The hour of departure was upon them, and each student clung to possessions imbued with the echoes of home.
«Greetings, friends. I am William, your escort to the academy. The other masters await your arrival.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIgfQ6BXhj
William's gaze swept across each face, offering every top-ranked candidate a measured smile.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z7TbZhmx2
«First, you must hand over your belongings—they'll travel separately. Your journey now enters a new phase.»
«For a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze for these students. Another trial so soon after the exam?»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7btrKPFMDC
William’s voice cut through the tension:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqGFyzQwFy
«Set your worries aside. The academy lies deep within the western woods—follow this path from the capital, and you’ll find it.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49VoZSJp81
He gave a curt nod. «I take my leave now, and wish you all success.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jkkkPKxMr
A pause, then a blade-sharp warning:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshumfnlJhX
«Stay focused. Lose focus, and your odds of survival dwindle.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5epFB48qcT
His cloak swirled as he turned.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8pKJaSVUx
«Farewell.»
William’s smiling face vanished in an instant—along with all their belongings—vanishing from sight. They stood alone in the hushed clearing.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrKQNZyctt
From among the students, a burly lad stepped forward, positioning himself before the group.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhDP4B9Mbn
«Well met, friends,» he announced. «I am Drekarön. Honored to make your acquaintance.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzejGngvYMK
His gaze swept across them.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzsyRWr9vV
«We’d do well to exchange names first…»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoNxQs3wt6
A deliberate pause.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5La0dwbRt
«…then set out for the academy.»
The others exchanged bewildered glances, eyes wide, until the ice between them thawed. One by one, they began introducing themselves.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva9pQ8KYK2
A towering bloodsucker with jet-black hair strode toward Arian—then froze mid-step. A creature blacker than night itself stared back at him.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6ejSkIOlb
«Shadwolf, step aside.» Arian’s clear voice pulled the wolf back as he approached the figure. «Greetings. You must be Maru, correct?»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRUbd0vJEW
Maru’s grin split his face. «Oh, I’m thrilled you remember me, History’s Prodigy.»
«Y'know,» Arian remarked, eyeing Maru’s fangs, «those razor-sharp teeth don’t quite match the forced smile. But what can you do? Pleasure’s mine—call me Arian.»
Maru recoiled as if struck. «My apologies for the... instinctive display.» He took a deliberate step back, putting respectful distance between them. «No insult intended. When I encounter true power—» His hand extended in formal truce. «—it excites the blood.»
A cold smirk touched Arian’s lips. «And I for my harsh reaction.» His grip met Maru’s—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaI9wHa0iM
Icy. Unyielding.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDxxi8j1PW
The chill of their races’ ancient divide.
Meanwhile, Drekarön approached them with measured steps.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUrRqQSalT
«Well now,» he boomed, throwing his arms over both Arian and Maru’s shoulders, wedging himself between them. «Seems two powers grew acquainted without me.»
Arian’s eyes narrowed. «Mind explaining why you’re so power-obsessed?» His voice sharpened, demanding answers.
«What kind of question is that?» Drekarön’s pupils dilated. «Isn’t power everything in this world?»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogeyjlzSG1
He turned to Maru, «What say you? Don’t we all crave strength?»
Arian kept his eyes fixed on the emerald grass.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9yV3ciKKo
«Here’s what’s strange: Yes, we pursue power…»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPmwDzu12D
His voice softened. «…but without weakness, how would we grow?»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb35qKnf19H
A beat of silence.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUrRaVZhng
«Know this, Drekarön:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrczhzwVmqg
It isn’t strength that reveals our greatness.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z9dDN2S7k
It’s vulnerability.»
A glacial silence descended between the three—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLMA3CHstX
Words frozen in throats.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSKqHNAiMf
Understanding suspended.
«Ha!» Maru’s laugh cut through the tension. «Fascinating perspectives. Strange how you’re both right—yet truth bends to the eye of the beholder.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkUEDTsmA8
His gaze lingered on the boys before turning to the gathered students. «Move out. The academy awaits.»
Drekarön’s voice softened—a post-storm calm.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aUR7qZUrD
«I’ll admit, Arian… I like you.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzZ5wwTVFM
A contemplative pause. «Power crowned you at birth. That magnificent beast chose you.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbeNUWPVcP
His eyes narrowed, not in challenge, but revelation.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtWHnsqw1y
«Yet you hunt frailty, not strength.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlVmR2ygCT
He gestured toward the path, the dragonkin’s final words heavy as anvils:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNllFwGfUj4
«Come. Dawn won’t wait.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXJPhQBI9r
But remember:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo37aUESUfD
Strength still holds the final word.»
Minutes later, they stood at the forest's edge—where ancient trees clawed at the sky with gnarled branches, their moss-bearded trunks whispering of forgotten centuries.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHlud2R5rB
Drekarön, now self-appointed leader of the first-years, addressed the thirty-strong group:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OgMlMG8uQ
«Friends! With our numbers, there's no call for concern. We've strength to spare for this trial's challenges.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgTbwlMido
As one, they surged forward—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLWMtffai5
Sprinting into the dusky woods,308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnZEIGfFRl
hearts set on warm beds awaiting.
Hours bled away, yet the academy’s spires remained nowhere in sight. The wind’s whistle snaked through the trees, feeding their unease.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYfFQhUiLM
«Hey, Drekarön!» A short-statured boy called out, the worn sword at his hip seeming less a weapon than an extension of his limbs. His chestnut hair danced in the breeze as he met the dragonkin’s weary eyes. «Why can’t we find the academy?»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRae9WIgff
Drekarön’s gaze tightened. «We should be west—as William said. But there’s nothing!» Frustration etched his face as he scanned the boy—Leo, whose blade moved like his own claws.»
«Back, Shadwolf?» Arian stroked his companion’s fur, fingers tracing the dense pelt.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz36hBpDUvi
«Yeah, Papa. Nothing.» The wolf’s ears flattened. «This forest… feels like the Amarona Wastes.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxKBGfEfc9
«No. This is different.» Arian’s eyes lifted to the canopy—where branches wove a cage, denying the sky. «It’s a labyrinth.»
Then—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm6tsRB02E
Arian lunged at Drekarön.
The dragonkin recoiled. «What’s gotten into you?!» His voice sharpened. «Why accost me thus?»
«Aren’t you a dragon?» Arian’s eyes blazed with hope. «You’ve got mana—surely you can fly?»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKmdjHyWIu
His eagerness shattered as Drekarön mumbled, shoulders drooping:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwRfCLwRwa
«Well... I—I can’t. My wings never unfurled.» The dragonkin stared at the mud clinging to his boots. «Being our group’s sole dragonkin... means the flight plan failed. Sorry.»
Then—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjvNv7haph
Shadwolf’s voice pierced Arian’s weary mind like an alarm bell:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbKRh8GhpZ
«Papa! Leo’s gone!»
«What do you mean ‘gone’?!» Arian’s gaze darted frantically across the group. He began counting—once, twice—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lq3Mrjqvq
Leo’s absence screamed back at him.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtuRh8O6e0
«Everyone! Sound off—now! We’ve got a missing student!»
A deathly silence swallowed the forest.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGMjicPVW5
Not a rustle. Not a chirp.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrgtadhGTb
As if every living thing held its breath.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEpy4Lps7m
Only the ragged gasps of his companions reached Arian’s ears—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqLbKw3bP4
—until308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv5grrLrBa
An ear-splitting shriek tore through the trees.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4Gx1Jb4Am
Terror seized them all.
Maru’s eyes bulged, near-leaping from their sockets. «That scream—Laina’s! We move. Now.»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl5NGPbxZu
Flames roared to life in Drekarön’s fists—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6wt60XQji
Infernos hungry enough to devour the forest itself.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqBsf20YRy
«Fall in behind me! All of you!»
Arian’s boots dug into the trembling earth. «Shadwolf—ready!»308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4PCmpfRDR
His fury roused the forest like a slumbering beast.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwoOXG3N14
And through the trees, William’s final warning echoed—308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AOvz9Pdhj
A ghostly taunt:308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprEPmaeLws
«Survive…308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqCn1ygZ1j
…or perish.»
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCVw0f6QH2
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRP9uMEk7R
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlGsIMifIp
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugnAYM1AAE
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsr8qjICxx
and then Add to home screen.