“I’m very nervous about these flames going out,” said Max as he continued running.

“Don’t worry,” said Casey. “I’m using my trait to create an air pocket around us, so the wind swirls around the candles and us, but never close enough to the flame to disturb it.”

Max’s heart pounded. He was so happy he was allied with Casey at that moment. He had originally been thinking that he’d done her the favor, but right now for this current situation, having an airbringer on his side was the perfect ally.

Cliffs eventually emerged and there was a natural passage upward towards the island’s summit.

The two companions kept moving forward, keeping an ever watchful eye over their shoulders for any other students following behind.

“Are we safe?” asked Casey.

So far it seemed like no one had caught up to them. They could still be fighting on the beach or scrambling frantically through the jungle with no actual destination in mind.

BOOM!

A loud explosion of mana and energy reverberated across the island from down at the beach.

“Geez,” said Max. “Some of them are still fighting over there. I don’t think we’ll be safe until tomorrow after the exam finishes. Just under half the class will be hunting down candles now thanks to Cyrus and Sybil’s selfishness. For now, let’s keep moving to the summit.”

They hurried up the island, keeping an eye out for other students and predators.

They eventually reached the top of the summit. They could see over the jungle foliage of the island and the ocean beyond, including the boat that the examiners and the instructor were spending the evening on.

“Alright, we’re at the summit,” said Casey. “What’s our next move?”

Max looked around, the summit was another smaller jungle raised by the cliffs to rest above the jungle down below.

“We need to find a good shelter spot where we can keep our candles,” said Max. “Then we need to figure out if there’s any other way onto this summit beyond this point. Then we need to set up traps and alarms all along those points. What do you think?”

“Sounds good,” said Casey. “As I can mediate the wind around us, it’s probably better if I take the candles from you.”

Max agreed and handed her both of their candles.

If he had wanted, he could have blown out her candle, just as she could do the same to him now. Yet, with every trial they went through, their trust for each other grew. Max felt good about this.

They searched the interior of the summit jungle and found a slab of rock and set up a shelter point around it.

After they had set up camp, Casey stayed behind and guarded the two candles as Max went off to search the summit for other passages.

“Am I allowed to eat now?” said Casey.

“Definitely,” said Max.