The racing coarse streched almost ominously. Through the large reflective screen, every detail was unnervingly clear. The churned black ground reinforced with blood and aether.

Sharp crystals rose from the ground at different intervals, each painted with dried blood from the previous competition.

Most of those familiar with it called it the death track. It was a track made to test the adaptation of warriors during war but also just to train horses on how to avoid obstacles.

The track was a death zone for the careless.

Lilith sat on the palace balcony one leg crossed over the other, gaze fixed towards the reflective image above the court.

Her personal maid stood behind her, eyes fixed on the reflective screen above.

The image switched to a different part of the coarse the best part of everything. This wasn’t the normal horse racing track, that would be boring and way too easy for most. Something had been added to spice up the race.

At the edge of the tracks, stationed at calculated intervals were the attackers.

Soldiers.

Dark elf soldiers for the most part and others from the converged allied races that were permitted to participate in the attacks.

Each held a different weapon suited for range and disruption. Hook chains, short blades, javelins, arrows. Some even carried regulated magical items, made to release controlled attacks.

It wasn’t enough to break the No aether use rule but enough to kill.

"They’ve increased the intensity," someone in the crowd said.

"Of course they have, this is a show of honour between kingdoms, they wouldn’t make it easy," another replied.

At the starting line, the riders waited. Even from the reflection, Lilith could recognise him.

While most were whispering to their horses, calming them and fumbling with the reins or saddles he sat without concern his gaze fixed on the track.

He was on a black stallion that she had personally bred and given to him, the perfect war horse.

She leaned slightly forward, resting her gloved hand on the cold railing.

"They’ll probably go to him first," she muttered to herself, while marking for potential threats if any trouble arose.

He stood out too much, especially with his position. She chuckled slightly to herself, imagining the scenario, she wouldn’t let that happen of course. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Let’s see who tries."

At that moment, the signal was given. A loud horn blared through the racing course.

Instantly chaos erupted. The riders surged forward dust exploding into the air as the hooves hit the ground.

The starting formation was broken just a few steps in because the first attack disrupted them almost immediately.

From the sidelines, the soldiers leaned forward with weapons out. Blades were thrown with casual cruelty their instructions to slow as many of them as they could of the hundred participants.

If killing then accidentally would work, then so be it.

Arrows loosened with practised ease, while some even hurled magical devices causing more destruction. Explosions rang through the course accompanying the competitors.

One rider didn’t even make it past the first stretch, an arrow pierced clean through the neck of his mount. The horse collapsed mid-stride, sending him tumbling forward. He was promptly run over by the other riders, and both the horse and the rider were trampled to death.

No one had the time to care.

In the court, the crowd roared in approval and those who had bet on him cursed up a storm. But the race continued.

Lilith exhaled softly.

"Too slow."

Her gaze never left Atheline.

He had already moved away, moving through the group with practised ease and precision. Where others were pushing for early dominance, he navigated through learning how they were moving and the terrain in advance.

He shifted slightly, pulling the reins, increasing pressure to control the horse’s acceleration. He had managed to avoid the dense clusters of riders without losing ground.

A blade spanned towards him from the edge. It never reached him, a small almost invisible shift of the wind and the blade skidded uselessly on the ground.

While the use of aether wasn’t permitted, defense was, but riders weren’t allowed to attack each other but they could use the outside attacks to their advantage.

Lilith’s smile deepened.

"He’s restraining himself."

The first obstacle approached was a narrow pass between two towering crystal spires. Only three riders could fit in at once, and it would still be a tight fit.

They collided.

A beastkin slammed into a human rider, forcing him sideways into a sharp crystal. The scream was brief and the impact tore through the rider and the horse, mouth open spraying blood.

The beastkin didn’t slow down.

Another tried to follow through the gap, only to be dragged off his saddle by a hook chain thrown from the sidelines. He vanished beneath the hooves of those following behind him.

The path narrowed further.

Then, Atheline moved in an uncanny show of precision and planning. While others forced their way through, he found the moment between. A small alignment and a flawless stride displaying his horse control.

His horse slipped through the chaos untouched, as though the violence simply parted for him.

The crowd erupted. Everyone had their own designated choice. Some were more experienced than the others hence their focus but Atheline’s maneuver earned him the spotlight.

Lilith tilted her head slightly, watching more closely now.

"Now they’ll focus."

It was immediate. Not everyone was in for the joy of the competition, some couldn’t care less about the rules.

The next waves of attack shifted, directed only towards him. Arrows came in pairs, then volleys. Blades from different angles converged towards him, and even small magical explosives joined the frenzy of attacks aimed towards the legs of the horse.

This time, his defense was visible. Wind gathered around him, in an almost invisible curtain. Each incoming attack struck it precisely at the angle to be deflected with minimal effort.

But even perfection had its limit.

Another rider took advantage of the situation and closed behind him, raising a spear he had picked up in the fray.