Page 76 of Dragon Unleashed

Naeve freezes in place as the gnarly creature stalks toward her. Its single eye, bloodshot and mean, stares her down. This is the precise scenario we were hoping she wouldn’t face: an opponent that’s both strong and aggressive, one that takeshighly concentrated magic to defeat. Of course the professors chose it.

The view zooms in, Naeve’s tear-streaked face takes up the screen, and we all witness her sobbing wildly. She’ll hate that her classmates saw her like this. The illusion flickers as a new figure appears.

A young man blinks into view. He stumbles, peering around in confusion. He’s scrawny, more lanky than muscular, and his hair is braided with small shells.

“Oh, comeon!” Zephyr shouts beside me.

I nudge him, raising an eyebrow.

“That’s Leeroy, Naeve’s brother,” he explains. “The Denier. Illusion or otherwise, he’s useless in a fight. Won’t accept or use his magic.”

On the guy’s wrist, instead of a pentagram, sits the blackened band of a Denier.

Her brother? I understand using our magical weaknesses against us, but psychological ones? I pull a breath in through my teeth.

The troll halts abruptly. It scents the air with its massive nose before abruptly changing direction, heading straight for Leeroy. Leeroy mewls like a damn kitten and cowers. He doesn’t even try to run.

Something must have clicked in Naeve’s brain, allowing her to overcome her terror, because she’s finally moving—except not away from the freaking troll. Instead, she barrels straight toward it. With only a few feet left between them, she halts and sends a barrage of earth magic at the creature. Rocks and soil pile around it, layer after layer, burying it under the rubble.

The troll strains against the growing mound. She’s contained it. Go Naeve.

It pauses, blinks its big eye, and smiles. A troll smile is possibly the most disgusting thing I’ve witnessed. Cracked teeth anddecaying gums all on show. And of course the camera pans up close.

With a crash the rocks tumble away.Shit. It has earth magic.

The troll snarls, gathers up the debris with a rudimentary spell, and flings it back at Naeve, tenfold. It’s a simplistic cast but hugely powerful. Naeve doesn’t hesitate this time; she throws herself at her brother, bracing her body across his, shielding him. The rocks pile around them, pressing down. Her arms shake with effort. One final flick of the troll’s fingers and her strength vanishes, the pile of rubble crushing them both.

A klaxon sounds and Naeve suddenly reappears in front of us. Her uniform is pristine, but her lip is quivering and she’s flailing around.

“Leeroy, Leeeeroy,” she shouts.

Jumping up from my uncomfortable seat, I wrap my arms around her. “Shh, Naeve. It was an illusion. He wasn’t really there. He’s safe.”

Naeve collapses into me, and the rest of our allegiance wrap their arms around us, holding her up.

The giant screen flickers to life again with a slight hiss of static. We huddle closer around her, waiting for the verdict.

Naeve Haliai: Results

Scenario 1: Grade 46%

Scenario 2: Grade 72%

Scenario 3: Grade 42%

Overall: Pass

We boost Naeve onto our shoulders and she lets out a whoop. She was the least prepared for simulated testing. If Naeve can pass, then I’ve got this.

We settle back down, waiting for the tech to reset, for my scenarios to load. With all the money the academy has spent on this, they could at least have bought chairs that don’t make yourass cheeks numb. I bounce my foot, stopping only when Naeve pats my knee. I’m more nervous than I thought.

Zephyr leans over and rubs my shoulder. I lean gratefully into his touch, darting a glance at the others. Neither Chano nor Farrell will evenlookat me. I kick at the chair leg in front of me. It wouldn’t kill them to wish me luck at least.

Professor Allegra glares at where Zephyr’s hand rests on my shoulder. It would be her running our scenarios.

The chair I’m assaulting fizzles into nothing, and I stand in surprise. My seat vanishes from behind me as soon as I’m up. I frown. The others were given a warning their exam was starting. I take a deep breath and steady myself. I’ve got this. Warning or not.

“Lorelei Bal, this scenario will require you to use air and earth,” a tinny voice announces.

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