Isadora dangled from the rope, the harsh wind nearly knocked her off. One of her hands slipped, and she let out a yelp as her gaze dropped to the abyss below.
Growling, she forced her hand back on the rope and began moving. Her muscles scread in excretion and her grip almost gave out but if she let go that would an her death.
Holding on as best as she could, she kept going, the harsh wind stinging her eyes with tears.
Her body dangled profusely, scraping against the rough surface as she fought to keep moving.
She swayed to regain her grip, shifting her body and planted her boot firmly on a rock to steady herself. With every ounce of her strength she had left, she hauled herself upward and collapsed on the bridge.
Inhaling and exhaling sharply, her eyes fixed on the skies, the color in thek showed it would be dawn soon.
Groaning, she sat up while clenching her side, a smirk on her lips as she stared at her next challenge.
The rope bridges.
Eyeing her target, she ripped the bottom of her tunic and wrapped the material around her shaky hands, tying the knots with her teeth.
It eased the quivers a bit but it didn’t stop them, she deeply prayed she would be able to overco this next challenge because she would be relying solely on her hands.
Rising to her feet, she exhaled sharply, cold air escaping from her lips.
She launched herself forward, leaping to grab the rope. Her fingers tightened around it as she swung back and forth, her gaze fixed on the abyss below.
There was no bridge in sight—only a clear invitation to the god of death.
’Not today Daudi’,’ she thought, swinging forward and leaping toward the next rope, her grip slipped and she yelled.
"Co on!" Logi murmured subconsciously, chewing erratically on his nails. His heart beat pulsing fast in anticipation, his eyes unable to look away.
Isadora held on tightly, and with a sudden cry, she leaped toward the last rope.
She scread in pain, her wrists feeling as if they might snap under the strain. Her features twisted in pure agony as she squeezed her eyes shut.
A shaky breath escaped her, and she sniffed, forcing her eyes open. Her vision was blurry, warm tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Not today Daudi," she said sternly and leaped again, the rope farther than the others this ti.
Her lips parted as her body soared through the air in slow motion, hands stretching desperately toward the rope.
In her eyes, it seed impossibly far and she was descending faster than she could control.
Just when she thought she would fall to her death, her fingers brushed against the bridge—and she caught it.
"Yes!" Logi exclaid, a triumphant chuckle escaping his lips.
Suddenly realizing his outburst, he cleared his throat and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "It is not over yet" he mumbled, trying to mask his excitent.
Isadora forced her body up, growling in pain as her body dropped back on the bridge. She coughed and wheezed, staying on the bridge for a mont before forcing her body back up.
Her body ached and her vision blurred. "The last one," she mumbled weakly.
The most difficult of them all and stirred doubt in her heart.
The wall: A twenty-five-foot obstacle to overco.
"It’s impossible," Logi said, shaking his head, as much as he would have loved to watch her struggle toward her victory; this was the height of them all.
There was no possible way she could accomplish that. Her physique was a problem, she was not fast or agile like a full-blooded Fae.
The last challenge was one of his difficult creations designed solely as a challenge for a full-blooded Fae.
A mannfae had no chance.
’The gods are in your favor, little one, but for how long?’
His teeth clenched. There it was again, that look in her ambers, a look that said she wasn’t backing down. ’Fine! To your death it is!’ he thought, pissed. ’You were able to prove wrong, but farewell Isadora.’
Logi’s fist clenched against the wood—the mont she sprinted toward the last challenge, leaping into the air.
For a mont his eyes widened and his heart stopped montarily.
~♧~
"Nyssara!" Rav called and stord toward her, with a pissed look.
Nyssa threw a look over her shoulder with a frown. "You’re full of energy this morning, what’s eating you up?"
"Where is Isadora?!" he demanded, grabbing her arm.
"How should that be my concern?"
"I woke up this morning and found her room empty"
"Then why co to , her business is not mine" she yanked her arm away from his grip. "I’ve important things to do than worry about strays, unlike soone"
Rav teeth clenched hard. It had to be Nyssa, because there was no way Isadora would just vanish in thin air. He had checked the entire mountain but she’s nowhere to be found.
"If you have done sothing to her," he began in a low tone. "I swear to the gods I’ll make you regret it"
Nyssa couldn’t believe her ears, staring at him in disbelief. "Are you threatening ? For a girl you have only known for moons? You have lost it!"
"You have to see this" soone cut in, and he pointed over his shoulder where a commotion was.
"What is it?!" Nyssa demanded.
"I think it has to do with the stray"
Rav was the first to move the mont he heard those words, Nyssa followed behind.
The crowd parted for them, while murmurs and whispers erupted as the others pointed upward.
At the top of a tower, the sun at its highest peak, legs swayed back and forth, indicating soone was up there.
"Soone finished the Spine!"
"But who could it be?"
"No one was given the task."
"Who is it then?"
"Look..."
"I think it’s..."
"Impossible," Nyssa murmured in shock as her eyes caught the sight of long, swaying golden blonde hair.
Isadora sat there, battered and bruised, her clothes torn and cuts marking her skin. Her stern amber eyes gazed down at the crowd, unflinching.
Behind her, a raven with silver eyes perched on the tower roof, flapping its wings, croaking as it soared into the sky.
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