The morning air was cool, the rain having long since stopped, but the sky remained overcast, like a blanket too heavy to lift. Eryx woke early, the events of the past days swirling in his mind, his dreams filled with cryptic images of the Academy's trials. It was a restless sleep, one that didn't leave him feeling rested, but instead charged with the kind of anticipation that gnawed at the edges of his thoughts.
He dressed quickly, his movements mechanical, but his mind was far from the simple routine of getting ready for the day. Today, the next stage in the Academy's rigorous induction process began. The first formal test. And no matter how much he had prepared or how confident he felt, there was no telling what it would entail.
He was already late by the time he left his dorm, the halls of the building quiet in the early hours of the morning. Most students had already gathered in the central courtyard by the time he arrived, the air thick with nervous energy. Some stood in small groups, whispering, while others kept to themselves, their eyes distant. Eryx could sense the tension in the air. Everyone knew that whatever happened today would matter, more than any of them realized.
He spotted Rona and Bastian near the edge of the crowd, talking quietly. Rona caught sight of him first, waving him over with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Late as usual?" Rona teased as Eryx approached.
"Always," he replied with a faint smile.
Bastian gave him a quick nod, his usual energy dampened by the gravity of the situation. "You ready for this?"
Eryx shrugged, his gaze scanning the crowd. "Does anyone ever really feel ready?"
The courtyard had fallen into a tense silence as a figure emerged at the far end. It was Headmaster Grevok, tall and imposing as ever, his dark robe flowing behind him like the edge of a storm cloud. His presence was enough to make the students stand straighter, even the older ones who were used to his stern demeanor. Beside him was another figure, a woman, dressed in a similar cloak. She was unfamiliar to Eryx, but there was a certain aura about her—something sharp and calculating in the way she observed the students.
Headmaster Grevok raised his hand, and the courtyard fell silent.
"Welcome to the first test of the Academy," his deep voice carried over the crowd, booming in the quiet morning. "This will not be an easy trial. You will be tested not only on your magical abilities but on your ability to think under pressure, to act when the stakes are highest. Today, you will face an obstacle that will push you to your limits. Some of you will falter, and some of you will rise. But remember this: survival here is about more than just strength. It's about your mind, your resolve, and your ability to adapt."
Eryx felt his heart rate pick up, the air around him feeling thick as if charged with electricity. The words felt like a warning, and his mind raced with possibilities. What could the test possibly involve? They couldn't just throw them into another sparring match, could they?
Headmaster Grevok's gaze swept over the students, and his lips curled into something that might have been a smile. "Each of you has been assigned to a specific location on the Academy grounds. You will find the entrance to your test there. The test will last until noon, and you will be judged on your ability to solve the challenges you encounter. If you fail, you will be eliminated from the competition for the next stage of your training. Should you succeed…" He let the silence hang for a moment. "There will be rewards, but not the kind you may expect."
Without waiting for questions or further comments, the Headmaster turned on his heel and began walking toward the far side of the courtyard. The students, unsure of what to do, hesitated for a moment, then started to move in different directions, each headed toward the location they'd been assigned.
Eryx's group found their way to one of the farthest corners of the Academy's grounds, a dense forested area that was rumored to be filled with dangerous magical beasts and forgotten enchantments. The trees were tall, their branches swaying in the wind, casting eerie shadows across the path.
Rona cracked a grin. "Well, this doesn't look ominous at all."
"I'm more concerned about what we're walking into," Bastian muttered, his eyes darting around nervously.
They came to a clearing, where a small wooden structure stood. It was a shack, run-down and weathered, but it didn't seem to belong in the middle of the Academy grounds. The air felt different here—charged, heavy with the kind of magic that made the hairs on the back of Eryx's neck stand on end.
Rona stepped forward, her voice low. "Well, this is it. What now?"
Eryx stepped up beside her, his gaze never leaving the shack. He could sense something was off about this place, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. His instincts, honed by years of living on the edge of survival, told him this test was unlike anything they'd faced before.
The shack creaked, as if beckoning them to enter. Eryx exchanged a glance with Rona and Bastian. He didn't know what awaited inside, but one thing was certain: the first test had begun, and the Academy's true nature was about to reveal itself.