anyone tries to attack, we’ll need you to protect our left waterwheel.”

  Dammit. He was supposed to join one of the bigger groups. If he went below deck ‘keeping the boat afloat’ he would be safe and inconspicuous. If it was just him and this girl here…

  “Got it.” He replied with a smile and a salute. It was too late now.

  The captain left, as the rest of the crew took their positions.

  A gong sounded out across the cavern, signalling the end of their hour and the start of the trial. Hugo could hear the cheering of the crowds bleeding through the walls as the stone doors slowly creaked open. The chains holding their boat rattled as the boat was let loose into the water.

  “Float team hold!” The captain roared through the wood, and the group of children below deck began to lift the boat above the waves with magic. “Left wheel, right wheel, turn!” A group of children pushed and pointed with wand and hand alike, and with a creak the twin waterwheels began to turn, pushing their little boat forward.

  As the waves crashed against the sides of the ship, he caught the girl beside him wince, backing away against the railing. Was she afraid of water? He should’ve been terrified himself with his lack of magic, but somehow seeing someone else so afraid gave him a burst of courage.

  “Sometimes, when I’m afraid, I like to name one thing I can smell, one thing I can feel, and one thing I can hear.” He began, turning to face her. She looked up at him with an angry glare, but he continued anyway. “Right now, I can smell the sweat in the air, I can feel the wood of the railing beneath my fingers, and I can hear the roaring of the crowds outside.”

  The girl blinked, pushing up her glasses. She seemed to hesitate before taking a deep breath. “Right now, I can smell the salt in the water, I can feel the shaking of the boat, and I can hear the waves crashing on the wood.” She said quietly, suddenly looking like she was about to vomit.

  “Well? Feel better?” He asked.

  “Not at all.” She replied bluntly. “But… thanks for trying.”

  “I'm Hugo by the way.” He said, sticking out his hand. “Hugo Lysandros.”

  She hesitated before taking his hand in hers. “Imani Khamir. Pleasure to meet you.”

  As the stone doors opened a wave of light from the outside washed over them.

  The trial by water was about to begin.