Chapter 17: The Final

SIENNA

Day Four

Another sunrise, another night without getting any real rest. The nightmare repeats over and over, filling me with frustration. I have the power to change it, but... why can't I?

—As, come on, get up. It's the last day of these macabre games.

—Mmm... —she mumbles sleepily, burying her face deeper into the pillow.

I push her gently, but when she still doesn't move, I yank the blanket off and throw myself on top of her.

—What’s wrong with you, you crazy woman?! You could break one of my ribs, Sisi! —she complains between laughs. Her laughter gives me peace.

—Come on, come on, today we take that trophy.

Astrid squints at me.

—You have high expectations, Sienna. If I didn’t know you, I’d say you have a plan in that head of yours.

She knows. She knows me better than anyone.

—Today we have two trials: Fire Court and Penitentiary, which is the final. Bastian hasn’t given us many details about what kind of powers they use in that Court, so I assume it’ll be the most dangerous trial.

—Yeah, I know. And...? —she replies with her usual careless attitude.

—They get into your mind, As. They bend you to their will. But they can’t do it to me, I’m sure of that. And if they try to get into yours, you just have to follow my voice.

Astrid props herself up on one elbow.

—And how exactly am I supposed to do that, Sisi? You’re talking about powers and things neither of us have ever seen before.

I hold her gaze.

—Would you recognize my voice among a million people?

—Blindly.

I smile.

—Good, it’s the same thing. When they attack, I’ll shout your name, I’ll say things only we know.

Astrid narrows her eyes suspiciously.

—Like what? —she asks, pretending to be interested, which makes me laugh.

—That you used to eat your boogers.

I burst into laughter as she opens her mouth in outrage.

—Liar! That was you and your filth!

She lunges at me to return the joke, trying to push me off the bed. We laugh together, tangled in the blanket, until Bastian’s entrance interrupts the moment.

—Am I interrupting?

—Always, dear —I say, still laughing.

He smiles slightly, but his laughter fades quickly.

—Get ready. You need to have breakfast, and we’ll talk more about the trial.

Already dressed and armed, we sit at the grand table along with the other members of the Earth Court.

—So? —I say to Bastian, sitting next to him.

But as always, he's more focused on watching Astrid, who is currently standing on a chair, telling a story as if this were a theater. It's clear she's trying to ease the tension with her contagious energy, but he watches her differently—attentive, vigilant.

When he notices I'm watching him, he looks back at his plate and then at me.

—You know they get into your mind —he says seriously—. They play with it.

—Yes, I know.

Bastian frowns and lets out a short sigh. I know what it means—he's worried. He won’t say it in words, but he shows it in every gesture. His jaw is tense, his fingers drum against the table, and every now and then, his gaze slides toward Astrid, as if making sure she’s still there.

The trial will be brutal—we know that. But I am not afraid.

—Well —I say, trying to lighten the mood—, we have a trophy to win, and you have a raise for us to secure.

I smile at him, attempting to ease the atmosphere. He just stares at me for a second before shaking his head, as if I were a lost cause.

But deep down, I know he's afraid too.

I don't know if it's because it's the last day or because, in the past three, I hadn't really stopped to look around, but the arena is packed. Creatures from all Courts, from commoners to lords, watch in anticipation. It’s a spectacle, and we are the pieces in a cruel game.

We walk toward the platforms where the trial will begin, and in the distance, I catch a murderous glare. Drosk. He’s staring daggers at me while gripping his brother Zareth by the neck, barking orders at him.

Shit, he really hates me.

Astrid remains calm at my side, but her hand grips my arm firmly. Around us, the other warriors prepare, their bodies clad in battle gear, their gazes sharp. There are no nerves, only determination.

The announcer steps into the center of the arena, and his voice booms through the air.

—Welcome to the final day of the Four Elements! —He pauses, smiling maliciously—. Four will enter… but only two, or perhaps just one, will leave.

Some laughter erupts from the crowd, but not from the warriors. There is no room for humor here.

—First phase: you will face whatever the world of Fire has in store for you.

If we’ve made it this far, we have a chance to make it out alive. I am sure of it.

The sound of the gong echoes through the air.

The game has begun.

We jump into the trial and run toward the first door. As we cross it, we find ourselves inside a labyrinth. Astrid reacts quickly, pulling out a rope to mark our path and avoid getting lost.

—Sisi, climb up and tell me what you see.

I don’t hesitate. I scale the nearest wall and look from above. All paths lead to the same point.

—The center —I indicate—. We need to move fast.

I hear the echo of footsteps in the distance. We’re not the only ones who have come to this conclusion.

We head toward the heart of the labyrinth, and just as we reach it, the ground trembles. The entrances seal behind us, trapping us in one half of the room. The other warriors are there too, all in defensive stances.

Then I see them.

Five figures emerge from the shadows, covered in red robes. They don’t need to say a word—the heat radiating from them is suffocating, as if the very air burns around them. They are from the Fire Court. Their presence is overwhelming.