Page 4 of Angel of Ruin

"And we're supposed to train them?" I ask, unable to keep the disdain from my voice.

Zephyr shrugs. "Technically, yes. But who says we can't have a little fun with it? After all, it's not like any of them will actually succeed."

"True." I nod, a cruel smile playing on my lips. "Why waste effort on creatures that'll never amount to anything?"

"That's what I say! But we can't let them die quickly," Raxis points out, shaking his head. "There's no fun in that. We have to torture them, long and slow. Train them well enough to make them think they actually have a chance. Then pluck that hope out of their grasp at the last second."

I notice that Zephyr can hardly fight back her grin at Raxis' words. "You're a cruel creature, Raxis."

"So how many of these wing trials have you seen?" I ask, genuinely curious about the spectacle. The idea of humiliating humans in such a cruel manner is ingenious to me, but I’ve never bothered to travel here for it.

Raxis grins, clearly relishing the opportunity to enlighten me. "Oh, this is my third. I like being a trainer. It’s fun to see the humans get their hopes up when they've never won their wings before. Something they don’t seem to realize.” He leans in conspiratorially. “In fact, it's impossible to."

I raise an eyebrow. "Impossible? Then what's the point?"

"Entertainment, my friend." Raxis chuckles darkly. "Pure, unadulterated entertainment. The trials weren't designed toactually award wings but to provide a show for us. We even let the demons come, to give them a little something that keeps them on our better side."

"You're joking," I deadpan, though I can feel a smirk tugging at my lips.

Zephyr shakes her head. "Not at all. It's genius, really. We dangle the opportunity of ascension in front of these pathetic creatures, and they come running like the desperate fools they are."

Raxis nods enthusiastically. "Exactly. We were in a bit of a lull between wars, you see. Boredom was setting in. So, some brilliant minds came up with the idea of the trials. Give the humans false hope, watch them struggle and fail, all for our amusement."

"And they never catch on?" I ask, impressed by the audacity of it all. "Surely they must realize that this is all a ploy."

"Oh, some might suspect," Zephyr adds with a shrug. "But hope is a powerful thing. They want to believe so badly that they ignore the obvious."

I can't help but laugh. "So we're not just overseers, we're ringmasters in a circus of fools."

"Precisely!" Raxis exclaims, clapping me on the back. "And the best part? We can change the rules whenever we want. Keep it fresh, you know? Just when they think they've figured it out, we pull the rug out from under them."

My eyes flicker to the aerial obstacle course. Raxis gestures out to it.

"Zephyr and I have been discussing ways to make this course somewhat doable for the humans. Half of them will die going through this one. Maybe more."

Immediately, my mind races to figure out the best ways to torment the humans and their frail bodies. I point out a section of the course where they're meant to scale up a wall.

"Increase the distance between each foothold. Make them work for it," I say, reminded of my training exercises before I joined the military. "And if they slip, they fall to their deaths."

"Brilliant," Zephyr whispers. She then gasps slightly, as if an idea has struck her. "Add some spikes to the bottom of this section, too. Can you imagine the screams?"

Raxis throws his head back in laughter at the suggestion. I leave the two of them to keep discussing amongst themselves, pleased by the opportunity to put my strategist talents to good use somehow.

As I survey the rest of the arena, finding every nook and cranny I can, I stumble across a group of three human males, small and unassuming in comparison to my towering frame. I approach them slowly, placing my hands behind my back. Their excited chatter ebbs down to whispers, then silence, once they realize I'm approaching.

"Oh, uh… Are you one of the overseers?" one of them asks, blue eyes wide.

"Indeed," I reply, glancing at each one of them. "Are you intending to fight for your wings?"

I tower over the three human males, my golden eyes narrowing as I take in their pathetic forms. They're so small, so fragile compared to my muscular frame. It's almost laughable.

"Did you hear me? Are you intending to fight for your wings?" I repeat, my voice dripping with disdain. My eyes narrow, scowling at the sight of these humans. "Look at you. You're nothing but twigs waiting to be snapped."

The one with blue eyes flinches at my words.

I click my tongue, shaking my head. "What's wrong? Can't handle a little criticism?" I lean in closer, watching as they all take a step back. "If you can't face me, how do you expect to survive the trials?"

"We've been training," one of them pipes up, his voice trembling.