Chapter 3: The Trials Begin
The academy's training grounds sprawled endlessly, filled with mystical obstacles and shimmering enchantments. Liyue and Kai Feng stood among the other students, their gazes wandering over the sprawling arena where the first trial was about to begin.
A mentor with a booming voice stepped forward. He was Mentor Baijun, a towering figure whose stern expression silenced the chatter.
"Welcome to your first trial," Baijun announced. "This is where we separate the worthy from the weak. Those who cannot complete the task will be sent home. And by home, I mean without a shred of dignity."
Kai Feng leaned over to Liyue and whispered, "What a ray of sunshine."
Liyue snorted despite herself but quickly straightened up as Baijun's gaze swept their way. "Today's trial will test your ability to survive and adapt. Hidden within the Enchanted Maze are five orbs. Each orb represents a quality we value: strength, wisdom, agility, endurance, and resilience. Find at least one to pass."
A student raised their hand. "What if we can't find any?"
Baijun smirked. "Then you'd better enjoy the walk home. Now, move out!"
---
The maze was a living entity, its walls shifting and twisting unpredictably. Liyue and Kai Feng entered cautiously, their steps echoing in the silence.
"So, what's the plan?" Kai Feng asked, looking around. "Split up or stick together?"
Liyue hesitated. "Together. These trials are probably designed to catch us off guard. Better to have someone watching your back."
Kai Feng grinned. "Smart and cautious. Lead the way, oh fearless one."
As they ventured deeper, the maze began to test them. Roots erupted from the ground, trying to ensnare their feet. Shadows darted in and out of sight, whispering incomprehensible words.
At one point, a wall sprouted thorny vines, blocking their path. Kai Feng drew his sword, ready to cut through, but Liyue stopped him.
"Wait," she said, studying the vines. "There's a pattern here. Look, the thorns retract every few seconds. If we time it right, we can slip through without fighting."
Kai Feng watched as she demonstrated, darting through the opening as the thorns withdrew. He followed, barely avoiding the sharp tips.
"See? Easy," she said, brushing herself off.
"Sure, easy for you," Kai Feng muttered, inspecting a small tear in his sleeve. "Remind me why I follow your plans again?"
---
Hours passed, and they still hadn't found an orb. Tension grew as the maze's challenges became more intense. At one point, they encountered a chasm with no visible way across.
"We're running out of time," Kai Feng said, glancing nervously at the darkening sky above. "Think there's a hidden bridge?"
Liyue studied the chasm. The mark on her waist tingled faintly, but she ignored it. "Let's test it," she said, tossing a small rock forward. It fell into the abyss without a sound.
"Great. Now what?" Kai Feng asked.
Liyue closed her eyes, trying to focus. The tingling sensation grew stronger, and for a brief moment, she felt a pull toward the right. She opened her eyes and pointed. "There. There's something invisible."
Kai Feng looked skeptical but followed her lead. She took a cautious step forward, and her foot met solid ground. "See? An illusion," she said, carefully making her way across.
Kai Feng followed, muttering, "If this is wrong and we fall to our doom, I'm haunting you."
---
Finally, they reached a clearing where an orb hovered, glowing softly. As Liyue approached, the mark on her waist burned intensely. She stumbled, clutching her side.
"Liyue?" Kai Feng asked, rushing to her side. "What's wrong?"
"I… I don't know," she gasped. The pain subsided as quickly as it had come, but her vision blurred. In the haze, she saw faint images of the Red Pearl, pulsing with energy.
When she regained her senses, Kai Feng was holding the orb. "Hey, we did it!" he said, grinning. "That wasn't so bad."
"Yeah," Liyue said weakly, trying to shake off the unease. She couldn't tell him what she had seen. Not yet.
As they exited the maze, other students glared at them, their jealousy palpable. Liyue ignored the looks, focusing on the orb in Kai Feng's hands. She couldn't help but wonder: was the trial testing her… or the power within her?
Baijun greeted them with his usual gruffness. "Well, you two survived. Barely. Don't get cocky—the real challenges are yet to come."
Liyue exchanged a glance with Kai Feng. The trials were just beginning, and the m
ysteries of her power—and her place in the academy—were far from solved.