Chapter 5 The trial begins
849 Words
Chapter 5 – The Trial Begins
Ana's POV
“I hope you didn’t stay up all night reading,” I said as I wrapped my scarf tighter around my neck. “You know that could mess with your brain during the exam.”
Elena gave me a playful side glance, her lips curving into a smile. “Even if I wanted to, would my mom let me stay up all night?” she said, half-laughing. “She literally checked on me every thirty minutes.”
I chuckled. “Classic Mrs. Clara.”
“Still, I did get in a few extra hours of revision,” she added.
I nodded, though I couldn't hide the worry in my chest. “I hope you're prepared, Elena.”
“I am,” she said confidently. “What about you?”
“Well…” I hesitated. “I read too, but I don’t know… I just have this feeling I won't be the one who gets the admission. There are so many brilliant students here.”
“Don’t say that,” Elena said quickly, her voice soft but firm. “You might not know yet. You could be that lucky one. Anything is possible.”
I smiled, grateful for her encouragement. “Thank you, Elena. Well, I’ll do my best.”
“You better,” she said with a grin. “Good luck.”
“Good luck to you too,” I replied.
Just then, a loud honk broke through our moment. “Beep! Beep!” The familiar sound of the exam bus.
I glanced at my wristwatch—7:02 a.m.
“It’s here,” Elena said.
We both hurried and boarded the bus, heading straight to our usual spot—the seat near the window, second row from the back. It had become our quiet space, where we could sit, think, and calm our nerves before school days.
The engine rumbled to life, and as we drove off, Elena took out one of her revision books and flipped it open. Her eyes scanned the pages like a hunter searching for answers.
“Still reading?” I asked.
She nodded. “I need to. I can't afford to take any chances.”
The snowy city passed us by, frost glistening on rooftops, trees standing still like icy statues. It didn’t take up to an hour before the bus slowed and pulled into the exam center.
My heart instantly skipped a beat.
And judging from the way Elena's fingers tightened around her book, I wasn’t the only one.
Elena’s POV
As I stepped off the bus, a heavy weight settled on my chest. The school building was older than I expected—tall stone walls covered with vines, arched windows, and a strange kind of silence hovering in the air. It didn’t feel like a normal exam center.
It felt like a gateway.
My heartbeat picked up, echoing in my ears. I tried to calm myself, reminding my brain that I was ready. I had studied. I was top of my class. But this... this felt different. This wasn’t just a test.
It was a trial. A doorway into a world I had dreamed of—but never truly understood.
I turned to Ana. “Let’s go in.”
We made our way down the hall to the examination room and found our seats—side by side, like always. Except today, the air between us was heavier, more charged.
The room slowly filled with students—over fifty of us, all from different schools. All competitors. All hoping to be the one.
The door at the front of the class opened, and Mr. Mark, the supervisor, stepped in. He was tall and serious-looking, with round glasses perched on his nose and a dark folder in his hands.
“Good day, everyone,” he began, his voice deep and clear. “I hope you are prepared for the admission examination to the most mysterious and prestigious school in Paris—Witches High.”
A murmur of excitement rippled through the room.
“Yes,” we all replied in unison, though my voice was a little quieter than the rest.
Mr. Mark’s gaze swept across us like a hawk. I felt as if he could see through each of us—like he already knew who would pass and who wouldn’t. The pressure was intense.
I leaned toward my book again.
“You’re still reading?” Ana whispered beside me. “Shouldn’t you rest your brain a little?”
“I know,” I replied, flipping a page. “But I can’t help it. I have to pass this exam.”
Ana gave me a half-smile, but I could tell she was nervous too.
I closed the book for a moment and stared at the old wooden desk in front of me. Deep down, something told me that this test wouldn’t just be about math or grammar. That this place—this school—was looking for something more.
Something hidden. Something rare.
I just hoped that whatever it was… I had it inside me.
- Writer
