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.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQkCIqI9c5
William's gaze swept across each face, offering every top-ranked candidate a measured smile.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBFTncrbss
«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?»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkhitFwwdA
William’s voice cut through the tension:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLqZJUWNcU
«Set your worries aside. The academy lies deep within the western woods—follow this path from the capital, and you’ll find it.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OXcMdiPg9
He gave a curt nod. «I take my leave now, and wish you all success.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP02UPTR1F
A pause, then a blade-sharp warning:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29bu5QdkcB
«Stay focused. Lose focus, and your odds of survival dwindle.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTQVxtWCeV
His cloak swirled as he turned.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcoA1FEepS
«Farewell.»
William’s smiling face vanished in an instant—along with all their belongings—vanishing from sight. They stood alone in the hushed clearing.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrTbQneOoF
From among the students, a burly lad stepped forward, positioning himself before the group.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3JqjtB4j0
«Well met, friends,» he announced. «I am Drekarön. Honored to make your acquaintance.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMSgVSAQnt
His gaze swept across them.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo0N5ZWB1U
«We’d do well to exchange names first…»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulhKyL0EcR
A deliberate pause.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDgqyP09dC
«…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.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLipRMlURBK
A towering bloodsucker with jet-black hair strode toward Arian—then froze mid-step. A creature blacker than night itself stared back at him.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG1hBux5El
«Shadwolf, step aside.» Arian’s clear voice pulled the wolf back as he approached the figure. «Greetings. You must be Maru, correct?»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLpOda0Un1
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—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUs8ocPGEm
Icy. Unyielding.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzWKaKiJxY
The chill of their races’ ancient divide.
Meanwhile, Drekarön approached them with measured steps.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnJQ1oWfwj
«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?»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GJCXoJGvD
He turned to Maru, «What say you? Don’t we all crave strength?»
Arian kept his eyes fixed on the emerald grass.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGO16fdeFK
«Here’s what’s strange: Yes, we pursue power…»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0TgS4SdzL
His voice softened. «…but without weakness, how would we grow?»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyUqmN8CpD
A beat of silence.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o08CSyVDb
«Know this, Drekarön:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUUc2M7JVu
It isn’t strength that reveals our greatness.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrRsf8mq8e
It’s vulnerability.»
A glacial silence descended between the three—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO61uLa8bvB
Words frozen in throats.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtJUWtFMV7
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.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPtNx5Hejw
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.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP8w47SkO3
«I’ll admit, Arian… I like you.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai2KuHfOXU
A contemplative pause. «Power crowned you at birth. That magnificent beast chose you.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wyzHaW0Tb
His eyes narrowed, not in challenge, but revelation.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf3XNHyrTu
«Yet you hunt frailty, not strength.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfj4sU8VTN
He gestured toward the path, the dragonkin’s final words heavy as anvils:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4VcYOCIgY
«Come. Dawn won’t wait.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE8qJCljwp
But remember:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflhbk9o3Bk
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.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWgY8ol3Et
Drekarön, now self-appointed leader of the first-years, addressed the thirty-strong group:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf2KmlNlH6
«Friends! With our numbers, there's no call for concern. We've strength to spare for this trial's challenges.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL0RzT2nt1
As one, they surged forward—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU44isxVND
Sprinting into the dusky woods,297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiEeh5NKmq
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.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvtTJl6tFr
«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?»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAG9O4aKA2
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.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCVjNjEHCd
«Yeah, Papa. Nothing.» The wolf’s ears flattened. «This forest… feels like the Amarona Wastes.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsniMgev6M2
«No. This is different.» Arian’s eyes lifted to the canopy—where branches wove a cage, denying the sky. «It’s a labyrinth.»
Then—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvmSe3nxg9
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?»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIiAC4IVVV
His eagerness shattered as Drekarön mumbled, shoulders drooping:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN01hm7mpy
«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—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d7iqxLFFr
Shadwolf’s voice pierced Arian’s weary mind like an alarm bell:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysUSPVOUv0
«Papa! Leo’s gone!»
«What do you mean ‘gone’?!» Arian’s gaze darted frantically across the group. He began counting—once, twice—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoRHGyae0j
Leo’s absence screamed back at him.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Etk4mOtwI
«Everyone! Sound off—now! We’ve got a missing student!»
A deathly silence swallowed the forest.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuc76N0hKu
Not a rustle. Not a chirp.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9niNJN80Tt
As if every living thing held its breath.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHnVlAYe5F
Only the ragged gasps of his companions reached Arian’s ears—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuEKQRjrpY
—until297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ066srlErqH
An ear-splitting shriek tore through the trees.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuILIJzHPW
Terror seized them all.
Maru’s eyes bulged, near-leaping from their sockets. «That scream—Laina’s! We move. Now.»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbAHX0tN4g
Flames roared to life in Drekarön’s fists—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngqvn7jGRl
Infernos hungry enough to devour the forest itself.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O5D4sgE2T
«Fall in behind me! All of you!»
Arian’s boots dug into the trembling earth. «Shadwolf—ready!»297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxeAg4fS5e
His fury roused the forest like a slumbering beast.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hI7APmnHG
And through the trees, William’s final warning echoed—297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLcZf4HhoZ
A ghostly taunt:297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXXHpLJY86
«Survive…297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvue7YQRin
…or perish.»
297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl4oMid9P7
297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AqSD9B8Ol
297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWKEkDw7Nq
297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw2jQQGjEs
297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjxsBkmELv
and then Add to home screen.