After a moment, he looked at Rasul and nodded once. The older man reached back as if throwing a stone, and when he snapped his arms forward, a bolt of amber energy lanced forth, crackling through the air like lightning straight at Fredrick's chest, drawing a gasp from the crowd. Just before it impacted the young man, it splashed on the air in front of him as if it had struck a stone wall. The lightning flowed like a liquid over the curved barrier, quickly evaporating, but it was plain to see that Fredrick had indeed created a sphere of protection for himself.
Rasul threw another bolt of energy, then another, each one increasing in intensity. As the strikes grew in strength, Fredrick started to show concern. He leaned forward, extending his hands and gritting his teeth with his exertion. Rasul held both hands out and hurled a blinding shock of energy at the younger man. A shimmering field surrounded Fredrick, flickering slightly under the assault. Amethyst heard him scream as she shielded her eyes from the flash, then the light and sound faded, leaving a strong scent of ozone in its wake. She dropped her hand, her eyes readjusting to the dimmer light of the room.
Fredrick lay flat on his back, his chest heaving as he rolled to his side. Stepping quickly to him, Rasul pushed the young man to his back and checked him over.
“You will feel the pain, but you will survive. You did very well.”
Fredrick gasped, holding his chest where he had been struck. “Th... thank you, sir,” he stammered through his pain. He struggled to his feet and returned to his place in the group.
Rasul returned to his podium. “Who will be next?”
One of the Hopefuls turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Two more went after him in the silence that followed. They were down to eight.
“If nobody will volunteer to take the challenge, then I will pick someone,” Rasul said, his voice bearing a warning tone.
Amethyst took a deep breath and stepped forward. “I will go next.”
Rasul nodded. “Step forward, and signal to me when you are ready.”
Amethyst stood where Fredrick had been. She took a deep breath, inhaling through her nose, then out her mouth. She knew that Rasul would eventually breach whatever barrier she put up, and when he did, it was going to hurt, but this was what she had to do to complete the lesson. As he had told her the night before, every single instruction must be followed precisely.
She felt around her for the power that she would draw from and found it ready and waiting, as always. This time, she envisioned gathering it up, pulling it from the stone as if it were steel, and forming it around her like a dome. She saw it extending into the ground underneath her, centered on her navel, and willed as much energy to flow into it as possible. Part of her wished to make the barrier weak, so that the blast that penetrated it would be lesser, but she pushed that thought down and away. She was being tested, and this was a test that she would pass, like every other.
In her mind's eye, the light that she drew from the mountain started taking on the same purple glow that it had the first time she had worked with the energy, and she found herself reveling in it. She wove the magic back and forth, crossing it like the steel bars that formed the portcullises at Castle Lonwick, pressing them together with her will. She pulled as much energy into herself as she thought she could bear, feeling that same shiver run up her spine and across every inch of her skin, sending goosebumps down her arms and shoulders. Finally, Amethyst opened her eyes, looked at Rasul, and nodded.
An intense blast struck her shield, flowing around her like a jet of fire. She leaned into the assault, bracing herself with one leg forward, and poured more energy into her ward. Another blast, then another more powerful than the last slammed into her shield, but still it held. Gritting her teeth, she narrowed her eyes and pulled more energy from the mountain, pressing it up against the spot that Rasul was striking, building it thicker with her will.
Rasul's eyes narrowed as well, and he extended a single hand towards her, sending an uninterrupted stream of crackling light against her ward. She could feel it wearing away, and she held up her hands to support it. The magic flowed through her from the mountain and into the sphere, and Rasul smiled, bringing his other hand to bear. A second stream of magic blasted her shield, and she felt as though she might be pressed back.
Leaning into the force, it was as if her protective shell were shrinking towards her, the wave of energy flowing around her barrier getting closer and closer to her hands. She closed her eyes, preparing herself for the failure of her ward.
Though her eyes were closed, Amethyst saw the room around her, glowing with the light of her element. The remaining Hopefuls stood nearby, watching her intently, each pulsing with their own shade of amber. Rasul shone like a beacon of gold, the twin arcs of energy flowing from his hands like lightning bolts frozen in place, writhing along their path as they blasted against her. The sphere around her shimmered, flickering under the assault, and she knew it would fall.
Desperately, she reached out, grasping at whatever energy she could find, and hurled it into her defenses, trying in vain to bolster them before they failed.
Instead of flowing around her shield, the bolts of energy connected to it. Her ward instantly grew, expanding around her until its edge almost reached Rasul himself. Frantically, she wrestled to regain her control. The sphere snapped back to its original size, but it was much thicker and nearly opaque, blocking out her mind's sight of the room around her. The stream of energy cut off, and she could hear the other Hopefuls gasping. Rapidly, three incredibly powerful blasts slammed into her ward, but instead of flowing around the shield, they were absorbed by it, adding to its strength.
Amethyst opened her eyes and looked down, sweat trickling down her brow, and saw that the floor beneath her had cracked in the shape of a circle, fractures spreading out and away from her as if some enormous force had been slammed down on the stone, shattering it. She looked up to see Rasul squaring up with her then. As if he were trying to thrust his hands through a wall, he pushed both of them forward, blasting an enormous jet of energy against her ward. The ground underneath her shifted, and the stone that was encompassed by her shield rolled, breaking loose from the floor and pivoting. The front lip rose up while the back sank, putting her on a slope. As the magic continued to slam against her protections, she slid slowly backward, the incline becoming steeper as the ground continued to shift.
“Enough!” shouted Rasul, and the magical assault ceased. Amethyst staggered, falling forward against the stone floor as her vision faded. She struggled to maintain consciousness, her breath shallow. It hurt to breathe, and she coughed, a wave of pain coursing through her body. She felt someone take hold of her and roll her onto her back, then everything went dark.
~~~
12th Waxing Moon of the Long Night, Year 4367
Amethyst woke to someone bathing her forehead with a cool, damp cloth. She opened her eyes, immediately regretting her decision, and squeezed them shut again. Squeezing them was almost as bad as opening them, though, a shock of pain lancing through her skull. It was as though a tiny person was inside of her head, beating on it with a hammer, trying to escape. She groaned, shifting her position to be more friendly to her hips.
“Well, well, well. You're not dead after all,” came Tika's voice, feeling like a cacophony of murder being inflicted upon her defenseless eardrums.
“I wish I were,” Amethyst croaked, cracking her eyes open again. As far as she could tell, she was laying in one of the bedrooms off the dining chamber, though if it was hers or not, she did not know.
“Did I fail?” she asked, her throat dry and scratchy. She would have given anything for a cold drink of water.
“Quite the contrary,” Rasul said from the door. “I have never before encountered a shield that I could not breach. It was impressive.”
“Well, I'm glad I was entertaining, at least,” she grumbled, laying her throbbing head back against the pillow.
“How did you think to channel my attacks i
nto your shield?” he asked, sitting on the foot of her bed. “I've never seen that done before.” He pointed at Tika. “This one learned from watching you, though the rest of the Hopefuls, save one, either failed the test or forfeited their applications.”
Amethyst sat up, rubbing her eyes. “All of them?”
“All but Fredrick and me,” said Tika. “Once they saw your performance, two of them walked out. The other three couldn't manage to bring up a shield. It will just be us three this evening.”
“She is correct,” Rasul said, irritated at Tika's interruption. “They have all been sent back to where they came from. That was the goal of that final test – to narrow down the number of Hopefuls to three.
Tika rubbed her shoulder and winced. “Even copying you, my shield gave way long before yours did. I told you that you were powerful.”
Swinging her feet to the floor, Amethyst cringed. “Why do I feel like I've been dragged by a horse? My whole body hurts.”
“As far as I can tell, it is because you used yourself to anchor your barrier. That made it so that even though your ward did not break, it put tremendous strain on your body.” Rasul held up one finger. “Also, you used energy that was not entirely from the mountain. I believe you poured some of your own life force into the shield, bolstering it with your own essence, not to mention harnessing my attack.” He shook his head. “That is dangerous to do.”
Tika frowned. “Her own life force? What does that mean?”
Rasul shook his head. “It is unimportant for me to explain it at this time. Suffice it to say that if you continue to practice magic like this, you will indeed be able to display exceptional power, but you will do so at the cost of your longevity.” He patted her leg and stood up. “The pain you feel is from the latent energies still infusing you. As they bleed off, it will fade, just as it will for Fredrick. Tonight, you must be ready for your trial. Once you have completed it, Master Giriraj will take two days to make his choice. I suggest you spend this time resting.”
He left the young women alone, closing the door behind himself. Amethyst put her head in her hands and sagged. Sitting next to her, Tika laid the cloth across the back of Amethyst's neck.
“Don't worry about it,” she said. “Anyone else would have fallen under that punishment.”
“That's not what I'm worried about,” said Amethyst. “I am exhausted. If I have to work magic like this, I don't know if I can beat Fredrick.” She looked up at her friend. “And what about you? You say I'm more powerful, but you're much more skilled than I am.”
Tika shook her head. “No. I won't win. I know that now. After seeing both you and Fredrick, and feeling what you two went through, I know that I'm not cut out for it. If Master Giriraj does choose me, it'll only be as a skilled concubine, and that's not what I want. I'd like to think he's smarter than that.” She sighed. “No, it'll be one of you two, and that's okay.”
Amethyst looked down. “I'm sorry.”
Scoffing, Tika nudged Amethyst with her shoulder. “Don't be. I wouldn't be apologizing if the roles were reversed. This is what we came here for.” She chuckled. “You should have seen it when everyone walked out following your test. Nobody else but me even got a shield to work. I guess the thought of getting hammered on by a wizard didn't appeal to them.”
Amethyst gingerly laid back down. “I don't personally recommend it.”
Tika laughed. “Get some rest. I'll see you in a few hours. After that, well...”
“Don't worry. I told you I would come to visit you,” Amethyst said, “and it's not set in stone that you won't be chosen.”
“Yeah, but what if Fredrick wins?”
Amethyst shook her head. “I promise you that won't stop me from seeing you again. It'll just slow me down.”
Tika shot her a sidelong glance. “Sure, Quartz,” she said, still skeptical. “Whatever you say.”
~~~
The Choosing
Amethyst, Fredrick, and Tika stood side by side in the corridor, awaiting their instructions. Rasul was sure to be along shortly; he never kept them waiting for long.
The tunnel stretched on for almost as far as Amethyst could see before it split, turning to the left and right. Along both sides, passages split off at right angles, leading further into the depths of the mountain. This was a maze. There seemed to be some sort of ambient lighting, as there were no torches or lanterns to light their way, but the corridor was well lit nonetheless.
Behind her, she heard the wooden door open, then close again. Rasul stepped around them to the front. Tucking his hands into his sleeves again, he addressed the three remaining Hopefuls.
“This final trial,” he said, looking at each one of them as he spoke, “is more than what it appears. The goal is to find the center, where Giriraj is waiting. The maze can be solved by simply navigating it, but that would defeat the purpose. You are not being evaluated on your ability to navigate a maze, you're being judged on your usage of the skills we have learned over the last two weeks.”
Rasul glanced back up the passage, towards the depths of the labyrinth. “There is no more help that I will give you. Now, it is up to you to display that you are worthy of the position you seek. The way is dangerous; there will be many obstacles in which a misstep could cost you your life. If at any time you wish to leave this place, simply call my name, and you will be removed. Do you have any questions?”
None of them spoke up.
Nodding, Rasul lifted one hand. “Then let this trial begin.” He dropped his hand, signaling for them to start.
Fredrick was off like a bolt from a crossbow, sprinting down the hall and taking the first turn he encountered, dodging to the right. Tika was right behind him, running further down the passage before she turned left. Amethyst, however, took a moment, watching them both sprint down the corridor before proceeding.
“Is something the matter, Quartz?” asked Rasul.
She shook her head. “No. I simply wish to proceed with caution.”
“That is a good plan.”
She walked down the hall, listening for any sound that might act as a hint for which direction to go. She wetted a finger and held it up, but was unable to detect any breeze.
When she reached the end of the passage, Amethyst looked both left and right, then proceeded right. She followed turn after turn, the corridor seeming to fold back on itself a dozen times before reaching a dead end. Cursing under her breath, she sprinted back the way she had come, a sense of urgency coming over her. If she dallied too long, one of the others might reach the center first. She returned to the intersection and took the other path, which curved gently to the right.
It seemed as though she followed that path for hours before she entered a large chamber with a chasm in the middle. She carefully approached the edge and looked down, but couldn't see the bottom. The sheer faces of the drop descended into inky darkness. On the other side of the pit was a platform with another passage cut into the wall, leading off into the maze and out of sight. If she wanted to continue on this path, she would need to get across.
Amethyst closed her eyes and took a breath, focusing on the energies of the mountain. All around her she could feel it pulsing, almost like it was a great beast and the element of Earth was its breath. She could see a void in the light where the chasm was, along with a bright shining from its depths. The walls glowed with a soft, steady amber light, and she had an idea.
Just as she had when forming the statue on the lower summit, Amethyst reached out, drawing the stone from the side of the chasm out and up, creating a ledge along the left side of the chamber a yard wide and a foot thick. The rock wall sagged as the material was drawn out, as if some massive force was pushing it in above and below the platform she was creating. She had never moved this much stone before, and the effort was exhausting. She still ached from withstanding Rasul's assault against her ward, but she tucked her chin down, clenched her jaw, and forced herself to continue.
Before long, she had a serviceabl
e walkway that she could use to cross. Pressing flat against the wall and avoiding the chasm as much as possible, she shimmied across the platform and stepped onto the solid stone on the other side, proceeding through the door.
The air here was much colder and she shivered, rubbing her arms through the sleeves of her shirt. Though Rasul had said that their clothes would keep them warm, it apparently had its limits. Perhaps this part of the maze was close to the surface of the mountain, and thus the cold could penetrate into the labyrinth itself?
As she rounded the corner, Amethyst discovered the source of the cold. A wall of ice blocked her path, having poured in through a crack in the ceiling. She reached out to touch it, and jerked her hand back, her fingertips nearly sticking to the surface. There would be no breaking it with her fists, and even if she could touch it, as far as she could tell, it was far too thick.
She stood in front of the ice, pondering how to get through it. Though it seemed to make sense that a barrier meant that she was going in the right direction, it could have been put there as an obstacle to mislead her. It could also be entirely natural, and an unintended part of the labyrinth that simply made for a convenient challenge.
An idea came to her, and she concentrated on the wall to her right, pouring energy into it in an attempt to heat the stone, just like she did with the obsidian sphere. Slowly, a trickle of water formed, and Amethyst redoubled her effort, stepping out of the way of the small stream that grew at the base of the ice. Setting her hands against the rough wall, she drew as much of the elemental power as she could into the stone, until it was almost too hot for her to touch.
The ice melted away faster, creating a space between it and the wall. Slowly, Amethyst moved the energy around the ceiling, extending the gap until she reached the floor on the opposite side. Focusing on the ground, she poured more energy into the stone. She wasn't able to simply forge the connection and leave it; when she tried, the heat quickly dissipated. Maybe it was because the stone was still a part of the mountain? She would need to study that later, but now was not the time. She had no idea where Tika and Fredrick were. For all she knew, they had found a different path to the Master of Earth. Rasul had said, after all, that the labyrinth could be solved by non-magical means.
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