The wind whispered with quiet urgency across the academy grounds. Students gathered in anticipation, each one summoned for the next stage of the Trials. Whispers of the "Proving Grounds" had spread like wildfire—but details remained scarce. What was known, however, was simple: this would not be a mere test of skill or strength. It would be a trial of survival.
At the edge of the sprawling campus, a massive skyship loomed—sleek, angular, bearing the Imperial Crest on its hull. Its engines hummed with restrained power.
The students stood in groups, flanked by instructors and housemasters. Among them was Kael, donning his cloak and runic gloves, standing alongside Riven. The two exchanged a look—excitement, tension, and the unknown hanging between them.
Riven exhaled. "You think it's true? That it lasts a whole month?"
Kael nodded slowly. "That's what I heard. A survival trial in an isolated space. No outside help… unless we break."
A faint shimmer in the air ahead signaled the opening of a dimensional portal. As it stabilized, runic anchors glowed faintly around its perimeter. The skyship powered up, preparing for departure.
"Board!" a voice called. The students, with packed satchels and their issued gear, began to ascend.
Unknown to them, watching from the distance was a figure in uniform—calm, calculating.
---
The journey across the sky was surprisingly smooth. Through reinforced glass, Kael watched the clouds part as the skyship passed through layers of atmosphere. Beside him, Riven scribbled in a small enchantment notebook, his fingers glowing faintly with channelled mana.
They landed in a lush, untouched landscape—vast, wild, and filled with towering trees, rocky outcrops, and hidden ravines. The air here felt different—older, alive.
The students disembarked, guided to a clearing where an officer stood, waiting with a calm authority.
The woman stepped forward, her red cloak fluttering slightly.
"I am Captain Veyna," she said, voice firm. "Welcome to the Proving Grounds."
Several students glanced at each other in disbelief—none had recognized her until now.
Veyna continued. "You will survive here for one month. Your kits include rations, basic tools, and a survival bracelet. If you're in mortal danger, activate it. It will generate a shield and signal for extraction—but it will also mean disqualification. Use it wisely."
She stepped aside as shimmering projections activated overhead—views from different corners of the Proving Grounds, monitored by instructors and housemasters watching from the academy. Among them sat Headmaster Erion Virellian, neutral as always, though his eyes observed everything.
From the shadows of the observatory, a new figure arrived—his presence drawing the immediate attention of the room.
"Senn?" one of the instructors asked, rising in surprise.
The swordmaster nodded, his imperial uniform crisp, blade sheathed at his side.
"I came back because something's changed," he said. "The Wraithborn have grown more active at the fringes. More high-ranked ones than usual. The Proving Grounds may no longer be safe."
Erion leaned forward. "Should we halt the trial?"
"Not yet," Senn replied. "Let's see how they adapt... how they grow. But be ready."
Back in the forest, Kael paused, eyes narrowing. Something in the wind, something unseen, brushed against his senses.
"Riven," he said quietly. "Stay sharp. Something's… off."
And so, the trial began—not just of survival, but of destiny.