The School for Good and Evil: Another Story

10~Trial by Tale

Days went by and Rose steadily crept up the rankings from seventh to fourth. The only three students in the school with better ranks were Richard, Mia and Raven, in that order. Rose became quite good at flirting from Professor Anemone. He learned the proper way to accept invitations to dance and how to dance with Pollux. Princess Uma was able to teach Rose how to adequately speak to horses, birds, and dogs. But as every day passed and every number Rose earned he was reminded constantly of the upcoming Ball.

At least the Trial by Tale would be before. At least Rose would have a chance to prove himself that he belonged here before he was failed.

Days ticked by and the Trial by Tale grew closer, as did the Snow Ball. Rose held his place in fourth throughout these days and when the day before the Trial by Tail came Rose was among the Evers scouting out the forest.

As Rose wandered the Blue Forest alone plants pined for his attention and Rose couldn't resist reaching out for them as they reached out for him. He hoped they would be feeling helpful tomorrow when the Trial started.

At dinner the eight friends sat down while Rose, Richard, Mia, Julie, Cedric and Raven fretted over the Trial. Lily and Peter were ranked sixteen and twenty and would not be joining them. They promised they would be cheering from outside, even if they would not be hearing them.

Morning came and Lily and Peter almost had to force food into their friends they were so worried. The students walked out towards the gates to the Blue Forest where all the staff was awaiting for them. Lily clasped hands with Cedric in encouragement and Peter grabbed Julie's. Mia and Richard huddled together to comfort each other.

To start off the Trial by Tale the Never named Bertha went in with the Ever Alya through the gates as they held onto their handkerchiefs tightly. Fifteen minutes later the Never Maggie and the Ever Charlie went in. Rose watched the Evers go in one by one; Seth, Julie, Jeffery, Wendy, Adrian, Alexis. Rose began to sweat. Cedric, Stefan. There was only one more to go in and people have been dropping their handkerchiefs. Wendy, Charlie, Seth, and Julie had already come back. Then Monica went in. Rose was next.

Rose wrung his handkerchief before placing it into his left boot. He stood at the gates beside Hawthorn. He glanced back at his group of friends and Lily smiled at him, telling him he would be fine. He glanced at Julie who was being consoled by Peter.

Sophie shoved Rose and Hawthorn forward, "It's your turn. Off you go. Best of luck. All that crap. Hope you survive."

Hawthorn bolted through the gates and Rose followed after her. Hawthorn split and headed west. Rose wandered east through the brambles that opened for him and closed behind him. As Rose passed by, he silently thanked each one.

Upon entering a clearing Rose heard a cry. He froze, then saw that it had come from a little bird hopping about and fluttering its wings in vain. Rose watched the plants around him tighten around each other forming a weak sanctuary for him. Rose knelt down and chirped the best he could from learning from Princess Uma. Unfortunately, while trying to say "What is wrong?" he chirped "Giants are wrong?" But the little bird understood and franticly chirped back that a beast was in the forest and had injured her wing (Rose had always been better at understanding the animals in Princess Uma's class than trying to speak it).

Rose had gotten acquainted with quite a few healing spells in preparation for this Trial. Rose pointed his finger and a deep pink glowed from it and he chanted a spell to heal the wing. The bird chirped its thanks and perched on Rose's shoulder and nuzzled him. Rose laughed and gently stroked the bird's head.

Rose froze as rustling came from behind him. Slowly, Rose turned around and watched the trees quiver as whatever was coming got closer. Rose backed away from where the rustling came from and a minotaur burst out with a roar.

Rose turned around to run but tripped over a root from a dead tree. The minotaur charged at Rose and he screamed.

Out from the right, a figure barged in and the minotaur ran into it and both rebounded off of each other. Rose quickly got up and saw Raven lying on his back gasping for air. His sword and shield were thrown from him scattered. The minotaur got up, enraged, and charged for Raven. Rose scrambled to get the shield that had landed near him and rammed into the beast's side with it.

This infuriated the minotaur and he charged for Rose once more. Rose dodged every charge and led the beast towards the edge of the clearing where the oak tree's roots wrapped around the minotaur's feet and dragged him into the forest.

Rose collapsed in relief and the little bird chirped to cheer his victory. Then Rose heard the laughing. He turned to see Raven (still lying on his back) laughing, "How quaint, the damsel saving the distressed."

Rose threw Raven's shield back at him in disgust and turned to storm away. He then thought better of it. They would be better off together than alone. Rose turned back and went over to Raven and helped him up, "I suppose we would be better off together." Rose said it flatly and without a smile.

"Charming, Rose. What got you so bitter? Was it the comment about being a damsel?"

"Well, I certainly am not cross at you for saving me. Actually I'm quite grateful for that. Thank-you."

"I believe I should be thanking you as well. Sorry, the comment was uncalled for. Thank-you for saving me."

"It's—it's fine. Let's just survive this." Rose offered his hand to help Raven up onto his feet. Raven took it and groaned as he got up.

Rustling came from the trees and Rose focused on them. Raven focused on Rose as he listened to the plants.

"We need to move. Someone is . . ."

A massive blast of fire and ash exploded from the side and Hawthorn stepped through the newly formed path to their sanctuary grinning like a villain. Stepping upon the charred grass she pointed her finger glowing a rich brown.

Rose gaped in horror at the plants that had just been killed. His violet eyes were wide and a single tear escaped from his eyes as he scanned the halo of absent plants around Hawthorn. The tear trickled down his cheek until it got to his jaw. It hung momentarily before falling into the grass beneath him.

Suddenly Rose's eyebrows turned down and he focused his gaze upon Hawthorn in anger. The tip of Rose's finger glowed a dark pink and the magic of Hawthorn met that of Rose. A whirlwind formed and approached Hawthorn. A ball of fire was expelled from Hawthorn and was hurled at Rose. The two elements collided together formed a swirling vortex of fire between them. The two began to fight for control over their powers. Hawthorn urged it towards Rose and Rose fought it.

Finally, Rose drove it into the ground. The vortex swirled down leaving more charring between the two. Rose quickly summoned another wind and it swooped Hawthorn's feet form under her as she fell on her face on the ground. Vines and roots snaked across their burnt friends until they reach Hawthorn and wrapped around her.

Raven watched Rose walk over to her with the face of a cold statue. Raven reached out to stop him, but Rose glared at him and Raven stood down.

Rose reached Hawthorn and searched her for her handkerchief. Finding it, he ripped it away from her and threw it on the ground. Red sparks flickered into the air and she vanished.

The roots and vines retreated from their absent prey and Rose collapsed to his knees and started to sob into his hands.

She hadn't cared about the plants at all. She hadn't given it a second thought. She just torched them. He let the tears flow.

Rose felt a hand on his shoulder, "Rose, look."

Rose glanced up and saw golden sunlight break into their clearing. They could hear cheers from the Evers from the entrance as they swarmed in. The Trial was over. The Evers closed in around the two boys; one still crying and the other still stiff from getting rammed by a minotaur.

Evers bathed in the victory that Rose and Raven had accomplished. Rose did not feel very victorious, though. Those plants were dead. Raven beside him did not feel very victorious.