The True Balance - The School for Good and Evil

Chapter 8 ~ The Final Challange

The cold of the enchanted river hit Agatha like a wave of ice, her breath catching in her throat as she waded in. The golden water shimmered around her, glowing with an unnatural light. Every step felt like a weight dragging her down, and the magic in the water pulsed with a quiet but deadly hum. She could feel its power, ancient and dangerous, trying to pull her under.

Behind her, Aric’s footsteps crunched on the bank. She didn’t dare turn around. If she could just reach the other side before he caught up, she might have a chance.

But Aric wasn’t one to wait.

"You’re making this harder than it needs to be, Agatha." His voice was cold, echoing across the water. He didn’t sound out of breath, didn’t sound like he was worried at all. It was as if he thrived in this chaos, enjoying every moment of her struggle.

Agatha pushed on, her body shivering from the chill of the river. The water reached her waist now, its magical force trying to pull her down with each step. She knew she had to be careful—the enchanted river wasn’t just a physical barrier. It tested the will of anyone who tried to cross, sapping their strength the further they waded into it.

Suddenly, the water swirled violently around her, and a massive current surged, pulling her under. Agatha gasped, fighting to keep her head above the surface, but the river’s magic was too strong. It dragged her down, its icy tendrils wrapping around her legs like chains.

No! Not like this!

She flailed, panic setting in as the water closed over her head. The world became muffled and dark, the golden light fading as the river tried to claim her. Her lungs burned, screaming for air as she struggled against the force pulling her deeper into the abyss.

This can’t be how it ends…

Suddenly, a strong hand gripped her arm, yanking her upward with brutal force. Agatha broke the surface with a gasp, coughing and choking on the frigid air. Her vision cleared, and she found herself face-to-face with Aric.

"Let go!" she sputtered, trying to pull away, but his grip was ironclad.

"Stop fighting me," he growled, his face inches from hers. "I’m not letting you drown. Not here."

Agatha was too stunned to respond. Of all the things Aric could have done, saving her was the last she expected. His expression was unreadable as he dragged her to the riverbank, not releasing her until her feet hit solid ground.

She collapsed on the bank, coughing up water and shivering uncontrollably. For a long moment, she just lay there, catching her breath. Aric crouched a few feet away, watching her with those cold, piercing eyes, but he said nothing. The silence stretched between them like a tightrope, fragile and tense.

"Why?" Agatha finally managed to ask, her voice hoarse. She looked up at him, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Why save me? You could have let me drown and taken the lead."

Aric’s expression didn’t change. He stood slowly, dusting off his hands before speaking. "I don’t want to win like that. You’re not getting off that easy, Agatha." His gaze flicked to the river and back to her. "You’re stronger than you think. Start acting like it."

Agatha clenched her fists, struggling to reconcile the emotions swirling inside her. She hated him—everything he stood for, everything he had done. But at this moment, she didn’t know what to feel. Gratitude? Resentment? Both?

"You don’t know anything about me," she spat, pushing herself to her feet, her body still trembling from the cold. "And I don’t need your help."

Aric’s eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment, something flickered in his gaze—something almost human. "Maybe not," he said softly, "but you’re going to need a lot more than pride to survive this trial."