Golden Sun

Igniting, Extinguishing and Forgetting

A/N: When I first started writing this chapter, it was way longer than I expected, so I spit the chapter into two.
CW for corpses and  of said corpses (this is my first time writing this kind of thing, so if you can, please give me advice.)

Naturally, being a Flamrie, you possessed a body temperature much higher than the average witch or demon...

But as you gazed down at the golden mask being worn by the lifeless and frozen body, even your blood ran cold.

○⊙Earlier that day⊙○

For the past few weeks, as apart of the Coven Scout 'training' you've had to have duel with other Scouts in Training, go through a maze filled with traps, and some others you'd rather not recall. And today was the final one:

Being left on top of a Mountain, and see who makes it back down

When the Coven Scout training had started, there were around twenty people, all from different schools, or even different parts of the Boiling Isles.

But now there were only four people left on this Airship. Well technically only three of them (including you) were Scouts in training. The other one was the one and only(?) Golden Guard. (And Firecracker was under your cloak, but thankfully, they were asleep and no one noticed)

He was at the front of the Airship, steering the wheel towards your final destination: The Yule mountains, named after Emporer Belos's first(?) Golden Guard.

A few decades ago, Scount training was on The Knee, but due to it being used mostly for Witches practicing magic, the changed it to the Yule montains.

You smile nostalgically as you remember the days where Lilith would take you to the mountain, before she developed the potion that you use to keep you body temperature down. Lilith was mostly only there because hse needed to do coven work,  but luckily, you don't have a problem with the cold. Not that you ven know what it feels like.

Speaking of that potion, you didn't take it this morning, as a way to prepare for the cold of the montain. So right now, you were uncomfortably warm, but you can endure it.

As you go closer to the montain, you saw as the snowflakes gently went against the windows of the Airship. You notice that the other two Recruits were slightly shivering.

After a few minutes, the Airship lands on a clearing, surrounded by blue flowers.

You and the other recruits stand in a straight line, facing the door. The Golden Guard stands in front of you all.

"Recruits! As you know, your instuctions are as follows: You will be given basic supplies and a days worth of rations." The Golden Guard says in a much more commanding voice than when you first met him.

"The ones who make it back down the mountain alive with be given Coven sigils and officially join the Emporers Coven." When you and the other Recruits heard that, you all straightened your backs.

"This task in particular will be especially challenging, as unlike with your other training, you will not be rescued if you are unable to make it back down." He was visibly uncomfortable saying the last part, despite the mask blocking your view of his face.

"Ever since The Owl Lady and other Wild Witches have been disturbing Coven Scouts, Emporer Belos made the training requirements...stricter." The Golden Guard akwardly cleared his throat and gestured towards the supplies bag.