Chapter 15: Day Two

SIENNA

I wake up with a strangled gasp. My body is drenched in cold sweat, my hands clenched tightly around the sheets. My ragged breathing shakes my chest as my mind clings to the shattered fragments of the dream I just had.

I turn to the side. Astrid sleeps deeply, her face relaxed, unaware of the storm consuming me. Her tranquility reminds me why I need to stay strong. I don’t want to wake her. I need air.

I get up carefully and step out of the tent. The night breeze hits me, cold and refreshing. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. There’s no one in sight, only a few Earth Court guards patrolling in the distance. My steps carry me far before I realize it, searching for a lonely corner where I can pull myself together.

But then, everything collapses.

The weight of memories crashes into me like a wild wave. My chest tightens, my throat closes. I try to breathe, but the air becomes dense, unreachable. The shadows of the past coil around me, whispering in voices I thought were buried. And then, one emerges above them all—deep, grave, venomous.

—You are her reincarnated just to ruin my life.

The echo of his voice strikes me like a burning blade. The voice of the monster—my father. The cabin of pain returns with a clarity that destroys me. The smell of blood, the cold wood against my wounded skin. The helplessness devours me from the inside, dragging me back into that dark abyss that has never let me go.

I clutch myself, my legs giving out, collapsing onto the cold ground.

I can’t escape. I’m trapped.

Panic consumes me from within, pulling me into an abyss with no exit. And then, a presence interrupts the chaos.

Drosk.

He emerges from the darkness like a specter, his silhouette outlined against the dim moonlight. He stops when he sees me, his gaze burning and analytical. Without a word, he approaches and crouches before me.

I sense his intent even before he acts. He wants to enter my mind. His power reaches for the chaos consuming me, trying to explore what haunts me. But he can’t. My mind is an impenetrable fortress, a battlefield neither of us can cross. I see him frown, intrigued, surprised.

And then, I snap out of my trance.

My breath returns all at once, as if I’ve been pulled from deep underwater. Air rushes into my lungs with brutal force, my body trembling from the intensity of the moment. I blink and see him kneeling beside me.

Rage flares instantly.

—What the hell are you doing? —my voice comes out hoarse, furious.

Drosk reacts, blinking as if he, too, is waking from something. He looks me up and down, studying me like a puzzle he can’t solve. His expression shifts, and for an instant, he seems surprised. But he says nothing. He rises smoothly and, without a single word, vanishes into the shadows.

I stay there, catching my breath, trying to sort through my thoughts.

When my body finally stops trembling, I return to the tent. I slip inside silently and gently shake Astrid.

—As, wake up. It’s time.

She blinks sleepily and stretches.

—Is it morning already?

—Almost. We need to get ready for day two of the Games.

Astrid sighs but nods and begins to get up. I don’t mention what just happened. Not now.

The day is just beginning, and the Water Court awaits us with a new hell.

We step into the arena, and from the corner of my eye, I notice that Drosk doesn’t take his eyes off me. His gaze is searing, as if trying to decipher something inside me. This time, we don’t cover ourselves with cloaks. We don’t hide. I want everyone to see that human scum has come to claim its place in the Courts, and I will do it without hesitation.

The announcer bursts in with his spectacle, his voice echoing across the arena.

—Welcome to the second day of the Games! The Water Court Trial is about to begin.

Before us unfolds a brutal scene: a vast lake of churning waters stretches to the horizon, interrupted only by small stone platforms that barely seem stable. On the sides, tall slippery walls make any attempt to escape even more difficult. The water isn’t just deep—it’s treacherous. I can see swirling currents beneath the surface, ready to drag down the unwary. And something else. Dark shadows slither below, moving erratically. Marine creatures, waiting. I don’t know how many there are or what they are exactly, but I can feel their lurking presence, ready to strike anyone who falls into their domain.

Astrid and I exchange a look. Her expression says it all—she’s not a strong swimmer. If we don’t plan well, she won’t last long in this trial. I move closer and whisper:

—We go together. Lean on me if you have to. Don’t get separated.

She nods, her lower lip trembling slightly, but I know she’ll try.

The other competitors are also analyzing the challenge. Naeris from the Water Court exudes confidence, her muscles relaxed as if this environment were her natural home. Vaelis from the Air Court, on the other hand, looks tense; his posture screams discomfort with the water. Zareth, the Fire Court competitor, keeps a neutral expression, observing without giving much away.

The sound of the gong echoes. The game has begun.

We dive into the water, and chaos erupts instantly. The currents try to drag us under, but we fight to stay afloat. Astrid struggles, her breath uneven as she follows closely behind me. I try to set the pace, guiding her through the treacherous liquid maze.

Naeris from the Water Court moves with infuriating ease, gliding through the currents as if they were an extension of her own body. She pushes forward, effortless. Vaelis from the Air Court isn’t so lucky; he struggles against the water, his fear evident.

A shadow moves beneath us. It’s not a shark, but the shape is just as terrifying. A scream splits the air—the Air Court competitor is dragged under by something and vanishes beneath the surface. Moments later, she resurfaces, a wound on her leg, swimming desperately for her life.