3. Lyra

3

LYRA

M y breath hitches in my throat as I scan the crowd around me. There's so many people here, all vying for the same thing. A pair of xaphan wings.

These are all my opponents . With a shaky hand, I raise my drink to my lips and take a small sip, hoping that the water will calm my twisting stomach.

This is it. The start of the wing trials. One small step closer to my goal.

The xaphan announcer stands on a floating platform at the center of the arena, tall with unfurled wings that are probably taller than me. My throat tightens, suddenly realizing this might be the place where I meet my end.

My stomach lurches and I shrink away from the crowd flanking me in all directions. I retreat, heading into the corridors that travel intricately throughout the arena. With my gaze on my feet and my hand clutching my drink, I don't have a good grasp on my surroundings.

And that's my mistake.

Without realizing it, I slam into something solid, my drink flying from my hand. Cold water splashes across pristine white fabric, and I stumble back, horrified.

"What the fuck is your problem?" A deep voice booms above me.

I look up, and up, into the face of a xaphan man. His silver-white hair frames piercing golden eyes that are now narrowed in fury. My heart stops as I take in his massive wings, currently bristling with anger.

"I-I'm so sorry," I stammer, searching frantically for something to dry him off with, but I'm coming up empty. "I wasn't looking where I was going, I?—"

"Clearly," he snarls, cutting me off. "Are all humans this incompetent, or are you a special case?"

My cheeks burn with shame as I realize others are starting to stare. "Please, sir, I didn't mean?—"

"Didn't mean to what? Make a complete fool of yourself?" He gestures at his now-ruined white clothes. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

I shake my head mutely, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

"I'm Sariel, one of the overseers of these trials." His voice drips with disdain. "And you've just made a spectacle of yourself. How is anyone supposed to take you seriously when you can't even do the simplest things?"

Ouch .

My stomach drops. An overseer. I've insulted one of the very beings who will decide my fate in the trials.

"Sir, I?—"

"Save it," he snaps. "You've made a huge mistake in coming to these trials, girl. If this is any indication of your abilities, you won't last five minutes."

I flinch at his words, each one a knife to my already fragile confidence. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back furiously. I won't cry in front of him.

"I suggest you turn around and go home now," Sariel continues, his voice cold. "Save yourself the embarrassment of failing in front of everyone. Your clumsiness might just cost you your worthless life."

I stumble away from Sariel, his harsh words ringing in my ears. My face burns with shame, and I can feel the weight of his intense stare on my back. I want to disappear, to melt into the floor and never be seen again.

But I can't. I won't.

You're not worthless , I tell myself fiercely, clenching my fists at my sides. Your life means something .

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. As I walk away, I can feel Sariel's golden eyes on me, burning into my back. Part of me wants to turn around, to see if he's really watching me go, but I force myself to keep moving.

This encounter, as humiliating as it was, isn't going to break me. If anything, it's lit a fire in my belly. I'll use this shame, this anger, as fuel. I'll prove to Sariel, to everyone, that I belong here. And that I'm going to earn my wings, whether they like it or not.

I lift my chin, squaring my shoulders as I walk. Let them stare. Let them whisper. I'm not here for them. I'm here for me, for my family, for a chance at a better life.

As I round the corner, out of sight of Sariel and the others, I allow myself a moment to lean against the wall and catch my breath. My hands are shaking, but not from fear anymore. It's determination coursing through my veins now.

I'm going to train harder than I ever have before. I'll push myself to the brink, day and night, until I'm ready for that first trial. I'll show Sariel and every other xaphan who looks down on us humans what we're really made of.

Watch me , I think, picturing Sariel's cold, golden eyes. I'll make you eat those words .

With renewed resolve, I push off the wall and head back towards the arena crowd. I come back just in time for the room assignments. They slip me a small piece of paper, designating me a room number as well as a list of my trial mates that I'll be living with. Kai, Lena, and Mira.

My heart clenches as I make my way to the room, situated within the arena. This is happening. This is it. The trials will begin soon, and I'll be able to prove to myself, to everyone, that I'm worth something.

When I arrive to the room, a girl with long auburn hair is already inside, sitting on one of the beds. The room is small, with only one window to allow sunlight in. There's four beds, two desks, and no decorations.

There's hardly any space to breathe in here , I think. But it's better than nothing, I suppose.

"Hey there," the girl says, rising to her feet. "My name is Lena."

"I'm Lyra," I say, shaking her hand.

I sit down on the bed across from Lena, my nerves still jangling from my encounter with Sariel. "So, how are you feeling about all this?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

Lena's green eyes meet mine, excitement flickering in their depths. "Honestly? I'm terrified. But also... hopeful, you know?"

I nod, understanding exactly what she means. "Yeah, I get it. It's like standing on the edge of a cliff, not knowing if you're going to fly or fall."

"Exactly!" Lena leans forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Have you heard the rumors about how dangerous these trials can be?"

I swallow hard, remembering the stories I've overheard back in my village. "I have. But we've got to try, right? It's our only chance at a better life."

Lena nods solemnly. "That's what keeps me going. The thought of finally being able to help my family, to be seen as more than just... human."

Her words hit close to home, and before I know it, I'm spilling my guts about my encounter with Sariel. I'm eager to talk to someone who finally gets me. Who knows exactly what I'm feeling without having to explain myself with big words.

"I made such a fool of myself in front of him," I groan, burying my face in my hands. "He's one of the overseers, and I dumped water all over him."

To my surprise, Lena doesn't laugh or judge. Instead, she reaches out and places a comforting hand on my arm. "Hey, it's okay. These xaphan, they're not gods. They're just... beings. With wings."

I look up, meeting her sympathetic gaze. "But the way they look at us, like we're nothing..."

"I know," Lena whispers, patting me on the arm. "I've dealt with it my whole life. My parents work as servants in a xaphan household. The things I've seen, the way they treat us..."

Lena sighs, swallowing hard. But then, she glances at me with a glint in her eyes.

"That's why we've got to prove them wrong," she says firmly. "We'll show them what humans are capable of."

Her words spark something in me, rekindling the fire that Sariel's harsh words had nearly extinguished.

"You're right," I say, straightening my shoulders. "We're not going to let them define us. We're here to earn our wings, and that's exactly what we're going to do."

Lena's smile brightens. Before we can continue our conversation, the door swings open, revealing two more girls.

"Guess this is our home for the next few weeks," a tall girl with spiky black hair announces, dropping her bag on one of the empty beds. "I'm Kai."

The other newcomer, a curvy girl with tight curls and dark skin, follows suit. "And I'm Mira. Nice to meet you all."

"I'm Lyra," I introduce myself, "and this is Lena."

Kai glances around the cramped space, her amber eyes narrowing. "Not exactly the best accommodations, huh?"

Mira chuckles, unpacking a colorful scarf from her bag. "What'd you expect? Gold-plated toilets?"

"That's what the xaphan have, why not us?" Kai retorts, flopping onto her bed. "So, we're all here for the same thing, I guess. Wings or die trying?"

I wince at her blunt words, but Lena nods. "That's the gist of it. Though I'd prefer to focus on the 'wings' part rather than the 'die trying' bit."

"Smart girl," Mira says, grinning. "I like your style, Lena."

"Speaking of style," Kai interjects, eyeing Mira's eclectic outfit, "where'd you get those threads? We don't see anything like this back in my village."

Mira beams, twirling to show off her ensemble. "Made 'em myself. You should see what I can do with a needle and some scraps."

"No way!" I exclaim, genuinely impressed. "That's amazing, Mira."

"Thank you," she says, winking at me. "Maybe I'll whip something up for you if we survive this mess."

"When," Lena corrects gently. "When we survive this."

Kai snorts. "Optimistic bunch, aren't you?"

"Better than being a pessimist," I counter, surprising myself with my boldness.

Kai's eyebrows shoot up, but then she grins. "Fair enough, blondie. I like a girl with some fire in her."

I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding. It feels nice to make some friends, despite the unfortunate circumstances. And I really hope everyone in this room makes it in the end, even though our chances are slim.

But a girl can dream.