Bloodflowers Bloom (The Astral Wanderer Book 2), D'Artagnan Rey [essential reading .txt] 📗

your potential.” She turned, moved toward her desk, and opened one of the drawers.

“We already knew you were all gifted in your individual ways,” she continued. “But even the finest sword is no use if it simply rests on a mantle. The missions and quests we have had you do over these last three months since the day we brought you together for that first retrieval mission were not without a particular purpose. It was to see if you could qualify for a challenge that makes even great warriors and skilled magi shudder to participate.”

She turned toward them again and held some type of badge or signet up. It was a jet-black spiral shape with the only exception being a shining silver diamond in the center that stood out even more against the deep black of the object. “Tell me, have any of you heard about the Oblivion Trials?”

Chapter Eight

Each of the three young magi had different reactions to Nauru’s query.

Jazai stared at her in surprise bordering on shock, as he had indeed heard of the Oblivion Trials and very little of it was good.

Asla was frozen by trepidation. The trials sounded familiar to her but she couldn’t place from where. However, when she saw the reaction from her mentor as his apprehensive gaze drifted from her to the grand mistress, she realized that whatever it might be, it was nothing to be taken lightly.

Devol’s response was almost nonexistent. He had no idea what this trial was, only that it seemed to rattle almost everyone in the room. Vaust seemed fine, although not either of his usual reticent or snarky selves. The boy raised his hand and stepped forward.

“Um…I don't know what those are, madame,” he admitted. “But if it’s another mission or something, can I request that we go alone this time?”

Jazai caught him by the shoulder and pulled him back a couple of steps. “You might want to hold off on that for a minute, Dev,” the apprentice warned in a hushed tone. Devol noted this was the second time the diviner seemed hesitant to take on a challenge. He was no coward and was usually as interested in having more freedom as he and Asla were, but he also seemed more aware of the lines they shouldn’t cross quite yet. Things had certainly become far grimmer since they returned to the order, he thought and focused on the grand mistress.

Nauru seemed to understand the confusion and placed the sigil on her desk. “I suppose it was a silly question to begin with,” she reasoned and walked closer to the three friends. “Even if you did know of the trials, it would probably be through rumors and such, which can provide quite a skewed perception of the event.”

Jazai relaxed slightly, folded his arms, and nodded. “Ah, okay. I was worried these were the same trials that I heard ended fairly gruesomely.”

She nodded at him. “Indeed, that would be downplaying it.”

Jazai’s face fell and he stared at her in stupefaction. “Pardon?”

“The Oblivion Trials are rather gruesome throughout,” she explained with an unnatural calm given the topic. “Not only in the finale. But that is part of the reason why I wished to discuss it with you.” She wandered to the foot of her bed, sat, and beckoned them closer. “You are all still young and your path in life can still take many directions. With that in mind, I decided that while you are here, you should have an opportunity for an option that would let you expand outside the order if you wished to do so.”

“By participating in an event that you acknowledge is typically a bloodbath?” the apprentice questioned. He looked at Devol, who remained silent and merely listened to the conversation to see where it went. His gaze drifted to Asla, who was looking away, lost in her thoughts. “I guess I can appreciate the idea behind the thought, but I’m beginning to think this was dreamed up by Zier trying to get rid of me.”

“Nonsense, Jazaiah,” the dryad claimed, his head held high. “How would that benefit me in the long run?” The boy frowned at his mentor, not quite sure what to make of his reaction.

“Yes, the Oblivion Trials can be rather harrowing,” Nauru acknowledged. “However, do you know the reason why people seek out the trials?”

This time, it was Devol who answered. “I assume there is some great reward to be won?” He pointed to the badge on the desk. “That object looks valuable.”

“It is indeed,” she confirmed. “That is known as the oblivion marker. It is given to those who pass the trials. Typically, only a small number are given out each year—ten at most—and they are prized among adventurers for what they can do for them.”

“Are they some kind of rune or trinket?” Asla asked, now focused on the conversation again.

“It is a badge, one that grants access to many things for the owner,” Nauru explained. “You see, the trials were established an exceptionally long time ago. They were devised by three royals from the kingdoms of Renaissance, Britana, and Osira when the other realms were first discovered. The purpose of the trials was to find adventurers, soldiers, and magi who were willing to brave the realms to discover what lay inside.”

“Oh, I know about that!” Devol exclaimed when he recalled a little history his mother had taught him. “The Grand Arkadia Tournament was named after the world as a whole to signify unity. They still hold that to this day with all other kingdoms as well.”

“Correct,” the grand mistress said with a nod and a bemused smile. “Although these days, it is a tournament to strengthen bonds between the kingdoms as well as build personal kingdom pride. The first was established as a secret test for the three great kingdoms to find those strong and brave enough to venture into the unknown. It became a separate event afterward.”

“So these Oblivion Trials are run by the kingdoms?” Asla asked and