A Claim Of Power and Origin

Chapter 4: The Trials Continue

The next morning I felt nauseous, my head pounding and my limbs heavy. I had to put a blocking spell to hide from view while preparing the disguise spell. It took so much energy to keep this up; I felt weaker and weaker with each passing moment. I couldn't afford to slip up now, not when we were so close to our goal.

"Are you alright?" Christian's voice was soft but filled with concern.

I looked up at him, grateful for his presence. "I'm... I'm struggling a bit," I admitted, my voice low, "I am just nervous because of these tests."

Christian's brow furrowed with worry. "You need to conserve your strength. Here, let me help." He knelt beside me, his hands gently resting on my shoulders. His touch was warm, and I felt a slight surge of energy as he channeled some of his magic into me.

"Thank you," I said, feeling a bit more stable. "We just need to finish this quickly."

As I continued working on my nerves and trying to stay calm, Jackrina remained absorbed in her preparations, paying us no mind. She was focused on her stuff, meticulously organizing her belongings and muttering.

Christian glanced at her, then back at me. "Ignore her. Just focus on what you need to do."

I nodded, closing my eyes to concentrate. 

Christian stayed close. "You're doing great, Elia," he encouraged, using the false name I had given at the camp registration.

Finally, I finished calming down as much as I could.

Christian helped me to my feet. "You look calmer, whatever spell you did seemed to work"

I managed a weak smile. "Let's hope so."

We stepped out of the tent, ready to face the day's challenges. As we walked towards the training grounds, Christian stayed close, his concern for me evident.

"You need to be careful," he whispered. "If you push yourself too hard, you'll risk losing everything."

"I know," I replied, my voice steadier now. 

Christian nodded, his expression determined. "we'll do it together. I'll help you however I can."

We arrived at the training grounds, where the other participants were gathering. The instructors began explaining the next phase of the tests, but I struggled to focus, my mind still reeling from the effort of the disguise spell.

Christian squeezed my hand discreetly. "Stay with me, Elia. We'll get through this."

I took a deep breath, grounding myself. "I will. Thank you, Christian. I couldn't do this without you."

He smiled warmly. "We're a team. Now let's show them what we're made of."

As the tests began, I pushed through the fatigue, drawing strength from Christian's unwavering support.

Test 2: The Pillars of Strength

The second test, the Pillars of Strength, loomed ahead of us like an ancient challenge from the gods. We gathered at the base of a towering stone structure composed of staggered pillars of varying heights, each one more imposing than the last.

Christian and I exchanged determined looks. "We need to conserve our energy and plan our route," he advised.

"Agreed," I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.

One by one, we began to climb. The first few pillars were manageable, requiring basic physical strength and balance. However, as we ascended, the gaps between the pillars grew wider, and the height increased, making each leap a test of both courage and precision.