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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxybrWy0GWt
William's gaze swept across each face, offering every top-ranked candidate a measured smile.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcLn9q74E6
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT0lSxxJxC
William’s voice cut through the tension:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLwoLMEiVG
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIQR4ukHPX
He gave a curt nod. «I take my leave now, and wish you all success.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFc5yKzlqO
A pause, then a blade-sharp warning:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvidrknUxzN
«Stay focused. Lose focus, and your odds of survival dwindle.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78dAxcZ7DB
His cloak swirled as he turned.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2yFXXzaZP
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPi7lVf1fu
From among the students, a burly lad stepped forward, positioning himself before the group.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLTs5qvS5H
«Well met, friends,» he announced. «I am Drekarön. Honored to make your acquaintance.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QLXHjim5n
His gaze swept across them.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWesLyQr48U
«We’d do well to exchange names first…»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSGPg9FIFU
A deliberate pause.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sZI3VHL8i
«…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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J0jnYBvZq
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn31HN7jsi
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGLdqvgarX
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk92WLL6Avg
Icy. Unyielding.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXkm1ofuvK
The chill of their races’ ancient divide.
Meanwhile, Drekarön approached them with measured steps.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3zROAlQNk
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdTAZkveKs
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6Y19KK5X5
«Here’s what’s strange: Yes, we pursue power…»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuccWCC3Nkh
His voice softened. «…but without weakness, how would we grow?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVkISLz7Mi
A beat of silence.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtUrnsSVW9
«Know this, Drekarön:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7UkmtZ0ZH
It isn’t strength that reveals our greatness.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ5U1DepvP
It’s vulnerability.»
A glacial silence descended between the three—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29aLphur3a
Words frozen in throats.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz4xmzE4SY
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMCvG4X0Ms
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ICOVmQTlB
«I’ll admit, Arian… I like you.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHjOSB5GF9
A contemplative pause. «Power crowned you at birth. That magnificent beast chose you.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwzYjeVBU0
His eyes narrowed, not in challenge, but revelation.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY1gNwaRnk
«Yet you hunt frailty, not strength.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbBTk7RNz6
He gestured toward the path, the dragonkin’s final words heavy as anvils:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8OvzHQZPm
«Come. Dawn won’t wait.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CgXg1C8EY
But remember:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1OluSfiEN
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqbj39vtFN
Drekarön, now self-appointed leader of the first-years, addressed the thirty-strong group:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUPmJZJt8Y
«Friends! With our numbers, there's no call for concern. We've strength to spare for this trial's challenges.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsTZXDxW5a
As one, they surged forward—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNpR7LMOnM
Sprinting into the dusky woods,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGKu2u5QG3
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjQL2o6ueu
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcA5U8oXHa
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi6wwAjU2u
«Yeah, Papa. Nothing.» The wolf’s ears flattened. «This forest… feels like the Amarona Wastes.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA1iQlr0bY
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIIBYbyCCI
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwg0ijDHG5
His eagerness shattered as Drekarön mumbled, shoulders drooping:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisegcws0Ea
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFhFrB07nI
Shadwolf’s voice pierced Arian’s weary mind like an alarm bell:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzW816rRyhi
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYDDTxEqzu
Leo’s absence screamed back at him.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4XICFvOiX
«Everyone! Sound off—now! We’ve got a missing student!»
A deathly silence swallowed the forest.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmCIns6XJI
Not a rustle. Not a chirp.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gbAjvUrsD
As if every living thing held its breath.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWS9ovSMoi
Only the ragged gasps of his companions reached Arian’s ears—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0YRBcKHpn
—until298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVSKu0NwXg
An ear-splitting shriek tore through the trees.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7i7m61zOD
Terror seized them all.
Maru’s eyes bulged, near-leaping from their sockets. «That scream—Laina’s! We move. Now.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy8PjKcyop
Flames roared to life in Drekarön’s fists—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMu2lXVP5v
Infernos hungry enough to devour the forest itself.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t3R0BTR0M
«Fall in behind me! All of you!»
Arian’s boots dug into the trembling earth. «Shadwolf—ready!»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxqoXZmmlZ
His fury roused the forest like a slumbering beast.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyslZ2UPxF
And through the trees, William’s final warning echoed—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWX2TzVNR6
A ghostly taunt:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VL9l4Mox7
«Survive…298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfTIN3xVxY
…or perish.»
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMXScwo94i
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ltwwZctKr
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJfNZbexgr
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Dph6G1CQE
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GIf7nIMVF
and then Add to home screen.