Zoran's scowl could wither even the most lethal demons.
Trainer Reishell's lips parted in shock as she gaped at me. Composing herself, she straightened and ducked her chin at Hyrule.
"As you intend," she said, rotating to face us. "Your selected Duty as bonded Champions in the Force will be declared at graduation."
"She won't succeed in the Test of Talons, let alone survive it," Zoran asserted, narrowing his intense gaze on me. "And when she dies, I die."
"Guess it's a good thing you vowed to make me unstoppable," I retorted, giving him a pointed look as my stomach flipped.
I did not want to see the look on my father's face when he found out I'd be fighting under his command in his Elemental Force. His wrath would rival Zoran's scornful fury tenfold.
Trainer Reishell passed the scale back over to Hyrule and climbed on her gray dragon. They launched into the air, surpassing the tallest peak on the mountain as she declared, "The final challenge is now over! Everyone congregate at the lake in Clear Water."
All at once, the black wings of shifters flew among a colorful mass of dragons above the mountain peaks and orbited the sides of the alps, the commotion of beating wings echoing around us as they descended. Trainer Reishell joined them as they landed along the shoreline, casting apprehensive looks at Hyrule whose severe scrutiny locked on the students. They formed a semicircle around Reishell, and I lifted my chin as they regarded me with mixed expressions of disbelief and derision.
"This challenge assessed all the skills, knowledge, and competencies you've developed over the past year and a half at the academy. Those of you who were not cut out for life during the war were eliminated either permanently through death or temporarily by being defeated by your opponent. Among the perished are Tauren, Vesper, Kairo, Pallonia, Derryn, Blayze, Alara..."
I zoned out the list of casualties as Tauren's fall replayed in my head. Immense remorse filled me when Reishell mentioned Pallonia's and Derryn's deaths.
"...Misty, and Nyaxia," she finished, and a shiver wracked my spine as I bit the inside of my cheek to distract myself from the pain and focus on the physical sting pulsing in my mouth.
"Based on how many opponents each of you were able to take out by killing them or forcing them to the ground will determine your class rank. The top fifteen percent of you represent the toughest and most adept fighters suitable to join the Force. The rest of you will be given Duties where your proficient abilities can be utilized best during this time of war," she reiterated for what felt like the thousandth time. "Final evaluations will be completed within the next couple days and graduation will occur right after. Duties will be assigned and you will start your training immediately."
Excited and nervous whispers were shared amid the students until Reishell silenced them with her hand raised in the air.
"As such, here are the events that led to the conclusion of this challenge," she described next. "Aeryn Glastos and Misty Lexton found the scale first. They faced off in a fight to the death in which Aeryn came out on top. Zoran Masters intervened when Nyaxia Lexton seized Aeryn. He killed Nyaxia and took the scale since he did not have a partner to compete against. We left the decision up to Hyrule to pick a winner between them," Reishell explained, scanning the crowd. "He chose both Aeryn and Zoran."
"Damn, good thing we didn't find the scale," Odin whispered to his girlfriend from where they stood at the front of the class. "I wouldn't have been able to kill you for it."
Eowyn nodded her head in agreement, rubbing her arms. "It's not worth losing you to select a Duty."
"Which Duties did they decide to pursue?" Odin asked, drawing attention to himself as he raised his voice. His shaggy brown hair plopped in front of his pale blue eyes and a dusting of freckles spattered his nose and cheeks.
"Hyrule decided that, too," Reishell explained. "Aeryn and Zoran will be Champions in the Force."
Hushed murmurs arose at the unexpected outcome.
"How is she going to fight in the Force without a power? That's a disaster waiting to happen," another voice spoke up.
I met the disdainful glower of Asteria Huxley, a menacing draconian shifter from the coldest town where Zoran also grew up: Garrenth.
The exceptionally tall Draconian was a brute of a woman. Her black hair was combed over to one side of her head while the other half was shaved. Her dark eyes matched her midnight locks, and she aimed her vicious gaze my way.
Those Draconians from Garrenth were a different breed, let me tell you. Zoran scared me more than I'd like to admit, and Asteria was no exception.
"Because I'm her Champion," Zoran growled. "And I'll be damned if she dies."
"No, you'll be dead if she does," Asteria challenged. "She's just going to leach off your ice wielding power and give you nothing in return until she gets both of you killed."
"That's enough, Asteria," Reishell warned. "Hyrule found them fit to join the Force and paired them together as Champions since they meet the requirements of being one shifter and one summoner. We do not question the way of the dragons, especially while they aid us in this war where our powers continue to weaken."
I had three dragons and one of them breathed frost fire. I'd killed three students during the challenge and knocked out another. I was not helpless nor vulnerable. I could hold my own against more than they were giving me credit for.
I refused to bow under the suffocating pressure of the blatant criticism directed at me.
"With that said, I will hear no more objections or listen to any biased judgments. Aeryn earned her place and if anyone wants to say otherwise, the emperor will be hearing of it. This challenge is over. Go home and you will be notified when we have thoroughly analyzed each of your evaluations and have decided on a date for graduation."
Dismissed, summoners and shifters took off without a word. I heaved a sigh and formed my hands into fists, gloves tightening around my palms from the movement.
"It is likely we have less than a week to get ready for graduation and the inevitable Test of Talons," Zoran said, his own gloved hand mimicking mine as he stepped closer, his intoxicating scent ambushing me with an unwanted warmth in my stomach. "We train tonight in Garrenth."
I twisted the ring around my thumb, saying, "You do realize that when my father sends me off to marry Shade and the demon prince assassinates me, our bond will take you out with me, right?"
"You wouldn't have been my first choice for a Champion, princess," he said, "or even my last, but Hyrule saw something in you that he believes will make us suitable partners. I cannot fathom what that could be -"
I threw my hands up in exasperation. "You're going to be my biggest test, Masters," I stated, jabbing a finger at his chest with each word I spoke. "Your fiery coldness alights me with the desire to extinguish you and the anger you ignite in me each time you speak."
Grabbing my wrist in a gentle hold, his eyes darkened as his head dipped and his hair casted a shadow over his sharp features. "If you could keep that mouth of yours shut for just one second, you'd hear the rest of what I was saying," he retorted.
"Serene chose you because she said you could protect me," I responded, despising the confession. "She gave you her ability to breathe frost fire. I also swore to Hyrule I'd bring back Armaeda and avenge his summoner, my mother. They both agreed you'd be the best Draconian to bond with me to guarantee success."
Zoran's dark brows scrunched. "That was not what I was going to say. I was about to tell you he paired us together because of this." He moved our hands to my own chest, flattening my palm over my heart with his gloved hand on mine.
Searching his eyes, I waited for him to explain.
"Your heart," he said, making the organ skip a beat. "This merciless war strips us of our humanity, but you have enough to remind the both of us why we continue fighting to defend our empire. While you may not have an Insignia, it does not mean you are powerless. The heart you wield and the determination you possess are more lethal than any power can ever be."
His fingers wrapped around the outside of my hand, and he applied more pressure as he pressed our entwined hands against my pounding heart. I didn't dare speak. I didn't even think I could form a comprehensible sentence due to the thoughts running ramped in my head.
"And that is the power that can end this war, princess, but it can also cost you. You know what they say; keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Your reign will come, and when it does, your heart will either be our greatest savior or the ultimate downfall of us all."
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