Archons - (trial) Volume 1 - Reflective shard

Solace

Solace POV

"Solace, get up!" A sharp voice pierced through my half-conscious state, dragging me out of the soft cocoon of sleep. I groaned, pulling the covers tighter over my head, hoping Luna would give up and leave me alone. But that hope was futile. She was nothing if not persistent. Why was she even trying? I hadn't gone to school in over three months, maybe more. It had been like that for years—ever since I was nine, really.

After our mother died, I made an effort for a while. Tried to set an example, tried to be the older brother Luna needed. I went to school, helped her with things, even made a couple of friends along the way. But that was a long time ago. Now, Luna was the one excelling, and I... well, I didn't see the point. School had always been easy for me, almost too easy. I was the best in every class, the top fighter, always getting near-perfect scores without even trying.

The first trial was coming up soon—the Echo Trial—but I wasn't worried. If anything, it would be just like everything else had been. A breeze. I'd probably sail through it without a second thought and be done with it. And afterward? I'd figure something out. Maybe become an administrator somewhere—easy money, easy life.

Suddenly, I felt a hand clamp down on my ankle with a grip like iron. "Hey!" I yelped, my body jolting awake as I was practically yanked from the bed and dropped onto the floor. I stared up in shock at Luna, rubbing my ankle as the dull ache of her crushing strength lingered.

"Solace! Today's the day. Get up. We have the first trial!" Her voice was crisp, firm, like a bucket of cold water thrown directly in my face. Right. Today was the day. Somehow, I had completely forgotten. I'd planned to do some last-minute prep—maybe skim a few notes—but I'd slept through it. Oh well. No big deal.

I lay on the floor for a moment longer, looking up at Luna, who was standing over me with that no-nonsense expression she had perfected. I hadn't seen her up close in a while, and it struck me how much she had changed. Her eyes were as blue as I remembered, like a lake of pale blue water. Her hair, a striking ethereal white, was longer than I remembered, cascading down her back. And she had clearly been training hard; her muscles were more defined, a quiet testament to her relentless preparation for this day.

"Alright, alright," I muttered, my voice still groggy from sleep. "It slipped my mind... sorry." I offered her a half-hearted apology, watching as her eyebrow twitched in frustration.

Grudgingly, I dragged myself to my feet and started rummaging through my clothes to get dressed.

Fifteen minutes later, we were out the door and walking toward the academy. The entire way, Luna bombarded me with the basics about the Echo Trial, explaining everything like I hadn't heard it a thousand times before. Every kid over the age of five knew the process. It wasn't exactly a secret.

"Are you even listening?" Her voice cut through my thoughts, that familiar edge of annoyance creeping in.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," I replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Drink the elixir, go to the submersion chamber, follow the guidelines, blah blah blah." Honestly, I wasn't even sure if that's what she had said, but it was close enough.

I glanced at her as we walked, and she looked like she was ready to strangle me. I had clearly hit a nerve, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

We arrived at the academy soon after. The grand hall was packed—easily over a thousand students, all gathered for the same purpose. I hadn't seen this many people in one place since... well, since the last time I'd bothered to show up here. Was it always this crowded?

The professors went over the basics again, repeating the same information Luna had been drilling into me all morning. Around me, students were shifting nervously, some biting their nails, others looking pale and terrified. I noticed a girl with trembling hands, her fingers clenching her clothes like they might somehow protect her from what was coming.

I couldn't relate. None of this made me nervous. The odds were in our favour—what was it? One in twenty-five thousand don't make it through the first trial? Those were pretty good numbers.

As the crowd began to form a line to collect the elixir, I stifled a yawn. I was still groggy, the morning haze clinging to me like a stubborn fog. It wouldn't matter soon, though. Once I passed the trial, I wouldn't need to sleep like I did now. Realised Archons only needed to rest every four or five days.

Finally, I reached the front of the queue. A professor I vaguely remembered from years ago handed me a small bottle with a pale silver liquid swirling inside—this was it, the reflective shard elixir. It looked almost otherworldly, the liquid catching the light in strange, beautiful ways.

"Solace, good to see you made it," the professor said, his tone polite but distant, as if he didn't expect me to actually show up.

"Yeah, well, country's orders, right? Gotta get it done," I replied with a shrug, taking the bottle from his hand. Without a second thought, I brought it to my lips and drank it down. The liquid was cool and smooth, with an oddly metallic aftertaste. I followed the other students as we made our way toward the submersion chamber.

"Be safe," a voice whispered behind me, almost too soft to hear. I turned slightly and saw Luna watching me, her expression unusually tense. She was worried about me.

"You too," I muttered back, letting out a small chuckle. She probably didn't hear me.

As we walked, I glanced back at her. She was drinking her elixir, her eyes squeezed shut like she was steeling herself for what was to come. In that moment, she looked so much like our mother—strong, focused, and kind. It tugged at something deep in my chest, but I pushed the feeling away.

The journey to the chamber was quiet. Students filed in, the air thick with nervous energy. The doors to the submersion chamber loomed ahead, and inside was a massive pool filled with a pale blue liquid—nutriflux. Designed to keep our bodies nourished and healthy during the trial, it was a strange substance. Despite being a liquid, you didn't feel or get wet when submerged in it.

I found an empty spot and settled into the pool. It was warm, almost soothing, but not in the way water usually was. There was a gentle hum in the air, a low vibration that made me feel like I was already slipping away.

The time had come. The trial was about to begin.

I closed my eyes and smirked to myself. How many inclinations was I going to have? Three, surely. I was special—one in a billion. I could feel it.

Warmth spread through my body, a sensation like falling into a deep sleep. And then, everything went black.