The first trial

Now that I had survived, what was next?

"There is but seven days left until the first trial begins, it will take five to travel there. So you may take today for rest, you would do well to speak with your sisters about what I have taught them while you where gone." Grandfather said to me.

"Yes Grandfather." I said bowing my head, I then turned and made my way out of the heart of the volcano.

The only thing to keep me company as I walked back to my sisters way the dull thuds of my claws impacting against the volcanic rock floor. While I walked I felt the new concentrated mana flowing through my veins. It seemed that my body was still acclimating to the new power that flowed within me. Comparing the raw mana density in my body now to before grandfathers ritual was like the difference between the water pressure at the top of the ocean to the deepest part of its floor.

With this new mana density I felt that I would have to essentially start my mana control training from scratch. I had no idea what this first trial entailed but I knew that whatever it was it would not be easy.

With this on my mind I entered the chamber my I had left my sisters in, upon seeing my figure they rushed to my side.

"Brother what happened? You seem fatigued, also why can I sense more mana within you than before! I though we had finally outmatched you in something but now you have more than me!" Apollonia complained with a hint of surprise in her gaze as she looked slightly up at me.

As I looked down at my sisters I now realized that they too had grown over the few months that I had been away. Although Apollonia had grown far more than Corentine. Apollonia now stood only ten or so feet below me and her wing span was comparable to my own, the only part of her that had actually exceeded me was the length of her tail. Unlike my own tail it resembled a whip rather than the spiked end of my own and was a few feet longer. Making us about the same length.

Corentine on the other had was almost exactly half my size in every way except her wings which in comparison to her body spanned three times her length. She seemed to be born to fly, with wings this large I could surmise that she was able to stay in the air for days without much fatigue unlike myself who got tired after about half a day of flight.

"Grandfather conducted a ritual to prepare me for the first trial, I was quite painful so I need to rest for a while. I promise to explain when I wake up." I responded

"Its a promise then!" Apollonia exclaimed.

I lowered my head and rubbed my temple against hers as a show of affection then did the same for Corentine. Then made my way to a corner of the cave and curled myself up for some much needed rest.

I woke up to Grandmother calling me "It is time to leave."

I slowly uncurled my large frame stretching in the process, then looked towards my sisters already at my grandmothers side.

"Is mother not going to be coming with us?" I asked.

"No, parents are not allowed to attend any of the trials, I will be your escort." Grandmother replied.

I nodded my head then followed grandmother as she turned and walked out of cave. As we walked I decided to start a conversation with my sisters, or rather Apollonia as Corentine still seemed to not be the talkative sort.

"What did grandfather teach you while I was gone?" I asked

"For the most part I did training on how to become more connected with my inferno mana. I also trained in my free time to create more runes. Other than that Corentine and I would do mock battles to train our battle experience." Apollonia replied.

"I see, ah in regards to the question you asked me yesterday, about what the ritual was. Grandfather cast an ancient spell to increase my mana density so that I could take the first trial with you." I said.

Apollonia momentarily looked rather shocked the said "If that was an option all this time what was the point in us constantly draining our mana?"

"That would be because you went about it the correct and much less dangerous way, the spell grandfather cast is ordinarily not something many survive." I replied.

"I am sorry for assuming you took the easy way out brother that was rude of me." Apollonia said looking down as the floor as we continued to walk.

"I did not take offense sister, I should have been here to train with you both but my own selfishness forced me to undertake the ritual." I said.

As I replied to my sister we had made it to the exit of the cavern and Grandmother motioned with her head to follow as she leapt from the cliff edge.

As we climbed higher into the air I noticed that we were not headed in a direction that I had gone before, we turned towards Grandfathers volcano and continued past it. As we made it out of the ash filled volcanic region before us laid vast sprawling grasslands as far as the eye can see.

With each flap of our wings we where propelled miles forward, Grandmother had to slow her pace as to not leave us behind. It seemed that Corentine did was not having all that much difficulty keeping up with grandmother while Apollonia and I struggled to keep pace.

As we continued on our way the grasslands continued until the sun finally set, Grandmother started to descend to rest for the night before we would continue tomorrow.