Reynold just stood still watching the crying and happy faces before him.
Elara Stonehand, the farm girl who failed her first trial cried bitterly. Her shoulders were shaking as two other girls tried to comfort her but they failed.
Reynold look down as he shifted his eyes and focusing instead on first two pair who had just passed the first trial. They were jumping up and down in excitement.
Reynold Sigh.
He shifted his gaze, tightening the straps on his small, leather-bound pack and cinching it to his waist. He didn't need it slipping when he start to climb. The bag held everything he owned of value.
"Next set, lines one through five!" The senior cadet voice sounded. The senior cadet is massive and his named is Theron.
Reynold took a deep breath, the dry, early morning air catching in his throat.
He murmured, "I must get in"
A promise he'd made to himself a hundred times since last year.
He started to follow his group, taking a slow step toward the tall, obsidian spire of the training column.
"Reynold Starweaver!"
Theron's voice sounded, cutting through the usual bustle of the Selection Grounds.
Reynold stopped and turned back, giving Theron a look that clearly asked, Why did you call me?
Theron waved a dismissive hand. "Step aside. Wait."
"What? Why?" Reynold was confused, his face instantly turn into a frown.
He walked back toward the Senior Cadet's table, annoyance already showing on his face.
When he reached the rough wooden table, he leaned his hands flat against it. "Why exactly did you call me back, Senior Cadet? I am ready to take the trial." he said, his voice low and tight.
Before Theron could answer, a smooth, taunting voice sounded from behind the cadet's back.
"We call the shots here, Starweaver."
Reynold's head snapped up.
It was the rich kid, Kael.
The frown on Reynold's face returned, deeper and heavier this time.
Kael emerged with a proud, glittering smirk that show across his face.
Kael took a few steps closer, his polished boots scraping softly on the dirt. "You think that little charity medal will stop me from dealing with you? Tsk tsk tsk. Like I said, we call the shots here." He straightened his black robe, adjusting the silk sash at his waist. "So, if you want to take the first trial, get on your knees and lick my boots."
"You fucking bastard!"
Reynold didn't hesitate. The rage that had been simmering for years inside him boiled over, making him stretched his palm and punch Kael on his cheek.
The sound was a loud satisfying thwack.
Kael's head snapped sideways. He spat, a streak of blood landing on the ground, then touched the cheek Reynold had struck.
His smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, seriousness. Kael took one slow step toward Reynold.
"your hands touch me again, I'll cut them off and feed them to the first dragon I bond with," he hissed.
Reynold was already coiling his arm, ready to throw the second punch and end the rivalry right here, when the crowds around the grounds turned into a sudden, loud uproar.
ROAAAR!
The sound that echoed was massive, rattling the air in the open field.
Reynold instinctively looked up. A big green dragon, Emerald-scaled, massive, and shining, dove low over the academy walls and flew right into the big, open field.
Reynold frowned. Dragons are not allowed on the Selection Grounds. Not during trials.
The dragon let out one last, powerful roar as it landed heavily, scattering dust and causing some new candidates to shift back nervously.
A moment later, a figure dismounted from the dragon's back, patted the dragon powerful flank, and then the dragon soared away again.
Seeing the figure turn and walk toward the crowd, Reynold's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
The crowd parted as she approached and stopped directly in front of Reynold.
She was wearing the black and gold uniform of a Year Two Senior Cadet, complete with a shining silver badge pinned to the top of her uniform—a high rank.
Reynold took a long look at her, taking in the familiar angles of her face, her blond braided hair and the severe set of her mouth.
"You are already bound to a dragon," Reynold stated flatly. He let out a dry, short chuckle. "Flying a dragon into the Selection Grounds? I didn't think you were the type to break a rule, Laena."
Laena had a severe, reproachful look in her clear eyes.
"What are you doing here, Rey?" she asked, ignoring his accusation.
What am I doing here? Reynold frowned. "I came to take the trial test, of course." He hesitated, glancing at Theron and Kael, who were both watching silently. "But they won't let me take the first trial. You have the silver badge on your uniform, which means your rank is pretty high. You can help. Tell the cadet to let me take the trial."
Laena swallowed hard, a muscle ticking under her cheekbone.
"No."
Reynold suddenly got very angry again.
"What? You won't help me?"
Laena nodded slowly. "I won't help you, Rey. I don't want you to take the test." She stepped closer, her voice dropping. "The last time you tried, you fell. You were lucky you only bruised your ribs and didn't break your leg, or worse, die. You might not be lucky again."
Reynold was immediately furious. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white and then violently kicked a piece of shale, which bounced loudly into the crowd.
Laena quickly grabbed his arm, her hands moving up to cup his cheeks, forcing his eyes to meet hers. Her expression was desperate, and utterly serious. "Rey, please. It isn't too late to turn back and just leave. Go be that merchant you've always wanted to be. Please, I'm begging you. This isn't worth it."
Reynold yanked his arm from her grasp and knocked her hands away from his face.
He simply turned his back on her, on Kael, and on the Selection Grounds. He walked away, not looking back.
He needed to take this test at all costs. If he failed today, this would be the last time he was allowed to apply. He was nineteen now. By next year, he would be twenty, and the age limit to apply is nineteen.
Reynold clenched his jaw so tightly that it hurt.
"I must get in.."