Chapter 37: The Night Before
The academy dormitory was unusually quiet that night.
Normally the halls were filled with noise—students arguing, laughing, or comparing training results.
But tonight, most doors were closed.
Inside each room, students were preparing.
Or worrying.
Because tomorrow the Trial of the Beast would begin.
And unlike the earlier tests, this one carried real danger.
Aren sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the small training blade resting across his palms.
The metal was dull from years of use.
It wasn't meant for killing beasts.
Just practice.
Across the room, Bram paced nervously.
"I'm telling you, they should at least tell us what kind of beast we're fighting."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"How are we supposed to prepare if we don't know whether it's claws, fangs, venom, or something worse?"
Aren shrugged slightly.
"That's the point of the test."
Bram groaned.
"That doesn't make me feel better."
From the hallway, voices drifted in.
Students were gathered in small groups again, whispering about the coming trial.
Some sounded excited.
Others sounded terrified.
Bram stopped pacing and looked at Aren.
"You're way too calm about this."
Aren lifted the blade and slid it slowly back into its sheath.
"I'm not calm."
Bram raised an eyebrow.
"You look calm."
"That's because panicking won't help."
Bram sighed.
"Fair point."
A knock suddenly came at their door.
Bram opened it.
Amara stood in the hallway, arms crossed.
"Training field," she said.
Bram blinked.
"Now?"
"Yes."
She looked past him toward Aren.
"If we're fighting beasts tomorrow, sitting around worrying isn't going to help."
Aren stood.
She had a point.
The academy training field was dimly lit by lanterns when they arrived.
Several other students were already there.
Kairo stood near the center of the field, practicing strikes against a wooden dummy.
Each blow landed with controlled precision.
Thud.
Thud.
Crack.
The dummy's arm finally snapped from the repeated impacts.
Kairo stepped back, breathing evenly.
When he noticed them approaching, he smirked slightly.
"Couldn't sleep either?"
Bram folded his arms.
"Some of us are preparing for survival."
Kairo shrugged.
"I already am."
Amara rolled her eyes.
But she stepped into the sparring circle anyway.
"Fight me."
Several nearby students turned immediately.
Kairo grinned.
"Well… that should help pass the time."
High above the training grounds, from the balcony of the instructor tower—
Master Ilyara watched the students below.
Another instructor stood beside her.
"They're nervous," he said.
"As they should be."
Ilyara nodded slightly.
Her gaze moved across the field.
Kairo.
Amara.
Bram.
Then finally—
Aren.
He stood at the edge of the lantern light, quietly observing the others.
"Have you decided the order for tomorrow?" the instructor asked.
Ilyara nodded.
"Yes."
Her eyes lingered on Aren for a moment longer.
"He'll go last."
The other instructor frowned slightly.
"You think that's wise?"
Ilyara turned away from the balcony.
"We'll see."
Below them, the students continued their late-night training.
None of them fully understood yet—
That by the end of tomorrow's trials…
Some of them would walk out of the arena stronger.
And some of them would walk out defeated.