Flames of Ashes

Chapter Three. The Tests.

"The true test of bravery is when you sacrifice, even when there is nothing left to be sacrificed."~ Athika.

***
Fire. Everywhere was on fire and I was in the middle of it all. I heard people scream and beg the gods for help. The smoke entering my lungs was nothing compared to the fire burning in my heart.

"Xari, take my hand. We have to leave!" The voice was urgent and even in the clouds of smoke, I could still make out the bluest eyes and blonde hair. Arthur. It was Arthur tugging at me.

"We cannot leave without Maze and Drake," I shook my head, coughing as the fumes became too much. The fire was spreading and about to reach my floor.

"Xari, this is not the time to be Athika. We need to get out of here. Mazikeen and Drakon will take the tunnels and meet us outside. You know that" He grabbed my hand, leading me away from the fire.

Twice. If I turned back, I might never see them again. I had to help them. They were my best friends, my family.
"But Arthur-"

"They will be fine. We will all be fine. Trust me" He reassured me and I did. I trusted him when I should have stayed with all of them.

"Arthur! Drake! Maze!" I shouted, but no one answered. The whole building was on fire and I was outside. I survived.

"Please! Arthur, please! Malax! Athika! Oceania! Someone, please help!" I also needed help. The burns on my body hurt like crazy, but I needed my friends.
"Arthur you promised me! Please! Don't leave me!" I was on my knees. I was alive. 10,000 people in the building and I was the only one that survived. It wasn't fair.
***
I blinked away the tears threatening to fall. I couldn't cry in front of the hundreds of people, waiting to start the tests.

I sighed. I knew I was going to die, but now the certainty I felt in my bones had increased. Before we could start, we had to say our names to an attendant at the foot of the steps.

"Xarian-Jarda, of calyptex Ruby." Everyone stared at me like I was a meal. I was going to be a meal.
Eldor the Dragon wasn't a god, but I prayed to him like he was. He was alive and although dragons were mystical beings, he couldn't hear me, but I still tried my luck.

I wore the same outfit I wore for Flame Day except this one was white.
My hair which was darker than a raven's and almost rivaled the night, was done into two braids. That was how black my hair was and I loved it because it shined when it was wet. Beauty and outshining everyone in a room, had never been a problem. I was beautiful enough to be considered the goddess of the night. Which was fair because there was already a god of the night, Verdia.

But none of that was important after the death of my friends. Maze always called me Verdia's wife. She could also be a goddess. The goddess of nature. Her green eyes made it easy for her to become that. She should have survived. If I had only went with Davikon, I could have saved her. The guilt always played on my heartstrings, along with the betrayal I felt.

I wore a cross-body bag that had bread, ointments, and water. In my leather pants, I attached a sheath that I learned to make and put the only weapon I had, a dagger.

The first test was to climb a staircase. Each step was wide enough to contain 3 to 4 persons. However, underneath the stairs was nothing. Nothing held the stairs. It had a beginning, which was where I was standing, and an end I couldn't see. So, if you fell sideways let's just say you would have the privilege of meeting Davikon, the god of death.

I was part of the first batch of people climbing. Despite the hateful and murderous stares, everything seemed easy. Maybe Eldor did hear me.

I tripped on something and I was about to fall when firm hands wrapped around my waist steadying me.