Chapter 10: It's Time

It’s Time

“So this is what you meant

When you said that you were spent

And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit

Right to the top

Don't hold back

Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain-check…”

- “It’s Time” Imagine Dragons

“Where is she!?” Tanya screeched. She looked to Fi.

“As if I know the answer,” Fi replied dryly. 

Levi stood awkwardly to the side, looking- for the first time since Fi had met him- uncomfortable. The smoothness and mischievous grin were replaced by a kind of unsureness that unsettled Fi. Tanya sighed dramatically. Neve had yet to show up and the first task in the Triwizard Tournament commenced in only ten minutes. 

Fi looked around at her group- or at least those who had bothered to show up. Levi was wearing a dark brown leather jacket, a windbreaker; good items for a task like this. Underneath the jacket, a thin, white button-up shirt peeked out. His pants were black and appeared to be of a material similar to denim. He wore brown leather boots. Everything Levi wore was functional. Tanya, on the other hand, not so much. 

Tanya was wearing spice colored jeans that hugged her legs so tight Fi doubted she could move. The jeans had little iron colored chains, one on either side, that hung on Tanya’s curvy hips. She wore black boots that hugged her calves and stopped just before her knees. The boots had small heels that were large enough that it probably wouldn’t be easy to run in them. Tanya’s shirt was perhaps the most dysfunctional piece of her ensemble. It was dark gray- like rocks in the rain- for the bottom half. Tanya’s upper-waist, just beneath her bra line, was hugged by a golden belt. It looked to Fi like taking a deep breath would be impossible in that belt. The top half of Tanya’s shirt was mist colored. The neck hung low and the long angel sleeves were off-the-shoulder. Tanya’s glinting shamrock colored eyes were winged by a thick line of black eyeliner and her eyelashes were drawn out with mascara. Fi wondered if Tanya planned on doing any kind of running, or movement at all for that matter. Even Tanya’s long and straight hazel hair was left down, smooth as ever. 

Fi herself wore tight-fitting, flexible black, high-waisted pants. She wore a white tank top with a small v-neck. It hugged her body and made movement like twisting, or flying, easy. Over the tank top she wore a jacket similar to Levi’s. It was thin, dark brown leather and stopped just at the hem of her pants. The jacket had a high, flipped-up collar that was good for protection against wind or rain. 

Pulled from her concentration on the group’s fashion choices (Fi had a tendency to zone out and start thinking about random, useless things), Fi looked around her. The group was gathered on a grassy knoll. It was early morning- too early. The sky was laden with a blanket of white cloud. Mist and fog swirled everywhere. Down the small hill was a collection of multicolored tents. The group was to report to one of those tents in- Fi checked her watch -four minutes. People and students milled about the tents. There were horse-drawn carts that would give some spectators rides to where the task would take place. There would be a large audience; almost the whole school attended Triwizard Tournament events. There weren’t enough carts to take all the students, so Fi figured the rest would have to walk. As for the three participating groups, there were covered carts. 

“Hello,” a voice as cool as a night breeze wafted into the consciousness of the group. 

“Neve!” Tanya screamed, “Where have you been?” 

Neve shrugged, looking neither apologetic nor interested. Fi took in Neve’s get-up. She wouldn’t have noticed it, were it not for the fact that it was very odd. Neve wore black pants like Fi’s, but that was where the similarities ended. Neve wore a tight, white shirt. The neck of the shirt plummeted dangerously low- something the real Neve would never wear- and string- like that of a shoe’s- laced up either side of the shirt. Over the shirt, Neve wore a long brown trench-coat. The sleeves were rolled up to her elbows and the hem of the coat almost brushed the ground. Neve’s hands were wrapped in some kind of tape-like substance. The tape was wrapped so it appeared as if Neve was wearing fingerless gloves. The oddest part of Neve’s wardrobe, however, was her veil. It was a thin charcoal colored mesh that covered Neve’s nose and mouth. The veil stopped just beneath Neve’s chin. It must have hooked behind Neve’s, but Fi couldn’t tell because Neve’s thick brown curls of hair hung over her ears. Neve’s dragon necklace, the one that she always wore, hung at her throat. 

“What are you staring at?” Neve snapped at Fi. Fi’s only response was the shake of her head. 

“Let’s go.” Tanya ordered. 

-=+=- 

Inside the crimson colored tent, the group was ordered to sit on a row of stools. They waited there for a moment and then an old man appeared. He was almost bald, save for a few wisps of clinging gray hair. The man wore long robes. He stood in front of the group. 

“I’m here,” the old man stated, his voice raspy with a hint of an Irish accent, “to tell you a bit more about your task. Then, I’ll let you pick ‘yer weapons.”

Levi interrupted with what Fi thought was the first thing he had said all day, “Weapons?”

The old man nodded, “Ye heard me. After I’m done talkin’ to you all, we’re gonna go out in that courtyard-” he pointed a bony finger outside, “and you’ll be assigned the jewel you’ve gotter’ find today.”

The old man paused and swallowed before continuing, “But I’m gettin’ ahead of me-self. First things first. I’m yer group mentor, Braden.” He looked to the group, expecting them to introduce themselves. 

Tanya cleared her throat, coughing. 

“I’m, uh, Tanya.” She said nervously. 

“Nice to meet you, ‘Uh Tanya’” Braden teased. 

Fi piped up, “I’m Fia, but you can call me Fi. Nice to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise,” Braden replied. 

“I’m Levi. Pleased to meet you.” 

Braden nodded his response, then looked to Neve, who had remained quiet.

She cocked an eyebrow, saying only, “Neve.” 

Braden glared at her rudeness, but didn’t say anything. 

“Alright,” Braden began, “You probably already know quite a bit about your task. You know that we’re going to the trench of Daemion and you’ll have to find a certain gem. The trench used to be a mine but then it caved in. Now there’s an enormous sheer drop that you’ll have to find your way down somehow, with the use of either magic or brute skill. There are numerous paths that lead off from the main drop, which is deep enough that you can’t see the bottom. The gem could be in any one of these paths.” 

Braden paused long enough for Fi to genuinely regret the lack of studying she had done. Sure, she could fly to the paths, but how was she going to find the gem? She would need some kind of locating spell for that, specific to a certain jewel. 

Braden carried on, “The first team to find their gem gets first place, second gets second, and so on. But what they didn’t tell you is that there are beasts in the mine.”

Levi asked, “What kinds of beasts, sir?”

Braden shook his head, “I’m not allowed to tell you that, my apologies. Furthermore, you’ll have to fight these beasts. That’s what the weapons are for. That’s basically all I can tell you. For now, go pick your weapons- only one each” Braden stood and motioned for the group to go through the sheet that separated the other half of the tent. 

Fi lead the way, with Tanya and Levi a step behind, and Neve dragging further back. Pulling back the sheet, Fi saw a huge wall of weapons. Swords, bows, daggers, chakras, axes, everything. She went straight to the wall, knowing she would have a terrible time making her decision. 

When everyone had entered the little room, Braden spoke up. “Choose carefully. Besides your wand, it’s all you’ll have. Oh! And I forgot to tell you- you get to keep your weapons after the task.”

After saying this, Braden murmured quietly, “Bunch ‘o teenagers with weapons; sounds like a terrible idea to me.” Fi had to stifle a laugh, despite her nerves.

Fi looked over all the weapons. Her first inclination was the bow and arrow, which she was trained in. But, Fi realized, a bow would be no help in close quarters, especially if something snuck up behind her. 

Fi’s next desire was an axe. The handles were long and curved. They fit just right in her hand. When Fi swung the axe, she felt powerful. She could even throw an axe. Fi was about to speak up and say she had chosen her weapon when she thought about close combat with an axe. She could do lots of damage throwing an axe but when Fi tried to imagine hacking at some bear-like creature close up, the axe didn’t seem like such a good choice. Stuff would go everywhere and Fi doubted an axe could cut very deep if one was swinging it instead of chopping with it. Reluctantly, Fi returned the axe to it’s spot on the wall. Fi considered a dagger, but then decided against it. 

At last, Fi went to the very far right of the wall. Tucked in neatly was a beautiful sword. It was long and gleaming- a silver-white color, looking almost like frost. The guard- or chappe- of the sword was made to look like elegant wings. They fanned gently outward, and Fi couldn’t help but think of her own wings. The wings she had grown so attached to and couldn’t bear to live without. Between the wings of the sword was set a small cerulean gem. It was smooth, clear, and rich in color. 

Gripping the sword tightly- it was very heavy -Fi turned around. Facing Braden, she said “I’m ready.” 

-=+=-

The group walked out onto the courtyard, tips of their boots getting wet with dew. Fi noticed that Neve had chosen a belt of small knives and daggers as her weapon. Levi seemed to have reluctantly chosen a longsword like Fi’s. Fi could understand why his face was grim; the thought of having to injure- or even kill- any creature made her stomach turn. Tanya had chosen a razor-sharp, whip like thing.

Elian’s group was just leaving when Fi’s group approached. Fi caught his eye, and Elian looked worried, his eyes going to the sword in her hand. She saw that he had chosen a bow and arrows. 

A woman stood, holding a black burlap sack. 

“Welcome,” she addressed the group. The woman’s voice was smooth and flowing like water. 

She continued, “I’m Arya. One of the people in your group- you decide who- will reach in this bag and retrieve one of the gems inside. This will be the jewel you have to find in Daemion. It, however, will also become your team name. The other teams have already chosen, so there’s only one left. Someone reach in.” Arya held out the bag, holding it open. Levi stepped forward and slid a hand in. When he pulled it out, a dark ruby was gripped in his hand. Arya folded her bag. 

“Ruby,” she said aloud. “Is now both your team name and the jewel you’ll have to find. There’s a cart waiting for you; go ahead.” Arya motioned towards a lone covered wagon several feet away. The group began walking towards it, all in step. 

Levi, next to Fi, turned towards her.“For you.” He held out the ruby, his trademark wry grin plastered on his face. His charming self seemed to have returned, but it appeared slightly forced, something Fi figured was most likely nerves. She wasn’t sure if the ruby was a peace offering or another attempt at flirting. Fi supposed, however, that Levi knew better than that now. 

Taking the ruby, Fi said, “Thank you,” and tucked it in her jacket pocket. 

-=+=- 

-=+=-

The group stood on the lip of the trench of Daemion. It was alabaster colored stone, rugged and uneven. They awaited the sounding of a horn that would tell them they could begin their task. Fi looked across the monumental opening, eyes landing on Elian. His team was Peridot. The Uagado team had been assigned Amethyst. Fi took a deep breath. 

The horn sounded.

Before Fi could even move, Neve leapt forward into the abyss. Fi opened her mouth, just about to yelp, right as two enormous figures emerged from Neve’s back. Wings, Fi realized. Wings of ice. They were arctic blue, almost white. Each aspect of them appeared like a pixel; tiny bits of ice, just like glass. Neve swooped, spiraling down into the tunnel, the crowd screaming. Fi leapt off right behind, wings ablaze at her back.