CHAPTER 10: THE SIX CAPTAINS

THE SIX CAPTAINS

The morning of the Magical Knight Trial arrived beneath a cloudless sky.

Valeris Capital had never felt so crowded. From the highest towers to the narrow streets below, the city seemed to have woken before the sun. Banners hung from every major building, six symbols repeated across the capital: an eagle with spread wings, a roaring lion, a serpent wrapped in waves, a great wolf, a mysterious crescent sigil, and an owl with its wings folded over an ancient mark.

The six Magical Knight Orders.

The trial grounds stood at the heart of the city, a huge circular arena of stone walls, observation towers, and thousands of seats. At the centre lay a wide field engraved with magical circles. At the far end stood six enormous signboards, and above them, six elevated seats.

They were empty.

For now.

Candidates gathered in groups around the arena, wearing the robes and colours of their families. Some came from noble houses and famous magical bloodlines. Others had travelled from villages and small towns across the kingdom. They whispered, they laughed, they compared Codexes.

Among them stood Kevin Riven, his five-point Codex floating quietly beside him.

Veyr was nowhere to be seen. Yet a familiar voice rang inside Kevin's head.

You look nervous.

I'm not.

You're sweating.

Kevin touched his forehead. He was. It's hot.

Of course. The sun has personally chosen to attack you.

Can you be quiet for five minutes?

No.

Kevin almost smiled. Even when Veyr wasn't visible, their bond stayed open. Sometimes that was useful. Most of the time it was irritating.

If you embarrass yourself today, Veyr added, please do it spectacularly.

"You're supposed to encourage me," Kevin muttered.

I am encouraging you.

"By insulting me?"

Exactly.

Around him, heads were turning.

"Isn't that Kevin Riven?"

"The Riven family's useless son?"

"I heard his Codex never even appeared at the ceremony."

"He got one eventually."

A boy nearby glanced at the floating book. "Wait. Is that a five-point Codex?"

The whispers dropped away.

There, Veyr said, amused. They finally noticed the shiny book.

One candidate stepped closer, curious rather than admiring. "Is it really five-point?"

Kevin nodded.

"I've never seen one before."

"Neither have I."

The boy walked off. Kevin watched him go. The attention made him uncomfortable. A strange Codex couldn't erase years of failure, and everyone in that arena remembered those years.

Then a horn sounded.

BOOOOOM!

The arena fell silent. The six elevated seats flared with light, and six magical circles appeared, one after another.

The Captains had arrived.

The first descended from the sky and landed lightly on the highest platform. A tall man in a white and blue cloak, silver hair moving in the wind, an eagle embroidered across his chest.

"The Sky Order Captain!"

"Captain Aerion!"

Captain Aerion Vale. He didn't need a broom to fly. He simply stood in the air.

The second stepped out of a burst of flames, a massive man in a red cloak with a lion on his chest. Captain Darius Flameheart of the Flame Order. Several weaker candidates stepped back without meaning to.

The third rose from a spiral of water, a woman in deep blue robes with a serpent emblem. Captain Selene Maris of the Tide Order, known for healing and terrifying precision.

The fourth landed so hard that stone cracked beneath his boots. A broad-shouldered man in a dark green cloak, a wolf on his chest. Captain Garrick Stonefang of the Earth Order. He crossed his arms and said nothing. He didn't need to.

The fifth made no entrance at all. One moment her seat was empty, and the next, a woman was sitting there, wrapped in a black and purple cloak. Captain Evelyn Noctis of the Arcane Order. Nobody knew exactly what her magic could do, and that was what frightened people most.

Finally, the arena lights dimmed. A shadow slid across the ground, and an old man descended slowly, an owl on his cloak and a wooden staff in his hand. Captain Orion Veyl of the Veil Order.

He looked almost ordinary. Until he opened his eyes.

Kevin felt something cold pass through him. His instincts screamed.

Don't stare at that one, Veyr said.

Why?

A pause. I don't like him.

You don't like anybody.

Correct.

Kevin smiled slightly. But Veyr's voice dropped.

Still. Be careful.

The smile disappeared. Veyr almost never sounded serious.

The six Captains rose. Captain Aerion stepped forward, and his voice carried across the whole arena.

"Young mages of Valeris. Today, you will not be judged by your family name."

"Nor by your wealth," Captain Darius added.

"Nor by the reputation others have given you," said Captain Selene.

"You will be judged by what you can do," said Captain Garrick.

"And by what you choose to do when you are tested," said Captain Evelyn.

Captain Orion lifted his staff. "Because a Magical Knight is not merely a mage with power. A Magical Knight is someone who can stand when others cannot."

The crowd roared.

Kevin stayed silent. His heart pounded. This was it. Every failed spell, every bruise, every morning before sunrise, every time he'd fallen and stood back up. It had all led here.

Across the field, Arena looked over at him and smiled. He smiled back.

Then someone behind him laughed.

"Look at him. He's actually going to compete."

"Maybe his strange Codex will finally do something."

"Didn't he spend years failing at everything?"

The laughter spread. Kevin lowered his gaze. For a second, the old voice returned.

You're not enough.

Kevin.

It was Veyr.

Remember why you're here.

Kevin breathed out slowly.

And if you fail, Veyr went on, try to fail less embarrassingly than usual.

Kevin choked. Veyr!

What? I'm motivating you.

He shook his head. Despite himself, he smiled. Arena noticed, and smiled too.

A magical bell rang above the arena.

BOOOOONG!

A giant board lit up over the Captains, and the rules appeared in glowing letters.

FIRST STAGE: MOBILITY AND CONTROL.

SECOND STAGE: MAGIC DEMONSTRATION.

THIRD STAGE: MAGICAL CONSTRUCT.

FOURTH STAGE: COMBAT AND STRATEGY.

Murmurs rippled through the candidates. Kevin stared at the first line.

Mobility.

You do know how to fly, right? Veyr asked.

...We're flying?

Apparently.

I've never flown.

A pause. Wonderful.

Don't start.

I wasn't going to say anything.

You were.

I was thinking it.

The announcer stepped onto the field. "Candidates! The first stage begins tomorrow. Prepare yourselves."

The crowd roared. Kevin looked up at the six Captains. They were watching the candidates, not him specifically. Not yet.

But tomorrow, they would.

He pressed one hand against his Codex and felt its faint warmth. His wrist tingled.

Don't worry, Kevin, Veyr said.

Kevin blinked. That almost sounded kind.

If you fall off the broom, I'll laugh.

Kevin's face went blank. "You're terrible."

And you're still alive.

Kevin looked at the sky. Tomorrow, the kingdom would finally see what the boy they called a failure could do.

He was ready.

Or at least, he hoped he was.