And I’m not slowing down.
As I step into the next section of the maze, I stop short. A massive wall—easily 100 feet tall—looms before me, smooth and featureless, towering above everything else. There’s no way around it, no handholds, no rope. The only way is up.
Selene arrives at my side, eyes narrowed as she studies thechallenge. Her lips curl into a smirk. Without hesitation, she uses her Strength to create a series of footholds in the ice wall and she immediately starts climbing, barely taking a breath. Her body is easily probably twice as strong as mine, and I wouldn’t make it half way up the wall before my muscles gave out.
She’s fast, but I don’t need speed right now. I need power. This is what I’ve saved my magic for.
I take a deep breath, grounding myself as I stretch out my hands. The moisture in the air condenses in front of me, swirling as I summon every drop of water I can pull from the surrounding environment. The pressure builds, the power thrumming through me like a current.
I don’t just want to climb this wall—I want to dominate it.
With a fierce burst of energy, I channel the water, shaping it into a massive wave. It rises higher and higher, swelling to match the height of the wall. The force of it is exhilarating, the power coursing through my veins as the wave towers above me, the sound of rushing water filling my ears.
“Come on,” I whisper to myself, and then I jump.
The wave catches me, lifting me up like I’m weightless. I ride the crest, the icy chill of the water wrapping around me as I soar toward the top of the wall. The cold nips at my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the thrill of this power, the surge of magic that propels me forward.
The top of the wall comes into view, and I focus, tightening my grip on the water as I guide it forward. The wave crashes against the wall, and I leap off, landing on the top ledge with a soft thud, the water dissipating behind me in a mist of icy droplets.
I glance down just in time to see Selene still climbing, almost three-quarters to the top.
She glares at me, but I ignore her. My heart is still racingfrom the thrill of the surf, the power of the wave fresh in my mind. Without looking back, I step forward. There’s still more ahead, and I won’t stop until I win.
The moment I step into the third section of the maze, I can almost taste the danger. The wide, circular arena stretches before me, and I know immediately what this means—combat. Weapons of all kinds line the walls, glinting in the low light. Despite knowing I will mostly use my magic, I grab a staff
The second I step onto the field the ground trembles. A low, grinding noise rumbles through the arena, sending vibrations up through my feet. From the centre of the arena, a massive creature—larger than any opponent I’ve ever faced—rises. Its body is made of dense stone and ice, sharp edges and jagged surfaces reflecting the faint light. Its eyes glow a fierce blue, flickering like cold fire, and with every movement, the air crackles with the weight of its power.
Selene arrives beside me, her eyes narrowing as she sizes up the creature.
“Frostfang,” we both mutter under our breath at the same time.
An enormous snow monster, designed to test every ounce of strength, endurance, and combat skill we have.
For a brief moment, we stand in silence, both calculating our moves. The monster roars, its voice echoing through the space, and without warning, it lunges. Its thick arms swing like wrecking balls, and I can hear the grinding of stone as it drags one massive hand across the arena floor, sending sparks flying.
“Move!” I shout at Selene as it leaps into the air.
We both run in opposite directions as it lands mere metres where we stand, the whole arena shaking from the impact. I barely have time to throw up a shield out of the way to deflect the debris. My pulse pounds in my ears, but Iknow I have to stay focused. This isn’t just about dodging—it’s about defeating it.
“Selene!” I shout across the field to her over the roar of the creature. “We’d be better off working together!”
She shoots me a glance, her lips curling into a smirk. “We’re competitors, not friends,” she spits back, summoning her magic as she conjures a sleek ice spear in her hand. Without another word, she charges the Frostfang.
I’ll give her this, she’s no coward.
I watch her for a split second, frustration gnawing at me. She always wants to go it alone, even when teamwork would make sense, would ensure the survival of us both instead of maybe neither of us. If only it were Doran standing next to me, I think, wishing for the ease and trust I always had when training with him.
But there’s no time to dwell on it. The Frostfang swings its massive arm at Selene, and she’s barely fast enough to dodge the blow. She hurls the spear, the ice glinting as it flies toward the creature’s head, but it shatters against the creature’s stone exterior, leaving barely a scratch.
The monster’s attention shifts to me, and it charges, one arm swinging wide. I leap to the side, sending a freezing stream toward its legs. Ice creeps up the stone, locking its joints, but it’s not enough.
The Frostfang roars in frustration, shaking off the ice with a kick, and I barely dodge its next swing. My heart races as I look for an opening, a way to use the water to slow it down.
Think, Eira. Think.
Suddenly, Selene lets out a sharp cry. I turn just in time to see her hit by a glancing blow from the Frostfang, sent tumbling across the ground. She rolls to a stop, clutching her side, blood seeping through her fingers. My stomach twists at the sight, but Selene grits her teeth and pushes herself up.
Without thinking, I rush over to her side, extending a hand.
