All Chapters of The Dragon Trial Became My Death Sentence: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

As the cold burrowed into my bones, I heard my sister's voice outside the door."Father, Mother! Lenore just came of age. She's so talented. She can't miss the Trial...""Oh, my sweet girl. You're too kind!"My mother sounded exasperated and anxious."You're still defending her? Have you forgotten how she acted when she first breathed fire?"I remembered exactly what she was talking about.I was six that year.No one had taught me a thing, yet the very first flame I breathed shot more than six feet into the air, far higher than anything my sister could manage.I flew home with the photo my teacher, Aldric Theron, had taken. My cheeks were burning with excitement.I proudly declared, "I'm way stronger than Vesper!"Vesper heard me. Her eyes instantly filled with tears.My mother panicked immediately.My father strode forward and blasted me to the ground with his dragon breath.Blood dripped from my nose onto the photo.That night, I was locked in the freezing chamber to reflect on what

Chapter 2

"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 aga

Chapter 3

At that very moment, my father's comm crystal lit up."What's taking so long? Vesper is still waiting for that staff."My mother hesitated, then sealed the barrier shut again."It can wait until the Trial is over!"She turned and hurried away.I hovered in the air, watching her leave in despair.Mother, if you'd only turned around, you would have found my body, already frozen stiff.Night fell.As soon as Vesper learned I was still locked inside, she sent me a message through her crystal."Lenore, Mother hid the key to the barrier behind the headboard in the freezing chamber. Hurry and get out!"I left you some ember crystals. You've always been sensitive to the cold. Use them to warm yourself up. Hurry!"Vesper had never forgotten how badly the cold affected me.I had been frail and sensitive to the cold since birth.They had locked me in the freezing chamber many times before.Each time, Vesper had found a way to sneak in some ember crystals.She had even left a plush dragon in the c

Chapter 4

The final round of the Trial ended.Vesper was the first to rush out of the Trial grounds."Mom, Dad, I did great, and the prophecy didn't come true. Let's hurry home and tell Lenore the good news!"My father nodded. His eyes were red as he took to the air."Good. It's all over now. We'll head home right away. Lenore's been alone for two days. She's had more than enough time to think things through."We'll let her out, and then the whole family will go to the Dragon God's temple to pray!"My mother flew beside him, tears sliding down her face."I was too hard on Lenore, I admit it. As long as she's willing to change, I'll treat her the same as Vesper from now on."I drifted in the air, not knowing how to feel.Father. Mother.I waited eighteen years to hear you say that.What a shame I didn't live to see it.They returned to the nest.Vesper rushed in ahead of everyone.A second later, she stopped dead.She saw that I hadn't touched a single ember crystal.Her voice began to shake."Le

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.

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

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

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

Chapter 9

From that day on, Kellan was never the same.He passed the Trial without trouble, but refused to move on with his life.His scores were good enough to earn him a place at the best training grounds in the clan.But he tore up his acceptance letter in front of everyone and turned down every offer.Every day, he kept watch outside the nest where I had been locked away."Lenore, are you still in there? Come on, enough already. Didn't we promise to pass the Trial together?"His mother told him through tears that I was gone.Kellan acted as if he hadn't heard her. He came back the next day."Lenore, I'm messaging your parents right now. I'll make them let you out right away."Don't be scared."I'm sending it. I'm sending it right now."He pressed the crystal to his ear and waited for an answer.All he heard was a busy tone. No one answered.He sat outside the chamber all day, crystal in hand.From then on, he came every day and repeated the same words.It was as if saying them enough times w

Chapter 10

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

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