“To win a Trial by Tale is one of the greatest honors at the School for Good and Evil,” Pollux declared, head back next to Castor’s on their massive dog’s body. With the fifteen Forest Group leaders behind him, Pollux peered down at the students, gathered after breakfast in the Theater of Tales.
“Once a year, we send our best Evers or Nevers into the Blue Forest for a night to see who lasts until morning. To win, a student must survive both the School Master’s death traps and the other side’s attacks. The last Ever or Never standing at dawn is declared the winner and given five additional first-place ranks.” Pollux raised his nose snootily. “As you know, Good has won the past two hundred Trials—”
Good burst into a chant of “EVERS RULE! EVERS RULE! EVERS—”
“ARE STUPID, ARROGANT FOOLS!” Castor boomed, and the Evers shut up.
“Now a week from today, each Forest Group will send its top Ever and Never into the Trial,” Pollux sniffed. “But before we announce the competitors, let us briefly review the rules.”
As Sophie ignored the rest of the speech she looked at Tedros and Shira sitting close together and whispering, smiles on their faces. She had heard from Dot last night that Tedros had asked Shira to be his date for the ball and that she had said yes.
“I need to get rid of her but how, I need to do it when no one is around and can’t be tied to me,” though Sophie “Maybe I can poison her and then I can finally have Tedros all to myself.” She got an evil smile on her face as she thought of ways to get rid of Shira.
“According to the rules, there can be more than one winner of a Trial by Tale,” said Pollux. “However, those who last until dawn must split the first-place ranks. Thus, it is in your interest to eliminate your competition. Naturally the School Master prefers a single winner and will conjure as many obstacles as he can to ensure it.
“For the rest of the week, all classes will be dedicated to preparing these 15 Evers and 15 Nevers for their night in the Blue Forest,” the dog continued, as students twittered over who these would be. “In-class challenges will be restricted to these competitors only. Those with the worst scores for the week will enter the Trial first, while those with the best will enter significantly later. This is, of course, a tremendous advantage. The less time you spend in a Trial by Tale, the more chance you have of coming out alive.”
Students stopped talking.
Pollux realized what he said and forced a laugh.
“It’s a figure of speech. No student dies in a Trial. How ludicrous.”
Castor coughed. “But what about—”
“The competition is completely safe,” Pollux said, smiling down at the children. “You will each have a flag of surrender. If you find yourself in mortal danger, drop it to the ground and you will be rescued unharmed from the Blue Forest. You will learn more about the rules in your various classes, but now I cede the floor to the Forest Group leaders, who will announce this season’s Trial competitors.”
A tiny lily nymph in a dress of emerald vines stepped forward. “From Group 9, Reena will represent Good and Vex will represent Evil!”
Reena curtsied to Ever cheers while Nevers grumbled that Vex and his pointy ears were lucky to be in a weak group.
An ogre announced Tristan and one-eyed Arachne from Group 7, followed by more leaders who named dark-skinned Nicholas and Anadil from 4, Kiko and green-hued Mona from 12, Giselle and Hester from 6 . . .
Sophie goggled at Tedros through it all, daydreaming of life as his queen. (Would Camelot have enough closets? Mirrors? Cucumbers?) Then Yuba stepped forward. Sophie looked over at Tedros and Shira, both hanging on the gnome’s next words. Please let him beat that sour cream puff, she prayed—
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School for Good and Evil - OC (WINX CLUB)
FanfictionShira is the older twin sister to Aisha and the heir to the throne. Shira is the fairy of song. Her voice can effect the people around her, the water, nature, and the weather. Shira is suddenly taken from Alfea to go to the School of Good and Evil...
