Chapter 24 Aug 18, 2025 The ground wasn't ground at all. Not really. It breathed, like a beast beneath their boots, thrumming with ancient magic and cracked fire. Mira stood at the edge of the Skybrand arena, heart hammering. Her fists were clenched, not in fear, but in defiance of the chaos waiting below. The Trial Grounds stretched far beyond what her eyes could grasp-massive, enchanted, alive. Flames curled from cliff walls that shouldn't have burned. Ravines shimmered with frost even under sunlight. Forests blinked in and out of sight like illusions testing their own patience. It looked like the world itself had shattered and rearranged just to see who would survive. "Ready?" Bastian's voice came from beside her, steady and low. Mira didn't look at him. "Do I look ready?" He smirked. "Like a storm about to snap." "I'll take that." The gates opened with a slow grind of stone on stone. The air pulsed as the first pair of cadets descended. Mira could barely hear them over the sound of her own blood pounding. But when the horn blew, Liorith lunged forward with no hesitation, and Mira followed without thinking. Beside her, Vharok took the sky with a roar that rattled the cliffs. Phase One began. Their dragons dove together, wings slicing through steam and sleet. The first terrain was blistering-lava pits, fire-choked ridges, heat curling around their necks like claws. Liorith spun, twisting through a gap in the molten path, tail barely missing a plume of ash. Vharok mirrored the move so precisely it looked choreographed. Mira felt her breath catch. Not from fear. From awe. "Left!" she shouted. Already, Bastian was there, blades drawn, cutting through the enchanted brambles that clawed up from the cliffs. They dropped low, navigating narrow ledges where the fire licked at their boots. The ravine hit next. Frozen. Silent. Wide as a canyon. They landed hard on the edge, boots sliding on frost-glazed stone. The cold was sharp enough to burn. Liorith growled low in her chest, her scales dimming. Ice magic shimmered from the trees, creeping over the terrain like fingers trying to snatch ankles. Mira reached for her pouch, her fingers stiff. "Windburst?" "Wait," Bastian said. "Let Vharok go first." Vharok launched himself across the frozen gap, claws digging into the opposite ledge. The rock cracked. Mira didn't breathe until he steadied. Then it was their turn. Liorith leapt, wings tucked tight, her silver body slicing through the cold. They landed with a thud, rolled, and kept running. Phase One wasn't just survival. It was sync. Response. Trust. The forest welcomed them last. Trees swayed in wind that didn't exist. The ground shifted, tricked, looped. Every few feet, the world twisted. One second they were on the path. The next, roots wrapped around their legs or illusions of fire sprinted past them, screaming. "Hold onto something real," Bastian said through gritted teeth. "It's mind magic." Mira didn't hesitate. She reached for his hand. He squeezed once. The moment they touched, the illusions recoiled like smoke punched by wind. They moved forward, cutting through spell-forged shadows with blades and willpower. Mira's body ached, her braid clung to her neck with sweat, but she didn't stop. Not when she could feel Liorith's heartbeat echoing her own. Not when she could see Bastian bleeding from a shallow cut and still charging forward like nothing mattered more than staying at her side. When the final checkpoint lit up-a stone monolith carved with runes-Mira nearly collapsed. But she didn't. She pressed her palm to the stone. Bastian mirrored her. The magic scanned their bond. Fire flared from the runes, a column of light shooting upward like the gods were checking their work. Approved. They passed. Phase One, complete. Their dragons curled around them as they rested. Mira leaned against Liorith's shoulder, her muscles trembling, her breath shallow. Her chest burned-not from exertion, but something else. Something like pride. Bastian sat beside her, silent but near. His elbow brushed hers. She didn't pull away. Around them, more pairs landed-some limping, some pale, others not at all. The Trial Grounds were merciless. They didn't care who was popular, or powerful, or pretty. Only who was strong enough to keep going. Boots crunched on stone behind them. Mira didn't have to turn. She already knew. Tessan. Her presence oozed confidence, all smooth lines and poison words. Her golden dragon touched down behind her, gleaming like oil and coiled with smugness. "Well, well," Tessan said, stepping into view. "Still alive. Impressive." Mira didn't respond. She stayed seated. She didn't owe Tessan a reaction. Tessan circled them like a vulture. "Must be nice, having him to carry you through it all." Mira finally looked up. "Is there a reason you're here, or are you just bored?" "Oh, I'm never bored." Her voice was honey and blade. "I just like to check in on lucky girls who forget how fragile they really are." Bastian stood up slowly, his eyes on Tessan. "Back off." Tessan raised an eyebrow but didn't move. "Relax. Just saying hi." She stepped closer, glancing at Mira with a crooked smile. "Still clinging to him, Solvain?" Bastian didn't pause. "You talk like someone who's never been told no." Tessan's smile thinned. "Careful, Bastian. People might start thinking you care." He didn't respond. She let the silence stretch, then flicked her gaze between them. "Whatever. I'll see you both out there in Phase Two."