The testing grounds consisted of the floating islands Daimona had seen before, when they had first arrived for their first day. On each island stood a taller version of the black tower they had all been sleeping in, with white flags billowing from the top of each one. Standing in the center of the middle island, Judith stretched her arms out and gestured to the bigger islands to her right and left.
“This year, we’ll be hosting the capture the flag trial in our sky arena,” she announced, eyes gleaming with excitement. Daimona thought she would have made a good harlequin, the way Judith always bristled at the attention. She was about to make the comment to Irina, when she noticed the enemy squad shifting. Despite her more put-together appearance, Bash was starting to unfurl again, hands shaking at her sides in two clammy, pale fists. To her captain’s left, Leka looked on with concern, putting a gentle arm around Bash’s shoulder and whispering to her with a sympathetic look.
“Look,” Daimona said, pointing out the scene to Irina. Irina tilted her head, glowering down at the rival duo with a curious look. Bash clamped one hand over her mouth, eyes sliding to the edge of the island. Her whole body was threatening to lurch over.
“The heights are making the vedma skittish,” Irina replied with a chuckle.
“Do you think Will knows?”
Will chatted with Norok and Kell behind them, deep in conversation and clearly unaware of Bash’s stifled retching noises. Irina smirked, shaking her head and linked her arm around Daimona’s as she whispered. “Let it be fun surprise for later.”
Daimona nodded enthusiastically, her mind overtaken with images of shoving Bash off the edge and watching her panic as she hurtled through the air.
“Squad 46,” Pultz called. An ice imp popped out of the ground, dancing as it pointed to the leftmost tower. “Your base is this one. Defend it like your life depends on it, because it does.”
“You’ll all have ten minutes to prepare yourselves. We’ll send out a flare to signal the beginning of the trial,” Judith added warmly. Both squads began to diverge from the center island, and Daimona gave one final glance to the other side. Across from her, the last to walk the rope bridge was Frode. He smiled openly towards her, waving at her with one hand and holding on to a small, yellow pouch with the other.
“Daimona!” he called, his soft voice curling around each syllable of her name. “I want to cash my question in!”
She pointed her nose up, sneering at his attempt to throw her off. Daimona growled, stern and low, “What do you want, Frode?”
Much to her chagrin, he didn’t seem taken back by her hostility. His golden eyes glowed brighter, a pink tinge to his cheeks as he called back, “What’s your favorite color?”
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Daimona hesitated. She hadn’t really had one, not since she was a kid at least. But somehow, in this place where everyone was so desperate to be something else or something more, she could feel herself regaining lost fragments of her identity, and so after a reflective beat she confidently answered, “It’s blue.”
Carefully, he plucked a chalky, blue pebble from his pouch and tossed it to her. She caught it, cupping it with both hands as though it were something precious.
“For good luck,” he said with a wink.
“I won’t need it,” Daimona replied with a scowl.
“No,” Frode laughed, shouting over his shoulder before darting off to catch up with his squad, “But I will!”
“Daimona!” Norok called from the end of the bridge. Quickly, she pocketed the rock and sprinted off to join the rest. Kell was already pushing through the entrance to their tower by the time she arrived, tailing in after her brother. Norok gave her a judgemental look.
“What’re you doing cavorting with the enemy?” he asked.
Daimona’s cheeks burned. She stuck her tongue out at him before she mocked, “Like you didn’t do it first!”
The base of the tower was empty, save for a few decorative banners featuring the sword insignia and their squad number hanging from the sides. Norok and Daimona continued jabbing one another viciously as they climbed the spiral staircase winding around the walls.
“You better not mess this up Norok,” Daimona huffed. “Otherwise Will’s gonna put you back on mop duty.”
“Please, if anyone’s gonna mess this up it’s you,” he retorted, arrogantly tugging at his silver cuffed sleeves. “That thick skull of yours is gonna end up taking us all off the edge.”
Daimona scoffed. “At least we can use mine for something!”
“Maybe as a battering ram,” Norok spat.
“Knock it off, you two,” Will sighed. They reached the top of the tower, where the open air greeted them once more. The flag was much more intricate now that Daimona could see it up close; sewn feathers of navy blue embroidered the sides, the silver thread boasting their squad number shimmering in the bright light of the morning sun. Will immediately tore it from the pole, shredding the side.
“Will, you’re ruining it!” Kell whined.
“If it stays here, the others will have no problem getting to it,” Will explained, rolling it down haphazardly. Then, he held it out to Irina. “Here.”
“You want Irina to keep it?” Norok asked, mouth agape as Irina took it. She glared at Norok, causing him to snap his head to the side to avoid her withering look. “I mean, what if, uh… What if she drops it?”
“Smirnov is our best bet at keeping the flag hidden. It’s what she excels at,” Will replied confidently. A green flare shot off, illuminating Irina’s prideful face with an emerald hue. From the other side, Daimona could see Zia’s wings spring forth, her figure leaping off the side of the tower carrying another in her arms. She licked her lips, fangs bared as they approached.
“You have your orders,” Will announced. “Let’s end this now.”
