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Chapter 2

Author: Magnolia
"Mrs. Drakemoor!"

That was when my childhood friend, Kellan Ashford, arrived. We had grown up together and promised to take the Trial together.

When they told him what was happening, all he did was frown.

"Lenore has always been proud. Nothing you say right now is going to get through to her."

He paused, then turned toward the freezing chamber.

"Lenore, I know this is hard to accept. But Vesper is innocent. She shouldn't have to risk her life just so you can take the Trial. Sit this one out, and next time I'll go with you, okay?"

I didn't answer.

I couldn't.

My body had gone rigid, as brittle as ice, my hand frozen against the barrier.

Blood had trickled from my temple and frozen over my eyes.

A layer of frozen blood covered half my face.

I fixed my gaze on the small opening in the barrier.

Mother, please, open the barrier.

Just a little more.

That was all it would take to save me.

But the warmth vanished all too soon.

The barrier closed, sealing me inside the freezing chamber once again.

I heard Kellan sigh outside.

"Lenore, once Vesper is safely past the danger in the prophecy, I'll talk your parents into letting you take the Trial again. We can still challenge the champions together."

The wingbeats faded into the distance. They were all gone.

The nest fell dead silent.

I remained frozen in place, one hand still raised against the barrier.

Even the scales around my heart had cracked from the cold.

Mother.

You were only one step away.

One water-mirror spell was all it would have taken to see that something was wrong.

My soul left my body, and I drifted through the barrier.

I watched everyone crowd around Vesper as she boarded the flying carriage bound for the Trial grounds.

My mother smoothed her scales. My father adjusted the cushions in the carriage.

Kellan helped her count her tokens.

They all looked relaxed and happy.

Only I was left behind in the freezing chamber, frozen solid and never to speak again.

Father. Mother.

You spent years fearing the disaster the prophecy predicted for Vesper.

But what about mine?

My spirit followed Vesper to the Trial grounds.

Every young fire dragon there was doing everything they could to prepare.

Only my sister seemed distracted, checking the timekeeping crystal again and again.

The first day of the Trial came to a close.

The moment she returned to our family's temporary nest, she begged our parents to go home.

"I can't stop thinking about Lenore. She barely ate last night, and she hasn't had a drop of water since this morning. Please, let's go home and check on her!"

My mother frowned, her patience wearing thin.

"What's there to check? So she hasn't eaten for a day. Is that more important than your Trial?"

Vesper burst into tears. She grabbed our mother's sleeve, only for Mother to slap her.

My mother's eyes reddened, and her voice caught in her throat.

"Vesper, the only thing that matters right now is finishing your Trial. Otherwise Lenore's sacrifice means nothing."

Vesper bit down hard on her lip and said nothing.

My mother softened her tone and agreed, "Stay here. I'll go home to get my staff and check on your sister while I'm at it."

Only then did Vesper calm down a little.

My mother returned to the nest before long.

She picked up the staff that could undo the barrier, walked to the freezing chamber door, and softened her voice.

"Lenore, I know you're angry. But everything we did was to protect your sister.

"Hold on just a little longer. When the Trial is over, we'll all go on a trip together, and I'll buy you that dragon-crystal figurine you've always wanted, okay?"

The freezing chamber was dead silent. No answer came.

My mother's face darkened.

"Lenore."

She lowered her voice.

"When are you finally going to stop being so selfish? Are we supposed to stand by and watch your sister die, all because of your pride? How can you be so heartless!"

She pounded on the barrier as she spoke.

After a moment, her hand suddenly froze.

She frowned and muttered to herself.

"Why is it so cold?"

She reached out to open the barrier.

A small crack appeared.

The hem of my shirt slipped out through the gap.
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    That night, Vesper cried until she passed out in the temple.While she slept, I found my way into her dream.It was the first time she had seen me since I died.I was clean and whole, just as I'd been in life.She froze for a heartbeat, then rushed over and pulled me into her arms."Lenore, I failed to protect you. If I'd been stronger, strong enough to break through that barrier, you wouldn't have died. Tell me, are you still cold?"I smiled and shook my head."Vesper, it's all right now. I'm fine. Please don't be sad anymore."She held me and sobbed, unable to speak."It's all my fault. I knew something was wrong. I knew it! But I wasn't strong enough to save you!"I held her tight."That's not true. You did everything right. You're the best sister anyone could ask for. In eighteen years, I never once regretted being your little sister. If there's a next life, let's be sisters again, okay?"She kissed my forehead and finally managed a small smile.In that dream, we were both warm.Wh

  • The Dragon Trial Became My Death Sentence   Chapter 9

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  • The Dragon Trial Became My Death Sentence   Chapter 8

    The first entry.Today I learned to breathe fire. Father and Mother always say it's the most important skill for a fire dragon. But I'm not happy at all. Vesper hasn't learned how to do it yet, and I don't know what to say when I get home. I'm scared that if they see I'm better than her, they'll lock me in the freezing chamber again.The second entry.I got locked up again, just like I knew I would. Mother slapped me several times, asking why I had to show off and make Vesper feel bad. I never wanted to hurt her, I swear. I'm so cold and so hungry. At least Vesper hid some ember crystals and food in the plush dragon. If I can get a little warmer, maybe I won't feel so sad anymore.The third entry.School started. Master Theron asked me to be the head apprentice. I said no. Last time I brought home an award, Mother didn't speak to me for three whole days. I can't let myself do better than Vesper. But I've been so good. Why can't Father and Mother love me a little too, the way they love

  • The Dragon Trial Became My Death Sentence   Chapter 7

    News of my death soon spread throughout the entire clan.Someone reported it to the elders.Within an hour, the guards arrived at the nest and sealed off the whole area.My body was placed on a stretcher.A physician performed an autopsy.The report was placed in my parents' hands.They stared at it, reading it over and over.Deceased: Lenore Drakemoor. Cause of death: severe hypothermia. Estimated time of death: five days ago."Five days ago... That was the first day of the Trial."My father's voice was faint.He stared at that line as memories of that day came rushing back.A moment later, his shoulders began to shake uncontrollably."That day, she knelt at my feet and pressed her forehead to the floor until it bled, begging me to let her take the Trial."And I... I shoved her inside, sealed the barrier, and told her to think about what she'd done."My mother let out a wail."She told me she was cold. She begged me for help... and I thought she was faking it! I heard her. I heard her

  • The Dragon Trial Became My Death Sentence   Chapter 6

    With the barrier gone, the freezing chamber lay fully exposed.My body stood rigid, my back slightly bent.Half my face was caked in frozen blood.The other half was covered in a thin layer of frost.My right hand was still raised against the barrier, frozen in the middle of my final knock.My mother's legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ice.She tried to get up several times, but in the end, she could only crawl toward me.She dragged herself through the freezing water until she reached me.She reached out to take my hand.Her fingertips touched my frozen skin."Lenore... what happened to you?"Her voice shook uncontrollably."But we never turned it on... Lenore, my baby..."Then she saw the temperature controls on the wall.The display was still glowing.It read a hundred and twelve degrees below zero.The numbers glowed an angry red.Her mouth fell open, but no sound came out.She could only kneel there, shaking from head to toe.My father came charging over in a panic.He tri

  • The Dragon Trial Became My Death Sentence   Chapter 5

    "She was told how to undo the barrier a long time ago! If she won't come out, it's because she wants us to worry."Vesper struggled with all her strength, sobbing until her voice went hoarse."Mother, Lenore is still trapped in there! Didn't we agree we'd take her to the temple to pray as soon as we got back?"My mother ignored Vesper's protests and dragged her away by force."If she wants to sulk, let her stay in there and think about what she's done. Let's see how long she can keep this up. We're leaving!"The barrier sealed shut once more.They knew the sealing barrier stripped me of my magic.But they had always believed the refrigeration system had never been turned on.The freezing chamber sank into darkness again.I hovered in the air, tears streaming down my face.Mother, only one barrier stood between you and the truth.If you'd opened it one more time, you would have seen that I was already dead.Our parents took Vesper away for three days to help her recover from the Trial.

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