Page 80 of The Scars Within
He opened the brown paper sack and handed me a turkey and cheese sandwich, potato crisps, and an apple. As he began opening his lunch, he asked, “So, how are you doing with all of this? I know from experience it’s hard. Last year… we lost a lot more cadets to the trials than this year so far. It may be hard to hear, but at least that’s a positive.”
I munched on my potato crisps and the realization of how hungry I was hit me. “It’s… a lot to process. I’m overjoyed for the ones who have passed, but I can’t help but be heartbroken for the ones who didn’t. How will their families be notified?”
Shayde reached over and laid a comforting hand on my knee, his touch instantly soothing. “Relaying the information to their families will be a priority once the trials are over. Our military will travel to deliver the news in person. Although the fallen cadet’s bravery is seen as honorable, it is still a time to mourn.”
His words brought a mix of solace and sorrow. The reality of the day settled in as we sat together in the peace of the wildflowers, trying to make sense of the balance between triumph and tragedy.
I broke the silence, “Did you participate blindly in the Burn Trials last year, or had you already channeled?”
Shayde looked away, taking a moment before responding. He inhaled deeply, then slowly let out his breath. “I hadn’t channeled an element yet.”
I don’t know why his answer rattled me. I knew he had survived the trials—he was sitting right next to me, bonded with Drithan. But just imagining Shayde standing in that pit, with only a chance of being chosen by the fire element, was horrific. I blinked away the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes.
He cleared his throat and wrung his hands together, the tension evident. “Rhodes channeled fire before we even applied to Mageia. Soliving in his shadow was tough,” he paused. “But everyone in my family is an elemental, so I went into the Burn Trials with high hopes.”
I could only imagine how difficult it must have been for Shayde, watching his twin brother channel an element long before he showed any signs himself. The constant comparison, the envy—it must have been painful. Perhaps that was one of the things that drove them apart, the pressure to measure up to a brother who had already wielded an element.
The silence of the moment became uncomfortable.
Shayde scooted closer to me, gently tilting my face towards his. “But hey, this year, I’m just glad you don’t have to experience that. I don’t know how I would manage seeing you in that pit. Even the idea of it hurts.”
I felt one side of my lips curve up into a small smile, and he leaned in to kiss me. It was soft but claiming, a moment that might have been romantic in this field of flowers if not for the grim reality that cadets had died today, and more probably would before the trials were over.
Shayde pressed his forehead against mine, his voice tender as he said, “I would much rather spend the day with you, away from all of this.” He kissed my forehead softly. “But lunch is about over. Would you like to meet up for dinner tonight? My friends and I plan to head to the Sanctuary.”
He helped me up, and I dusted off my breeches. “Sure, sounds good to me,” I replied, trying to hold on to the warmth of the moment, even as the weight of the day loomed over us.
I started walking, but Shayde’s hand on my shoulder stopped me. I turned, surprised, and saw him holding a delicate purple wildflower; his warm brown eyes softened in a way that caught me off guard. The breeze tousled his unruly cowlick, and under the bright sunlight, he seemed to glow, almost like he belonged to this moment.
“Would you do me the honor of being my date to the All Hallows Eve Ball?” he asked amorously.
I couldn’t hold back the grin that spread across my face. Shaking my head, I bit my lip, flustered by how unexpectedly sweet this moment was.
Tilting my head slightly, I took the flower from his hand. “Of course, I would.”
Shayde’s eyes sparkled with relief and mischief as he winked before pulling me into his arms. His hand cradled my jaw as he leaned down, his lips meeting mine in a slow, lingering kiss that made the world around us disappear. When we finally pulled apart, reluctantly, he took my hand in his and, without a word, led me back toward the trials, where reality waited.
We returned to the bleachers, and I rejoined my friends as we lined up, waiting to ascend the steps. Rhodes walked past us, and when he noticed me, he stopped.
“Scarlet,” he nodded at me. He seemed like he was about to say something more, but his attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere. I followed his gaze and saw his brother, Shayde, deep in conversation with Professor Yearwood.
“Rhodes, thank you for the coffee,” I said, hoping to break his fixation.
Rhodes just stood there, his eyes locked on mine. His expression shifted to one of unreadable complexity, as if he was unsure of how to process the moment. The line began to advance, and I managed a slight grin at Rhodes as we walked past.
Laney winked at him, “Hey, Row.”
We settled into our seats, and the blaring horn signaled that the break was officially over. I set the wildflower down on the seat next to me. Two more sets of cadets took turns in the trials, and thankfully, we only lost one more to the flames.
War Chief Kalluri made his way to the center of the pit, holding a megaphone. “This is the last call for any first-years wanting to participate in this year’s Burn Trials. Any cadets who haven’t channeled an element by the end of today will be excused from Mageia and sent home bytomorrow evening. If you wish to participate, please make your way to the pit.”
For a moment, there was silence. We all turned our heads, scanning for any of our fellow cadets who might be stepping forward. My heart sank when something caught my eye—Tatum stood up.
“What are you doing?” Laney asked, panic lacing her voice.
Tatum began making her way through the bleachers, ignoring our shouts.
“Tatum!” Cleo cried out, her voice filled with desperation.
