ShadowBound: The Need For Power-Chapter 609: Trial Completion

After their victory against the Burrowmaw, Liam and his group pressed onward toward the designated center point. The path there was anything but gentle. Along the way, they were forced to navigate hostile terrain, uneven ground slick with moss and roots that threatened to twist ankles, as well as patches of dense undergrowth that slowed their pace to a crawl. Wildlife tested them too—nothing as dangerous as the Burrowmaw, but aggressive enough to keep everyone alert. Each encounter chipped away at their stamina, leaving scratches, dirt-streaked clothes, and a growing exhaustion that settled deep into their bones.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon and the forest darkened into shades of blue and black, they finally broke through the last line of trees. Mud-stained, bruised, and visibly worn down, the group stepped into a wide clearing illuminated by fading twilight and scattered lantern light. Other students were already there, some clustered together in small groups, others standing alone, all of them carrying the same look of fatigue mixed with relief.

"Hah," Linda said as soon as her boots hit the open ground. She stretched her arms wide as if embracing the air itself. "We finally made it. No more fighting stupid creatures. Oh, how I’ve missed this." She wrapped her arms around herself dramatically, savoring the moment.

Yuriel shot her a sideways glance, unimpressed. "You’re acting like we were sent out there for an entire week," he said dryly. "It wasn’t even a full day."

Linda immediately turned toward him, eyes narrowing. "Ugh, just allow me," she snapped. "You and that baseless ego of yours. I feel how I want to feel, when I want to feel it. So back off."

The words had barely left her mouth when Yuriel’s eye twitched. His jaw tightened as irritation flared. "Hey, you better—"

"She said back off, Yuriel," Lily cut in sharply, stepping slightly in front of Linda. Her arms crossed over her chest as she fixed him with an unimpressed stare. "Don’t make her say it again."

Yuriel scoffed, annoyance clear on his face as he looked between the two girls. "Tch. Guess now that the trial’s over, you’ve both gotten your sharp tongues back," he said. Turning away, he started toward another side of the clearing. "Can’t blame you. Once a sharp tongue, always a sharp tongue."

As he walked off, Linda watched him go with an unimpressed snort. "Pot calling the kettle black."

"You really need to learn some manners," Lily said, stepping closer to Linda and lightly tapping her on the head. Linda winced. "Just because he’s an arrogant idiot doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want. Especially not after everything we just went through."

Linda rubbed the spot dramatically and looked at Lily with exaggerated disbelief. "Since when did you become my mother?"

Lily let out a tired sigh, running a hand along her arm. "Forget it. I just want a long shower and a warm bath."

Linda’s mood shifted instantly, her face lighting up. "Yes! Right there with you, girl! All this mud and dirt is absolutely killing me."

Just like that, the two girls melted into the crowd of students filling the clearing, their voices blending with the low hum of exhausted chatter, leaving only Liam and Edith standing where they were.

With the others gone, Edith turned toward Liam, a small, genuine smile forming on her face. "It was quite a day, huh?"

"Yeah," Liam replied evenly. "Kinda."

"You know," Edith continued thoughtfully, "I think today changed how Lily and Linda see you. Especially about you being a dark mage. I don’t think they’ll treat you the same way they did before."

Liam followed her gaze toward the crowd. Lily was speaking animatedly to Linda, but for a brief moment she glanced back in his direction. Their eyes met, and she quickly looked away, a faint flush coloring her cheeks.

To hell with that, Liam thought flatly. I’d rather they stayed the same than start acting different and make things more annoying than they already are.

"I don’t think that’s true," he said at last, his tone calm and dismissive. "They seem pretty much the same to me."

Edith studied him for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle and shaking her head. "If you say so." She paused, then added sincerely, "Anyway, thank you for today. You were reliable, as always. Honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted to be in a group with anyone else."

"Likewise," Liam replied without hesitation.

***

After remaining at the clearing for an hour, maybe two, or perhaps even closer to three, the rest of the students eventually arrived at the center point. With everyone accounted for, the trial was officially declared complete. In much the same way as before, the students were enveloped in shimmering light and teleported back to the academy grounds. Once there, Kaelen addressed them briefly, offering a mixture of practical advice, measured praise, and a few pointed remarks meant to remind them just how close some of them had come to real danger. After that, they were dismissed and encouraged to get themselves treated, cleaned up, and properly fed.

Following the dismissal, Liam made his way to the infirmary like nearly everyone else. He received treatment for his injuries, minor and otherwise, then took a long, much-needed shower that washed away the grime, sweat, and lingering scent of smoke and blood. Once he was cleaned up and changed, Liam regrouped with his friends, and together they headed to the cafeteria for dinner. Over their meal, conversation flowed easily as everyone shared their individual experiences from the trial—close calls, irritating teammates, moments of panic, and unexpected cooperation.

When they finished eating, the group left the cafeteria together, still deep in conversation as they walked back toward their dorms under the academy’s softly lit pathways.

"Damn, that reminds me," Dylan suddenly said, his face lighting up as he turned toward Liam with a wide, mischievous grin. "Our boy Liam here has gone and captured another girl’s heart in the academy, guys. The Liam charm strikes again!" He laughed as he stepped closer and casually slung an arm around Liam’s neck.

The moment the words left Dylan’s mouth, the rest of the group reacted in different ways, several pairs of eyes immediately shifting toward Liam.

"Oh~ so my bae is doing side chicks now, hmm?" Charlotte purred, gliding closer with an unmistakably teasing smile.

"Please stop," Liam said calmly, not sparing anyone a glance as he continued walking. "And nothing Dylan just said is true."

"Normally, I’d agree with you," Max said thoughtfully. "But come on. Him talking about you charming a girl? That’s actually pretty believable."

"You can’t be serious," Liam muttered under his breath, casting Max a brief side glance.

"Oh, come on, Liam boy," Dylan said in his usual dramatic tone. "No need to deny it. In fact, you probably don’t even know what you’ve done. Even for someone as observant as you, you can be painfully blind to certain things."

"What are you blabbering about now, Dylan?" Sheila asked as she walked beside Ariana, her tone already weary.

"This dude doesn’t know—or worse, genuinely doesn’t care—about the effect he has on girls," Dylan declared as if Liam had committed some unforgivable crime. "Cherrinton. Lily Cherrinton. One of the people who used to openly show her disgust toward Liam for being a dark mage has suddenly started looking in his direction with the ’he’s actually kinda cute’ eyes."

"The what eyes?" Asher repeated, blinking in mild disbelief.

"You know," Dylan said confidently, "the ’he’s actually kinda cute’ eyes. After surviving that trial with Liam, she’s probably found him attractive. Next thing you know, she’ll be openly salivating over him." He clicked his tongue in mock offense.

"Sometimes I really wonder how Liam does it," Dylan continued dramatically. "Like, seriously. What do girls find so attractive about this brooding, quiet dude over a funny guy like me, huh? Must the world truly be that unfair." He sniffed loudly and pretended to wipe away tears.

’Tch. What a pain,’ Liam thought flatly, giving absolutely no reaction to the ongoing nonsense.

"You know," Sheila said with an amused sigh, "no one seems more bothered by this than you, Dylan. Don’t you think that’s a little concerning?"

"Princess, please," Dylan replied with exaggerated sass. "If there’s anything concerning, it’s how you’re not concerned about this when you two are always together."

At that, Sheila flinched slightly, her cheeks tinged with red. "Once again, Dylan," she said firmly, "I’ve already told you that Liam and I are not in that kind of relationship. So stop with your useless teasing."

Dylan narrowed his eyes at her, feigning deep suspicion. "Okay then. Prove it. Prove that you two are just friends."

"What?" Sheila asked, genuinely dumbfounded. "How would I even do that?"

"Aha! See!" Dylan exclaimed triumphantly. "Right there. That hesitation proves everything. These two are definitely together."

’This is really getting out of hand,’ Liam thought as the chatter continued to wash over him. ’And it’s even worse with her practically breathing down my neck.’ He shot a subtle sideways glance at Charlotte, who still hadn’t let up on her clingy behavior.

He sighed quietly through his nose.

’This is extremely vexing.’