Shadow's Rising {Wing 1} Chapter 3

Chapter 3

By the time Jarid got to the arena, there was still plenty of time before the start of the test. Jarid noticed a small lineup at the gate, consisting of noble families and their children. There was a pair of guards at the gate checking everyone’s identification. The line was slow and Jarid got to the front there with only a few minutes to spare.

“What’s your name, kid?” the guard asked impatiently.

“Jarid Drakoulis.”

The guard frowned, muttering something to himself about letting everyone in these days. He jerked his thumb at the gate.

“Take the first door on the right and make your way to the arena.”

Jarid nodded and walked towards the gate. He knew that one couldn’t simply ‘make their way to the arena.’ Inside the arena walls was a massive labyrinth of passages and one could easily get lost in them for hours. Luckily, he had worked here long enough to know his way around. He confidently strode in and navigated the passages to the arena floor with a small smirk of satisfaction.

Hehe. You can’t stop me that easily! I’m going to be a dragon rider someday!

Jarid winced at the brightness of the sun after the dim passageways. The blue sky overhead had few clouds and the heat radiated off the stone walls of the arena. The arena was a round amphitheater about the size of a small noble’s castle. Above and surrounding the arena floor were rows of seats generously filled with nobles of all ages. The floor itself was covered with sand and there was a large obstacle course set up in the center.

There were almost a hundred potential students there. Each one was outfitted in their family colors. To Jarid, it seemed like he was looking at a massive patch of weirdly shaped flowers. All of them stood around chatting with each other and showing off the moves they had learned.

Jarid stood off to the side and watched. How would he ever fit in with people like this? Then the announcer stepped onto the field and called for everyone’s attention.

“This year’s test for the dragon training academy will be beginning shortly. Everyone please quiet down and listen up.”

As he shouted these words the gate at the entrance began to lower just as a boy with short blond hair rushed in. He was breathing hard and sat down with a sigh of relief. Casting a look up at Jarid, who was leaning against the wall nearby, he smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

“Made it,” He wheezed. Everyone else turned their attention back to the announcer while the boy got up and walked over to stand beside Jarid.

“Man! It sure is like a maze back there. Should have listened better to the guard’s instructions.” He stuck out his hand. “Name’s Steven Farrow. What’s yours?”

Jarid shook his hand warily.

“Jarid Drakoulis.” Steven looked like he was about to say more but the announcer had started speaking again.

“This year we have the honor of hosting three instructors and four retired dragon riders from the esteemed Dragon riding academy. They will be the observers for this test.” He gestured to a box situated high in the stands that gave the instructors a good view of the entire arena. Behind them stood seven nobles in strange looking armor. Each one was a different color that matched the clothes of the observers.

Jarid recognized Airel at the end of the line wearing a stet of black armor. They looked like guards, but that couldn’t be the case. At most they were only a few years older than he was.

“We have set up an obstacle course to test your athleticism, and those who make it through will go on to do a test of your math and writing skills before a final mock combat and magic test. Once all three tests have been completed, you will be sent home. The observers will be watching each test closely and should you be deemed worthy of entering the Academy, you will receive a letter of acceptance along with instructions on how to prepare for the year ahead.”

With that he signaled for the test to begin.

The obstacle course was long and complex with so many different barriers it looked like a small maze. The announcer began calling out names and titles for the participants. As each one was called they marched to the beginning of the course.

Jarid watched the first student enter the obstacle course to the cheers of the other students and the roar of the crowd watching from the stands. He raced through the first few obstacles with ease but by the time he was three quarters of the way through he was drenched in sweat. There was a board you had to balance across. As one crossed, there were swinging bales of hay to avoid and a pit of thick mud below. The current participant had made it halfway across when one of the bales nicked him. This was enough to make him lose his balance send him into the mud below with a disgusting ‘plop’.

As more students took the course it became obvious that the first student’s run wasn’t bad at all. Most only made it halfway before failing or giving up. Steven began talking as they watched.

“That sure looks hard, doesn’t it? I’ve been waiting all year for another shot at it.”

Jarid knew some people were allowed multiple tries if they failed their first attempt, but he was still surprised. He looked over at Steven and wondered what he might be feeling. Was he nervous because he failed the first time or confident now that he knew what the test entailed? Either way, Jarid had enough experience with guys like him to see that he was looking for attention. Maybe he could use that to get some information about the tests to come.

“This is my first attempt. Do you have any pointers?”

Steven lit up. “Sure thing!”

He quickly launched into a detailed explanation of last year’s trial. If you performed poorly on the obstacle course, you were unlikely to pass. Then there were tests on math, science, and English. If you failed any of those your chances of being chosen also dropped dramatically.

Jarid was thankful for the time he’d spent teaching Shadow all those subjects from Shadow’s mother’s memories. Dragons may have used different words but most of the concepts were the same.

The mock combat was where you had to show off your martial arts skills to impress the judges. Jarid hoped that his training would be enough to make it through. The only time he had fought anyone was during practice with Shadow. He had never faced a human opponent before, and hoped it wouldn’t put him at too much of a disadvantage.

“The magic test is simple. You just throw your most powerful spell at a target, and they grade you on it. The hardest part of the whole thing is, without a doubt, waiting to see if you passed. I was so mad when they failed me last time,” he said with a big grin. Jarid somehow doubted that last part was true.

When the announcer called Steven’s name, he smirked and gave Jarid a thumbs up. He made it most of the way through, but out of all the students only eight had fully completed the course. Then it was finally Jarid’s turn.

“Jarid Drakoulis is being represented by the Brineberg family,” the announcer declared as Jarid walked up to the starting line. No one cheered for him of course.

It felt creepy to have all those eyes watching him silently. Judging him. Then he thought about what Shadow would say to him right now.

“Well, let’s give them something to cheer about then!” His brother would shout.

Jarid smiled. He’d prove he was worthy of being a dragon rider. The horn sounded for him to begin and Jarid took off. He moved from obstacle to obstacle as easily as sprinting through the tangle of Denbark forest. It didn’t take long to find a rhythm to the different ropes, barriers, and precarious steps. He may have been stronger than most humans his age but that didn’t mean he could last forever. By the time he crossed the bridge with the swinging haybales he was breathing hard with sweat soaking his shirt.

He made it past the bridge and a rock-climbing wall beyond it to find the last obstacle looming before him. It was the simplest and yet hardest of them all. Many students had come this far only to end in defeat. It was a high wall where you had to run up and grab the ledge at the top. If you missed the ledge or couldn’t pull yourself up, you failed.

Jarid took a deep breath and focused all his remaining strength into one final burst of energy. He ran at the wall full speed using his momentum to throw himself upwards. His hands latched onto the ledge, and he grimaced as he pulled himself up. There was a bell on a platform at the top that had to be rung to finish the course. Jarid quickly dragged himself to his feet and rang the bell.

The crowd erupted in cheers and clapping. Jarid was shocked.

No one had ever cheered for him before. At first, he wanted to get away from all the attention, but gradually he accepted their praise. It filled him in a way he’d never felt before. Tears appeared in his eyes as he felt his chest swell with pride.

After climbing down off the platform. He spotted Steven in the crowd of students that had finished the course and walked over to him. He was still a little dizzy from the cheering of the crowd. Steven suddenly slapped him on the back hard enough to make him cough.

“Well done! That was awesome! You were so fast I could barely keep up. There’s no way you’ll fail the combat test, but don’t celebrate just yet. They’re gonna give us some pretty hard questions in the written test so get ready.”

Jarid didn’t understand why Steven was being so nice. He had to have figured out that he was a commoner by now. Jarid could understand the crowd cheering. It was a spectacle to them. But nobles often viewed commoners as no better than the horses that helped plow their fields. What made Steven and Airel different? Did he truly not realise? Before Jarid could ponder this further the announcer raised his voice.

“We will now conduct the written portion of the examination. We have set aside rooms for the examination to which you have each been assigned. Once you have completed the examination you will hand in your answers to the observer. Each will be a representative of the academy who will oversee the test. Then you will make your way back here. Clear?” There was a general nodding of heads.

“Good. When I call your name, you will line up behind the observer for your room.” He gestured to a small group of teachers at the edge of the arena.

The announcer rattled of names quickly and soon everyone was lined up and on their way. Steven was in a different group which Jarid was grateful for. It wasn’t that he didn’t like him. He just didn’t want to be distracted, wondering about Steven's motives for getting close to him.

After everyone was seated and the tests passed out, the observer gave them a brief explanation of the rules and the test began. Even commoners were taught basic reading and math, but this test was on a completely different level. Thankfully, using the knowledge from Shadow’s mother allowed Jarid to understand the questions and answer them appropriately. Even so, he was still one of the last students to leave. When he set down his paper the observer raised an eyebrow at him but said nothing.

As he came out onto the arena floor once more, Jarid noticed that the obstacle course had been put away and the floor swept clean. There were four small arenas marked out on the floor and a numbered posts staked at each on the nearer side. On the far side there were rows of wooden dummies set up.

The last of the students struggled in and all the gates except the exit gate were closed. The observers had also gone to stand behind the announcer who began to speak as the gates closed.

“The mock combat is about to begin! But before that we have a little cleaning up to do.”

Many of the participants began looking around in confusion, but Jarid noticed that Steven seemed unfazed. This must have happened previously as well.

“Each of the observers has written the name of everyone caught cheating during the written portion and their names will now be read aloud.”

Many of the participants paled or looked at their boots awkwardly. Jarid knew that, for nobles, publicly shaming them like this was far worse than any kind of physical beating.

“Those who are named shall immediately leave the arena through the open gate,” The announcer pointed to the exit gate. Then he stepped back and each of the observers stepped forward in turn to read their list. Almost a third of the students walked out the exit. Jarid was a glad to see Steven wasn’t among them. However, if he already knew about the consequences, Jarid doubted Steven would do something as foolish as cheating.

“Those of you remaining will be given a slip of paper with the arena you will be battling in and the time of your bout. You are free to do what you wish until then, but anyone who doesn’t show up on time will be disqualified. Once you are finished you may join the audience in the stands or sit at the side of the arena.”

The observers then walked among the students, handing out their slips of paper. Jarid was handed his slip by a massive hulking man. He knew muscles weren’t everything when it came to being a dragon rider, but he certainly fit the image of an elite warrior. Jarid checked his slip. He was due to fight in the last round, so he walked over to the arena wall to wait. It didn’t take long for Steven to join him.

“Nice to see you aren’t the cheating type!” he quipped. Jarid raised an eyebrow.

“You could have told me that beforehand you know,” he commented dryly. Steven laughed.

“What’s the fun in that? It’s hilarious to watch everyone’s face go pale when the realize they got caught. Besides, you don’t look like the cheating type, so there was nothing to worry about.”

Then he pulled out his slip of paper. “I am in the last round at arena three. What about you?”

Jarid checked his slip. “Arena four in the last round.”

“Great! Then we have plenty of time to chat before our match. I know you must be wondering how I could possibly lose,” he said, while flexing his arms and posing. “And I’m here to tell you there’s no way. I’m much too handsome to lose.”

I wonder why you weren’t accepted last time then, Jarid thought, smiling idly.

Still, it was nice to have a small conversation while they waited for their turn. Steven made jokes and told stories of his achievements which helped pass the time. Jarid didn’t really know what to say so he just listened and smiled at his attempted jokes or ridiculous stories.

As it neared the time for Jarid’s match, his mind drifted back to his earlier question about why Steven was being so friendly after only just meeting him.

“Hey Steven?”

“Yeah?”

“You do know I’m a commoner, right? Why are you being so nice to me?”

Steven paused for a moment. His ever-present grin still plastered on his face.

Then he laughed and patted Jarid on the shoulder with a cheeky smile.

“I knew there was something different about you! Hardly any of the other nobles can put up with me for this long, much less, listen so respectfully. Haha! I like you Jarid. If we both make it into the academy, let’s be friends, alright?”

He paused again and his voice turned a bit more serious. “I’m sure it’ll be tough for a commoner to survive at the academy. Come to me if you have any problems, alright?”

Jarid nodded. Then Steven’s cheeky smile returned.

“Great! Honestly, most nobles are no fun at all. Having you around is sure to spice things up! Haha!”

Jarid didn’t have time to ponder Steven’s words as the announcer called for all contestants participating in the final round to make their way to the arena.

“Well. Good luck, Jarid. See you soon.”

Steven waved as he strutted confidently to arena three. Jarid waved back as he got up and walked over to arena four.

He hoped that Steven genuinely wanted to help him and wasn’t just playing some noble’s game with him. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. He was about to fight another human being for the first time. Not only that, but a noble who had been properly trained in combat by expensive tutors. He wasn’t about to lose though.

Jarid nodded to himself and kept his eyes focused straight ahead with a look of determination. It didn’t matter who he faced. He was going to become a dragon rider!