Of Pride — A Test

For Kaelen, the Kingdom’s Archery Trials were the only way to restore his family’s disgraced name. Every arrow he notched was a debt he intended to pay. For Elias, the reigning champion, the tournament was a formality—a pedestal he believed he owned by divine right.

Kaelen ignored him. He saw a hawk dip in the distance—a sign of a rising thermal. He drew back, his muscles screaming. But as he aimed, he noticed Elias’s hand trembling. The champion wasn't looking at the target; he was looking at the crowd, terrified of their judgment. A Test of Pride

"Shoot, boy," Elias hissed, his face flushed with the rare sting of imperfection. "Or are you waiting for the wind to apologize for your lack of talent?" For Kaelen, the Kingdom’s Archery Trials were the