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.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09ETnTYcqC
William's gaze swept across each face, offering every top-ranked candidate a measured smile.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KLBNjXN7s
«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?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlmC4SAIBS
William’s voice cut through the tension:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyqHy3mFmY
«Set your worries aside. The academy lies deep within the western woods—follow this path from the capital, and you’ll find it.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGX8V0ACwn
He gave a curt nod. «I take my leave now, and wish you all success.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZZC4xzMUX
A pause, then a blade-sharp warning:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy5z9unSG9
«Stay focused. Lose focus, and your odds of survival dwindle.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3w8wKSCsR
His cloak swirled as he turned.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXF018RxdQ
«Farewell.»
William’s smiling face vanished in an instant—along with all their belongings—vanishing from sight. They stood alone in the hushed clearing.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR0W7fXVg1
From among the students, a burly lad stepped forward, positioning himself before the group.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxXSA1zSvn
«Well met, friends,» he announced. «I am Drekarön. Honored to make your acquaintance.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGhDKuEyDV
His gaze swept across them.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeIPLos8uo
«We’d do well to exchange names first…»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCQ4xGCFmF
A deliberate pause.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFigKezD9om
«…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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhd72MwSs6
A towering bloodsucker with jet-black hair strode toward Arian—then froze mid-step. A creature blacker than night itself stared back at him.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3aoPpHi7z
«Shadwolf, step aside.» Arian’s clear voice pulled the wolf back as he approached the figure. «Greetings. You must be Maru, correct?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoH56KQAyr
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—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjl6lN0NHB
Icy. Unyielding.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K5G4SN0Cy
The chill of their races’ ancient divide.
Meanwhile, Drekarön approached them with measured steps.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iBER3gxve
«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?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmBoorU1IG
He turned to Maru, «What say you? Don’t we all crave strength?»
Arian kept his eyes fixed on the emerald grass.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesTkRAqQUM
«Here’s what’s strange: Yes, we pursue power…»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwjLm0vDcA
His voice softened. «…but without weakness, how would we grow?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8kkP4Iuow
A beat of silence.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjRi2UI7rS
«Know this, Drekarön:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEjkcH5R9f
It isn’t strength that reveals our greatness.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkcqIclb1M
It’s vulnerability.»
A glacial silence descended between the three—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JKeagzr4x
Words frozen in throats.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsDeoG34kA
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.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNTqXNniey
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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzRCorScAX
«I’ll admit, Arian… I like you.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu7Z7Ydaer
A contemplative pause. «Power crowned you at birth. That magnificent beast chose you.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvna1DNxe8l
His eyes narrowed, not in challenge, but revelation.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsOporWMIw
«Yet you hunt frailty, not strength.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbONJMqmQY
He gestured toward the path, the dragonkin’s final words heavy as anvils:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzpl5UyyPg
«Come. Dawn won’t wait.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxu9FimmT1
But remember:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYPKSVw9lA
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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU05KmIBjX
Drekarön, now self-appointed leader of the first-years, addressed the thirty-strong group:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL9hndMT9H
«Friends! With our numbers, there's no call for concern. We've strength to spare for this trial's challenges.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJFgajCUKg
As one, they surged forward—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjPeJAlgTG
Sprinting into the dusky woods,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm8j6RmB5C
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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob9YVMv0OP
«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?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNOlnxTzbd
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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmdfhcDYDA
«Yeah, Papa. Nothing.» The wolf’s ears flattened. «This forest… feels like the Amarona Wastes.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQCjLadTHY
«No. This is different.» Arian’s eyes lifted to the canopy—where branches wove a cage, denying the sky. «It’s a labyrinth.»
Then—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2V2naDkKK
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?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4joP5MTrg
His eagerness shattered as Drekarön mumbled, shoulders drooping:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oSvGEvq4k
«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—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dj3uVx8G7
Shadwolf’s voice pierced Arian’s weary mind like an alarm bell:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UjMVULaNv
«Papa! Leo’s gone!»
«What do you mean ‘gone’?!» Arian’s gaze darted frantically across the group. He began counting—once, twice—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5wcXyY4Hz
Leo’s absence screamed back at him.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1FsQiO9jZ
«Everyone! Sound off—now! We’ve got a missing student!»
A deathly silence swallowed the forest.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0NCIEWuvV
Not a rustle. Not a chirp.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKOK6ENPbh
As if every living thing held its breath.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMtGNL8ob4
Only the ragged gasps of his companions reached Arian’s ears—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuscUpqxq2
—until298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj5crBa0bF
An ear-splitting shriek tore through the trees.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiz0VSiGpw
Terror seized them all.
Maru’s eyes bulged, near-leaping from their sockets. «That scream—Laina’s! We move. Now.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX5VRDgkA3
Flames roared to life in Drekarön’s fists—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm5nU4eQYq
Infernos hungry enough to devour the forest itself.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYIQuM0juc
«Fall in behind me! All of you!»
Arian’s boots dug into the trembling earth. «Shadwolf—ready!»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcNHvqGLfy
His fury roused the forest like a slumbering beast.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzIcnkuZzO
And through the trees, William’s final warning echoed—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEmTvcAJgY
A ghostly taunt:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbZfzOvkh0
«Survive…298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7Kbe1I1pl
…or perish.»
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaVk4XUugS
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpssSrhgUI
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bLrGg6ix0
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3rUwLp74l
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpG8inJRY2
and then Add to home screen.