A Test Of Pride Page

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.

The arrow soared, caught the thermal, and slammed into the dead center of the bullseye, splitting the air with a definitive thwack . The silence was absolute. Kaelen had won. A Test of Pride

The final round was "The Gale’s Breath," a shot across a canyon where the winds shifted like a restless beast. Kaelen ignored him

Kaelen stepped to the line. He felt the weight of his father’s old bow, scarred and unpolished. He watched the grass. He waited. But as he aimed, he noticed Elias’s hand trembling

The silver trophy stood between Kaelen and Elias, not just as a prize, but as a mirror reflecting two very different kinds of hunger.

In that moment, Kaelen realized that if he won, he would be doing exactly what Elias had done: tying his entire worth to a piece of metal and the roar of a crowd.

Elias walked over, his face a mask of cold fury. "You got lucky."