Hallor Chronicles

CHAPTER XXIX. - LAST STAND AT THE FINALS: FAMILIAR AND CHAMPIONS

The trumpets are still going when Ledon is already sprinting towards the first square. It's against the rules to start early, but his timing was perfect and it seemed like he went as soon as the trumpets stopped. I can't be just watching him though and I quickly need to find a challenge I can pass.

Reilly has activated her square and is forced to punch through a stone cube. She activated her powers and enforced her body, but it's not enough and her knuckles are starting to bleed. Reilly doesn't stop though and is determined to pass this challenge. If she backs out, the challenge will restart and she will have to go again, or find a different path. That's why I need to be careful in picking a challenge for me. Something easy that won't strain my body much.

First one to secure a square is Corvina. She spawned her staff – a light brown wood straight pole that is enclosing a larger blue crystal first. The staff continues into a pointy tip with another smaller crystal in a rhombus shape. Both crystals light up as Corvina stands on a square and proceeds with some sort of a spell. Without the hand movements, I have no idea which one she is casting, but I figure it out pretty fast. The square breaks and throught he crack in the dirt, a small sprout appears. It grows quick, maturing into a full flower under seconds, blooming with a silver lily. It usually takes minutes to concentrate and summon a Khauta Silver, but Corvina did it under fifteen seconds. Impressed and slightly intimidated by Corvina's power, I take a few steps back on reflex.

Aideen isn't much behind them either. She passed through the free square, finding a perfect path towards the winning square. There is one challenge in front of her that she needs to activate to pass, but still, she is moving way to fast.

Solya: Easy for her with the animal sight. But I can do it too.

Me: What do you mean?

Solya: That Mithran shifter changes her eyes to gain good vision, seeing through tthe squares to find the empty ones. It's her own power though and not considered cheating, but it sucks. Luckily, I cna do something similar if I can bend the light correctly.

Solya offers to find a path for me, so I can take it easy and rest more. I feel useless and angry at myself, but Ledona nd Mairi aren't my biggest enemy today. Instea, I should focus on saving strenght and facing strogner oponent, Saxa and Cohen. If we manage to win this match that is.

Focused on staying on the path Solya found for me, I haven't noticed when Aideen managed to disappear. I quickly look at the winning square, but the cup is still there. Wondering where she went, I frantically searcht he whole chess board. My gaze stops to watch three ravens flying above an activated square and a bright red fox jumping to catch them. It grabs one into it's mouth and lands gracefully. Deep green eyes focus on me, then I realize that't Aideen. She growls and goes back to catching the remaining birds.

It was so adorable to watch I let down my guard completely. That was a big mistake and I couldn't react in time. From the side, I saw Mairi activate an hourglass challenge. It spawned empty and she had to fill it. Through her air Manifestation, she gathered the dust created by Reilly punching away at the cube. Mairi uses it to also spread the dust around, creating a cloud. I can't see anythign anymore, my eyes and lungs are being filled with dust and sand. I don't know which way to go to safety and I am forced to drop on the floor. The air is so dry, my throat gets scraped as I am trying to clear my lungs.

It is weirdly dry inside this sand storm. I get the dust is being spread around, limiting the oxygen, but I feel like the water is getting sucked out of my body in a strange way. Bringing my arms closer to face in order to protect my eyes, I can barely see it, but I do notice the sweat drops being pulled away from my skin.