Dorian thought for sure he was about to be spider food, but at the last second, Stormhawk swooped in and punched it with an electrified fist so hard the bug completely shattered. He then grabbed Dorian, ripped off the webbing, and started flying back towards the Starting Zone.

“Thanks for saving me, but where are you taking me?” Dorian asked. 

“The hell out of the Training Field!” Stormhawk replied, clearly annoyed. “You’re gonna get yourself killed, or at the very least, you’re gonna hurt your friend Emmett’s chances of passing because he’ll be too preoccupied trying to keep your sorry ass safe!”

The words washed over Dorian like a sack of bricks to the face. The winged boy continued to berate him as they flew. “I mean, seriously! How could you be such a selfish prick?! You really thought you could just show up with no magical experience whatsoever and just be immediately amazing? You didn’t even have a back-up plan in case your magic didn’t appear? You’re really just gonna leave it to those of us who have spent years training for this opportunity to risk our own futures just to keep you safe? It’s insulting! And to think none of the adults in your life stopped you!”

Stormhawk set the silent Dorian down back near the gate to the Starting Zone. “Do us all a favor and go home!” He glared for a long moment and then flew off back into the Training Field.

Dorian just stood there looking down at his feet, fighting off the urge to start crying. He’s… He’s right… I should have planned better… I should have tried harder to awaken my Fae Sense… I put Emmett’s future at risk… Stormhawk’s right… I should go home… God, I’ve been so stupid and delusional… He thought to himself as he turned and started walking slowly back towards the stands, a look of despair painted on his face. 

As the teen tried to pass through the gate to the Starting Zone, he was repelled by an invisible barrier. He looked around confused, and then gasped when he heard panicked screams behind him. He spun around rapidly and stared in horror as he noticed the black plastic beasts were shifting into real monsters. They were powering up with blackish red auras and becoming too strong for some Candidates. 

He was startled as he heard loud explosions above and looked up to see adults flying around, trying to blast through the barrier. With each impact, an energy dome separating the Training Field from the stands became momentarily visible. He noticed some of them pointing and followed their gaze to see a hooded figure in black robes just floating in the sky. 

The figure had one open hand held up above his head, right where the top center of the dome was. Dorian realized that must be the person powering the barrier. The figure’s other hand was writing crimson runes in the air with their fingers, and then flicking them down to the monsters in the Training Field. Each black plastic creature that was hit by one of these runes was transformed into a real monster. 

Oh crap, this is bad! This is BAD! Dorian thought to himself frantically. He feared for his friend. Emmett! Oh no… He’s in real danger! And none of the adults can get through the barrier! I have to do something! But… I can’t do anything! He was frozen with indecisiveness momentarily, then came to a conclusion. I can’t just stand here! Everyone keeps saying power doesn’t make a hero, actions do, right? I may not have magic, but I can at least help people who are hurt get to the Healing Circles!

He balled his fists with a look of determination and ran back towards the battlefield…