The Child of Light and Shadow

The Third Trial

"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Aisha asks as she leads me toward the location of the final trial – the one that will shape public opinions forever. It's not an event with an outcome I'm interested in one bit, which is a detail Aisha seems to have missed in her strategizing. All I care about is that Snow, Raksha and Yukiji survive. If those three make it out alive, I'll be good.

That said, I think Aisha is close to fitting into the same category as them. I don't gain anything by trying my hardest, but I don't lose anything, either. It doesn't matter which of the three is going to become the chosen one in the eyes of this country's mostly blind population. While I do think using the big name of such a person could be useful in preventing a war or two, I don't see how it could ever work out as a long-term solution. Unless the Child is actually seen doing something extraordinary, other mages are just going to assume they're another powerful mage, and that'll be that. Luck must be playing a longer game. I wish I could wrap my head around him. What was his real name again? Whatever. I'll stick with Luck for now.

"None," I reply as we enter the square where the second trial was announced. Sammael and Azazel are already there, but none of the other contestants are. "Weren't we running late?"

"If they make me wait a minute longer, there'll be hell to pay," Azazel grumbles. I suppose it would have been too much to ask for him to be among the casualties of my latest fight.

"You seem in better spirits all of a sudden," Aisha notes. "Why is that? Did something happen?"

"No," I reply. "I'm pretty good at managing my emotions. They do get the better of me in extreme situations, but I jump back pretty quickly – at controlling them, that is. I'm still a mess, mind you, but I'll be doing this with a clear head. We're not laying a hand on Raksha otherwise."

She gives me a small smile, and I notice a glint of mischief in her eyes. "I do like that bod of his. Just look over there!" I turn toward the direction in which she points her finger, but see no one standing there. I don't understand what's happening until I hear the woman's laughter. "Ah, so I did read you right, after all. Vexed by that which vexes all men, are you?"

I probably turn red, but I do my best to hide it, and approach the two Apostles instead of replying.

"You don't have to be such a grump about it. I was just teasing."

"I'm merely making sure we get as much information as possible. If I'm to win with an anchor like you chained to my ankle, I'll need as much help as possible."

I can practically see Azazel's eyes being rolled behind the bandages covering his face. "Those fools may still be keen on keeping you alive, little fairy, but take one more step out of line and I'll consider it my duty to put an end to you." He gives me a humourless, cruel smile, raising the volume of his voice as he continues. "You are the one responsible for the recent catastrophy, after all. The people deserve to be safe from monsters like you."

I look around and realize the crowd is looking at me strangely. Some look away when my eyes fall upon them, while others just glare back. Ah, I see; They're afraid of me. That used to be how my parents would look at any magic knight who happened to pass by our house. We always had to be afraid they'd demand compensation for guarding that part of the city – not that they did this very often. We didn't matter back then, and it didn't matter that we didn't matter. They were above us, and so we were inconsequential. These people – every single one of them is beneath me. I could spread my wings and start unleashing death at a moment's notice, and none of them, bar the two Apostles, would have the power to stop me. As such, they don't matter, and neither do the looks they give me.