LYRA

The castle declared three days of rest before the next trial would begin, and we needed every minute of it. I had thought my own ordeal in the Shadow Woods was difficult but watching other contestants struggle with the aftermath made me realize I'd gotten off relatively easy.

Many were bedridden, unable to leave their chambers without breaking down or screaming at shadows that weren't there. Healers worked constantly moving between rooms with medicines and calming teas, treating physical ...