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Even knowing this was coming, it felt different now that it was actually here.
“How do you get to the Woltawa Forest?” she asked.
“That’s the first task. The Sages will give us an elixir, blessed by the Spirits, and then we’re…transferred. No one really knows how it works exactly.”
“Then the second task.”
“Yep,” I said with a pop of my lips.
“Get back in the ring and work it out with me. Brains and brawn at the same time.” She smiled, walking over to the mat and discarding her weapons.
Hand to hand it is.
“You’ve lived with me for twenty years. I’ve told you everything I know.”
“It’s not likeIhave the mark.” She paused, “You’ve got it all wrapped up in your head. Now get over here and try to hit me. If you can.”
My lips thinned and I nodded. I stepped into the ring.
“The Trial consists of three tests,” I said as we circled each other. “The task of each test is unknown until the Sages call upon the Spirits in a ritual at the Temple. The first test—”
Malina suddenly dropped to a crouch and kicked her leg out, nearly knocking me on my ass. I stumbled back, recovering.
“The Test of Loyalty,” she grunted, flipping back as I swung at her and narrowly avoiding my jab.
“The second is a Test of Strength.” I blocked her punch to my throat with my forearm, and thrust my knee up to hit her in the ribs. “The third, a Test of Fate. That much has always remained the same, but the details of each test varies.”
We continued to hit, jab, and kick, blocking each other’s attempts at contact. We were equally matched, having trained with each other for years, but each of us would land a blow now and then.
“And in the second test, you’ll be given your task in the form of a riddle. The same as everyone else, right?”
I inhaled sharply when she managed to square me in the jaw.
“Right. And it’s different every century and varies with the required task.” I stretched out my jaw, feeling it pop.
“This is the one where everyone dies?” Malina didn’t give me the chance to recover, lunging at me once again with her other hand.
“Not all die. But yes, most of the deaths in the Trial occur during the second test.” I caught her fist and pushed her forward to my side, throwing off her form.
“If a contestant completes the first two tests, one of two things can happen,” I continued as our sparring resumed. “They will either be deemed Worthy by one of the Gods, gifted with great magic and allowed to proceed to the third test, or they will be sent back to the temple with nothing to show for their victory other than their life.”
“And how many are chosen? Can the Gods choose more than one?”
“No. They can only choose one, but they also don’t have to choose at all. At most, only six can be chosen during each Trial since there are only six Gods left.”
Odes, the Fallen God, was destroyed during the war. When he fell, it caused the world to become unbalanced and the land tore itself apart.The Rip—a literal tear in the world—rested within the Dusan Nation and was known as Odes’s Grave. A temple was built in honor of the Fallen God, and it was there that the initiation of the Trial was held.
“Tell me about the third test,” she said, spinning and kicking near my face as I ducked.
“The third test is a mystery. All we know is that when the Worthy return from the third test, they are accompanied by a Spirit animal.”
“And those that don’t make it through the second test?”
“Those who fail are considered dishonorable and are sent back with the others. However, as a punishment, the Gods will strip them of their life’s memories, leaving only their worst nightmares and greatest fears for the rest of their lives. I’d rather die in the Trial.”
She paused and stared wide-eyed at me with a look of disbelief and ferocity. She unleashed herself upon me, attacking me relentlessly.
Apparently, I had pissed her off.
