Chapter 252 - Trial of Resolve

So this chapter originally ended at the first *** but I came up with 2 scenes I thought added a lot to it, and wrote those today. Really happy with how it turned out!

Hump’s heart pounded to the beat of drums. A deep, chanting song filled the temple hall, his soul resonating with it. It was the sound of war. The air inside was so rich in essence it was almost nauseating. Their song carried on it, transcending into something magical.

All eyes were on him as he took his first step forward, his own gaze locked on the altar ahead of him. He focused on his pace, taking measured steps and doing his best to not trip over his own feet.

Wouldn’t that just leave the perfect impression, he thought.

It took an effort of will not to marvel at the room. In his periphery, towering pillars supported the roof, with what he thought were dungeon cores embedded in the stone. So many, he could hardly believe it. The riches here… well, it was no wonder they were so closed off to outsiders. If word of such wealth reached the wrong ears, an army might one day show up on their borders.

People were on their feet around him, all of them chanting the same song, though Hump couldn’t understand the words. He resisted the temptation to look at them, but he could sense their eyes glued to him. Despite the fight at their borders, hundreds of people had come to bear witness to his trial. It made him a little nervous to be at the centre of so much attention, but he refused to let it show. His face was a mask. Fear would not touch him. Just as the dragons respected courage, so did Drakalyn’s people, and so did Hump. He’d considered the possible outcomes when he first accepted the trial and deemed it worth the risk; second thoughts now were beyond pointless. This was the logical step forward. The path he needed to take if he wanted the strength to stand in this world.

It felt like a long walk to the altar, but by the time he was there he wished it took longer. Logic could only get him so far. The fact was, he was about to be in a world of pain.

Elder Rena stood behind the altar on a raised platform, where she led the song that filled the room, her eyes fixed on a point somewhere behind Hump. Elders Sulamir and Ashera stood a few paces to either side of her, their gazes fixed behind him like Rena’s, their voices joined in the cascading chant of the room.

Hump stood there, waiting. His soul shivered at the song, his heart pounded with the beat of the drums, his blood boiling with thrill and excitement. He noticed a small window toward the top of the wall, where it met the ceiling. A deep hole pierced the side of the pyramid, granting him a glimpse of the Great Tree. He wondered if Owalyn watched him from up there, or was she still battling the curse Lich Queen Irila had inflicted upon her land? Perhaps she simply wasn’t interested. It wouldn’t be the first time a god wasn’t paying attention.

He let out a breath. His heart was really beating fast now, the sound of drums a part of him. As much as he understood the reasoning behind why he was here, the primal whisper in the back of his head still told him to run.

He studied the altar, trying to distract himself from what was coming. It was a strange central point to the temple, being far smaller than the solid stone altars the Pantheon used in their temples. Instead, this one appeared almost like a tree. Twisting wood formed the frame, while the top was made of leaves. Despite its unusual appearance, there was no doubting its power. Even at a glance, Hump sensed the unending depth of essence within it. A roaring power the filled the air like an aura, overpowering the hundreds of dungeon cores, hearstones, and essence stones that filled the room. Whether a magical artifact or a living thing, its complexity was beyond his comprehension.

Slowly, the drums quietened, then the chanting softened until only silence remained in the grand hall. All at once, the Trinity of Elders turned their gazes on Hump, staring at him intently. He swallowed nervously, his mouth dry.

“Welcome, Wizard Humphrey, to the Temple of the Everflame,” Elder Rena said, her voice filling the room. “You stand before us ready to embark upon the Trial of Resolve. To be blooded, like no outsider before you. An honour, and a test of strength, will, and courage. Before we begin, answer me this: Are you aware of the risks of the trial before you?”

Hump licked his lips and said in a loud, clear voice. “Yes.”

“And do you still wish to face the trial?”

“I do.”

“Then take your place upon the altar.”

She stretched her hands forward, palms upward, then slowly raise them. Hump felt essence stir but he couldn’t place it. This was no simple magic. Before his eyes, the wooden altar began to shift—no, that was an understatement. It grew, expanding until it was larger than him. Leaves sprouted atop it, forming a bed of perfect green. One side was slightly raised toward the onlookers.

Elder Rena gestured to it, indicating for him to sit.

He couldn’t help but frown at that, suddenly realising why it was so… Hump shaped. Yet he didn’t question it, sitting on the edge of the altar as instructed and crossing his fingers that was enough. It was surprisingly comfortable, as if lying upon a bed of cushioned moss. Even through the thin, light ritual garments they’d given him, he couldn’t feel any twigs or lumps poking him.

Elder Rena touched his shoulder and gently pushed him down, setting him on his back, a feeling Hump distinctly did not like. He could see everyone now and felt completely exposed in this position. He spotted Celaine toward the back of the hall, staring straight into his eyes, concern and encouragement on her face. Nisha watched from her shoulders, curled around Celaine’s neck. Hump reassured her through his bond—everything was alright. He was calm.

“Lie still,” she said quietly. “Your arms will be bound. It is to keep you from causing harm to yourself or your surroundings during the trial.”

Hump’s eyes flicked to her. The old woman’s face was indifferent to his plight. “That part was never mentioned.”

She smiled then. “You are in good hands, young wizard.”

Hump let out a sigh as he lay back, the leaves soft beneath his back. He felt magic stir, then his arms and legs were bound in knots of vines.

“Relax,” Elder Rena whispered.

Easier said than done, Hump thought.

He tried not to fidget and accept the loss of control. This was his fate now, all he could do was trust in it. Elder Rena stepped away and a priestess in a bright green robe came forward, her face hidden behind a hood. She undid the two buttons and his shirt fell open. A moment later, Elder Rena reappeared in view.

Hump’s eyes widened at the artifact in her hands. Ado had warned him, but this hadn’t been what he envisioned. A slender crystal chamber filled with blood, pulsating with essence like a beating heart. Six needles protruded from the device, each one of them as long as a finger.

Hump realised his fear must be showing when he sensed anxiety in Nisha. He took a breath and forced himself not to show his growing fear.

Don’t worry, he told her in his mind. Settle down. It will all be alright.

Her anxiety lessened a little, but there was no removing it entirely. That was to be expected, he supposed, and it would only get worse from here. All he could do was endure it as best as he could.

Elder Rena stepped closer, placing the device over Hump’s heart.

His breathing quickened as he braced himself for what would come.

“Are you ready?” Elder Rena asked.

He forced himself to be calm and nodded. “Let’s get it over with.”

He closed his eyes, one part of him wishing for her to hurry up, the other part wanting to cry out for her to stop. Pain ignited. He thrashed his arms, fighting against the bindings that held him, his body rigid as agony pierced his chest. A building pressure expanded within him as the needles pierced deeper into his body. He sucked in a lungful of air. It took everything not to scream. He sensed Nisha’s panic and with all his will contained his fear, forcing himself not to resist.

All thoughts left him as the needles entered his heart. Essence exploded through him like fire in a wound. The blaze built and built, until it was all he could sense—a great, searing hot pressure that felt as if it would explode him from the inside. It swept through his channels, turning his rivers into tempestuous torrents that surged with unrestrained fury. Unrelenting waves shook the walls of his channels, carrying with them a mighty roar of essence. It did not have the warmth of Vindari’s fragment of intent, only rage and a desire to break free.

His muscles tensed as the pain expanded to his flesh. He felt like he was melting from the inside out, every part of him screaming out in torture. Screams filled his ears, only for realise it was his own voice. The world was white, his mind blank, the only thing that existed was pain.

Pain and panic.

‘Remember the River and Waves,’ it was his master’s voice in his head. ‘Deep breath. Clear your mind, calm yourself, and calm the waters.’

He could do nothing if he continued to act on instinct. Even now, he needed to think, and to show his resolve in the face of agony. That was the point in this trial, wasn’t it? That, and to become strong enough to be worthy of Nishari. Pain was temporary, and so long as there was a purpose behind it, Hump knew he could withstand anything. He would not falter with the goal before his eyes.

He drew a deep breath, gritting his teeth tightly as reality returned to him. A calm mind was the first step, though he doubted the old man ever expected him to face something like this. He focused on the torrent of essence circulating his channels and wondered if there was any calming these waves.

There’s always a way. Think, Hump. Think!

To begin, he focused on the pain itself. He let it burn through him and fill him until it encompassed everything. He observed it, measuring where it hurt most at his heart, comprehending the burning sensation throughout his body. He realised it was his body being broken down and rebuilt. For the people of Drakalyn, it was a gradual process that took place over many years of childhood growth. For him, it was all happening now. Slowly, the pain became more distant, as if he were looking into his body from outside. He brought his breathing under control, relaxed his muscles, and accepted this new state of being. This much was bearable.

His mind turned to his channels and blood. Essence flooded through him with such ferocity that he could not overpower its intent, but he remembered Ado’s teachings. Not to command the essence, but to work with it and push it in the right direction. This dragon blood was there to physically alter him. If he could not command it, then he would add to it.

He called upon his own essence, letting loose the strength reserved in his core and pouring it into his channels, adding to the chaos. The pain grew more intense, but he sensed that the waves no longer crashed against the channel walls with as much force. They started to flow together—more powerful, but no longer thrashing against each other.

Somewhere along the way, Hump manifested his soul. The might of his essence exploded around him, filling him with strength and adding to the intensity of his will. His mind cleared further. He was no longer a simple hedge wizard, but a man that had passed through worse tribulations than this. The Temple of the Everflame was saturated with essence, and Hump called upon it, pouring more chaos upon the fire in his blood, exposing his soul to the dragon blood and letting it have its way with him.

His bones cracked, shifting in beneath his skin, each a thump of anguish. There was no part of him that did not hurt, that did not burn, yet Hump watched it unwavering. His mind as hard as iron, his spirit as hot as the blazing sun.

Nisha roared in his mind and Hump reached for her reassuringly, sending his resolve, his courage, and all the strength of will he had. He was in command of this agony. He did not simply bear it, he enhanced it.

Suddenly, he heard another roar, then another, thundering in his mind. A boom of sound and emotion that sent shivers through Hump—the wolf dragons. Somehow, they could hear him. He must have reached them with his telepathy just as he’d accidentally communicated with Nisha from the dungeon. Their images of bravery and excitement flooded his mind, along with their admiration and respect.

Spurred on, Hump endured the pain with renewed resolve. He would beat this, just as he had beaten the intents that had come before it. The dragon blood was his, it just didn’t know it yet.

***

Celaine stared in horror as Hump bellowed a terrible scream, his voice echoing through the hall as her people watched on silently. Some would be enjoying seeing an outsider suffer at their trials, though she knew Hump had made many friends here now. Many that, just like her, were hoping for him to succeed.

An aura of power rose around Hump, an aura of faintly purple mist forming as he manifested his soul. A breeze tore through the room, stirred up by his essence. She couldn’t tell whether it was going well or terrible. His body shifted, muscles becoming distinctly more defined. She thought his shoulders became a little broader.

Nisha wriggled in her arms and she hugged her tightly to her chest, only for the dragonling to tilt her head back and let loose a squeaky yet mighty roar at Hump’s suffering. Celaine’s heart broke at the sound, and then a rumble shook the room. The sound built from the Chamber of Keepers, where the bonded wolf dragons made their nests.

And then the temple erupted with the roar of dragons—thunder booming in the Temple of the Everflame. From outside, she heard other wolf dragons adding their voices to the song.

The room filled with confused whispers. People looked around at each other, unsure at what was going on. Others stared at Nishari, as if she might somehow be behind it.

“Do you know what’s happening?” Vamir asked quietly.

“When Hump manifests his soul, he gains some of the telepathic powers of wolf dragons,” Celaine said. “My guess is, he’s accidentally reached out to all of them.”

Vamir chuckled. “Oh, the keepers are not going to like this.”

“That boy may have even more potential than I expected,” Ado said, his eyes fixed on Hump. “You did well finding him, Celaine.”

It was then she saw the manic grin on Hump’s face and realised something. He wasn’t screaming—he was roaring.

***

Hump’s mind was alive with the images of the pack. Hunters, warriors, beasts—all of them urging him forward. And then he sensed something above it all. A great presence in his mind like no other, not even Owalyn.

The roars were silenced, and Hump felt himself observed by a creature beyond any of them. There was a flash of red—eyes staring at him, studying him for a moment before vanishing, along with any sense of its presence.

Yet that glimpse alone was enough for Hump. Those lizard eyes, that presence—there was only one thing it could be…

A true dragon.