Page 66 of Tempest Awakening

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus on the next set of obstacles. A series of balance beams, slick with morning dew, stretched before me. I stepped onto the narrow wooden plank, arms outstretched. The beam wobbled, but I concentrated on each step, ignoring the jeers from other applicants as they sped past.

As soon as my feet touched solid ground, I was faced with a line of low hurdles. My legs protested, but I pushed on, clearing each one with gritted determination. A stumble here, a near-fall there, but I kept moving. With each obstacle I completed, the spark of defiance grew a little stronger.

Then I saw it—the final individual obstacle. A dauntingly steep hill that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. Its surface was a treacherous mix of loose gravel and slick grass, almost vertical in places.

I watched as other applicants tackled it with their supernatural abilities. Some bounded up in great leaps, others seemed to float, defying gravity. A few transformed into forms better suited for climbing.

Standing at the base, I felt the weight of every doubt I'd ever had about belonging here. The hill seemed to grow taller as I stared at it, a physical manifestation of the challenge before me. But I'd come too far to give up now.

I closed my eyes, centering myself. The sounds of the training ground faded away, replaced by the steady rhythm of my own heartbeat. I thought of Thalon, of our bond, of the belief he had in me even when I couldn't believe in myself.

Opening my eyes, I took my first step onto the hill. Immediately, I felt the strain in my legs, the way the loose surface shifted treacherously under my feet. But I kept going, one agonizing step at a time.

It was grueling. Every movement was a battle against gravity and exhaustion. My muscles screamed in protest, and more than once, I slipped, sliding back several feet before managing to stop myself. The mud still coating my body made everything worse, adding weight and making it hard to get a grip on anything.

Halfway up, my foot hit a particularly loose patch of gravel. I fell to my knees, then began to slide backward. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought I would tumble all the way back down. Panic clawed at my throat as I scrabbled for purchase on the unforgiving slope.

But as I fought to stop my descent, something shifted inside me. The voice of doubt that had been my constant companion suddenly seemed less convincing. Yes, this was hard. Yes, I was struggling. But I was still here, still fighting.

Gritting my teeth, I dug my fingers into the earth, ignoring the pain as stones and twigs bit into my skin. I pulled myself up, found my footing, and pushed on. The top of the hill still seemed impossibly far, but for the first time since the course began, I felt a flicker of genuine hope.

This wasn't just about finishing an obstacle course anymore. This was about proving to myself that I belonged here, that I had the strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead. With each step, my resolve grew stronger, drowning out the lingering whispers of doubt.

When my hand finally grasped the marker at the summit, I almost couldn't believe it. With a final, monumental effort, I pulled myself up, collapsing onto the flat ground at the top. For a moment, I just lay there, chest heaving, muscles trembling, but filled with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

I'd done it. Despite everything—the doubts, the exhaustion, the sabotage—I'd made it to the top.

As I stood, surveying the course I'd just conquered, I heard familiar voices approaching.

"Tess!" Mason called out, concern evident in his deep voice. He jogged up, his brow furrowed as he took in my mud-caked appearance. "What happened out there? You're covered in mud."

I hesitated, the memory of Selena's betrayal fresh in my mind. But something held me back from revealing it. Maybe it waspride, or maybe I just didn't want to seem like I was making excuses.

"It's nothing," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Just had a bit of a tumble on one of the obstacles."

Mason looked skeptical, but before he could press further, Kane sauntered over, his pristine appearance a stark contrast to my muddy state.

"Well, well," he drawled, a smirk playing on his lips. "I suppose a course like this would be quite the challenge for a human librarian. At least you made it to the end... eventually."

I felt a flash of anger at his condescension, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of pride. Yes, I had made it to the end. Despite everything, I'd finished the course.

Before I could retort, Instructor Alvarez's voice cut through the air.

"Alright, that's enough for today. Class dismissed." Her amber eyes fixed on me. "Except you, Whittaker. A word."

As the other applicants began to disperse, some shooting curious glances my way, I approached Alvarez. Her face was impassive, giving no hint of what she was thinking.

"Your performance today," she began, her tone matter-of-fact, "was far from exemplary."

I braced myself for a harsh critique, but Alvarez continued in the same neutral tone.

"Your physical conditioning needs significant improvement. Your time was well below average, and your technique on several obstacles was sloppy at best."

I felt my shoulders slump slightly, but Alvarez wasn't finished.

"However," she said, her gaze sharp, "you demonstrated a level of determination that some of your more physically gifted classmates would do well to emulate. You faced each challenge, no matter how difficult, and you didn't give up."

I blinked, surprised by the hint of approval in her voice.

---