Chapter 6 The first ambiance

I hadn't slept.

Somewhere around the third hour of staring blankly at the wooden beams above my bed, I had decided Theron wanted one of three things: my spellbook, my illegal potion stash, or my head mounted on a pike.

So naturally, my morning was off to a terrible start.

As if that wasn’t enough, a golden light kept beaming brightly under my bedroom door, spilling into the hallway, and illuminating literally every corner of the house.

I threw on a proper dress and my travel boots, tied my red hair into a messy bun, and bolted down the stairs toward the main hall where everyone was already gathered.

The scroll in the center of the room, glowing brightly. I looked over at the rest of the group and immediately concluded that maybe I wasn't the only one having an awful morning.

"It woke everyone up an hour ago," Kaelen announced, his mouth stuffed with bread. "Hagul poked it."

"It was a gentle poke," Hagul roared defensively,

"It clearly didn't like it," Jinxi called out from the central hearth, idly stirring a large iron pot of steaming porridge.

"I don't think Hagul’s poking is the reason we're nearly blind " Theron added from the far side of the bar

"Then what is it, genius?" Melia asked flying over to rest on my shoulders.

"It's probably—" Theron started, but his sentence was cut short as the blinding glare suddenly dimmed down to a low, warm hum.

Everyone turned toward the floating parchment as ink began to bloom across the center, word by word.

"It's the first trial," Kaelen said excited

The scroll flared bold letters:

BENEATH THE WAVES A CROWN GROWS COLD, AND ONLY A BLOOM THAT NEVER KNEW THE SUN CAN WAKE IT. ARRIVE AS STRANGERS, LEAVE AS GUESTS, OR BE KEPT BY THE TIDE.

“I hate riddles,” Jinxi groaned.

“Look,” Kaelen said pointing to the bottom of the scroll. “It says here that we shouldn't take anything with us when the time comes.”

“That means our first trial might actually take us outside of this building,” I said, a sudden spark of hope lighting up my chest “We could all step out under the guise of the trial and go ask for help from the outside world!”

“That wouldn't work,” Theron countered instantly. His blue eyes met mine for the first time since our tub incident.

“Why do you think so?” I asked , stepping forward

“Do you honestly believe a spell of this monstrosity will just let us walk free because of a trial ?”

“No,” I shot back. “I believe there's a loophole in every spell ever cast, and we just found it.”

“If you try anything stupid, you could get us all killed.”

“And if I don't try anything at all, we could be locked in this room forever!” I yelled back at him. “Who knows when we're going to finish all these trials? When we're fifty?!”

“Enough!” Jinxi screamed, slamming a wooden spoon against the edge of her pot.

Everyone snapped their heads toward her. “I am so sick and tired of your stupid, endless bickering!” She let out a heavy sigh, resting her hands on her hips. “Look, if you two want to cut each other's throats so badly, at least eat breakfast before the trial starts.”

Theron and I both blinked.

“I put a lot of effort into this porridge,” Jinxi grumbled , “and I’ll be furious if we move on to some deadly test before anyone gets a chance to eat it.”

Silence followed as I helped set the table.

“So while we still can, should we discuss the riddle?” Kaelen asked, immediately stuffing a giant spoonful of hot porridge into his mouth.

“'Beneath the waves' definitely means it has something to do with the ocean, right?” Melia asked

“That was my first thought as well,” Theron said dropping his fork . “if this trail involves swimming it's best we change to lighter clothing”

“That’s a brilliant idea, Theron,” Jinxi praised, taking a seat beside Hagul.

I slammed my spoon hard against the wooden table and every single head turned straight to me.

“Hagul,” I said, forcing my voice into an unnaturally sweet, sickly tone. “Pass the salt, please.”

Was I the only sane person in this building? Does nobody really think we can use this opportunity to seek help?

This wouldn't do. While they planned to play along with this sick, game-show trial, I was going to find a way out. I knew I could.

“What do you think, Elowen?” Melia asked softly, clearly trying to pull me back into the conversation.

“I think...” I sighed,“I think we should at least try my idea first.”

“Why is it so vital for everyone to be on the exact same page as you at all times?” Theron asked sharply

“I just think we should be optimistic about escaping!”

“There is no escape!” he yelled, leaning over the table, “There is only the trial, and there is us!”

“And what if you're wrong?!”

“The scroll is literally floating right over there!” he snapped “Look, if we lose this trial because of your stubborn arrogance, I will never forgive you.”

“Can the both of you act like the adults you claim to be and talk for five seconds without arguing?!” Kaelen cut in,

“Kae—”

“No, don't 'Kae' me, Elowen!” Kaelen stood up from the bench. “It's getting exhausting! We can't even sit in the same room with the two of you without feeling like we're walking on thin ice!”

He looked back and forth between Theron and me, his eyes wide and brimming with raw frustration. “We are stuck!” he shouted. “Get along!”

I swallowed hard.

Before anyone could say another word, the scroll in the center of the hall chimed and the golden letters changed.

THE FIRST AMBIANCE HAS ARRIVED.

THE TIDE WILL NOT WAIT.

“Tide?” I whispered, my anger instantly melting into cold dread. “What tide?”

The floorboards began to ripple and a circle opened beneath the scroll. A heavy gust of wind rushed through the hall. Cold and intense.

"Nobody panic!" Theron shouted,

"I'm not panicking!" I yelled back, my voice rising an octave higher than I intended.

"Hagul, grab Kaelen—"

"Why Kaelen?!" my brother protested

"Because you're twelve!" I screamed.

"Because I'm the smallest!"

"He's actually got a point!" Jinxi yelled, grabbing the edge of a heavy pillar.

A portal opened beneath us widening gradually, the vacuum pulling air and everything else straight into the abyss.

.

"I'm too small for this! I'm way too small for this!” melia shrieked

“Everyone grab something !” Theron commanded over the heavy wind.

I lunged for the bar rail. It slid out of my fingers like wet glass. The floor beneath me vanished.

I gasped as the portal tried to suck me in but I felt a strong grip catching my wrist right on time. I turned and met those blue eyes.

"I've got you!" Theron shouted

"Let go of me!" I yelled

"Not a chance” he said

Then the whirlpool surged upward, swallowing us all whole.

The last thing I heard was Kaelen's delighted voice screaming, "This is amazing!"