On the second of September, Nova, Elesch, and Adam stood in the cavernous basement. The air was thick with anticipation, laced with the sharp tang of enchanted steel and the faint lavender scent drifting from the meditation alcove. The trio waited, their postures tense, as Marcus paced before them, his brow furrowed in thought, his boots clicking against the polished floor.
The previous day's meditation had sharpened their minds, tempering their willpower into a blade capable of withstanding the million rivals they would face at Obsidian Academy. Marcus's gaze flicked upward, a sudden spark igniting in his eyes as an untested idea took root.
"When I took the entrance exam," he began, his voice steady but edged with the weight of memory, "one of the trials tested agility and survival. They dropped us into a free-for-all: one key per group, hidden somewhere in a labyrinthine arena. Only one could claim it to unlock the door and pass. My group had a hundred candidates, ninety-nine opponents I had to outwit or outfight. It was brutal, draining every ounce of stamina, cunning, and speed. Over the years, the academy sometimes recycles its tests, so you might face something similar. Your agility and survival skills need to be razor-sharp." He paused, a faint grin curling his lips. "So, for today's training, we're playing hide-and-seek. Not the kid's game, but close. One of you grabs the key, hides, and survives while the others hunt. The goal is to hold the key and reach the exit without getting caught. You'll need to move fast, think faster, and endure."
Marcus gestured to the arena's far end, where a holographic emitter hummed to life, projecting a shimmering key that hovered above a rune-etched pedestal. The chamber's layout shifted, runes glowing as walls of light rose, forming a maze of twisting corridors and shadowed alcoves, their surfaces slick with illusory mist. The air grew heavier, charged with the faint crackle of simulated danger, as holographic beasts prowled the edges, their eyes glinting with programmed malice.
"You'll take turns," Marcus continued, his tone unyielding. "One hides with the key; the others seek. The seeker who claims it becomes the next hider. No weapons, no magic—just your wits, your speed, and your guts. The emitters will throw obstacles your way: traps, decoys, even mock monsters to test your nerve. This isn't just about running; it's about outlasting, outsmarting, and staying alive under pressure." He fixed them with a stare, his eyes glinting like polished flint. "Nova, you're hiding first. Grab the key and move. Elesch, Adam, you've got ten seconds before you start hunting. Don't disappoint me."
Nova's lips curled into a brazen smirk, his fingers twitching with anticipation as he lunged for the pedestal, snatching the glowing key, its ethereal pulse warm against his skin. Let's see them catch the 'Chosen Child,' he thought, his heart hammering as he plunged into the maze, its walls of shimmering light snapping shut behind him like the jaws of a beast. The basement's vast arena thrummed with energy, the air sharpened with ozone and the distant snarl of holographic predators.
Elesch and Adam locked eyes, a silent spark of rivalry flaring between them. They braced themselves, counting down the ten seconds, their muscles coiled, ready to hunt. The maze's runes pulsed, reshaping the labyrinth, as the thirty-minute timer glowed overhead, ticking with merciless precision.
Nova sprinted through a twisting corridor, the obsidian tiles slick underfoot, reflecting the arcane orbs' eerie light. A holographic wolf materialized, its eyes blazing crimson, claws raking the air. He dove aside, rolling into a crouch, the key tucked tightly against his chest to dim its betraying glow.
Elesch moved like a shadow, her boots silent as she scanned for signs of Nova: a scuff, a flicker, anything. A rune flared, summoning a spectral serpent, its fangs dripping illusory venom. She ducked under its strike, her breath steady, already calculating Nova's likely path.
Adam, more cautious, wove through a passage where runes sparked, conjuring spikes that thrust upward. He leaped over them, his cross necklace swinging, grounding him. Nova's fast, but he's reckless. I'll catch him in due time. he thought, his eyes tracking the maze's shifting patterns.
Nova reached a fork, three paths branching into darkness. He chose the left, sprinting past a holographic drake, its roar shaking the tiles. The beast's tail lashed out, grazing his shoulder with a phantom sting, but he pressed on, the key's glow muffled in his sleeve.
The maze shifted, a wall sliding shut behind Nova, trapping him in a narrow tunnel. Twenty-eight minutes remained. He pressed against the cold, rune-etched surface, listening for footsteps, his mind racing to map the labyrinth's rhythm.
Elesch spotted a disturbed rune, its glow flickering from Nova's passage. She darted forward, dodging a flurry of holographic darts that shot from the walls, their tips glinting. Her agility was unmatched, each movement a calculated dance through the maze's traps.
Adam climbed a low platform, gaining a fleeting view of the maze's twisting layout. He saw Nova's shadow flicker below and dropped silently, pursuing with quiet precision. A holographic boar charged, its tusks gleaming, and he sidestepped, its form dissolving into sparks.
Nova emerged into a circular chamber, its center dominated by a spinning platform, runes conjuring flames and shifting barriers. Twenty-five minutes left. He leaped aboard, balancing precariously as the platform lurched, forcing him to duck under a burst of illusory fire.
The flames' heat was a convincing lie, singeing his senses. Nova grinned, adrenaline surging. They'll never catch me. He spotted a narrow ledge above a simulated chasm, its depths swirling with mist, and vaulted toward it, the key secure in his grip.
Elesch entered the chamber, her eyes locking onto the platform's chaos. She timed its rhythm, leaping aboard, weaving through spikes with fluid grace. She glimpsed Nova on the ledge and cursed, knowing the chasm's traps would slow her pursuit.
Adam took a different route, a corridor lined with swinging blades. He moved with grim focus, dodging each trap, his necklace a steady anchor. A rune triggered a collapsing floor, and he leaped, landing hard but unscathed, closing in on Nova's trail.
Nova inched along the ledge, the chasm below churning with illusory winds that tugged at his balance. Twenty minutes remained. The key's glow threatened to betray him, and he wrapped it tighter, his breath shallow as he heard Elesch's footsteps below.
Elesch climbed the ledge's base, her fingers gripping rune-etched holds, muscles straining. A holographic swarm of insects buzzed forth, their stingers glinting, but she twisted through them, her focus unwavering. He's close, I can feel it. At this rate, I might be able to catch up to him.
Adam reached a junction, spotting the chasm's edge. He chose a tunnel instead, its darkness a gamble. A holographic hydra lunged, its three heads snapping, and he dove under, rolling to safety, his heart pounding as he sensed Nova's lead shrinking.
Nova slipped into a shadowed tunnel, its walls damp and claustrophobic. Fifteen minutes left. The key's pulse quickened, as if alive, and he muffled it further, moving silently. A rune activated, conjuring a spectral bear, its claws slashing inches from his face.
He timed its attack, darting past as it roared, the sound echoing through the tunnel. Nova's smirk widened. They're good, but I'm better. I am the 'Chosen Child' after all. He emerged into a wider chamber, its floor littered with rune-triggered traps, pits yawning open, vines lashing like whips.
Elesch burst from the tunnel, her eyes locking onto Nova's fleeting form. She sprinted, dodging a pit trap that snapped shut behind her, her pulse racing. A holographic vine lashed out, and she rolled, narrowly avoiding its grasp, her focus razor-sharp.
Adam entered the chamber from a side passage, his clothes torn from a blade trap. Ten minutes remained. He saw Nova weaving through traps and pursued, his steps measured, avoiding a flurry of illusory arrows that rained from above.
Nova reached a rotating maze section, its walls spinning like a carousel, runes flashing chaotically. He leaped onto a moving platform, his balance tested as it tilted, conjuring a holographic colossus that swung a massive fist. He slid beneath, heart pounding.
Elesch followed, navigating the spinning walls with preternatural grace. A rune triggered a collapsing ceiling, and she dove forward, dust clouding her vision. She spotted Nova's silhouette and pushed harder, her breath ragged but determined.
Adam took a parallel path, dodging a holographic drake that breathed illusory fire. His necklace glinted as he moved, his mind mapping the maze's shifts. He's burning energy faster than he should. I'll wait for him to make a dire mistake, he thought, closing the gap with steady resolve.
Nova reached a high platform, its edge overlooking the exit gate, its blue glow a beacon. Seven minutes left. He crouched, scanning for traps, the key clutched tightly. A holographic eagle swooped, talons gleaming, and he ducked, its wing grazing his hair.
Elesch climbed to the platform, her fingers scraping the rune-etched surface. A gust of simulated wind nearly knocked her off, but she held firm, spotting Nova's crouched form. She moved silently, her approach a predator's stalk, her eyes glinting with intent.
Adam emerged below, his gaze tracking Nova's position. Five minutes remained. He navigated a trap-laden corridor, dodging spikes and vines, his focus unbroken. The maze tightened, funneling them toward the exit, the air thickened with tension.
Nova sprinted toward the gate, the key burning in his hand. A holographic hydra rose, its heads snapping, and he timed its strikes, weaving through with reckless precision. Elesch closed in, leaping over a pit trap, her fingers brushing the key as Nova twisted away.
Adam joined the chase, his steps quickening as the timer ticked to two minutes. The maze's walls shifted, blocking alternate routes, forcing a final confrontation. Nova grinned, his confidence unshaken, as he dodged a flurry of holographic darts, their tips grazing his sleeve.
Elesch lunged, her speed blinding, but a rune triggered a collapsing wall, forcing her to dive aside. Adam seized the moment, sprinting toward Nova, but a holographic boar charged, slowing him. Nova laughed, his voice sharp, as he neared the gate.
With thirty seconds left, Nova reached the exit, the colossus rising again, its fists like battering rams. He slid beneath its swing, slamming the key into the lock as the timer hit zero. The gate swung open, and Nova stepped through, his chest heaving, his smirk triumphant.
Elesch and Adam skidded to a halt, breathless, as Marcus's voice boomed. "Time's up. Nova holds the key. Not bad, brat." The maze dissolved, its walls and beasts fading, leaving the trio in the open arena, their rivalry tempered by grudging respect.
Nova tossed the key to Marcus, who caught it with a nod, his eyes glinting with approval. The basement's silence settled, heavy with the promise of future trials. Nova stretched, his smirk widening to a grin that could outshine the arcane orbs.
"Told you I'd make it look easy," Nova said, his voice dripping with cocky swagger, and a hint of cringe. "The 'Chosen Child' doesn't just survive, he dominates. Better luck next time, losers."