11 Winning Isn’t for Everyone
The other four pair of candidates and their warriors noticed that something was not right inside the building. Most of them knew what to do and had tried but failed countless of times for many reasons.
One was that their magic was not compatible with the required spell to consecrate the reflecting vessels; such as having an opposite element unrelated to making fire.
The Faey people were known to have vast knowledge in magic and each one was unique. Their affinities matter mostly with what sort of magic they could create such as Red and her capability to control fire.
Others would have been able to produce fire through simple spells but the power wouldn't be enough for the required task at hand. This is the reason why glasses and mirrors broke in their attempt since their magic wasn't the right type and just wasn't powerful enough.
A second option is to recite a spell by which a Fire spirit will be summoned to do their bidding and consecrate the item. However, most of the other candidates were not familiar with such ancient knowledge.
Spirits were known to be temperamental beings which can only be controlled by few chosen and the danger of the spirit turning itself on them was far too risky.
One last method would have been to use a special tool by which only Light Faeys were capable of crafting. These Faeys as what Arikyer had explained to Red, are what humans had mistaken as angels who did miracles and gave blessings to humankind.
They do in a sense are holy beings who mostly serve the Faey Queen's temple of worship during the old times they lived with humans.
Fortunately, one particular candidate's warrior was such. And where the others were busy breaking glasses and mirrors in their attempt, her warrior had fashioned her a tiny golden pen fit for her use.
She marked ancient runes with her baby hands onto the huge mirror they took from tower hallway and chanted her spell through silent lips.
On their way to trap a reflection of the full moon, they noticed the walls of the tower had become extremely scorching. Without even touching the glass walls, they felt their skin began to blister.
The next thing they knew, the entire wall was already engulfed in flames and the candidates warrior who was beside her swiftly took her in his arms to protect her from the flames. Without hesitation, they teleported at the other side of the building to escape the sudden influx of heat, the huge mirror in tow.
Outside, Red witnessed how her concentration had came to fruition. She successfully consecrated a substantial reflecting vessel.
When the flames dwindled, the glass wherein the moon was reflected had started to glow as if the glass itself was the moon.
"And now we can gather the moon dust Red." She heard Ari said. He then ceremoniously released multiple arrows at the same time, colliding with the glass walls, and shattering them and making the building walls explode.
The remnants of what used to be glass walls quickly became tiny dust-like particles suspended in the air. They sparkled beautifully and Red thought how wonderful it looked yet left destruction at its wake.
Millions of broken shards, shining in the darkness like sharp and deadly snowflakes.
She wondered what had happened to the other candidates. Were they able to succeed as she did as well? Or did they turned unto someone like the teenager who confronted them in her desperation to win this trial?
Ari waved his hand and the shining dust danced along with his wind magic. He produced a flask with which when and where he got it, Red had no idea. He commanded the wind to carry the dust inward the flask he had readied.
At a closer inspection, Red noticed it was a clean empty coffee bottle of a famous café just down the opposite street called the Buzz. She remembered only this morning if she had accepted Wolfe's invitation and had not gone to grandmama's, maybe she wouldn't be here right now and would have still been working her bones dry.
Ari finally closed the flask's lid with a cork and offered it to Red who was at first reluctant to accept it.
Were they done now?
Would the other candidates try to steal this from them?
Were they safe outside?
Where should they go?
Who should they approach?
Red noticed a large shadow looming from behind them and turned to look up. She saw that pale androgenous thing Ari called a herald ominously watching them, observing all that was happening with how the candidates and their warriors approached the task they have given.
It was standing at the topmost branch of a tree, its long robes swaying in the wind. The crystals adorning its pointy ears twinkled.
How the thinnest branch was able to support such a tall being was quite as fascinating as the milieu.
The lights that were suspended in the air began to act in a frenzy like a disturb bee swarm.
An eerie yet dreamlike ambiance enveloped the herald's realm.
It was as emotionless and tightlipped as when Red first saw them back inside the convention hall. Their eyes were as pale as their translucent skin and it made them look as if they had no eyes at all.
With a flick of its wrist, it motioned for Red to come forward.
