Trials of the Continent

Chapter 6: A Test of Trust

hazards and cutting off potential paths. Ameir caught himself on a jagged rock, his breath coming in short gasps.
Noah was the first to move. With a grunt of determination, he surged forward, his movements swift and calculated as he leapt over a narrow chasm and landed smoothly on the other side. Viktor followed with surprising agility, his smirk never fading as he navigated the terrain effortlessly.
Finn hesitated, his face twisted in uncertainty as he studied the shifting landscape, trying to find a way forward. Ameir's chest tightened as he recalled the younger boy's panic during the last trial—the way Finn had faltered when the pressure mounted.
"Finn, stick to the left!" Isabel's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos. "The ground's more stable there!"
Finn nodded, his face hardening with renewed focus as he followed her advice. Ameir watched with a mixture of admiration and guilt. Isabel had made a quick, calculated decision, but there was something else—something generous in her willingness to help, despite the stakes.
Ameir turned his attention back to the treacherous landscape before him. Every step felt like a gamble. The ground could shift at any moment, sending him tumbling into the river below, or worse.
His thoughts swirled as he watched Noah and Viktor steadily make their way toward the beacon. The two men were like forces of nature—unstoppable, certain. Ameir felt like he was barely keeping pace.
What am I even doing here? Ameir thought, his chest tightening with insecurity. I don't belong with these people.
But then, the image of Layla flickered in his mind—her unwavering belief in him, their late nights spent in the workshop, dreaming of something more. He couldn't stop now. Not when he had come so far. Not when he was finally fighting for a chance to prove himself.
Clenching his fists, Ameir took a careful step forward, each movement deliberate as he tested the ground beneath him. He focused on the mechanics of the challenge, treating it like one of his inventions. The terrain was just another problem to solve.
Isabel moved with the same precision, her every step measured. At one point, she paused, her hand reaching out to steady Finn as he navigated a particularly unstable section. "Thanks," Finn muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible above the hum of shifting stone.
"Don't mention it," Isabel replied without looking back, her tone matter-of-fact.
Ameir couldn't help but feel a flicker of respect for her. She wasn't just competing for herself—she was ensuring that others had a chance too.
But then there was Layana. Ameir couldn't tear his eyes away from her, the way she glided through the arena with eerie grace. There was something almost otherworldly in the fluidity of her movements, as if the arena itself bent to her will. She didn't speak, didn't offer help, and yet there was an undeniable power in her silence.
The trial pressed on, and the stakes became increasingly clear. Noah reached a narrow bridge of unstable planks. Without hesitation, he crossed, his strides confident and sure. Viktor, trailing behind, wore his usual smirk, but as soon as Noah cleared the bridge, Viktor kicked one of the planks loose, making the path even more treacherous for the next person.
Ameir's heart sank. This wasn't just a test of skill. It was a battlefield. And trust was a luxury none of them could afford.
Ameir hesitated at the base of a steep incline, his mind racing. He could see Finn struggling further back, his progress slow and unsteady. Ameir felt a pang of guilt, knowing he had to choose between advancing and helping. But every second spent on someone else was a second lost in the race to the beacon.
I can't keep making the same mistake, Ameir thought, recalling Kaito's hesitation during the last trial, the way the younger boy had faltered, paralyzed by his own doubt.
Before he could second-guess himself, Ameir turned back toward Finn.
"Here," he said, extending a hand. "Lean on me. We'll get through this together."
Finn looked up at him, surprise and gratitude flashing in his eyes. "Thanks," he whispered, his voice shaky.
As they moved forward, Ameir felt a strange weight lift from his chest. The trial was still a battlefield, still a dangerous game. But for the first time, Ameir felt that he was doing something that truly mattered.