"Ms. Sinclair?" I asked, still catching my breath, my body humming with leftover adrenaline.
She stepped forward, the soft glow of the cavern casting shadows across her face, making her look even more unreadable than usual. Her lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
"Congratulations," she said smoothly, her voice carrying through the space with effortless authority. "You've successfully completed the first trial—a test of teamwork, adaptability, and combat ability."
Lillian straightened beside me, her usual elegance returning as she wiped a bit of dust off her sleeve. "That was the goal? To test how well we could fight together?"
"Precisely," Evelyn confirmed. "While individual strength is important, survival often depends on coordination. No one person can win a war alone. You and Sera demonstrated impressive synergy, something not every pair manages to achieve."
I felt Lillian's gaze flicker toward me for just a second before she smirked. "Well, I do make an excellent partner."
I rolled my eyes. "And yet, you almost got yourself crushed."
She gasped, feigning offense. "Excuse me, I was merely giving you an opportunity to shine, my dear Sera."
Evelyn chuckled, clearly amused but choosing to move the conversation forward. "Enjoy the moment while you can," she continued. "Because the next trial will not test your physical abilities but your intellect."
I stiffened slightly. "Our... intellect?"
"Indeed." Evelyn clasped her hands behind her back. "The next trial will focus on problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategy. Strength alone will not see you through. A sharpened mind is just as important as a sharpened blade."
Lillian hummed, tilting her head slightly. "Sounds interesting. A battle of wits rather than a battle of steel."
"More or less," Evelyn confirmed, amusement flickering behind her glasses. "Though don't assume it'll be any easier."
That sent a chill down my spine. "Should we be concerned?"
Evelyn merely smiled, and somehow, that was even more terrifying.
"That depends," she mused, turning on her heel. "Are you confident in your ability to outthink whatever challenges lie ahead?"
I exchanged a glance with Lillian.
Was I?
I had spent weeks training my body, honing my magic, and sharpening my reflexes—but this? This was different.
"Very well," Evelyn said, stopping at the cavern's exit. "Rest for now. The second trial begins tomorrow at dawn. I suggest you come prepared."
And with that, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving Lillian and me alone in the cavern's dim light.
Silence stretched between us for a moment before Lillian finally spoke.
"You know," she mused, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, "I do enjoy a good puzzle."
I sighed. "You would."
She smirked, nudging me playfully. "Oh, don't be like that. We make an excellent team, Sera. I have no doubt we'll handle whatever comes next—together."
Her words sent warmth curling in my chest.
Together.
For better or worse, we were in this.
And something told me the real challenge was only just beginning.
As we continued deeper into the cavern, the quiet between us was almost peaceful, though my mind refused to settle. The glow of the enchanted lanterns cast eerie shadows against the walls, the air thick with the lingering scent of magic and battle.
I exhaled, trying to shake off the tension in my shoulders. "I wonder how the others are doing right now."
Lillian glanced at me, amusement flickering in her emerald-green eyes. "Hopefully, they're handling things as gracefully as we are."
I snorted. "Gracefully? You nearly got crushed, and I almost set us both on fire."
She smirked, linking her arm through mine as we walked. "Semantics. The important thing is that we survived—together."
My face heated up, but I let her keep holding on. It was Lillian, after all. She was always like this.
Still, my thoughts wandered to the rest of our group. Claire, Camille, Diana, and Tessa. We had all been separated for this trial, which meant they were out there somewhere, fighting their own battles.
"I feel bad for Diana's partner," I mused, shaking my head. "Knowing her, she's probably being a complete menace."
Lillian laughed softly. "Oh, without a doubt. She thrives on chaos. I wouldn't be surprised if her poor partner is already questioning their life choices."
I imagined some unfortunate student desperately trying to rein in Diana's antics while she smiled innocently, pretending to be the perfect teammate. Yeah… whoever got paired with her was doomed.
"What about Claire?" Lillian asked, curiosity in her tone. "I feel like she'd be doing well. She's adaptable, and she has a strong sense of leadership."
"Yeah, but she also gets excited too easily," I said, smiling despite myself. "She might go overboard trying to impress her partner."
Lillian nodded in agreement. "And Camille?"
I thought about it for a moment. "Camille is strong, but she's calculating. I bet she's analyzing every little detail, thinking five steps ahead."
Lillian hummed in agreement. "And Tessa?"
I hesitated. Tessa was a bit of a mystery. I knew she was strong, but she didn't open up much. She was always composed, always holding something back.
"...I think she'll be fine," I said finally. "Tessa's smart. And she won't go down easily."
Lillian gave me a thoughtful look, as if she wanted to say something more, but she let it go. Instead, she tightened her grip on my arm and smiled.
"Well, whatever happens, I have a feeling we'll all reunite soon enough."
I nodded, hoping she was right.
Because as much as I trusted my friends—
I had a sinking feeling that these trials were only going to get harder.
Which meant I needed to stay focused. Prepared. Ready for whatever came next.
And then Lillian—ever unpredictable—decided to throw all of that out the window.
"How about we do something fun?" she asked, her voice carrying that distinct lilt of mischief that always made me wary.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Fun? In the middle of a survival trial?"
She smiled innocently, which immediately set off every alarm in my head. "Of course. We should make things more exciting, don't you think?"
I crossed my arms. "Lillian, I swear, if you're about to suggest something insane—"
"From now on," she interrupted smoothly, "I want you to only use your ice magic."
I blinked. "What?"
She tilted her head, eyes practically glowing with amusement. "No fire magic. Just ice."
"Why?" I asked, suspicious.
Lillian tapped her chin in mock contemplation, then grinned. "Well, I kind of want to see an icy-cool type of Sera. I already saw the hot-cool type of Sera."
Then—because she was Lillian and had no shame—she winked.
My entire brain stalled.
Did she—did she really just—
"You—!" My face felt like it was on fire. "Stop saying things like that so casually!"
She only laughed, utterly delighted by my flustered reaction. "Why? It's true. I've seen you wield fire magic plenty of times, and it's very… striking. Passionate, even. But ice? Ice is elegant, refined. I want to see that side of you."
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Lillian, this is a survival trial, not some game where you can pick and choose my skill set for fun."
"Oh, but it is a game," she said smoothly. "A game of skill, adaptability, and control. And I think you could use a little push when it comes to your ice magic."
I scowled at her, knowing full well she was manipulating me into doing what she wanted. And worse? It was working.
Because despite how much I preferred fire magic, despite how much more natural it felt to me—I did want to improve my ice magic. And if anyone could make me do something ridiculous and somehow make it feel like the best idea in the world, it was Lillian.
I exhaled through my nose, leveling her with a look. "Fine. But if this goes terribly wrong, I'm blaming you."
Lillian beamed, linking her arm through mine again. "Naturally. But don't worry, partner—I have complete faith in you."
She squeezed my arm playfully before letting go, her smile just a little too smug.
I sighed. This woman was going to be the death of me.
But as we continued forward, the weight of the trial still pressing upon us, I couldn't ignore the faint flicker of excitement in my chest.
Because Lillian was right about one thing—
It was time I fully embraced my ice magic.
With Lillian's ridiculous but oddly effective challenge now looming over me, I let out a slow breath, flexing my fingers. The coldness of my ice magic tingled beneath my skin, a stark contrast to the familiar heat of my fire. This was going to take some getting used to.
Lillian walked beside me, arms folded behind her back, completely at ease. "So, partner, how does it feel? Tapping into that frosty side of yours?"
I shot her a dry look. "Like I'm willingly stepping into my own suffering."
She laughed, the sound soft and rich. "Oh, come now, I know you love a challenge."
I didn't dignify that with a response.
Instead, I turned my focus forward. The second trial had already begun—a test of intellect, problem-solving, and, apparently, endurance. We found ourselves in what looked like an ancient underground ruin, dimly lit by floating magical orbs. The walls were lined with strange carvings, and ahead of us was a massive stone door, sealed shut with thick, twisting vines of enchanted ice.
"Well, would you look at that," Lillian mused. "Looks like fate is already demanding you use ice magic."
I sighed. "Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in."
Stepping forward, I examined the frozen vines more closely. The magic keeping them intact was powerful, ancient—too dense for simple brute force to break. If I were using fire, I could probably melt them away, but that wasn't an option now. I needed another approach.
Lillian leaned casually against a pillar, watching me with an amused glint in her emerald eyes. "Think, Sera. Ice is more than just freezing things solid. What else can it do?"
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Are you seriously making this a lesson right now?"
She grinned. "Absolutely."
I grumbled under my breath but considered her words. Ice wasn't just for freezing. It was sharp, malleable, precise. If I couldn't melt the vines, then maybe—
I lifted my hand, summoning a small, concentrated shard of ice between my fingers. Taking a steadying breath, I directed my magic toward the vines, not freezing them, but rather crystallizing their structure further, making them more brittle.
The enchanted ice began to crack.
Lillian's eyes gleamed with pride. "There you go."
I exhaled and clenched my fist. [Glacial Fracture.]
The moment the words left my lips, the brittle ice shattered in a cascade of frost, the vines breaking apart like delicate glass. The massive stone door groaned as it loosened, slowly creaking open.
Lillian let out a low whistle. "Now that was impressive."
I rolled my shoulders. "Still think fire is easier."
She chuckled, stepping closer until she was just inches from me, her fingers reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from my face.
"You're incredible, you know that?" she murmured, her voice lower now, more intimate.
I swallowed, my heartbeat suddenly a little too loud in my ears. "Lillian—"
She smiled, tilting her head slightly, her gaze locked onto mine. "I wonder how many more times you'll surprise me today."
And then, as if she hadn't just left me completely speechless, she turned on her heel and sauntered forward into the next section of the trial.
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "This woman is going to kill me."
But even as I followed after her, I couldn't deny the growing smirk on my lips.
Maybe—just maybe—this trial wouldn't be so bad after all.