Chapter 23: The Novice Exams

Maritza grinned and commented, “The Novice exams begin in several minutes, and here you all are, training up to the last second.”

Green and black Essence glittered around Ronan and Ike, filling up the progress bars beneath their Marks of the Butterfly. A second tally etched its way onto Ike’s shoulder, and the ink emblazoned on Ronan’s forearm indicated that he was close to reaching his third Rank.

“Nice work!” Ronan exclaimed, giving Ike a hug and slapping him on the back.

“The very same to you,” Ike said. His muttonchops were so long they seemed as though they were straight out of an oil-painting of an old and wealthy noble. Ike bounced up and down on his freshly healed leg, shadow-boxed the air for a few punches, but then lost his balance and nearly tripped over his own two feet.

Thankfully, Ronan was there to catch him by the cuff of his shirt.

“Easy, friend,” Ronan chuckled. “Save your energy for the exams.”

“He’ll surely need it,” Maritza said, setting her arms behind her back. She was in full combat gear today, with an embroidered leather cuirass, greaves, and a single pauldron clasped to the shoulder of her left arm. Ronan felt a sense of pride at seeing her wear the very armor he’d crafted with Farrier.

Behind Maritza, dozens of Trainees opened the door from the dining hall to the Training Grounds. Most of them looked chipper, while only a few dragged their groggy feet.

“As a Butterfly Nightblade Novice,” Maritza said, her stern voice shaking the sleepiness out of every Trainee, “you will be officially representing our temple in all things you do, inside and outside of these walls. As such, we need to ensure that you’re prepared for the challenges of holding a Novice Nightblade title.”

She waved a hand to a gate with thick iron bars the size and thickness of large trees. A chilling roar came from the other side of the gate.

“The exam this year is a simple one,” Maritza said. “In a team of up to three, you must slay a beast far more dangerous than anything you will encounter as a Novice.”

She set her hands on her hips and added, “There is no way to confirm you’re prepared to take on beasts meant for Novices than killing something much more powerful.”

Again, a fierce roar belted out from the other side of the gate.

Maritza walked back and forth, darting her head up and looking at each Trainee. “If you’d like to opt out, then you can always attempt the Novice exams again next year.”

Stopping in her tracks, she said flatly, “It may even be in many of your best interests to turn tail and run, as many of you have been focused on superficial things and not growing stronger.”

The third roar from behind the gate shook the ground itself. The sound was enough to convince over half the Trainees to give up on the exams before they even began. In a swarm, they rushed off, taking to their quarters and watching the events in Training Grounds from the comfort of their rooms.

The remaining Trainees all exchanged worried glances. Ronan, Ike, and Clove all moved closer together.

Ike twiddled his thumbs and whispered, “Maybe it’s too dangerous.”

Clove tugged on his arm. She said, “You can’t be serious! After how far we’ve come!”

Ronan peered into the dark abyss on the other end of the gate, and saw a pair of eerie, translucent yellow eyes as large as the anvils in Farrier’s forge. Ronan listened closely, and he heard the thunk of the rattling tools in Farrier’s apron from beside the monstrous eyes.

Ronan didn’t break his gaze from the set of abominable eyes when he said, “We can do it. The three of us together are unstoppable.”

Maritza overheard him and smirked. Her eyes lingered on his handsome jaw for a second longer than she had planned, and he noticed her looking at him. Ronan gave Maritza a smile and a nod.

She swiftly glanced away and said, “Our first team will fight a beast meant for Adepts and Masters.”

Maritza scanned the crowd. “Who will tackle this monster first?”

Alfred and Freya marched forth, but were beaten by a voice that took everybody by surprise.

“We’ll do it!” Ike said through a shiver and with his eyes shut. “Me, Clove, and Ronan will challenge the beast!”

He opened his eyes, amazed that he’d even conjured up the words.

Maritza nodded. “Very well. Trainees! Stand back. Farrier, release the dragon!”

The large iron gate raised slowly, and a thorny gray tail slammed against the temple wall, breaking off huge pieces of tanned brick. Every other Trainee turned and ran away, though Alfred stood strong and stubbornly a few feet away from Clove, Ike, and Ronan.

Freya grabbed him by the end and said, “It’s not our turn. We’ll go for now, and defeat the next monster. Just you and me, as it was always meant to be.”

But Alfred stood trembling with fury. A vein bulged on the side of his head where his blonde hair had been scorched away.

Alfred turned heel and walked away, saying to nobody in particular, “Even if they defeat it, it doesn’t matter. I’ll be back to haunt them soon enough.”

Freya chased after him, though her patience for his selfishness was dwindling.

The dragon’s massive tail wacked against the other side of the temple wall, creating more debris underneath a cloud of dust and dirt. From it, Farrier appeared with large metal clasps the size of his own body holding the gray dragon by its neck. Farrier’s shoulders steamed and his Mark of the Butterfly glowed white, and Ronan knew Farrier was holding such a giant metal tool with the power of Butterfly magic. On the other end of the tool, a vicious dragon snarled and roared towards the sky, flapping its spiked wings. Farrier was struggling to contain the beast, and he finally let go of the clasp.

“Clove! Ronan! Ike!” Maritza called out. “You may use any means necessary to defeat this abomination!”

The dragon soared up above the temple, blocked the sun for a moment, and hollered loud enough to blow Ronan’s hair in front of his eyes.

Ronan drew his curved sword from its sheath, and the dragon dive-bombed towards the trio. Clove and Ike drew their weapons next, and the three stood in an arc, almost back to back.

As the dragon approached, Ronan noticed that it had many scars upon its side and stomach, as if it had been showered in arrows before. He noticed too that it’s left eye was gone.

These would be his points for attack.

Finally, he saw the sparks and embers begin to build in the dragon’s mouth.

“Everybody get down!” he shouted, shoving Clove and Ike out of the way.

Spiraling streaks of flames shot out towards the three, and Ronan felt their heat.