ECHOES OF FORGOTTEN

Chapter 9: Where Dreams Become Measurable Part IV

The pride vanished from Mira's face. "...Excuse me?"

Kael smiled politely. "Only Lilith may pass."

"That sounds very unfair. Well, what could we expect from nobles? The only good thing is his face." Mira whisper-shouted.

"You are still saying things out loud," I informed her.

Kael looked amused.

Lilith looked terrified.

"I am standing right here," Kael said.

"Exactly," Mira replied.

"Look," I started saying. "I understand you want your sister to pass; it's unfair, but still, if I had a brother, I would probably do the same."

"Lys.." Mira started.

But I raised my hand, "I understand, I do. We will fight you." Then I turned towards Mira. "Let her pass. We don't need an easy way out. We always fought for our things."

Mira stared at me. Then she sighed. "...That was annoyingly inspiring."

"Thank you."

"It wasn't a compliment."

"It sounded like one."

"It wasn't"

Lilith stepped forward. "No."

I blinked. "What?"

"No."

"Lilith-"

"No."

For someone so small, she was surprisingly good at sounding like a wall.

"If you fight my brother, I stay."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "That would defeat the purpose."

"I know you love me and don't want me to get hurt, brother," Lilith said towards her brother. "But, it's not fair. "

Kael's expression softened. Just slightly. It was gone so quickly I almost thought I imagined it."Lilith."

"No."

"Lilith."

"No."

Mira leaned toward me. "Do they do this often?"

"I have known them for less than an hour."

"Fair."

"But..."

"But.. What?" Mira said.

I took Lilith's hand in mine. "I'm grateful. I really am. And this proves how rightoneus your are. But.."

"What?" Lilith said.

"Even if you stay, your brother won't fight you, and that will make things harder for us. Go. And we will stay and fight him. Let him concentrate."

Lilith stared at me. For once, she seemed completely lost for words. Which was honestly alarming.

"What?" She repeated.

"Even if you stay, your brother won't fight you. And that will make things harder for us." I squeezed her hand gently. "Go. Let him focus."

Lilith looked down at our joined hands. Then at me. Then at Kael. Then back at me. "No."

I sighed. "Lilith."

"No."

"Lilith."

"No."

Mira nodded. "Kael, open the door."

Kael and Lilith looked at Mira at the same time. "What?"

"Open that damned door. I want to finish this exam and go home." Then she takes Lilith's hand and brings her to the door. "You are leaving now."

Lilith stared.

Mira stared back.

The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.

"...You cannot order me around," Lilith finally said.

"Watch me."

"Lys."

"I agree with Mira," I said immediately.

Lilith looked betrayed."How?"

"You are making Kael sad."

Kael blinked." I am?"

"Probably."

"Fair enough."

Lilith pointed at her brother."Are you sad?"

"No."

Lilith pointed triumphantly. "See."

Kael sighed. "I am disappointed."

"That's worse," I say.

"Much worse," Mira says and then begins dragging Lilith towards the door.

Lilith resisted. Not effectively.

For someone who carried herself with the dignity of ancient nobility, she was surprisingly easy to drag.

"Unhand me,"

"No."

"I am a Craven."

"I know."

"My family owns half the country."

"Wonderful."

"I could have you arrested."

"After I pass the exam."

Lilith turned desperately toward me. "Lys!"

I waved. "Good luck."

"This is betrayal."

"This is friendship."

"Friendship should involve less abandonment."

"Friendship also involves letting us finish as soon as we can without all this drama."

Lilith looked horrified. "You're learning noble logic."

"Gods help us all," Mira muttered.

Kael laughed. Actually laughed. The sound echoed through the clearing. Then his expression softened. "Now I know why Lilith wants to be friends with you."

"Because we are perfect," Mira says, then shoves Lilith toward the glowing door. "Now, Goodbye."

Lilith stopped just before the glowing door. "Lys,"

"Yeah?"

"Don't lose."

"The only one who's gonna lose is your brother. So no worries."

"But.."

"No buts...We can do it."

Lilith stared at me for a long moment. Then she sighed. "You are ridiculously optimistic."

"I've been told that."

"Mostly by me," Mira added.

"Also true."

Lilith looked like she wanted to argue. Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.

I froze. Mira froze. Kael froze. The entire forest froze.

After a second, Lilith immediately stepped back. "I feel like I am winning easily."

"You are a Craven. Winning easily was always part of your life. But this? Refusing to leave your friends behind? This is what makes you a good warrior, Lilith."

Lilith blinked. For once, she seemed completely speechless.

Mira looked between us. "... Did Lys just say somethin cool?"

"I think so," Kael said while he was an inch away from Mira's face.

Mira jumped three feet into the air. "WHY ARE YOU SO CLOSE? My heart can't manage all this good-looking"

Kael blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me."

"Mira," I said. "Please stop flirting with the final boss."

Lilith sighed. "If either of you doesn't pass the test, I will be extremely annoyed."

The door blazed with silver light. For a brief moment, Lilith stood within it. She looked back. At me. At Mira. At her brother."Lys."

"Yeah?"

The door swallowed Lilith before she could finish. The silver light flared. Then vanished.

"Now, how do we plan to win against Mister I-am-the-most-beautiful-man-in-the-world, Lys?"

I looked at Kael. Then at Mira. "I don't think that's his official title. And he's not alone."

"What? Ghosts?" Mira says.

"You can see them? That's really nice, but unfortunately, you know you can't do anything against them, and I won't go easy on you now that my sister is gone." Kaels' smile didn't reach his eyes.

Behind him, a figure began stepping out of the mist. The same ghost that attacked Lilith.

"I can't fight what I don't see, so I leave it to you," Mira says. "I'll take him," she says, pointing at Kael.

Kael raised an eyebrow. "You'll take me?"

Mira nodded confidently. "Absolutely."

"You are aware that I am much stronger than you"

"Yes."

"Then I should comply, my lady." Kael bowed slightly.

Mira froze. "Lys, did he just flirt with me?"

"Yeah."

"I think I died."

"You are still standing," Kael pointed out.

"Physically."

"Ah."

"Emotionally, I have ascended."

I rubbed my temples. "Kael, could you give us one second?"

"Of course," Kael said with a smirk.

I took Mira's arm and gave our backs to Kael. "Mira."

"Yes?" She said, still looking back.

"Please focus."

"I am focused."

"You are staring at Kael."

"I can multistask"

"You absolutely cannot. Listen, I have a plan."

"Okay?"

"Since we can't take down trained warriors and a second-year. DO you remember what I did to save Lilith?"

"You responded to a ghost attack!"

"Yes, so if Kael and all of them are surprised as the ghost then..."

"Then we can run towards the door."

"Exactly"

"Okay, I'm in, "Mira says.

Kael cleared his throat. "Have you finished discussing your escape attempt?"

"Yes." We both said.

Then we looked at each other and nodded. Mira picked a branch, too.

I looked at her branch. Then at mine. Then back at hers.

Then I moved towards another warrior ghost. The one who attacked Lilith just looked and didn't move. Mira moved towards Kael with complete confidence.

"Good luck," I called.

But before Kael and Mira could fight, the ghost I was marching toward came and attacked me.

"Please work again."I muttured.

The world slowed. Not completely. Not like before. But enough. The wooden sword crawled through the air. And then I stopped it just like I did with the ghost that attacked Lilith.

My eyes widen. Kaels eyes widened. The ghost's eyes widened.

"Run," I shouted to Mira.

She didn't hesitate. She sprinted towards the glowing doorway.

"What-" Kael started.

Then his eyes widened. Mira had already passed through the door. For a brief moment, I thought we had actually done it.

Then everything went wrong. As I rushed toward the exit, the ghost that had attacked Lilith suddenly moved. A hand shot and grabbed my arm. I froze. The ghost froze. We both looked down at its hand wrapped around my wrist. Then we looked at each other. Both equally shocked.

"You can touch me?" I blurted.

The ghost seemed just as confused as I was.

Then the sky exploded with blue light. A single tulip descended from above. Not falling. Diving. Like an arrow. Like a weapon. The flower slammed directly into the ghost's chest.

The impact sent the warrior staggering backward. Blue petals scattered through the air. For the first time, I saw a ghost bleeding.

"What is happening?" Kael whispered.

I honestly had no answer.

The ghost released my arm. Immediately. As if it had never intended to stop me.

Kael's expression darkened. "No."

For the first time since meeting him, I heard genuine alarm in his voice.

He took a step toward me. Then another. But I was already moving. I threw myself toward the glowing doorway. Silver light swallowed my vision. The forest vanished. The ghosts vanished. Kael vanished.

And suddenly-

I was standing in the arena.

The roar of thousands of voices crashed over me. I stumbled forward onto polished stones.

My legs nearly gave out. For a second, all I could do was stare. I turned immediately. The doorway behind me was already fading. Beyond it, I caught one last glimpse of the forest. A flash of blue petals. The outline of the warrior ghost. Kael reaching forward. The portal closed. Gone.

"And we have our third winner! Lysandra."

Mira was shouting from somewhere nearby. Lilith was shouting too. Both were waving frantically. But their voices felt distant. Muted. As if I were underwater.

Because all I could see right now was her. The woman from the other night. The ghost with blue hair. She stood in front of me, smiling softly. And in her hand rested one single blue tulip.