26. Lyra

26

LYRA

H ow dare they? How fucking dare they?

After everything I went through, they're pulling this shit on me. It's incredible, but honestly, I shouldn't be too surprised. Xaphan have a way of rubbing everyone the wrong way and not giving a fuck about it.

But this time, it feels nice to feel the support of the crowd around me. They, too, recognize this as foul play.

Suddenly, my attention is drawn upwards towards the platform once again. I can't believe my eyes as Sariel steps onto the glass platform beside Rahmiel. The xaphan leader's face contorts in shock, clearly not expecting this bold move. My breath hitches in my throat as I wait to see what Sariel will do next.

"Lyra has earned her wings," Sariel declares, his voice ringing out across the arena. "She completed all three trials with exceptional skill and determination. I would know. I helped train her."

Murmurs ripple through the crowd. I stand there, frozen, unable to process what's happening. Is Sariel really defending me? In front of all of these people?

Rahmiel's purple eyes narrow. "The human failed to complete the second trial due to injury. The rules are clear?—"

"The rules?" Sariel interrupts, his tone sharp. "Let's talk about the rules, shall we? There were... irregularities in these trials. Ones that put the human candidates at an unfair disadvantage. You and I both know this."

My jaw clenches. Is he hinting at the sabotage? I watch as Sariel's golden eyes meet mine for a brief moment before he turns back to Rahmiel.

"I've overseen these trials personally," Sariel continues. "I can attest to Lyra's exceptional performance in the face of unprecedented challenges. To deny her wings now would be a grave injustice."

The crowd's murmurs grow louder. Gratitude overwhelms my body. He spoke out for me, despite everything. Despite the consequences that will surely come his way because of this.

He did it anyway.

Rahmiel's face darkens with anger. "You overstep your bounds, Sariel. Your position does not give you the authority to?—"

"My position?" Sariel cuts in, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm willing to risk my position to ensure fairness. That's what the military taught me to do. We are never meant to engage in behaviors that corrupt our morality."

Sariel tilts his head, narrowing his eyes at Rahmiel.

"Is it possible that you're trying to stand against what the Praexa teach us?"

Rahmiel stumbles on his words. "What? No, no, not at all! I would never?—"

"Then why are you so adamant about denying her the wings?" he presses. "She's earned them fairly. I don't see the issue."

I stand frozen, my heart battering against my chest as the crowd around me erupts into chaos. The air crackles with tension, and I can feel the weight of countless eyes on me. Some faces show support, others skepticism, and a few outright hostility.

"He's right!" someone shouts from behind me, their voice cutting through the chaos. "We all saw her complete the trials! Every single one of them!"

"But the rules—" another voice argues, sounding desperate and uncertain.

"Fuck the rules!" comes a passionate reply, so fierce it makes me flinch. "They've been cheating us from the start! We all know it!"

The crowd's energy shifts, becoming more volatile by the second.

"We've always known it was rigged," a woman hisses nearby, her words dripping with pent-up resentment.

"Can't trust the xaphan," another man growls. "Never could, never will."

"She doesn't deserve wings!" someone else shrieks, their voice full of venom. I wince, feeling the sting of their words even though I know I've earned this.

The crowd surges, pushing and shoving below me. The air feels thick, heavy with anger and desperation. I've never seen anything like this before, and it terrifies me.

My palms are slick with sweat, and I clench my fists to stop them from shaking. This is spiraling out of control fast. I never wanted to cause a riot or challenge the entire xaphan system. I just wanted my wings, to prove myself worthy.

I glance up at Sariel, still facing off against Rahmiel on the platform. His jaw is set, eyes blazing. For a moment, he glances at me and our gazes lock. I see a flicker of concern pass over his face.

Suddenly, a scuffle breaks out near the front of the crowd. Two humans are shoving each other, their argument having turned physical. A ripple of unease passes through the onlookers, and I can sense the situation balancing on a knife's edge.

If this escalates any further, there's no telling what the xaphan will do to regain control. My chance at wings—everyone's chance—could disappear in an instant.

I take a deep breath, realizing that if I don't act now, everything I've fought for could slip away. My voice cuts through the chaos, surprisingly strong and clear.

"Enough!"

The crowd's roar dies down quickly, and all eyes turn to me. I swallow hard, feeling the weight of their stares.

"Please," I continue, my voice softer but still carrying across the arena. "This isn't what any of us want. We came here to prove ourselves, not to start a riot."

I turn to face Rahmiel and Nisroc, my body shaking but my resolve firm.

"Honored leaders, I beg you to reconsider. I got injured during the second trial, but that was entirely out of my control. I still completed the trials, though. I did what was asked of me. My journey through these trials wasn't just about earning wings. It was about proving that humans and xaphan can coexist, that we can rise to your challenges and meet them fairly."

I pause, gathering my thoughts. After taking a moment to think, I nod slightly. I know what I want to say.

"I've poured every ounce of my being into these trials. I've faced obstacles I never thought possible, pushed myself beyond my limits, and emerged stronger for it. Isn't that what these trials are meant to do?"

My voice grows passionate as I continue.

"I understand the rules are important, but sometimes extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. The challenges I faced were unlike any other, and yet I persevered. Doesn't that show the kind of determination and spirit you're looking for in those who earn their wings?"

I look around at the crowd, then back to the xaphan leaders.

"By granting me my wings, you're not just rewarding one person. You're showing everyone here that the system works, that it's fair, and that true dedication and hard work can lead to success."

I take a step forward, my voice softening.

"Please, consider what my journey represents. It's a testament to the power of your trials, to the potential within humans, and to the possibility of unity between our peoples. I've earned these wings not just through my actions, but through the very spirit these trials were designed to foster."

I hold my breath as Rahmiel's face contorts, his internal struggle visible for all to see. The tension in the air is thick enough to feel, sending shivers down my spine. I can feel the crowd's restlessness growing with each passing second. My heart pounds in my chest, hope and fear battling for dominance.

Finally, Rahmiel's shoulders slump in defeat. He raises a hand, silencing the murmurs that have begun to ripple through the crowd yet again. My heart skips a beat as I watch him, hardly daring to breathe.

Will he hear me out? Or will he risk chaos brewing over?

"Very well," he says, his voice tight with barely contained frustration. "In light of... exceptional circumstances, we will grant Lyra her wings."

I blink slowly, my mind struggling to process what I've just heard. The words take a moment to sink in, echoing in my head like a distant dream. Did I hear that right? Did he actually say...?

My pulse races, and I feel lightheaded, almost dizzy with disbelief. I want to pinch myself, to make sure this isn't some cruel illusion like the ones I saw in the labyrinth. After everything I've been through, after all the pain and struggle, could it really be true?

The arena erupts into an overwhelming blur of cheers and applause. I stand there, stunned, as the sound washes over me like a tidal wave. My legs feel weak, and I'm afraid I might collapse from the sheer intensity of emotion coursing through me.

I've done it. I've actually done it.

As the realization sinks in, I feel tears welling up in my eyes. I blink rapidly, trying to keep them at bay, but it's a losing battle. Years of struggle, of doubt, of pushing myself beyond my limits—it's all led to this moment.

My gaze drifts upward, and I find Sariel's eyes locked on mine. He's smiling, a genuine, warm smile that makes my heart skip a beat. In that moment, all the complications between us seem to fade away. I see pride in his eyes, and something else... something deeper that makes my breath catch in my throat.

Rahmiel's voice cuts through the din, commanding attention once more. "Never in our history," he proclaims, his tone reluctant. "…Has a human accomplished what Lyra has today. It is only right, therefore, that we award her the wings she so truly deserves."

The crowd's cheers grow even louder at this announcement. I hear voices congratulating me, people calling out my name, but it all seems distant, dreamlike. My focus narrows to Rahmiel's words, to the promise of wings—my wings—that I've fought so hard to earn.

I think of my family, my friends, all of the people who said this wasn't possible. That it would never be done. That it couldn't be done. I've proved them all wrong in one fell swoop and nothing in the world has ever felt better than this.

The future I've always dreamed of is finally within my grasp.