Awakening: Book 1 of the Vanquisher Series [GxG]

22

On the day of the Finals, Narvari met Trixan in a part of Draghein School she had never been to. The Elders' Residence. It was the most exquisite home Narvari had ever seen. The serene ambiance within it fit Trixan's calm and tender personality.

Trixan led Narvari to a room with a giant transparent cube. Narvari cocked her head to the side as she gazed at the surreal-looking cube. She looked back at Trixan, wondering what they were doing here.

"Where's my Finals going to be?" Narvari asked. She was hoping to go to Ghana. She had heard there were a lot of demons in the Ghanaian parliament and she would like to pay a little visit to them. "Am I going to a town or a village? Or maybe a city. That sounds fun."

"I have something else in mind."

"What?"

Trixan pointed to the massive cube. "You're going to Narraghan, my dear."

"Narrawhat?"

"Narraghan. It's a void dimension where we send demons we haven't vanquished. Think of it as a prison for demons."

"I have so many questions." Narvari folded her arms. "What's a void dimension? And why not send the demons back to Bezvar instead? That's their home, right?"

"Mostly, yes. But it's a waste of time sending them back to Bezvar. Vessels would only end up summoning them back to earth. It's how they ended up on earth in the first place."

Narvari's eyes widened. Vessels are the reason why demons are on earth?

"In Narraghan, however," Trixan continued, "a Vessel can't summon the demon."

"Because it's a void dimension?" Whatever the hell that was.

Trixan shook her head. "No, my dear. Because it was designed by the greatest magician alive. Don't worry too much about the specifics, my dear. All you need to know is that you have to survive there for three days. I've programmed the portal cube to bring you back as soon as the time is up."

Narvari nodded. "Are there any rules?"

"Just one," said Trixan. Her deep green eyes intently gazed at Narvari. She put a hand on Narvari's shoulder. "Stay alive, my dear. Narraghan is not a simulation. Everything you see there is real. If you die, you die."

Narvari bit her lips.

"However," said Trixan, taking off her xuul. "You can choose to opt-out of the Finals if you feel you are in danger. Take the xuul. Once you press this button, you will immediately be brought back home."

Narvari looked at the cute device. It looked like a wristband with a touchscreen. "I won't pass my Finals if I call for help, will I?"

"No, you will not, my dear. But you can always try next year."

Narvari paused. "I don't think so. I'll do this. You should keep your xuul."

"Are you certain, my dear?"

"I thought you believed in me."

Trixan smiled fondly. "I do." She put the xuul back on her wrist.

"I don't want you getting involved in the Finals, Trixan." Narvari gave the Elder a meaningful stare. She didn't want the woman intervening even if she was in danger. That would make everything Narvari had worked for becoming futile. "I can do this."

Trixan nodded. "I know. Now get inside the cube, my dear."

Without hesitation, Narvari sauntered towards the cube. She halted in front of the empty glass cube and turned to look at Trixan. "I don't see an opening anywhere."