The Serpent and the Wings of Night
by Carissa Broadbent
Contents
Chapter 46
Overview
In the Kejari’s final trial, Oraya defeats three corpse-puppets modeled after White gods by recognizing that they are magical constructs and dismantling them strategically. Afterward, Vincent’s visible anguish complicates Oraya’s hatred for him at a crucial moment, and she then gives the grievously wounded Ibrihim the honorable final duel the crowd denies him. The chapter pushes Oraya to embrace both ruthlessness and mercy as she nears the tournament’s end.
Summary
Oraya begins the final Kejari trial trapped in a smaller arena against three corpse-like mockeries of White Pantheon gods: a fire-wielding Atroxus, an archer representing Ix, and a singing Kajmar whose voice briefly paralyzes her. As she dodges fire and poisoned arrows, Oraya realizes the trial reenacts Nyaxia’s slaughter of the White gods and that these enemies are puppets powered by magic rather than living opponents.
Because Kajmar’s shrieking song keeps leaving her helpless before the other attacks, Oraya decides he must fall first. When she closes in, she recognizes the body as a dead Rishan from earlier in the Kejari, confirming that fallen contestants have been turned into weapons. A stab through Kajmar’s heart does nothing, so Oraya changes tactics, hacks through his throat, and severs his head, destroying the magical object lodged inside him and ending the song.
With only seconds left before Atroxus’s flames consume the enclosure, Oraya throws Kajmar’s head at Ix and knocks the archer off balance. She rushes Ix, cuts off Ix’s hands, and takes the bow before aiming across the arena at the magical power glowing in Atroxus’s chest. Oraya channels Nightfire into the arrow and shoots through Atroxus’s core, overpowering the flames and ending the trial segment.
In the next section of the arena, Oraya looks into the stands and meets Vincent’s gaze. Instead of the cold king she expected, she sees a father visibly suffering over her pain, and that sight shakes her hatred enough to distract her. Vincent’s glance upward warns Oraya just in time to dodge an arrow from the last surviving opponent, Ibrihim.
Ibrihim limps out of another doorway horribly wounded, missing an eye and barely able to use his bow, while the crowd laughs at his weakness. Oraya does not pity him; she respects how hard he has fought and urges him not to surrender, promising him a fair fight and a fair death. Ibrihim drops the useless bow, attacks with a sword despite his injuries, and after a brief exchange tells Oraya he is glad it was her before Oraya kills him cleanly with a strike to the heart.
Who Appears
- OrayaFaces the final trial, destroys three god-puppets, then grants Ibrihim an honorable death.
- IbrihimBadly wounded surviving competitor who insists on meeting Oraya in a final duel.
- VincentWatches from the stands; his pained expression unsettles Oraya and helps save her from Ibrihim’s arrow.
- KajmarCorpse-puppet whose paralyzing song forces Oraya to target and decapitate him first.
- IxCorpse-puppet archer firing deadly thorned arrows until Oraya severs her hands and takes her bow.
- AtroxusFire-wielding corpse-puppet destroyed when Oraya shoots Nightfire into the magic in his chest.
- MischeAppears only in Oraya’s thoughts when Atroxus’s mockery reminds her of Mische’s abandoned faith.