The cheer from the crowd was muffled by the thick castle walls. Playing with her hair, Avery stood tall in front of a body length mirror, knotting it into a neat bun. She wore a light blue dress made with a blend of polymer and cloth which was surprisingly comfortable and did well emphasizing her figure. Sweat from her forehead began to bleed her makeup on her face, her hands shook as she raised the cloth handkerchief. She glanced at a small table near the mirror; a ruby amulet caught her eye. The stone shimmered as light caught it casting a faint red glow in the room. As she held it twisting it in the light the wooden doors of her room burst open making her jump, she turned to see a woman in a voluptuous gown littered with crystals and gems exclaiming with a wide grin of her face,

  “Oh my god! Avery, you look beautiful!”

  She blushed at the comment, “Tessa, oh please!”, covering her face with her hand, giggling.

  The stone dangled from her neck as she danced out of the room into the hallway. A loud tone shook her ears as the bell tower from outside thundered, striking twelve. Tessa hurried her along funnelling her through hallways and ignoring the crowds swarming the building outside. The hallway expanded into a large open room filled with galleys; rows of pews lined the carpeted floor with an outstanding podium front and centre of it all atop a round stage that the seating surrounded. As Avery sauntered through the hall, a smile encroached on her face beaming with joy, a hush fell over the crowd. She found her place in line with 11 other kids, similar age to her but unique in most if not all other aspects. Some drowsy with exhaustion, others like her struggling to keep their excitement from bursting out of them. Footsteps echoed inside the auditorium as a figure approached the podium, resting their hands lightly on top of it. They adjusted the microphone as feedback screeched through the speakers the crowd wincing to the noise. They brought their face close to the microphone clearing their throat,

  “Welcome all. To the Varyn Academy Trials. I am Nephryr, the headmaster of this ‘Elite’ college. Throughout this week just gone, each of these students in front of me selected from a wide range of subjects, of which they will be studying, training, and mastering their two chosen classes over the course of the next ten weeks.”

  The nerves set in Avery’s head, nausea over taking her systems. Her legs quivered, her stomach tried to chuck back up her lunch. Her mouth salivated as her head became heavy. Her light chocolate hair had turned a dark brown with sweat. Coping with stress had never been Avery’s forte, this had happened before when she first got into this upper echelon of the city, she remembers it as if it were only yesterday

  Nephryr continued speaking, not noticing Avery’s condition,

  “Each students chosen subjects will be announced today.” He removed a pile of letters from a pouch slung around his shoulder. Neatly opened one with a small blade and unfolded the sheet of paper.

  “Miss Avery Varacain, Wyvern Whispering and Runery. Class A. Vennessa Lumine,” The girl next to her straightened to the name. “Runery and Blade craft. Class A. Lewis Vesper, Wyvern Whispering and Thunder Calling. Class A.”

  Lewis and Vennessa leant forward and met each other’s gaze, both smirking. Nephryr stepped off the stage, walking toward Avery holding a letter between his fingers gesturing to her. She pinched it from his hand and unfolded it. On it was information about her classes, timetable, and roommates, both Lewis and Vennessa received the same. This was the real thing. The nerves returned, overloading her body’s systems. She felt her stomach scream at her, the words on the page blurred together becoming an inked mess inside her head. Her hands shook as they became frozen cold, darkness eroded her vision as her mind began to slip from her grasp while she felt her legs crumpled from underneath her.

  The cool pillow cushioned her head as her eyes cracked open. Her pupils darted around the room, which was much more claustrophobic than the hall she was previously in, as she tried to get a grip of where she was. She was laying on the bottom bed of a bunk, on the other side of the room was a single, made neatly. Suitcases and duffels lined the walls, clothes overflowing from out of them. The nametags reading Avery Varacain, Lewis Vesper, and Vennessa Lumine. She swung her legs from the bed, hobbling out of the door. The midday sun blinded her, to her side, identical cabins were lined up in a uniform style, paths from each of them leading to a large bonfire in the centre of a field. It looked like a campsite of some kind. Still recovering from the fall, she stumbled down the path finding her way to the other students. She groaned with every step, clutching her side. The sound of heels clicking on the concrete path paced fast toward her, as a feminine voice called out in a comforting but worried tone,

  “Excuse me dear? W-what are you still doing out here?” Avery turned around, casting eyes on whom it was. Standing before her was a pale, quiet-looking woman, having to strain her neck to look up at Avery. Her interlocked fingers and shrunken posture gave off a pleasant demeanour.

  “My dear, what has happened to you?” She exclaimed, “Your head! It is all bruised…” Her kind expression dropped to face of realisation, “You’re the girl who passed out aren’t you.”

  Without a response Avery nodded her head. The woman sucked her teeth in thought,

  “Not to worry, this has all happened before, trust me dear.”

  “Well, follow me and I’ll run through the procedure and get you to the headmasters office and he’ll clear you for classes.” She paused for a moment,

  “Hopefully.”

  She led Avery further down the path, chatting with her,

  “I am Irith by the way. I’m not sure we have met, but don’t worry I know who you are, no need for introductions.” She chuckled; Avery gave off a cheap laugh to mask her confusion.

  Irith rapped on the door to headmaster’s block, which was opened by a man dressed formally in a suit and tie,

  “Hello Irith, who is this?” Avery opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by Irith.

  “Lincoln, this is Avery. She was the girl who collapsed on stage?” She said with a lick of arrogancy.

  “Right. Of course, well please, right this way. Nephryr should just be down that hall, last door on your left.” He pointed with a warm smile. Pushing past him, Irith pulled Avery along with her, Avery waved goodbye which he kindly returned with his own. Irith knocked impatiently on Nephryr’s door. No answer.

  “Excuse me!? Sir? I have ‘the girl’ with me, it’s urgent.” She sighed with exasperation as she called out,

  “I’m coming in!”

  She threw the door open, seeing the headmaster walking toward the door. Her hands retracted back her head sunk into her neck as Nephryr cleared his throat in an interrogating tone,

  “Explain yourself.” He hissed, “Your impatience has pushed me far enough for today, not to mention your manners.” Nephryr was a very calm man, even in anger he kept some form of composure.

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  She stammered “Sir, I’m sorry. It’s just that I-“

  “Enough, with the excuses.” His voiced simmered down, “Listen Irith, we have all had a big day. Leave Avery with me and go relax for the day, take some weight off your shoulders.” He said gesturing to the door. Without a word Irith stood up, bowed and left the two alone. Nephryr sat back down waving his hand, as Avery heard the door shut behind her. Nephryr sat in front of her inviting her to take a seat, she did so courteously while he removed a small stack of files from a drawer, opening one on the desk.

  “Miss Varacain.” Her hands tensed to the sound of that name, perspiration sticking to her skin. He scoffed to himself, “There’s no need to be nervous Avery. This is a safe space.” He straightened a pen on his desk,

  “Now. I will try to enrol you back into your classes by tomorrow. But I’m not certain. You had quite a fall you know.”

  “Yes, I did.” She shifted in her seat, “I don’t know what it was. I was so stressed it was just, too much for me.” Her foot tapped on the floor.

  “That’s understandable, it’s happened before, you’re not the first and I’m sure you won’t be the last.”

  “I can’t believe I missed the first class of the term.” She said biting her lip. Nephryr spoke with a heart-warming tone and a reassuring look set on his face,

  “Today was just an overview my dear. Telling you things that will assist in your journey here at the academy. Helpful, but not necessary. So, you can head back to your cabin and properly introduce yourself to Vennessa and Lewis when they come back and maybe take the night to rest and recover? You wouldn’t want to be making the pain worse.”

  “Yes. Th-that sounds like a good idea.” Nephryr tugged her wrist as she turned to leave,

  He unfurled his fingers to reveal a ruby amulet, encrusted with golden trim that lay in his palm, “Vennessa gave this to me, it has your name engraved on the back, which implies to me that it belongs to you.” Avery felt around her neck at the sight of it and touched nothing but bare skin. Flooded with relief she sighed,

  “Thank you, for all of this sir.” Clipping the necklace back around her neck as she bid him farewell and left for her room.

  The cabin door opened to the mess of the room; her clothes scattered along the floor. As well as the sight of Lewis and Vennessa talking on the same side of a single, the conversation died down when the door opened. They all just looked at each other until Lewis spoke up mockingly,

  “Hey! Look who it is-“ Barely finishing a sentence before he took a sharp elbow to the stomach dropping to the floor in pain. Vennessa pulled her arm back, piercing him with a stare which turned into a light chuckle,

  “Don’t mind him, he sometimes doesn’t think before he speaks. Isn’t that, right? Lewis?”

  All that slipped from his mouth was a moan of pain, followed by a series of coughs. He choked, still gasping for air,

  “Yeah, mmm. Yep, sure is.” Mumbling under his breath cursing her name. She pet the side of the bed inviting Avery to take a seat next to her. The gem dangling from Avery’s throat caught Vennessa’s eye,

  “That’s a pretty amulet. Shame if you didn’t get it back.” She smirked, enjoying the look on Avery’s face. Dumbfounded, Avery stumbled over her words,

  “The headmaster told me about what you did. Thank you, but why did you say it like that?”

  “Well, I was considering keeping it. That would have been a bit rude, no?” Avery coiled back at the comment; a cocktail of emotions made her systems drunk. Anger, confusion, but at the same time, relief,

  “Thanks. I guess?”

  Vennessa’s eyes shifted from light to a dead blank stare,

  “But let’s cut the bullshit,” she stated,

  “That was all a big set up to make the headmaster feel bad for the poor little girl.” she mimicked in a squeaky voice. Then stuck her hand out,

  “I respect it.”

  Avery snapped back a reply, “What the fuck? No, I didn’t!” She retorted, pushing herself from the bed, “I-I don’t know what happened. But I didn’t fake it!” Vennessa eyes squinted in an inquisitive way, questioning her response. Rolling her eyes she replied,

  “Alright, whatever. They gave us each a manual today and since well-“ Her voice trailed off, “you know. You didn’t get one.” Avery called out,

  “Right.” She thought for a moment,

  “Wait, wait, wait. I already got one though. Back at the announcements?”

  Vennessa clicked her tongue,

  “No actually, different thing. The one you have is a simple guide, telling you what classes you have, who you have them with. You know, the basic shit.” She pulled out her manual, a leatherback, thick, but small book,

  “This, on the other hand is more of a diary, used to put down homework, your work-ons, those kinds of things.”

  Lewis imputed, “Kinda gay if you ask me!”

  V bit back a reply,

  “Hey dumbass, no one did ask you, ok?” She shook her head,

  “How the hell did you even get into this school?”

  Avery questioned her,

  “Well, how do I get one now?”

  Vennessa tilted her head, a smirk cracking onto her face, “Your lucky,” she scoffed, “Nephryr got us to keep one for you,” She threw her a diary. “Take this and get changed. I don’t think it’s a night for an outfit like that.”

  “Tonight? What’s tonight?” She laughed nervously,

  “Get dressed first. Then we’ll tell you.” Lewis barked.

  There being no private rooms in the cabin, Avery debated where to change. She decided on a semi-secluded corner, aiming to avoid the peeking eyes of the unwanted spectator, which to her displeasure was a futile attempt.

  “Mind giving me a bit of privacy? You fuckin’ creep.” she asked with an irritated look on her face. With a grunt of annoyance, Lewis turned around and covered his face with a hand.

  “Thank you. Jeez.” she said, annoyed. She sighed in thought while taking out different outfits. She held them up to her chest while standing in front of the mirror, her mind torn against two different attires. One was more of a winter choice consisting of a warmer jacket, jeans, and a black tee. As a bitter wind blew from outside the cabin; she made her decision.

  “Ok, your good.” As they turned back Vennessa and Lewis struggled to hold in a laugh, Avery looked down at herself only peeping back,

  “What?”

  “That’s what you’re wearing for tonight?” Lewis blurted, not being able to hold in his laughter, “Wooo! This chick’s good V, a real crack up.” Vennessa chuckled at the banter covering her mouth with a fist.

  “What’s tonight. Tell me.” she demanded crossing her arms with a frown,

  Lewis double-checked, “Did you read the rules?”

  “No, not yet I just got the damn thing.” Avery blurted.

  Lewis gestured down to the book in her hands mouthing the word,

  ‘Read.’

  Opening the manual, she flipped the first page her fingers trace along the lines reading it aloud. In bold writing in the centre of the page it stated,

  “Do NOT leave campus grounds past 9 p.m.” Avery paused then laughed,

  “What? You guys are going to leave?” She joked. But Lewis’ eyes refused to meet hers,

  “YOU GUYS ARE WHAT?” Avery exclaimed.

  “SHHHHHH! Keep your voice down.” Vennessa hushed, “Listen, you can either come with us proving you’re not a little bitch. Or you can pussy out,” She held her hands up, “totally up to you.” Avery’s face scrunched in thought, remembering what the headmaster told her. With regret and a touch of embarrassment, and while holding back a wave of anger she replied,

  “No. I’m alright for tonight guys, maybe some other time.”

  Lewis left the room as Vennessa scoffed,

  “Should never have asked.” She jabbed, “Knew you were too weak. Too fucking scared.”

  “I’m not! It’s just- “

  Vennessa mocked,

  “’It’s just, it’s just.’ Don’t even try with the excuses. Have fun being alone tonight.”

  “Alone? Everyone? Everyone is going?”

  Vennessa eyebrows rose,

  “Wasn’t it obvious? We’re all going out into the forest or whatever’s out beyond the camps walls. It’ll be fun. Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Vennessa pushed, trying to get her to cave. Avery stayed silent resisting the temptation.

  Vennessa shrugged, “Like I said suit yourself, you’re the one missing out.” She leant around the corner of the cabin calling out to Lewis getting dressed out the back on a small deck that Avery was unaware existed,

  “Let’s go man hurry up!” She tapped her foot impatiently arms crossed,

  “Doesn’t it take boys like, two seconds to get ready to go out?”

  Lewis yelled back through the door,

  “I’M COMING! Just a second, don’t worry! Calm down.” The door handle twisted, as Lewis stepped back into the room a strong scent of cheap cologne hit Avery’s senses, she used all her willpower not to gag. Vennessa didn’t do as well keeping it under wraps,

  “Huuurrhh” Her body retched, “What the hell is that, Lewis?!”

  He looked back at her confused,

  “What’s what? My cologne?” He smiled pridefully, “It’s nice, I know right?”

  “NICE!?” Vennessa’s eyes practically popped out, “It’s fucking unbearable.”. Lewis chuckled,

  “In a good way?”

  She shook her head in disapproval,

  “Sure. Whatever will make you happy.” Lewis shook his fist in celebration, a ‘compliment’ from a girl, a big victory for someone like him.

  The rest of that night was quiet, peaceful. Something her life had been lacking for the past 24 hours. She listened to the noises around her, resting her eyes to the soothing chirping, the rustle of the wind blowing in the tree leaves, the piercing noise of bloodcurdling screams.

  “Wait. What?”