One Sarcastic Survival

Flying High... Except I Can't Fly

Oh, perfect. 

Just what I needed: a lesson in humiliation!

The other students were buzzing with excitement, eager to prove their strength, while I was quietly freaking out on the inside. You see, there's a little problem with this whole test situation.

Spoiler alert: I can't fly.

Kalego: The first test is simple. You must demonstrate your ability to fly. Those who fail... will fall.

Fly?! 

Oh no, no, no. 

This is bad. 

Very bad.

I glanced around as demon after demon stretched their wings, getting ready to take off. There were wings of all shapes and sizes—bat wings, dragon wings, even weird insect wings. Meanwhile, I was standing there like an idiot with no wings at all.

Great. 

Of course, they start with flying. 

Why wouldn't they?

I was just hoping—praying—that maybe, just maybe, I could sneak off without Kalego noticing. But of course, luck is never on my side.

Kalego: You.

Oh no. 

Please don't be talking to me.

Kalego's cold, piercing gaze locked onto me like a heat-seeking missile. My heart sank.

Me: Uh... me?

Kalego: Yes, you. Why aren't you preparing to fly?

Think, .....Think fast. 

What's your excuse?

Me: Uh, well, you see... I kind of... forgot my wings?

The crowd of students started murmuring, clearly intrigued by the weird human-looking demon who somehow "forgot his wings." Kalego, of course, was not amused. His scowl deepened.

Kalego: Forgot your wings, huh? Then allow me to give you a reminder.

Before I could even process what was happening, Kalego raised his hand, and with a simple flick of his wrist, I was airborne. Or, more accurately, I was falling off the edge of the platform.

Me: AHHHHHHHHH!

I plummeted through the air, arms flailing like a ragdoll. The ground below seemed to stretch into an endless void. My life was flashing before my eyes—well, mostly just all the times I'd narrowly avoided death up until now. Great memories.

This is it. 

This is how I die. 

Because some jerk decided to test if I could fly!

But just before I became a human pancake, my instincts kicked in. I twisted mid-air and managed to grab hold of a jagged rock jutting out from the side of the cliff. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest.

Okay, okay, breathe. 

You're not dead yet.

I clung to the rock for dear life, trying to catch my breath. The other students were flying around like it was no big deal, doing loops and tricks in the air. Meanwhile, I was hanging onto a cliffside, trying not to fall into the abyss below.

Kalego: Impressive. You haven't fallen yet.

Oh, great. 

Now he's complimenting my ability to cling to a rock.