As Scottie finished his test, Misty could feel the joyous chants and cheers from the excited crowd shake the ceiling above her. It was so loud she could barely hear herself think. Scottie had achieved a perfect a score. He had been the first in their class to do so despite making several obvious mistakes that Misty could spot from a mile away. She watched with clenched fists as Scottie walked around The Arena waving to the crowd and blowing kisses like he was some kind of hero. It took almost five minutes before the crowd finally settled down. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she channeled her angry energy inward. Soon enough, it was her turn.

"Misty Tarby," Scottie's grandfather's voice boomed. "Please enter The Arena."

This is it, Misty thought to herself. Misty opened her eyes and pushed her shoulders back. She strode confidently into The Arena ignoring the powerful, daunting boos that filled the air the second she set one foot onto The Arena floor. Waiting for her were all five members of The Assembly perched at a long, lavish table decorated with gold and green velvet. Scottie's grandfather sat dead center with furrowed brows and a down turned mouth. Misty stood at attention with her hands tucked behind her back ready for whatever was coming her way.

"This is a very important day for you Miss Tarby," Scottie's grandfather said.

Misty gave him one dutiful, affirmative nod.

"Today you will be tested at a level far beyond the challenges of the past," he continued.

Misty had heard variations of this speech many times before and she was more than ready for it. She was almost excited for the chance to finally show them what she could do.

"Make no mistakes, Miss Tarby. Your tasks today will be difficult, they will be demanding and we will not show mercy for weakness. Succeed and you shall walk among greats. Fail and you will be washed away and forgotten like bits of sediment at the bottom of a raging river."

"I understand, Sir," Misty said.

Scottie's grandfather looked Misty over with contempt. He hated how self-assured and confident she was. Misty could sense his disappointment in his inability to shake her and fed off of it. All their attempts to knock her down only inspired her to be the best she could be to prove them wrong.

"Very well then," Scottie's grandfather said as he turned his attention to a thin and wiry gentleman at the end of the table. "Sir Franklin, please give Miss Tarby her first task."

Sir Franklin nodded his head with a bow and reached his hand into the gold plated, smoke filled goblet that sat beside him. The crowd stomped their feet to create a drum roll effect as he pulled out a thin piece of paper. The air was tense with anticipation.

"Misty Tarby," he announced. "You first task is..."

He took a dramatic pause as the crowd waited in suspense.

"Telekinesis!" He shouted.

The Arena erupted. Telekinesis was one of, if not the most, challenging tasks you could be given. Usually it was saved for last and only given to those students who had excelled in the first two tasks. Unless you're Scottie Derringer of course. Then you're only given the first level tasks and treated like a God for it even when you mess up.

"When you're ready, Miss Tarby," Scottie's grandfather said with a satisfied smirk.

We'll see how confident you are after this, he thought to himself.

"I'm ready now, Sir," Misty said without hesitation.

The smirk on Scottie's grandfather's face quickly disappeared. His eyes turned into a cold and angry stare. Misty stared back, unflinching. They kept their eyes locked firmly on each other, neither of them blinking. 

"Begin," Scottie's grandfather spat.

Just like that, a dagger appeared out of thin air and flew towards Misty like a speeding bullet. She sensed it's presence immediately and turned sharply to it's origins.

"Astrictus!" She shouted sternly and clearly.

The dagger froze in mid air and dropped to The Arena floor with a clink. Misty didn't let herself get too proud or too comfortable. It was only the beginning. Not even a second passed before another dagger came straight for her head, only this time with twice the speed. Misty was able to stop it, but with much more difficulty. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for the next one. I can't see it, she thought, her mind racing. Why can't I see it? Wait...if I can't see it, it has to be...

She whipped herself around just in time to freeze the dagger that was flying straight for her back. Misty sighed a tiny sigh of relief, but she knew it was far from over. Before she knew it, they were coming two at time, then three, then four at lightening speeds. They came from all angles forcing her move with intense speed and accuracy in order to stop the daggers from painfully and brutally plunging into her body.

"Astrictus! Astrictus! Astrictus!" She shouted over and over again, stopping each and every one, some of them only inches away. 

Then suddenly, the air was unsettling still. Misty stood in the middle in of The Arena with her chest heaving and her eyes on high alert. Sweat dripped down her fore head and adrenaline coursed through her veins. That can't be the end, she thought as scanned her surroundings. Could it? After a few seconds passed without any more daggers, she let herself relax ever so slightly. Right as she did, a ten ton boulder appeared above her head. Misty shot her hands in the air above her to stop the boulder as it plummeted towards her.

Misty squeezed her eyes shut and used all the strength she had to keep the boulder frozen above her head. Her body was tired and the weight she felt from holding it was crushing. it slipped closer and closer to her, but she refused to give in. Misty dug deep inside her, summoning all the power she had and forced her body upwards.

"Conruptus obicio!" Misty cried out, her voice cracking from a sheer force of will.

In an act of pure defiance and triumph, the boulder shot into the air and burst into dust that showered over her like confetti.