2. Sariel

2

SARIEL

A s I approach the arena, I'm suddenly filled with a strong sense of disdain. I mean, seriously? I've been sent to New Solas to be an overseer for the wing trials, but every xaphan around knows that the entertainment lies in watching, not training the damn humans.

Huffing out a breath, I keep my head held high as I enter the arena from one of the bottom levels. Then, I maneuver through the massive structure until I reach the top, where a pair of overseers are standing on a glass platform, overlooking the center of the arena. They banter between themselves as they observe one of the aerial obstacle courses.

"Ah, it must be Sariel!" one of them calls out, waving a hand. His dark hair glistens in the light. "You're late."

"Only because I've just arrived to New Solas," I retort, voice lacking inflection. "I shouldn't even be here."

"But orders are orders," the other xaphan retorts, perking a pale brow. "I'm Zephyr." She juts a thumb at the one who first spoke to me. "And that's Raxis."

"Charmed," I reply, though from the amused looks on their faces, I'm sure they can tell I don't care much for their presence. I nod towards the aerial obstacle course floating in the middle of the arena. "What's this?"

"A contraption created from the finest xaphan minds!" Raxis says, a smirk playing on his lips.

I raise an eyebrow at his Raxis' remark. "Spare me the dramatics. What exactly are we dealing with here?"

Raxis' smirk only widens. "I'm adoring your enthusiasm. There are three parts to these trials. One tests physical endurance. We've got this lovely aerial obstacle course that'll have the humans scrambling for their lives. They'll need to navigate through spinning blades, currents, and unstable platforms. It's quite the spectacle when they fall."

"And if they survive that?" I ask, my interest piqued despite myself.

Zephyr chimes in, her voice dripping with amusement. "Then comes the magical aptitude test. We give them a taste of power, just enough to make them think they have a chance. It's hilarious watching them fumble with abilities they can barely comprehend."

"And don't forget about the best one of all, in my humble opinion," Raxis continues, placing a hand on his chest. "Mental fortitude. We throw them into simulations that play on their deepest fears and insecurities. It's amazing how quickly they break."

I can't help but chuckle. "And these humans actually believe they can become xaphan?"

Zephyr rolls her eyes. "They're so desperate for a better life, they'll believe anything. It's pathetic, really." A smile curls up her lips. "I hear that's how the Praexa got them here, you know. Promised them a better life, one where they can be like the ‘angels' they called us. I bet they'd stayed on their puny little planet instead of willingly jumping into servitude."

"At least we have the entertainment," Raxis adds with a wicked grin. "Nothing quite like watching their hope fade as they realize they're in way over their heads."

We share a laugh, the sound echoing across the empty arena. It feels good to be among my own kind, sharing in our superiority over these lesser beings. Seeing them die off one by one will make this trip to New Solas all the more worth it.

"And we're supposed to train them?" I ask, unable to keep the disdain from my voice.

Zephyr shrugs. "Technically, yes. But who says we can't have a little fun with it? After all, it's not like any of them will actually succeed."

"True." I nod, a cruel smile playing on my lips. "Why waste effort on creatures that'll never amount to anything?"

"That's what I say! But we can't let them die quickly," Raxis points out, shaking his head. "There's no fun in that. We have to torture them, long and slow. Train them well enough to make them think they actually have a chance. Then pluck that hope out of their grasp at the last second."

I notice that Zephyr can hardly fight back her grin at Raxis' words. "You're a cruel creature, Raxis."

"So how many of these wing trials have you seen?" I ask, genuinely curious about the spectacle. The idea of humiliating humans in such a cruel manner is ingenious to me, but I've never bothered to travel here for it.

Raxis grins, clearly relishing the opportunity to enlighten me. "Oh, this is my third. I like being a trainer. It's fun to see the humans get their hopes up when they've never won their wings before. Something they don't seem to realize." He leans in conspiratorially. "In fact, it's impossible to."

I raise an eyebrow. "Impossible? Then what's the point?"

"Entertainment, my friend." Raxis chuckles darkly. "Pure, unadulterated entertainment. The trials weren't designed to actually award wings but to provide a show for us. We even let the demons come, to give them a little something that keeps them on our better side."

"You're joking," I deadpan, though I can feel a smirk tugging at my lips.

Zephyr shakes her head. "Not at all. It's genius, really. We dangle the opportunity of ascension in front of these pathetic creatures, and they come running like the desperate fools they are."

Raxis nods enthusiastically. "Exactly. We were in a bit of a lull between wars, you see. Boredom was setting in. So, some brilliant minds came up with the idea of the trials. Give the humans false hope, watch them struggle and fail, all for our amusement."

"And they never catch on?" I ask, impressed by the audacity of it all. "Surely they must realize that this is all a ploy."

"Oh, some might suspect," Zephyr adds with a shrug. "But hope is a powerful thing. They want to believe so badly that they ignore the obvious."

I can't help but laugh. "So we're not just overseers, we're ringmasters in a circus of fools."

"Precisely!" Raxis exclaims, clapping me on the back. "And the best part? We can change the rules whenever we want. Keep it fresh, you know? Just when they think they've figured it out, we pull the rug out from under them."

My eyes flicker to the aerial obstacle course. Raxis gestures out to it.

"Zephyr and I have been discussing ways to make this course somewhat doable for the humans. Half of them will die going through this one. Maybe more."

Immediately, my mind races to figure out the best ways to torment the humans and their frail bodies. I point out a section of the course where they're meant to scale up a wall.

"Increase the distance between each foothold. Make them work for it," I say, reminded of my training exercises before I joined the military. "And if they slip, they fall to their deaths."

"Brilliant," Zephyr whispers. She then gasps slightly, as if an idea has struck her. "Add some spikes to the bottom of this section, too. Can you imagine the screams?"

Raxis throws his head back in laughter at the suggestion. I leave the two of them to keep discussing amongst themselves, pleased by the opportunity to put my strategist talents to good use somehow.

As I survey the rest of the arena, finding every nook and cranny I can, I stumble across a group of three human males, small and unassuming in comparison to my towering frame. I approach them slowly, placing my hands behind my back. Their excited chatter ebbs down to whispers, then silence, once they realize I'm approaching.

"Oh, uh… Are you one of the overseers?" one of them asks, blue eyes wide.

"Indeed," I reply, glancing at each one of them. "Are you intending to fight for your wings?"

I tower over the three human males, my golden eyes narrowing as I take in their pathetic forms. They're so small, so fragile compared to my muscular frame. It's almost laughable.

"Did you hear me? Are you intending to fight for your wings?" I repeat, my voice dripping with disdain. My eyes narrow, scowling at the sight of these humans. "Look at you. You're nothing but twigs waiting to be snapped."

The one with blue eyes flinches at my words.

I click my tongue, shaking my head. "What's wrong? Can't handle a little criticism?" I lean in closer, watching as they all take a step back. "If you can't face me, how do you expect to survive the trials?"

"We've been training," one of them pipes up, his voice trembling.

I burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the arena. "Training? Am I supposed to believe that?" I gesture to their bodies. "I've seen more muscle on a newborn xaphan."

They start to shake, their bodies betraying their fear. It's intoxicating, this power I have over them. I can reduce them to quivering messes with just a few words.

"Now, why are you all shaking like this? It's adorable as much as it is pathetic," I mock, circling them like a predator. "Is this how you plan to face the obstacles? By trembling your way through?"

The blue-eyed one tries to speak again, but his words come out as a stutter. I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

"Save your breath. You'll need it for when you're gasping for air, dangling from the edge of a platform." I lean in close, my wings unfurling to their full span, casting a shadow over the three. "That is, if you even make it that far."

Their eyes widen in fear, darting between my face and my wings. It's clear they've never been this close to a xaphan before. Their terror is palpable, and I revel in it.

"Go on, then," I spit, gritting my teeth. "Get out of my sight."

Without another word, the humans race away from me, nearly tripping over themselves as they go. I watch as they leave, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at such a pathetic display.

"I have to train these things?" I whisper to myself, turning away. "Seriously?"

As much as I want to torment the humans for deciding to step foot into this arena, the urge escapes me. They're boring creatures. They're only useful as entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less.

I continue walking through the arena, devising ways on making these trials particularly excruciating for these humans. If they have the audacity to think they can ever be equals to the xaphan, then it's only right to make them pay for that blatant disrespect.