Arin woke up gasping for air as if she just resurfaced from a long swim. She was burning under her covers, sweat clinging to her skin and clothes. Was that a vision? There was no way she could have seen the future.

Wisp leaned over her bunk, hanging in front of Arin upside down. “What happened?”

“I—erm—had a really bad dream about the Others,” Arin said, rubbing her head. “They want to hurt me. They killed my Watcher and now I’m next.”

“No, they don’t,” Wisp comforted.

“How do you know?”

“Why would their king kill you? I mean you read the Plaque according to your story and as we all know, you can find the ones from the prophecy. Why would he kill you when you are the only one who can help him?” Wisp reassured.

Arin almost screamed with fear again. "So they want to torture me!” Arin crawled out of bed, joints stiff. Wisp glanced at her sleeping friend and rolled her eyes. She climbed down and stomped to the curtain. With a snort of frustration, she pulled it back letting the early light shower the room.

Fleana rolled over, shoving her face into her pillow. Wisp, now steaming with anger, walked over to her, pulling her out of bed. “Fleana, show Arin some support!” At this Fleana sat up at full attention.

“What happened now?”

“She had a bad dream and fears that the Others are going to hurt her!” Wisp stomped her foot on the ground, hands on her thin hips.

"Oh, well . . . they want to use you I would assume; they aren’t that violent. But we’ll protect you. I said that I promise! Crimsons look after one another and we’ll do the same for you even though you aren’t one of us,” Fleana cheered, yawning. Arin almost smiled.

“Well on another note this is a good reminder to train some more. If the Others are mad, which they always are, we need to get stronger.”

“We should probably stop talking about a silly dream. We are safe here. Let’s go get some breakfast.” Fleana climbed out of her bed, approaching the door.

Fleana and Wisp escorted Arin to the large mess hall. It reminded her of the cafeteria at the orphanage. The memories of her friends came back to her. She kept her head low as the three made their way over to a table.

The wooden chair connected to the table seemed unstable. Wisp leisurely sat down while Arin hesitated. When she was finally down and situated herself, Fleana walked to the food line to fetch their breakfast. Her stomach was in knots. There were already stares.

And whispers.

I’m not evil . . . why would anyone think that?

Wisp smiled and began to converse with Arin. She hardly paid attention to Wisp’s nerdy talk about the creatures in Fynne. Dragons, griffins, weird tigers called bolgors.

Fleana finally returned carrying a large tray of food. Arin’s eyes lit up with wonder, it looked exactly like food from Earth. Her mouth began to water, her stomach growling louder than a dragon roar. She eagerly took the plate and began to devour the sausage and eggs in front of her.

“Wow you really must be hungry!” Fleana laughed taking a small bite of her own meal.

“I didn’t eat at all yesterday,” Arin explained in between mouthfuls of food.

“You can have some of mine if you want. Just a fair warning, never steal food from Fleana,” Wisp warned, snickering. Fleana glared at her friend for a quick moment before enjoying her meal.

The three were silent as they ate. Finally, Fleana leaned in so only the two could hear her. Her eyes were glowing with determination.

“How should we win the team capture the flag today?”

“There are teams? The test is capture the flag?” Wisp asked gasping with fear. “How did you find out?”

“I overheard it in the second courtyard yesterday. I didn’t want to say anything until this morning. He also said that two dorms will make up a team.”

“Oh?” Wisp swallowed the rest of her apple before winking at Fleana. “Good thing we are strong together.”

"Arin, do you know the basics of sword fighting?”

“Barely. I think I’ll manage.”

“Good, you just stay in the background and let us do all the work. We don’t want to see you hurt on the first day.”

They have no faith in me. Well I wouldn’t either, I did only just arrive yesterday. She was shaking from anxiety again. Her heart wouldn’t slow down.

“Calm down, Arin. You won’t die. Those leathers pads will protect you no matter how hard the blow. We aren’t using real swords, just wooden ones,” Wisp soothed, even Fleana looked at Arin pitied.

“Yeah, after a few matches your adrenaline will make you eager. It isn’t bad. We should go prepare. Oh and, Arin—” Arin looked at Fleana nervously—“I’ll take a blow for you if necessary.”

***

This is crazy.

The winning team was hugging one other. Spectators were cheering and conversing to those next to them. Winners of bets boasted while the losers paid their debts by bringing the victor food from one of the many stands set outside.

This game is absolutely crazy.

The sun was sizzling over them but no Crimson seemed to mind, Arin did. In front of Arin was some sort of obstacle course. Wooden beams of all heights loomed ahead. There was nothing supporting them, only the sand in the pit where they sat was all the Crimsons had to offer for stability. At the center of this mass of wood was a flag on the tallest pole. Someone would have to avoid the fighting and climb up that. Nets spread out on the higher obstacles, ropes dangled from the sides as well. Tightropes, her least favorite part from all of this, and probably some other hidden traps were placed everywhere.

She looked at her gloved hands. Only the palm was protected by this armor. She prepared herself for the pain of rope burns and being smacked by wooden sticks. This was not her idea of safety.

The two teams were ushered off of the sand pit. A medical team was on standby. No one was seriously hurt yet, perhaps she would be the first.

“Can I go to the bathroom?” Arin asked.

“Arin, you went five minutes ago at the start of last match,” Fleana grumbled.

“I’m sorry I’m just so scared.”

Fleana waved their red ticket yawning. “We will be fine. I promise.”

“Easy for you to say. You haven’t been trained for only a day.”

“Arin,” a Rank Two, began, “just float in the back. We can handle this. If you want to help show some more courage.”

“You’ll never be able to prove yourself if you hide,” Wisp added. She nodded with a big grin to the Rank Two who smiled back.

The announcer flew into the air, sandy hair squalid from the wind. He blew into a bugle to silence everyone. Arin was awed by his dragon mount.

“You guys ride dragons just for fun?”

“Well duh.”

A second blow of the trumpet ended their conversation. “For round six the neon green team will go against the crimson red team.”

There was cheering from everyone. Wisp did a small cheer to herself beaming. “Let’s do this, team!”

“Elements are allowed! No blows to the neck or head or else the dealer will automatically be disqualified. I've been reading this speech for the last hour, so you know the rest. The winning team will receive a massive curve to their grade. May the spirits allow the best team to win!”

Arin trembled, unable to stop her shaking. A Crimson handed everyone a wooden sword. She shook even more as she approached the edge of the sand pit. Mila was sitting on the ground, Coyasko and a few other Crimsons accompanied him. They were dressed casually, except for two of them. One wore a hat to conceal their identity and the other was cloaked. Crimsons were roaring from balconies drowning out their conversation.

She continued to stare at Mila until he finally looked at her. His smiling stopped, his eyes clouded with hatred. Arin turned away moving behind Fleana. The celebratory laughing ceased as Mila stood up. He approached Arin stiff. An eerie silence fell among everyone as he grabbed Arin by the arm. His gunmetal blue eyes refused to hide the hate within.

She avoided eye contact as he spoke, “why are you out here? You don’t belong here. Leave before I disqualify your whole team!” a Rank Two drew in a sharp breath glancing at Arin. He must really need that curve.

“I—I wanted to show you that I can do. I guess I should go—”

“I may let you have freedom now but if you ever disobey I will happily lock you away for good, you piece of filth.” He shoved her away from the pit.

“Mila, stop!” Coyasko thundered. “She has a right to be here. We are humans just like her, you can’t hate her.”

“Watch yourself, Coyasko,” Mila cautioned. Arin began to shuffle away from Mila; wooden sword still in hand.

“She has a right, Mila. She has freedom, and you can’t judge someone based on your past. Give her a chance,” Coyasko pleaded falling onto one knee. “You can yell at me later but I believe she can be appreciated even by your stone heart. Just let her try.”

Mila glared at Coyasko before at Arin. He rubbed his chin deep in thought. Finally, he smirked. “Just this once. I admire your care for this human filth, a much less superior race than us. If she loses she can never train again furthermore you will be on stable duty for three months.”

The crowd cringed, most of the audience was fixed on Mila and Coyasko. “I accept, sir. Thank you for being so generous.” Mila turned back to Arin. He grinned deviously before going back to his blanket and sitting down. Coyasko joined his side, both silent.

“Don’t worry, Arin. We will win,” Fleana assured placing a hand on Arin’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I got some fire ready to be released.” The Rank Two's hands burst into a bright flame scaring Arin.

Arin, still shaking from that dreadful encounter, peered into the wooden maze. It was so dense she couldn’t see her foes. The rest of her team moved to the edge of the pit. The Crimson above placed the edge of the bugle to his mouth and blew into it.

Before Arin could move the seven were already ways ahead of her. Fleana was helping Wisp onto a somewhat taller beam.

Arin ran forward hoping to catch up with the others. A Rank Two was boosting his roommates up. She ran to him. He nodded to Arin and offered to help her up. She had to trust him. She placed a foot in his hands and he smiled.

“Stay safe.” He pushed her upwards. She wobbled almost falling over. Two hands grabbed her shoulder and arm.

“Come on, climb up!” A Rank Two hoisted Arin up, she grabbed the flat surface shaking. The pole wobbled under the frightened rookie. Arin screamed clutching onto the edge fearing the end of her life. Her teammate helped her stand.

“The more you shake the more likely you will fall off.” With that the Rank Two jumped onto another pole without shaking the slightest. Arin’s jaw dropped in complete shock. These people were amazing.

“Come on, Arin!” Fleana shouted jumping ahead of her. “We haven’t even begun the fighting yet!”

Just making it up the beam was an accomplishment. Now she had to fight? Her first jump was a success. She smiled with relief and continued to hop from beam to beam. Rank Two were already fighting others at the base of the flag’s pole.

Fleana jumped back, almost losing her balance. The opposing Rank Two ducked under the attack then summoned a small gust of wind aimed at Fleana. Arin ran forward, the adrenaline pumping in her veins. She wanted to fight now. To defend her roommates.

“Loid, incoming Rank One. Take care of her,” the Rank Two ordered. A boy behind him nodded.

“All right, only since you can hold the others off.”

Arin halted, her body ached, the pole swayed under her. Someone glanced at Arin cursing. Loid easily hopped from pole to pole. Most of the crowd was watching her, including Mila. Arin searched for an easier way to position herself. She wouldn’t be able to maintain her stance on a single beam and the others were too far apart to balance between. She bit her lip as Loid approached her.

“Don’t worry,” he smirked. “It’s only fifteen feet.”

“Arin, go for the flag, we can handle this!” Her teammate shouted blasting another inferno at the Rank Two.

“I’m sorry,” the Rank Two tutted, “this fight is between those two!”

Loid nodded and Arin searched for anything she could use. There was a tall pole to her left. A rope was dangling from it. Maybe she could swing around the base and kick Loid like how people do in the movies. On second thought that was a bit ridiculous for this situation.

“Arin, attack him head on!”

He laughed at her fear, flipping his honey colored hair out of the way. “How are you scared of an easy fall?”

She swallowed, taking a step forward. If she wanted to ever be recognized by these people she would have to do their crazy stunts. It looked so far down. Loid began to charge and Arin froze.

“Arin, run! You aren’t ready!” Fleana shouted, but she was too terrified to move. He was a foot taller than her, broad shoulders, muscular. He could kill her. He was going to kill her. She jumped back but missed the beam behind her. She screamed. The beam she was on shook so much that he missed it as well. Her arms flailed as she tried to grab something, never before had she entered a state of falling so far. Gravity was nonexistent.

Luckily there was a net below. The two landed on it. They both bounced a few times before ceasing to move. Arin tried to stand but her leg was tangled. Loid managed to stand up unharmed. His balance was perfect.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I think so. You—you aren’t going to hurt me?”

“Of course not! I . . . want to win but since you are no threat to my team now I have no reason to hurt you.” He picked up his sword and looked up, he was blushing. “Good luck.”

He reached for a rope dangling for the side and began to climb up. Arin blushed a little before kicking and thrashing. She was still stuck. Wisp jumped into the pit, landing perfectly on the strings.

“We have a match to win. Let’s hurry.”

“I’m kinda stuck.”

Wisp freed Arin’s leg from the trap. She grabbed a dangling rope; they both climbed back up to the battle. Arin barely completed the task, arms burning from the hard work. Her Rank Two teammates were still fighting the three. Arin glanced at the flag waving in the wind, Fleana was nowhere to be found.

The crowd was cheering as they prepared to fight. Arin looked down at Mila, he was waiting for her to lose. Coyasko nodded, he did not seem worried about his punishment. Arin turned back to Loid and poised herself on the small podium.

A Rank Two took the first step forward. He threw a flaming fist forward. The wind bender grabbed his tricep and threw him to the side. He caught his balance on a different pole and charged a pyro technique in his extended palms.

Meanwhile Arin and Loid had collided. They were in front of one another trying to push the other off of their beam. Her determination to win seemed to give her extra strength. Arin ignored her aching body, the cry to stop. Loid smiled and pushed Arin over. She successfully jumped back onto the beam behind her. She defended herself, that itself was an accomplishment.

“You really are something,” Loid commented striking first again.

Arin blocked the blow just like how Coyasko taught her. He must be grinning right now. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye to see his face stern. Did she do the technique wrong?

Loid swung the sword on top of Arin and she blocked it, amazed by her feat. She used her free hand to punch her opponent in the shoulder. He laughed drawing back, Arin’s fist was throbbing from the attack.

Arin watched her friends. The Rank Two was missing leaving Wisp to fight two foes at once. She looked down to find her fallen comrade. He was lying on a net immobilized. Blood was trickling from his nose and lower lip, staining his purple uniform.

She focused back at Loid then Wisp. Before she could decide her next move Loid was charging forward again, a grin on his face. His expression, his pleasure in battle, made her think of Scolo. That murderer. Her blood boiled just thinking about him.

Her foe thrust his sword forward, aimed for her chest. She twisted her body out of the way, his expression shifted from courage to fear as he lost his balance again. Arin swung her sword onto his arm, it wasn’t a powerful blow but he did fall. He landed on the net below him.

“Nice, Arin! Now help me out!” Wisp dodged a blow to the shin.

No longer wobbling, Arin joined her side. The two prepared to fight again. Her fiery friend looked at the flag and cheered. The other three followed Wisp’s gaze.

Fleana was holding the neon green flag. The crowd erupted with cheers. Arin’s heart was in her throat, her spirits high. She actually won. She looked to Coyasko who smiled for a moment, then at Mila who was sitting next to him crossed.

Arin lifted her head into the sky enjoying the smoldering day. The opposing team offered a handshake to Wisp and Arin. Wisp smiled grabbing his hand. Winning felt great, her anxiety ceased. Nothing could go wrong.

“That certainly was fun. At least there is no point deduction for losing, right?” Wisp beamed, nodding to Arin. “And now Coyasko doesn’t have to worry either.”

Fleana screamed. An arrow had landed in the sand pit, missing their target. The crowd was in sudden panic. Wisp gasped turning to her roommate horrified. People screamed for the kids to climb down.

“All of you run! Get to the mess hall! Hurry before you are locked out!” the Rank Two shouted helping his teammates off of the course.

“What about Loid?”

“Arin, your crazy dream was right. You are our top priority to protect.” Fleana placed a hand on her shoulder. “We have to get you to safety.”

“I can’t leave Loid and the other guy. I just want to make sure they’re okay.”

“You have a big heart, but—”

Dragons rocketed into the air around them. Wisp cringed hugging Fleana tightly. Another volley of arrows were fired. Crimsons flew between the children and arrows, acting as shields.

“Jump, Arin, I’ll catch you!” Without hesitation Arin jumped, missing the Rank Two and landing in the sand. Fleana and Wisp followed.

“All of you get moving!” Fleana guided everyone through the maze of beams. She did not expect this to happen. Mila was probably going to blame her for this. Arin struggled to keep up with her friends. Sand and anxiety slowed her down. The two Crimsons Arin worried about were missing.

Fleana stumbled out of the maze first to enter a courtyard full of panic. Dragons were mounted before rocketing into the sky. Buckets were being filled with water. Some Crimsons summoned water from thin air to put the small flames out. Arin watched them awed. If only she could control water like that.

When she looked to her right her friends were gone. Now she was panicking. Coyasko’s voice echoed through the courtyard as he barked orders. He looked at Arin and stiffened. She ran to him, hugging his waist tightly.

“Arin, what are you doing here? Where are your roommates?”

“I lost them, I don’t know the way back. The Others are going to kill me-”

“This is not the time to be hugging me. Loid!” A few yards away Loid turned back to Coyasko and jogged over. “Take Arin with you. Stay together. Don’t fight anyone, just get to the mess hall.”

The chartreuse eyed boy nodded grabbing Arin’s wrist. “This way. Hurry.”

Am I going to die? Are they going to kill us? What have I done? Arin was urged to ask him these questions but held her tongue instead.

“Come on! We need to hurry!” he added running into the massive castle. She followed him before an arrow hit her or worse, the Others found her.