Alfinians Rise

Final Trial

Cold water trails over my body, cooling my bare broiling skin. Man, I'm telling you this place is SOOO HOT! UGH! How do they put up with it?

Leaning my head against the wooden wall of the shower shall, I press my hand over my racing heart. Piercing violet blue eyes and a Cheshire smile appeared before my very eyes. Why do I feel this way? There's something... different about him. I don't understand. I shouldn't feel such things as this towards men like them. I can't believe I kissed him. Why, why did I do that?

Groaning, I wash the dirt off of my coppery skin, now darkened a bit further from the intense sunny skies. It's the first time I've had the chance to properly clean up since that night at the Lion's Den. It feels as if it has been so very long since then... Though it's only been a little over a week now. I can't believe that today marks the final trial. Today, I become a Ravn.

Over the course of the trial, I've gladly watched people drop like flies as they failed to meet standards and expectations. It's been grueling and hard. And yes, there have been several fatalities. It's frankly a wonder I'm still alive after the obstacle courses, the simulators, and other rigorous training involved. 

I turn off the cold water, wrapping the cheap itchy towel waiting outside the wooden stall around my body. Standing in front of the mirror, it's hard to recognize myself. It's strange. Numerous bruises cover my body, many of their origins unknown, and my skeletal body is beginning to show signs of life once again thanks to the regular meals I've had over the past week. My body aches and groans with every step I take, declaring its protest over the foul treatment it has received. 

Grumbling, I dry off and get dressed in the little cubby room next door along with the other girls. Only a fourth of the women who began the trial now remain. Including me, that makes a grand total of four. Zuili, Myeela, some blonde chick, and myself.

I step out into the beaming sunlight. The sun has only just risen and yet it's already like stepping into a fire pit out here. I really wish the weather would just remain consistent if nothing else. At night it drops below freezing, while during the day it becomes an inferno like the one I'm walking in now. Can I just like..go take another shower? Oh, how I wish...

Walking through the makeshift pathways lined by bunkers and tents I make my way to breakfast, taking all the shortcuts I've learned over the past couple of days.

Walking into the tent I move past the line that's gathered for food, making a beeline straight towards the usual corner table where Sadoli is already chowing away at the rations.

"Morning," I mutter, slipping into my chair. I can already feel them watching. The other candidates.

"Aye, shorty. Not hungry?" He says, raising a single eyebrow questioningly, obviously noticing the lack of food in my hands.

"Nah, not really," I lie. Of course, I'm hungry... I just... I don't feel like eating right now. The two of us sit in silence for a moment. Him eating while I find myself wondering if Xayben is going to monitor today's trial.

"Hey, have you heard?" A voice whispers from the table behind me. Although I pay no heed, I'm over the whole rumors and gossip. Man...These imbeciles are worse than upper-class ladies with too much time on their hands.

"Heard what?" His pal replies clueless.

"There's a rumor going around that one of the candidates is supposedly seducing the upper Ravn one by one just so she can pass." The clueless one chokes at this, shouting his disbelief. Who could they be talking about I wonder...It's not Myeela. Definitely not Zuili... 

"Which one? Do you know?" His pal asks eagerly. That just leaves little miss blonde princess and me. Curiosity gets the better of me and I lean back in my chair to be able to hear easier.