Chapter 23. Night of the Trial

The summons came at sunset.

A simple white envelope slid under Aria’s door—no seal, no signature, just her name scrawled in silver ink.

She picked it up slowly, already knowing what it would say.

Trial Night: Midnight. Arena Gate. Mandatory.

Her stomach dropped.

Jules was pacing the attic by the time Aria turned around.

“They’ve moved the schedule up,” she said. “This wasn’t supposed to happen for another three weeks.”

Aria held up the letter. “Guess they’re making an exception.”

“They always make exceptions for you.”

Aria didn’t reply.

She sat down on her mattress and stared at the fading light slanting through the dusty attic window. The air felt heavier tonight. More still. Even the wind seemed to hesitate.

“What exactly is Trial Night?” she asked finally.

Jules stopped pacing.

“It’s supposed to be a rite of passage,” she said. “Tradition. Each student gets dropped into the forest—alone—and they’