The next few days passed in a whirlwind of tension and anticipation as the rankings for each forest group were revealed. Hailey had been holding her breath when the results came in, but a small smile broke across her face when she saw her name among the top two Evers in her group. She and Prince Benjamin were officially qualified for the Trial by Tale, a dangerous competition in the Blue Forest. But this small victory didn't mean her fight for high grades was over—if anything, it had only just begun. Each person who qualified for the trial would be ranked by their grades, with higher-ranked students entering the forest later. Hailey knew how important it was to garner as late an entry as possible. The later she entered, the better her chances of avoiding traps and ambushes set by those who had gone in first. She could already feel the eyes of her fellow princesses on her, their jealousy and hatred palpable. They were planning something; she could feel it in the cold, sharp looks they cast her way.
The next few weeks were gruelling. The pressure in her classes increased tenfold, the difficulty ramping up as if her teachers had conspired to push her to her limit. Every lesson felt like a trial in itself. And if that wasn't enough, Hailey had to navigate the constant sabotage attempts from her classmates. At every twist and turn, someone was trying to trip her up, mess with her work, or distract her during critical moments. Her heels were filed down to make them sharp and unsteady, forcing her to stumble in front of the class. Pungent, foul-smelling ingredients were slipped into her beauty products, ruining them and making her nauseous for hours while she had to struggle to make new ones. Food and tea were tampered with, and Hailey had to steel herself to swallow each bite, holding back bile as her stomach twisted in discomfort during graded tea parties. But despite it all, Hailey persevered, her stubborn determination propelling her forward. She managed to do relatively well in her classes, scoring herself a later entrance time into the Blue Forest. It wasn't as late as she had hoped, but considering all the setbacks she had faced, it felt like a miracle.
Now, the day of the Trial by Tale had arrived. Hailey sat waiting her turn, the dark sky above only amplifying her anxiety. The forest loomed before her like a navy blue maw, swallowing up the contestants one by one. She sat quietly, weary from the past few weeks, her hand obsessively sharpening her sword. The sound of the whetstone scraping against the blade was rhythmic, a small comfort in the oppressive tension of the night. There were no rules against weapons in the trial, and Hailey had taken full advantage of that. Unlike the other princesses, who had relied on their charms and delicate dispositions to gain the protection of the Ever boys, Hailey had no one to rely on but herself. The boys had their swords and shields, and she would not be outmatched. As she sharpened her blade, she watched with narrowed eyes as some of the Evers reappeared from the forest mere moments after entering, their white handkerchiefs stolen or destroyed. A trap had clearly been set near the entrance.
Her name was finally called. Hailey set aside the whetstone and squared her shoulders, taking a deep breath as she rose to her feet. Her legs felt steady, but her heart was hammering in her chest. There was no room for hesitation now. She walked toward the forest, each step heavy with the weight of expectation. As she stepped into the darkened azure trees, the air seemed to grow colder, the silence oppressive. She was extremely cautious, every nerve in her body on high alert. The forest felt unnatural in its stillness, and she didn't trust it. Her grip on her sword tightened.
A sudden rustling from above made her freeze. Her eyes darted upward just in time to see the leaves shift as a flock of crows swooped down, their talons aimed at her handkerchief. The handkerchief was her only lifeline in the trial. If it was taken from her, she would be magically transported out of the forest, disqualified. She swung her sword instinctively, the blade flashing in the moonlight as it cut through the air. Several crows fell to the ground, but more kept coming, relentless in their attack. Hailey gritted her teeth, using her sword to bat away the remaining birds before making a run for it, her heart pounding in her ears.
As she dashed through the trees, she could hear voices not far off. Two of the princesses were nearby, their sickly sweet tones unmistakable. Hailey slowed her pace, moving silently as she crept closer to hear their conversation. Her blood ran cold when she realized they were planning to team up with two of the Ever boys to take her out. The boys' voices joined the conversation—two of the arrogant ones from swordplay class who had always looked down on her for being able to fight. Their disdain for her had been palpable from the start, and now they were planning to prove their superiority by eliminating her from the trial. Hailey clenched her fists, her stomach churning with both anger and unease.
She had no desire to face them head-on. She wasn't interested in proving anything to these people. So, she turned and fled, darting through the trees in an attempt to put as much distance between them as possible. But they heard her, their pursuit hot on her heels. Hailey pushed herself to move faster, weaving through the forest's thick undergrowth until she found a large tree to hide behind. Her breath was ragged as she crouched down, trying to remain still as the group moved closer. Her hand slipped into her pocket, her fingers brushing against the dark orb Lady Lesso had given her. She felt the warmth of Lesso's magic pulse through it, a reminder of the power she now held.
For a moment, Hailey considered using it. The temptation was there, a whisper in the back of her mind. But she hesitated. These four weren't worth it. The orb was a trump card, and she wasn't going to waste it so early in the game. With a sigh, she tucked it back into her pocket. As the group moved closer, she pressed her back against the tree, hoping they would pass by without noticing her. But then, out of the corner of her eye, Hailey saw a familiar figure in the distance. It was Hester, one of the Never girls, her magic crackling through the air. Hailey watched in awe as Hester summoned a small flaming dragon that darted through the trees, heading straight for the group.
The dragon moved with terrifying speed, its fiery wings cutting through the night like a blade. The princesses screamed, cowering behind the boys, who drew their swords in a futile attempt to defend themselves. Hailey watched from her hiding spot as the dragon swooped down, yanking the white handkerchiefs from the princesses' hands and setting them alight in quick succession. Within moments, all four of them were out of the trial, their bodies vanishing as they were transported out of the forest.
Hailey couldn't help but smile. She hadn't had to lift a finger. As the chaos unfolded, she saw her chance and took it, slipping away before anyone could notice her. She wasn't about to risk staying in the area any longer. As much as she believed in being good, she wasn't noble enough to save those who had tormented her, especially when they weren't truly in danger.
Her relief was short-lived as she continued deeper into the forest, where the dangers only increased. As she moved through the trees, she suddenly felt something wrap around her ankle. She gasped as a thick violet tendril yanked her off her feet, pulling her toward a monstrous man-eating plant. Its massive maw opened wide, rows of sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight. Hailey struggled, her sword slashing at the tendrils that wrapped around her legs and waist. With a desperate cry, she severed the plant's hold on her, falling to the ground with a thud. Pain shot through her side as she landed, but she quickly scrambled to her feet, ignoring the sting of her injuries as she hacked at the plant until it stopped moving.
Her breaths came in harsh, ragged gasps as she limped away from the carnivorous plant. Her body ached, and she could feel the blood from the cuts and scrapes beginning to soak through her clothes. She cursed under her breath, knowing she couldn't afford to slow down now. The forest was vast and treacherous, and she needed to stay on her guard. Every few minutes, she heard distant screams echoing through the trees, but she couldn't tell if they belonged to Evers or Nevers. It didn't matter. Her goal was survival.
As she made her way deeper into the forest, Hailey suddenly froze. A large figure stood in the clearing ahead, a massive axe resting on its shoulder. She recognised the form of the Cyclops boy from her first day at the School for Good and Evil. His hulking form cast a long shadow in the moonlight. Hailey gasped and stepped back, accidentally snapping a branch under her foot. The sound echoed through the silent forest, and the Cyclops boy turned, his single eye narrowing as he spotted her.
In the darkness, he didn't seem to recognize her at first. She was filthy, covered in leaves, dirt, and the remnants of her battle with the plant. He lunged at her without hesitation, and Hailey barely managed to dodge the blow. She raised her sword, parrying his strikes as they exchanged blows. Each swing of his axe was powerful, and it took all of Hailey's strength to keep up with him. But then, something shifted. The Cyclops boy suddenly paused mid-swing, his eye widening in recognition.
"You!" he yelled, pointing a finger at her.
Hailey blinked, lowering her sword slightly. "Yes?"
"You're the one who..." He trailed off, clearly uncomfortable. His expression softened, though his grip on his axe remained firm.
"Oh... yeah," Hailey said awkwardly, realizing what he was trying to say. "Glad to see you're doing well." She meant it, despite the tension of the moment. It was good to see that his arm had healed well after their first encounter.
The boy nodded awkwardly, lowering his axe fully. "Uh... about that... I..." He glanced around, clearly uncertain of how to continue. It was clear that he wasn't used to expressing gratitude, and Hailey couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. She had heard rumours about how children of villains were often treated poorly, and she could only imagine what it must have been like for him.
Their awkward moment was cut short by a loud thump, followed by the ground shaking beneath their feet. Both Hailey and the Cyclops boy snapped back to attention, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise. He pointed in the opposite direction and muttered gruffly, "Go that way."
Hailey blinked in surprise but nodded. "Thanks."
"We're even now, got it?" he added harshly, still not looking at her.
Hailey hesitated, but she nodded again, understanding that this was his way of thanking her for her help before. She watched as he hefted his axe and trudged toward the noise, disappearing into the trees. She turned and walked in the opposite direction, feeling strangely relieved.
She managed to avoid a large hulking troll that roamed nearby, its club smeared with blood. Hailey bit back the nausea that rose in her throat as she crouched low, hiding behind a thick bush. She hated how much time she was spending hiding, but she knew it was the smarter option. Survival was the goal, after all, and only a fool would go around seeking danger in a place like this.
Not long after, Hailey heard cackling nearby. Her heart sank as she realised someone was close by, their laughter growing louder as they neared her hiding spot. Panic seized Hailey as she realized she had nowhere to run. Flames flickered in the distance, the witches setting fire to the trees as they approached.
Hailey bolted, her feet carrying her away from the encroaching fire. But as she ran, the ground beneath her suddenly gave way. She stumbled, her feet sinking into the earth. At first, she thought it was mud, but the sweet, cloying smell told her otherwise. Chocolate. She was trapped in a massive puddle of melted chocolate.
Dot and Anadil emerged from the flames, their laughter echoing in the smoky air. "Look what we caught," Dot jeered.
"A scared little Ever," Anadil mocked, her eyes glinting with malice.
Hailey struggled to free herself, but the chocolate had thickened around her legs, pulling her down. She flung spells at the witches, dodging their attacks as best she could, but her movements were sluggish, and the chocolate was slowly dragging her under. Dot cackled as she melted the chocolate further, making it even more difficult for Hailey to escape.
Desperation clawed at Hailey's chest. She couldn't get out. Her mind raced as she reached into her pocket, her fingers brushing against the orb Lady Lesso had given her. She hesitated for a moment. Was it right to use the gift against Lesso's own students? But she had no other choice. Her hand clenched around the orb, and she threw it at the witches, her heart pounding in her chest.
The orb exploded in mid-air, releasing a swarm of bats that descended upon Dot and Anadil. The witches screamed as the bats swooped down, clawing at their hair and clothes, some even defecating on the poor witches, their screeches deafening. Hailey watched in awe as the bats ripped the red handkerchiefs from the witches' sides, sending them vanishing from the trial in an instant.
Hailey's relief was short-lived. She was still sinking, the chocolate rising around her waist. She considered using her own handkerchief to escape, but she hesitated. The witches were gone, and the flames had died out. Perhaps if she held on a little longer, she could survive until the end of the trial. With a determined breath, Hailey balled up the handkerchief in her fist, holding onto it tightly as the chocolate continued to pull her down.
Minutes ticked by, each one a test of her willpower. Hailey held out for as long as she could, but when the chocolate reached her chin, she finally let go. The handkerchief slipped from her grasp, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished from the forest, leaving the dark woods and the Trial by Tale behind.
