Page 38 of Vardaesia
“Oh, boy,” Bear whispered, not saying any more. Partly because there was nothing hecouldsay, but also because he became distracted when, with a bright flash of light, six other people joined them.
The group of Tia Aurans included five males and one female, none of whom Alex recognised, each wearing similar dark leathery outfits. They didn’t explain their presence—indeed, they said nothing at all. Instead, they looked curiously out into the void, unfazed by the clouded stairs of death—unlike Alex and her friends.
“Today, your courage shall be tested,” Saefii’s voice echoed all around them. “To pass this Gate, you must compete in a race. Unlike your tasks so far, this one will be counted on an individual basis. There shall be only one winner—if that winner hails from Medora, then as a group, you will pass. If, however, a Tia Auran prevails, you will fail.”
Six against six. Not terrible odds, had they been on even ground. Literallyandfiguratively. Because ignoring the concerning presumption about the floating cloud-steps, there was something else to consider as well—something more biological. While Alex had yet to see evidence of the otherworldly race’s true capabilities, aside from their flash-transportation abilities, she was certain they had other immortal talents up their sleeves. After all, there was no way they would have been able to banish the Meyarins if they hadn’t matched them in strength, speed and skill.
“Forgive me for saying this,” Alex called out, “but I can’t help questioning the fairness of pitting our two vastly different races against each other, not when one has some distinct… advantages.”
Saefii’s reply held a hint of amusement as she said, “You entered the Gate of Courage, Alexandra. Not the Gate of Fairness.”
That wasn’t one of our options, Alex grumbled internally.
“But to show we can be reasonable, those whom you are racing have already agreed not toparron.”
The foreign word translated to Alex as a mixture between ‘flash’ and ‘move’—making it easy for her to figure out that it was the name the Tia Aurans used for flash-teleporting.
“While grateful for that… allowance…” Alex said slowly, “I was referring to your other physical abilities.” Or what she presumed of them.
“A test without challenge would require little courage,” came Saefii’s only reply. “Now prepare yourselves, humans.And listen closely. While only one of you must win the race, in order to qualify, you mustallmake it toLendasa Marna. Whether or not you continue from there is up to you, but if you are to have any chance of success, at least one of you must travel a full circuit after reaching that as your starting point. The first challenger who sets foot back onLendasa Marnaafter completing the circuit will be declared the victor.”
Little of what Saefii had said made sense, but the translation ofLendasa Marnaechoed around Alex’s mind, causing her brow to furrow at its familiarity. She didn’t have time to ask any further questions, however, because without any other warning, the empress called out, “You may begin.”
With a burst of impossible speed, all six of the Tia Aurans took off, their steps unfaltering as they leapt from the edge of the clouded land. Each of them bounded without pause between the separated stairs of death on their treacherous upward mission, making it look like little more than an inclined game of hopscotch.
“Holy mother of—”
“Go, Alex!” Kaiden cried to interrupt Declan, knowing she was the only one who could keep up with the speed the Tia Aurans exhibited. “We’ll meet you up there!”
Not wanting to leave her friends but also aware that if they failed this task, they doomed their entire world, Alex blurred off with Meyarin speed in the direction of the Tia Aurans, not sparing a moment to second-guess herself as she jumped over the ledge and onto the nearest puff of cloud. The instant she landed she understood why the others were moving so swiftly—theyhadto, since the floating platforms weren’t stable underfoot. As soon as her weight rested on the cloud, it began tipping, prompting her to windmill her arms. It was as if she were standing atop a kayak floating in water, desperately trying to keep her balance. But instead of soft liquid beneath her, therewas an impossibly vast abyss—one that she could not afford to fall into.
Praying that her friends would be smart enough to help each other climb slowly and safely—and also hoping Kaiden had some kind of handy gift like levitation that would help them all reach their destination in one piece—Alex shoved her concerns aside and focused on her own arduous journey.
Up and up she jumped from cloud burst to cloud burst, blurring through the sky until she was so high that she could no longer see her friends beneath her. She was taking dangerous risks, some of her leaps being without the care or calculation they needed, especially as she rose higher and the jumps became more treacherous. But her risks were paying off, because while the Tia Aurans had been first off the mark, she was starting to catch up. They were fast, but so was she. And when she overtook the first of them—a male with hair long enough to tie at his nape—she did her best to ignore his furious snarl and livid eyes as she sailed by on the clouds to his left.
Making a note to steer well clear of him, Alex continued upwards, panting heavily but not ceasing her efforts—nor lessening the risks she took. In the back of her mind, she was aware that she felt weaker than normal; that the effect of her ring was making the already difficult task even more challenging. Sweat was beading on her skin and she felt light-headed, but at the same time, adrenaline was pumping through her veins, enabling her to continue leaping from cloud to cloud in her desperate attempt to win the race.
She passed three more Tia Aurans, each of whom looked at her with almost as much shock and fury as the first, but she paid them no mind and remained focused on her goal, knowing that her friends—and her world—were relying on her.
Everything was going well until she caught up to the leading Tia Auran. One second she was drawing even with him, enoughto see his startled expression, and the next she was hit by a bout of lightheadedness so severe that, as she leapt dizzily towards her next cloud, she instinctively knew she wasn’t going to make it.
Fear overwhelmed her as she undershot her mark, her feet missing the small platform but her upper body slamming into it. With her arms clinging to the solid vapour mass, she scrambled to heave herself back up, but gravity was against her and the cloud began turning from her weight, rotating around towards her.
Uttering a panicked sound, Alex tried to rebalance the platform, but it was no use. Inch by painful inch it flipped up and over until her fingers began slipping.
And then, when she could hold on no more, a scream left her mouth as her grip failed entirely and she fell.
Thirteen
Time slowed down in the moment herfingers held nothing but air, enough for Alex to know this was it for her; this was how she would die. She’d been so eager to overtake the lead Tia Auran that she’d taken undue risks in her weakened state, and now she was going to pay for it with her life.
Except… that wasn’t what happened.
Because one second she was falling, and the next a body slammed into hers. Two arms wrapped tightly around her, carrying her like a bride through the air until her rescuer landed on the next cloud-platform over.
“Gotcha,” said the Tia Auran male—the one who had been in the lead.
Alex could only gape at him as he continued leaping with her in his arms, having no idea why he’d saved her life—and in doing so, given up the advantage he’d had. Three of the others had already overtaken them since he was now laboured by her weight, with the final two closing in.
