The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 121

LIRA 

I did not sleep well that night. Not because of fear alone, but because of time.

Time was slipping. The selection was tightening.

And once again, I could see the edge of it, the point where I could be cast aside, dismissed, forgotten. Where I would finally be sent home.

‘No.’ 

I stared at the ceiling, my hands clenched in the sheets.

“I didn’t come this far to fail now,” I whispered.

A soft warmth brushed against my mind.

‘You won’t,’ Luna’s voice echoed gently in my head.

I turned my head slightly toward the bed. She was curled there, small and pale and glowing faintly in the dim light, her silver eyes watching me.

“You don’t know that,” I murmured.

‘I do,’ she replied simply.

I let out a quiet breath, sitting up slowly. “The instructors are strict. I can’t survive out there. Those girls are stronger than me.I can’t keep relying on luck.”

Luna tilted her head.

‘Then don’t.’ 

I gave a dry laugh. “That’s very helpful.”

She padded closer, her tiny claws barely making a sound.

‘Let me help you.’ 

I hesitated.

“You already are helping me,” I said. “Just by… being here.”

‘Not enough.’

Her voice was firmer now.

‘Let me help you fight.’ 

I froze.

“No,” I said immediately. “That’s too dangerous. If you’re caught…” 

‘You said you don’t want to fail.’ 

“I don’t,” I admitted. “But if anyone sees you…” 

‘They won’t. I hide well.’ 

“You can’t promise that.”

‘I can hide.’

She insisted. I stared at her.

“You already nearly got caught once.”

‘That was before.’ 

Something in her tone made me pause.

“You’ve gotten stronger.”

‘So have you.’ 

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. Not strong enough to fight girls who had actual powers since birth. 

“This is madness.”

‘No. It is not.’ 

Silence stretched between us.

And then, quietly…. 

“So what are you suggesting?”

Luna’s eyes gleamed.

‘Let me come to the courtyard.’ 

My heart nearly stopped.

“Absolutely not.”

‘You need me.’ 

“I’ll manage without you in the courtyard.”

‘You won’t.’ 

The certainty in her voice cut deeper than anything else.

I looked away.

Because a part of me knew she was right. 

“I can’t risk you,” I said softly.

‘And you can’t risk losing.’ 

I closed my eyes. She wasn’t wrong. Gods, she wasn’t wrong.

“Fine,” I whispered finally.

Her head snapped up.

“But,” I added quickly, “you stay hidden. Completely hidden. No one sees you. No one senses you.”

‘I promise.’ 

“And you only help when I need it.”

‘You will need it.’ 

I shot her a look.

She blinked innocently.

******************

The courtyard felt different the next morning. The air as tense as the girls who lines up. 

The instructors stood at the center, watching us with sharp, assessing eyes.

“Today,” Master Dorian announced, “you fight.”

A murmur rippled through the girls.

“This is not practice,” he continued. “This is judgment.”

My pulse quickened.

“You will be paired. You will fight. And you will prove why you deserve to remain.”

I flexed my fingers, trying to steady them.

‘I’m here,’ Luna whispered.

I swallowed. I tried too hard not to look at the shrubs were she was hiding. 

“First pairing,” the instructor called.

Names were announced.

Not mine.

Then, 

“Lira Vale. Evadne Vexley.”

Evadne smirked as she stepped forward.

“Well,” she said lightly, “this should be quick.”

I said nothing as I took my place opposite her.

“Begin!”

She moved first. She was fast. Fast and creative and she didn’t even use her powers  against me. 

‘Left,’ Luna’s voice whispered.

I shifted just in time.

Evadne’s strike missed.

Her eyes widened slightly.

“What…” 

I didn’t hesitate. I countered and then I struck.

She stumbled back.

Surprised.

‘Now.’M

I moved again, faster this time while she slowly became slower. Maybe it was from the shock, but I couldn’t truly know. 

And before she could recover from my strikes, I disarmed her.

Her blade clattered to the ground.

Silence.

Then—

“Match concluded,” the instructor announced.

I stepped back, breathing hard.

Evadne stared at me.

“What was that? “ she muttered to the others angrily. 

**********

The next match came too quickly.

“Lira Vale. Elora Dorne.”

My heart sank.

Elora stepped forward, her expression soft but determined.

“Let’s not hurt each other,” she said quietly.

“Yes,” I replied.

But we both knew that wasn’t entirely in our control.

“Begin!”

We circled each other. Elora struck first, but gently. I blocked. She pulled back before making full contact.

She smiled faintly.

“You’re improving.”

“Don’t let me win,” I said under my breath.

She hesitated. Just for a second. And that was enough.

‘Now,’ Luna whispered.

Elora let her guard slip. Just slightly. And I took advantage.

My blade tapped her shoulder.

A clean hit.

“Match concluded.”

Elora stepped back, smiling softly.

“Well done,” she said.

Guilt twisted in my chest. I knew she could do much better than that. 

“You let me win.”

“Maybe,” she said lightly.

I swallowed.

“Thank you.”

She only nodded.

By the time the final round approached, my body ached.

My arm trembled slightly from exertion.

But I was still standing.

Still in the fight.

“Final pairing,” Master Dorian announced.

And I already knew.

“Lira Vale. Calista Harthwell.”