The girl with brown hair and a white stroke in it, the shapeshifter I remember, walks up the stage.
“It is Aaliyah Nythis to be exact,” the girl corrects him, leaning forward to speak in the microphone. The king looks at her, sharpening his eyes. “Right, Aaliyah Nythis. How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“And where are you from?”
She looks in the crowd, fidgeting her hands before she answers. “Athios.”
“Ah, right.” The king grins, knowing exactly where to hit her. “We have a fighter here, ladies and gentlemen! And what is your signet?” the king asks.
“I am a shapeshifter,” she announces, looking proud again.
After the king is done with interviewing her in front of everyone, he calls the next one up, and after that, the next one and so on.
Eight candidates passed by.
There are two people who haven’t been introduced yet. Me and the mystery girl. I have seen all the other candidates before obviously. I had to fight them, but after fighting so many people it happens that you forget some names and faces. “Braxton, you can come up,” the king goes on. I stand up and let my feet dragme to the stage. “As you all know this is my son. I understand that you might think he will have an advantage, I promise you he hasn’t. He will be treated exactly the same as any other candidate.”
I shrug my shoulders before I straighten my back. I look over the crowd, not making any eye contact with anyone. This is the first time I see my brother. He is sitting on the top row, close to Fintan. He stares blankly towards me and the king, but his shoulders are held stiff. “Since you already know my son, I will not ask him the usual. I do assume you are curious about one thing. What is your goal by entering this trial?”
I blink my eyes, not expecting that question. He didn’t ask anyone else this. I press my lips together as I try to think of how to describe my answer.
“I want to prove what I am capable of,” I decide on saying, feeling a bit shy, but I don’t lower my head.
“We already know what you are capable of! You’re a monster!” someone in the crowd screams at me. I step off the stage as fast as I can and sit down in my chair, not giving that man the satisfaction of another glare. The king clears his throat before continuing with his speech. I try to ignore the aching feeling in my hands to throw out a punch.
“Next up is my mystery guest. Last but definitely not least. Eliane, you may come up!”
The girl with golden hair jumps up in shock, but slips her mask back on again really fast. She holds her head high and takes controlled steps as she walks onto the stage.
“Welcome, dear, what is your name?” the king asks. She crunches her nose before she answers.
“You already know my name, apparently,” she snaps, sharpening her eyes at the king. “But for those of you who don’t know. My name is Eliane Lux Angevine. On the day of the trial, I will be eighteen years old. Which means I am seventeen rightnow.” She looks around the crowd, smiling widely when she sees Fintan. She looks in control again.
“Why did you enter the trials?” he follows up.
I sharpen my gaze. This, I want to learn.
“Because I have been taken away from my parents by you because of the trials. Because you wanted me to enter.”
Oh manes.
“And what may your signet be?” the king asks, gritting his teeth. She holds up her hand and a ball of light appears above it. She swings her hand up and the whole place lights up. The crowd claps their hands, and some people cheer.
“I am a light wielder,” she continues, smiling, looking at my trainer for confirmation.
“And I am the one and only sun wielder to ever exist.”
The whole crowd goes quiet, and some jaws drop open. The king doesn’t give them the time to react.
“Well thank you, Eliane, we are very excited for what you have to show us during the trials,” he breathes out, rolling his shoulders and giving her a curt nod. She turns around and smirks at the king.
She smirks at my father—the girl smirks at the king.
I can’t help but chuckle a bit to myself. Her face is perfect as she smiles. Freckles moving, making her look like a painting. She looks at me. Actually looks me dead in the eye and grins. I can’t help it. My heart starts beating a few strokes faster.
“Freaking Eliane,” I growl in a whisper, tasting her name as it rolls over my tongue.
