The King's Guard

Chapter 7

A light suddenly surrounded Kael, covering him completely. It stayed that way for a few seconds. While it was around him, his body started to feel better. His cuts disappeared, and the pain faded.

The glow was soft at first. It pulsed faintly, wrapping around Kael like a protective cocoon. The air around him shifted. His torn shirt fluttered slightly in the breeze it created, though no wind blew in the chamber.

Kael felt it immediately. The sharp sting in his shoulder dulled, and then vanished. The bruising on his ribs began to melt away. He watched, awestruck, as the gash on his forearm sealed itself in seconds, the skin knitting back together without a trace of the wound. The dull ache in his bones evaporated. His chest, once heaving, now rose and fell evenly.

Once the light was gone, Kael stood up straighter. He didn’t feel tired anymore. His breathing was calm, and his injuries had healed.

“That was because of the wristband,” Ember said. “It has a healing rune,” she continued, pacing slowly in front of the participants, her boots tapping against the stone floor. “But don’t get too excited. It only works once. Don’t mistake it for immortality as well. It won’t bring anyone back if they die.”

Archon stepped forward and began to address everyone. “You were all brought back earlier than expected,” he said. That caused people to look around and speak quietly among themselves. Some looked surprised. Others looked relieved.

“The test wasn’t meant to last the full hour for everyone,” Archon continued. “It was meant to remove the ones who weren’t ready. Of the two hundred of you, about half used the emergency function on the wristband within the first thirty minutes. Those people are disqualified. Check your wristbands. If they’re blinking red, you’re no longer part of this competition.”

Almost everyone looked at their wristbands. Some let out a breath of relief. Others looked disappointed or angry. A few sat down, clearly affected by the result.

Kael looked at his wristband and felt relieved. There was no red light. He glanced around, seeing others who had passed. He noticed Kyna among them, which made him glad. But that relief disappeared the moment he saw Gale, who was also still there. Kael frowned, wishing he’d been taken out in the first trial.

“Those of you who are disqualified,” Drax said loudly, “you are to leave the compound now.”

The guards opened the gate, and the ones with red lights started to walk out. Eventually, only a hundred remained.

Drax looked at the group. “Would you like some rest before the next test?” he asked with a small smile.

Everyone answered with some variation of “yes.” Their voices filled the air. The relief was short-lived.

Archon stepped in. “There won’t be any rest. Shadow Corps don’t stop until their job is finished. Out there, we don’t get time to relax. We might be in dangerous situations, surrounded, outnumbered. There’s no break. You survive by continuing to fight. That’s the rule.”

The compound grew quiet again. Everyone listened to him.

Then Archon, Ember, and Drax stepped onto a ramp. A mechanical sound echoed as the ramp rose up to a platform that overlooked the compound.

“Next trial begins now,” Archon said. “You will all fight each other. It lasts fifteen minutes. Do what you must to survive.”

No one moved at first.

Then a loud cry broke the silence, and people began to fight. Energy and abilities were unleashed without any real aim. It quickly became chaotic.

Kael ducked under a fireball. He drew his daggers and kept low, looking for an opening but mostly just avoiding others.

“This is a mess,” Kael muttered as he tried to find a spot away from the worst of the fighting.

He heard someone behind him. A man with wild hair and bright, sharp eyes stood there.

“Where are you going?” the man asked.

Kael turned around. “Why do I always end up fighting people like you?” he muttered to himself.

“What was that?” the man asked. As he spoke, claws formed from his fingers.

Kael didn’t answer. He barely had time to react before the man came at him.

The man swiped at Kael’s face, but Kael moved back quickly. He responded with a quick strike, but the man dodged and moved around Kael with steady, confident steps.

“You can’t win,” the man said. “This is above you.”

Kael didn’t respond. He concentrated on the movements. The man kept attacking. Kael blocked several strikes, but one claw cut across his shoulder. It hurt, but Kael kept fighting.

“You’re slow,” the man said, pushing harder.

Kael moved to the side and kicked the man in the ribs. The man stumbled, then steadied himself.

Kael remained quiet. He watched carefully.

When the man ran at him again, Kael crouched and swept his leg low. The man tripped, falling to the ground.

Kael didn’t hesitate. He attacked quickly, hitting the man’s ribs and stomach several times. The man reached out and slashed at Kael’s arm. Kael flinched but didn’t pull back. He grabbed the man’s wrist and twisted it hard. There was a crack, and Kael followed with a knee to the chest.

The man struggled, but he was slower now. Kael punched him in the jaw. The man stopped moving after that.

“Well okay,” a voice said from behind.

Kael turned. Kyna stood there. She looked calm.

“You’re tougher than I expected,” she said, looking at the unconscious man.

The man’s wristband glowed, and he disappeared from the compound, teleported out for safety.

“I guess I am,” Kael replied. He didn’t relax yet. The trial wasn’t over.

“I never got your name. I’m Kyna,” she said.

Kael gave her a quick look. “Kael.”

Before either could speak again, Gale walked up, his hand covered in someone else’s blood. “Aww, how cute. Making friends in the middle of a fight.”

Kael got ready. He reached for his daggers.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this,” Kyna said, stepping forward.

“You?” Gale asked, surprised.

“That’s right,” Kyna said without backing down.

“You think you can beat me?” Gale walked toward her. He was bigger than her by a lot.

“Are you scared of a girl?” Kyna asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gale didn’t respond. He ran toward her.

But she was gone.

She reappeared behind him. “Over here.”

He turned, swinging again. She disappeared and appeared to his left.

“You missed again,” she said.

Gale swung harder and shouted at her to stop moving. He punched the ground when she vanished again.

She showed up in front of him. “Why would I stop?”

Gale tried one more time. He swung his fist, full force. She stepped aside and kicked the back of his leg. He dropped down to one knee.

She walked around him slowly. “Guess power isn’t everything.”

Gale glared at her but didn’t say anything.

Before anything else could happen, Archon’s voice filled the area. “Stop. The trial is over.”

Kyna turned back toward Kael. “See you later,” she said and walked away. Gale stayed down for a moment.

He looked like he was thinking about going after her but didn’t. He looked at Kael again.

“I’ll get you later,” he said, then walked away.

Archon’s voice came again. “To those still standing, congratulations. You’ve reached the final round. There will be a break for twenty minutes. After that, you’ll each get a letter. That letter contains your final task. Complete that, and you’ll be considered a trainee.”

With a snap of his fingers, Archon disappeared along with Ember and Drax.

Kael finally let out a breath. He put his daggers away and walked toward the exit. He planned to find the nearest inn.