His Apprentice (The Dragon Prince Fanfiction)

Ch. 15 The Test

"I am not lying in water. No way!" Heather crossed her arms, tossing her head.

Aaravos stared blankly at her. "Yes, you will. You have never studied how to project your spirit; the water will help."

Heather sighed, looking at windows filed with cascading beams of pale light from the full moon, its dark filigree lines casting swirling shadows onto the copper-blue floor below them. The pool was an oval-shaped dip in the higher floor ahead over her. She ascended the pale-tiled steps up to the bowl, peering into the moonlight-lit water and cyan tiles.

Heather drew in a quiet breath. Why was she loathing lying in water? She crawled through mud for months on end to become a soldier. Why did this bother her so?

Deep in her gut, something felt... wrong. She felt sick and regret and... scared.

Her pointed ears dipped, and she pressed her thumb into her opposite palm. "And it has to be tonight?" she asked sadly, looking at Aaravos with wide, frightened eyes.

He inclined his head. "The test can only occur on the solstices... unless you want to wait six months?"

Heather couldn't tell if he was joking or not. She looked down in thought. To wait that long would kill her, plus this unfinished form didn't quite suit her. "Alright, now is the best time, I suppose."

She sighed and lifted her bare foot into the water. It was lukewarm, to her surprise. Heather lowered herself into the water, allowing her body to be enveloped by the liquid. Her face was the only part of her body untouched by the water.

Aaravos appeared by her side, looming over her. "Close your eyes and let your mind go blank, ill meet you there." He paused as her eyes drifted closed and he drew a shimmering purple rune. "Good luck, Heather Scorchmarkdaughter."

*~*~*~*

All was quiet, and the expanse was dark. Heather looked down; she could see her body as well as if the sun was high. Heather frowned; she didn't like this feeling. She was weightless in somewhere unfamiliar with no distinguishing features, no way to tell what was left or right, north or south, east or west. It was discomforting.

"Aaravos?"

Her call echoed around her.

Heather spun around, heart quickening. Drawing in a long breath, she closed her eyes, gathering herself. "He'll be here soon." She assured herself. "He'll be here to help me through this. I know he will."

She opened her eyes, calm again, and determined he'd show up.

A bright light came from behind her. "Your master cannot help you," a deep voice boomed.

"Mentor." Heather corrected quietly as she turned around. She winced at the bright light as five figures drifted down from the orb of light, each one tall and elegantly dressed. The one in the centre was the tallest of them all, with milky white skin, long midnight blue robes and the most elegant set of golden antlers Heather had ever seen. She found him strangely familiar. Every one of them had stars scattered across their body. These elves were the council that would test her, according to Aaravos.

A chill of fear ran down heather's spine as she looked at the tall, glowing figures. "Where's Aaravos? He said he'd help me."

The middle figure barked a laugh. He was the booming voice that had alerted her. His body glowed a little brighter as he spoke. "That fool will not be permitted to interfere with this test. If you are truly worthy of a connection to the stars, you will pass this test on your own." He peered down at her, the light around him fading to the same strength as the others'