The trip to the Pinnacle Academy was a disaster for Elias.
It was a long journey that involved sitting up for hours in a carriage, then having to climb onto a boat, and finally, the worst part: a very long, very steep walk up a hill just to reach the main gate.
Elias was already tired for the week before he even saw the school.
He stood outside the Academy gates. The school was massive. It was made of huge, dark stone towers that seemed to touch the clouds. It looked like a place that hated sleep and loved running.
Elias had to stand in a long line to sign in. All the other students looked ready for a war.
They carried shiny swords, heavy magic books, and wore very expensive, clean robes.
Elias had a small bag with a clean shirt, a pillow, and a packet of dried meat.
When Elias got to the front, the attendant was a huge man with a very hard, angry face.
"Name?" the man asked loudly.
"Elias Thorne. I'm just here to sign in and then sign out. It saves time for the next person.
The attendant did not smile. He pointed a thick finger at a huge sign written in gold letters: GLADIATORIAL TRIALS – FIGHTING STARTS AT NOON.
Elias read the words slowly. He read them again. "Gladiatorial? Fighting? I thought I signed up for the 'Reading Books and Staying Quiet' track.
The attendant pointed to the paper Elias had signed. "Your paper says Gladiatorial Trials. Section C. Report to the Pit in thirty minutes. Try not to die, Thorne.
Elias felt cold. His plan had failed completely. His siblings had signed him up for a dangerous fight, not a test. They wanted him to fail hard, or maybe just get hurt. He was supposed to be resting, not fighting for his life.
He quickly moved to a corner near a big stone pillar. He sat down and tried to think fast.
"Okay," he whispered to the stone. "New Rule: How to win a deadly fight using less energy than it takes to blink."
He needed a plan, but his brain felt heavy.
Before he could decide, a group of students walked past. One girl stopped. She had bright silver hair that was perfectly braided and her uniform was clean and sharp. This was Seraphina Voss, a student from a very powerful family. She was the best student there.
Seraphina looked down at Elias, who was trying to hide near the pillar.
"You must be Elias Thorne," she said. Her voice was sharp, like metal. "The lazy one. You are doing the Trials? This school is for serious effort and skill. Not for hiding in the dust.
Elias was annoyed his hiding spot was found. "I am saving energy. If I rest now, I have more power later for minimal movement. What do you do, Voss? Run until you are wet with sweat?
Seraphina's eyes got small with anger. She looked ready to attack him right there. "My plan is simple: I win. You will be out in the first five minutes. You are a waste of this school's time.
"Waste of time is just another way of saying 'full of unused potential'," Elias said simply, then he closed his eye to show the conversation was over.
Seraphina let out a sound of frustration and walked away, her friends whispering about how strange Elias was.
A very loud metal bell rang through the school. Noon.
"All students for the Gladiatorial Trials! Enter the Arena now!" a voice shouted.
Elias sighed, the sound of a man who was deeply unhappy with his schedule. He slowly stood up. He felt the strange, painful thrum under his skin again. The Void Rune was tense. It knew it was about to be needed.
"My own magic is complaining about this," Elias thought. "It doesn't want to work, either.
He shuffled toward the Arena door. It was a huge, dark opening. When he stepped through, the world changed.
He was inside a massive stone pit. The ground was dirt and rock. It was hot, loud, and full of students who looked like they loved fighting. Elias just wanted a cold drink and a soft pillow. His siblings had done the worst possible thing. He was truly on his own.