Episode 14: Ranking Ceremony. Part One

The day of the Ranking Ceremony had finally arrived.

Ven stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection.

Two years ago, he was a scared kid who couldn't even defend himself. Now, he was eighteen years old, stronger, faster, and more confident than he had ever been.

Today was his chance.

He wanted to prove to Kia, Nyx, and Enishi that all their hard work had paid off. More importantly, he wanted to prove to Ezreal that he wasn't the monster everyone believed him to be.

And if he made it to the final challenge...

He wanted a chance to face Lox.

The morning of the first challenge arrived. A loud horn echoed throughout the Tower.

It was time.

Ven woke with a yawn and slowly sat up in his bed. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes before closing them again.

One last meditation.

Knock.

Knock.

"Ven."

The door opened.

Nyx and Kia walked into the room and stood at the foot of the bed. Enishi leaned against the doorway, his expression unreadable as always.

"Today is the big day," Kia said softly.

Ven opened his eyes and looked at the three of them. Nyx wore his usual smug grin.

Kia smiled warmly.

And Enishi...

Well, Enishi was Enishi.

"Are you ready?" Nyx asked.

Ven stood from his bed.

A small amount of smoke escaped his nostrils as he stared directly at Enishi.

"Absolutely."

Ceremony

"Welcome, everyone."

Ezreal, Sumon, Errol, Enishi, Nyx, and Kia stood before the twenty young Madokais participating in the Ranking Ceremony.

"I'm sure all of you have been waiting patiently for this day," Ezreal announced. "Today is your opportunity to prove yourselves and show that you are worthy of serving the Tower in the future."

The group bowed. Ezreal scanned the crowd and his eyes stopped on Ven. For a moment, neither of them moved.

Ezreal's stare was cold but Ven refused to look away. Eventually, Ezreal broke eye contact and continued scanning the group. His eyes landed on Lox and the two exchanged a knowing glance.

Lox smirked.

"There are fifteen objects hidden throughout the Meridian Forest," Ezreal explained. "Each object was placed there by members of the Scout Regime. They have been marked with red paint."

He paused.

"You have four hours to locate an object and return. Anyone who fails will not advance."

One of the challengers raised his hand.

"Master, you say an 'object,' but what exactly are we searching for?"

"You will know when you find it."

Another challenger stepped forward.

"Are there any rules?"

Ezreal looked over the group.

"Anything goes." His expression hardened. "Just do not kill each other."

A horn sounded.

"Your time begins now."

The group rushed into the forest.

Ven immediately noticed Lox running beside him.

The Water Madokai glanced over and smirked. "Let's see if you make it to the end, Tenari." and quickly disappeared into the trees.

Ven ignored him and continued forward.

An object hidden somewhere in the Meridian Forest. Knowing Nyx, Kia, and Enishi, they wouldn't make this easy.

He reached the center of the forest and stopped.

The area was silent.

Too silent.

Everyone knows how close I am with them. They probably assume I know exactly how they think.

Ven narrowed his eyes.

Which means someone might try to use that against me.

He looked around.

Lox probably won't attack me yet. He wants the final challenge.

Ven thought carefully.

Kia's objects would probably be near water, but the paint would wash away.

Enishi's...

He frowned.

I honestly have no idea.

Then he smiled.

Nyx.

Wind.

Trees.

The tallest tree in the forest.

Ven looked toward the sky."The tallest tree..." He sighed. "Two hours south."

Ven shook his head.

"That bastard."

He turned south and started running.

"I have to make it."

He pictured the faces of his friends.

"For them."

Enishi, Nyx, and Kia

The three stood at the starting point of the challenge.

An hour had passed.

No one had returned yet.

"I hope we didn't make it too difficult," Kia said, twirling a blade of grass between her fingers.

"This challenge is about more than strength," Nyx replied. "It's about thinking."

Kia looked at him.

"Who in their right mind would think to search where you placed your object?"

Nyx shrugged.

"Why?"

"Because you chose rocks."

He blinked. "Pebbles."

Kia stared. "Pebbles."

"Yes."

"In birds' nests."

"Yes."

"In the tallest tree in the entire forest."

Nyx smiled. "Exactly."

Kia sighed. "You are impossible."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I know." She rolled her eyes.

"Enishi, what about yours?"

"I put five books in a bush."

Silence.

Nyx and Kia slowly turned toward him.

"What?" Nyx's eyebrows raised. "You were supposed to make it match your element!"

"I know."

"Then why didn't you?"

Enishi shrugged. "Because everyone would expect that."

Nyx sighed. "You're ridiculous."

"I prefer unpredictable."

Kia shook her head. "How do you think Ven is doing?"

"He knows us," Enishi replied. "He'll figure it out."

Nyx looked toward the forest. "He better."

Enishi folded his arms. "He has to."

Ven

Nearly two hours had passed. Thanks to Nyx's training, Ven wasn't even close to exhausted.

Finally, he saw it.

The tree.

It towered above everything around it. Its roots stretched above the ground like giant veins, and its leaves shimmered with shades of green, purple, and brown.

Ven stared. "Wow."

He shook his head. "Focus, Ven."

He stepped forward. "If I were Nyx... where would I hide something?" He looked upward. "First thing I would do..."

He smiled.

"Get higher."

Ven jumped and grabbed onto the tree trunk.

He climbed.

Higher.

And higher.

Searching every branch.

Every crack.

Every possible hiding place.

Nothing.

Until...

He stopped.

A branch.

Multiple birds' nests rested along it.

Ven grinned. "Ah ha."

He carefully pulled himself onto the branch.

Looking down, he immediately regretted it.

"If I fall..." He swallowed. "I am definitely dead."

He forced himself to focus.

One nest.

Nothing.

Two nests.

Nothing.

Three.

Nothing.

Fourth.

A small splash of red paint.

"Bingo."

He moved the leaves covering the nest.

Inside were five small pebbles.

Ven smiled. "Nyx, you dog."

He grabbed the objects and placed them safely into his pocket.

Then he began his descent.

"Somebody should've appeared by now..." He narrowed his eyes. "Unless they're waiting for the right moment."

Splash.

A wave of water slammed into his back, the force sent him crashing into the tree trunk.

His grip slipped and his footing disappeared.

"Here we go!" he shouted as tumbled to the ground, ready to face whatever awaited him.