Judgment Day

The elevated panel of the council was steely eyes and blank expressions. My fists were in tight in my lap, my knees locked, my face defiant. That atmosphere - cold and heavy, like ice.

They stared at me; I stared right back. Did they lean forwards in anticipation or was it merely a trick of the light?

through clenched teeth, I spoke again. "I want this more than any of the other ones. I've improved more than any of them, any of them."

No response.

"I have results. You've seen them! You've seen what I can do."

No response.

"You know it." My hands are white. My jaw was beginning to hurt. "You need me."

One of the blank faces moved. "On the contrary. You see, we have several other scholars from which to choose, ones that are just as capable as you are. Perhaps ones with more grace and civility?"

A slap in the face.

The flat expression spoke again. "Your feelings of superiority, of being special, it's all in your head."

The other faces leered and echoed. "All in your head, all in your head, all in your head."

I filled my lungs with the last remnants of oxygen, stood to my tallest height. "I'm the best."

More dark smiles, mocking chuckles. They were animals, all of them. Toothy piranhas. Vicious apes. Gray-eyed hawks watching every flickering movement I made. Predators, every single one.

But that was it, just thin upturned lips, challenging eyes, open ears.

"I'm the best." I repeated.

The reply, though in that same candid tone, was a gust of wind to knock me over. "Then prove it."