Page 54 of Two Who Live On

Honestly, I was damn proud of how she’d learned at such a young age to precisely pinpoint who’d strengthen her and temporarily ignore those who wouldn’t. A lesson I desperately needed, and perhaps a little more time in her head would help me gain that insight. Unlikely.

“You need this. You deserve this. You have to accept what you can’t do and find a way to do it anyway.” Caleb gripped a rock, reaching the top of the rock wall and jumping without an ounce of hesitation.

I fought off every impulse to save him, biting back the telekinesis. I channeled inward, almost silencing the hundred internal yelps as he nosedived into the pool. Not one student had been so daring, so reckless. Most climbed down the other side before plunging into the pool.

“You know your limits. You know your capabilities. And you will surpass them.” He swam to the end faster than Kenzo. Not that a single other person would’ve noticed the two boys internally timed each obstacle they crossed, and Caleb finished this one five seconds faster. Too much magic cast chaos and fury onto the course, making every student hesitate, question, doubt. Every student except Caleb. Surviving the warlock incursion last semester had given him a streak of confidence which concerned me.

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t win the event among the top eighty. There was too much distance. Too many students ahead of him. But I’d remind him of this daring jump afterward and help him with the enchanter dream he desired. Perhaps with better guidance, too, since saving his life had only given him false hopes. I quelled Caleb’s mindbecause I couldn’t. I couldn’t draw myself into his struggles. Every single student in this event fought for success; every single one fought for their opportunity.

“It only takes the slightest hint,” Tye thought.

I ground my teeth as Tye leapt ever so above the stone blockades of the fourth obstacle. Four-foot stone jumps didn’t slow him because he used a subtle hint of his levitation magic to amplify his root magic. It was so subtle it hadn’t triggered the enchantments put in place.

“I’m pathetic,” Caleb thought, calling out.

I tapped my knee, contemplating leaving for a cigarette, an easy action that wouldn’t affect a single outcome here, yet I stayed seated, waiting for the first student to cross the finish line. Kenzo was so close.

“Kenny’s probably already there.” Caleb gritted his teeth, tripping over a stone blockade and glaring at Tye from Chanelle’s homeroom, who continued easily jumping each stone. “He’s cheating. No way would his branch make him that agile. His enhanced strength weighs him down too much, and most of it’s in his arms—not his legs.”

Every note Caleb had taken on Tye Weatherspoon’s branch glossed across his thoughts, the variations of Tye’s particular magic, his capabilities, his lack of an attention span, and his limited root complexity, meaning Tye could still only proficiently channel one at a time. Caleb had studied his fellow first years closely, much like Kenzo had.

Caleb pushed himself upward, preparing to channel a subtle touch of levitation. Not enough to make him obvious, but enoughto get him through the fourth obstacle before he lost entirely. Others were reaching the sixth and final course, and if Caleb didn’t do something soon, he worried he’d fail before he had an opportunity to show all he’d accomplished.

The seconds ticked slowly as he contemplated, trapped in the spot and watching Tye get by faster and faster.

“Screw it.” Caleb raced ahead.

I needed to tell him. I could easily bypass the frequency detections on the enchantments surrounding the auxiliary gym and alert him he was walking into a trap.

“C—” I stifled the link, quieting everything, bombarding myself with telekinesis. A cruel casting, yet it helped improve my muscles and hopefully my roots in the long run. The point was it stopped me from interfering. Caleb didn’t need it. He wanted it. I fought to separate what that kid needed and wanted because so much of my last semester fixated on his survival. He would survive this failure. So would I. I needed to let him fail.

“Disqualified,” Chanelle shouted with so much glee it sickened me. Honestly, her voice was fucking annoying at this point.

Enchantments lining the walls glowed as the sigils marked upon them burst with rulings meant to knock out cheaters in the first round.

My stomach sank. I’d saved Caleb’s life. I didn’t owe him a thing. Crimson and sapphire lights zipped across the obstacles, cutting past students one by one. They’d reach Caleb soon. No. I owed him nothing but a proper education, a chance to succeed in this world and hopefully live. I’d given him a chance at life. I’d done my part. Yes, the embarrassment rattling across the arena was exhausting and painful because it hit every single mind here.

We’d all screwed up. We’d all cut corners. We’d all cheated at some point. Somehow, seeing the devastation plastered in front of an audience made it more painful.

Every person in the audience called out, desperate to stop the shame. A few craved it, though—they wanted to witness the fall and clamored to relish in the pain of embarrassment about to hit one of these students. Those minds sickened me, so I squashed them.

Tye was repelled from the arena and thrown into an empty pit marked for cheaters. I released a breath. It wasn’t Caleb.

Caleb had considered using his roots and prepared to channel them but stopped himself before making a single casting. Tye, on the other hand, had gotten cocky, trickling in a bit more levitation with each leap to showcase his talents.

“Tye Weatherspoon is disqualified for casting root magics,” Chanelle shouted into the microphone, almost hiding her sigh of disappointment. “I can’t believe one of mine triggered the enchantment spells safeguarding from root casting. That little bastard. I’m going to rip him seven new ones next class.”

I silenced her thoughts. Maybe because I couldn’t handle nervous thoughts in my head, maybe because I still held a grudge against Chanelle for this awful opening round.

Caleb continued struggling through the obstacles, doing his best to catch up to other competitors and close the distance so he’d make it among the top eighty.

Firework effects erupted on the big screen, releasing congratulatory noises and displaying first place in the obstacle course.

1st: Kenzo Ito

Students buzzed with excitement, terror, and persistence as they pushed themselves faster. More crossed the finish line, releasing additional celebratory fireworks while displaying their placement in the first round, name, and a closeup image once they’d crossed the final obstacle.

5th: Katherine Harris

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