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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLK3tUatmQ
William's gaze swept across each face, offering every top-ranked candidate a measured smile.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qS41Hr3m7
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQd7oKTJtR
William’s voice cut through the tension:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZoAJvVNNT
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPcVFpb5HV
He gave a curt nod. «I take my leave now, and wish you all success.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQXJpJp2iy
A pause, then a blade-sharp warning:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wEM23oTzi
«Stay focused. Lose focus, and your odds of survival dwindle.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJmqUFsgtM
His cloak swirled as he turned.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpBoWxxAsg
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYH29bgTw7
From among the students, a burly lad stepped forward, positioning himself before the group.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU4MIXgrrl
«Well met, friends,» he announced. «I am Drekarön. Honored to make your acquaintance.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMjljCPPeT
His gaze swept across them.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJUwwAasFj
«We’d do well to exchange names first…»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TyymOwcS6
A deliberate pause.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE8wDBNuiO
«…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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt20qigA0r
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gr2Gdm0Sm
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx0VKrLJ6F
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdJctYhdJj
Icy. Unyielding.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygdsKjOciK
The chill of their races’ ancient divide.
Meanwhile, Drekarön approached them with measured steps.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3AkrnvpVo
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41SSHn1lBu
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUJoylq6fY
«Here’s what’s strange: Yes, we pursue power…»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdxiARDxGS
His voice softened. «…but without weakness, how would we grow?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCplZjc7Cqe
A beat of silence.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIyldVWDRw
«Know this, Drekarön:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6plO5KGtX
It isn’t strength that reveals our greatness.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6rQrjQ4eq
It’s vulnerability.»
A glacial silence descended between the three—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIRNMiyeQU
Words frozen in throats.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9toYujtVq
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhn8plZXWeF
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZEpyWUeWw
«I’ll admit, Arian… I like you.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuveOOBQod
A contemplative pause. «Power crowned you at birth. That magnificent beast chose you.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEN9XHu91j
His eyes narrowed, not in challenge, but revelation.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUX3SUl0pw
«Yet you hunt frailty, not strength.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcKtIngKSQ
He gestured toward the path, the dragonkin’s final words heavy as anvils:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1PxAKcUGv
«Come. Dawn won’t wait.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fKNyz17qr
But remember:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cnw3T2L58
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BS8MBTehR
Drekarön, now self-appointed leader of the first-years, addressed the thirty-strong group:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqFPyQNb8T
«Friends! With our numbers, there's no call for concern. We've strength to spare for this trial's challenges.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezbHeQADaK
As one, they surged forward—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGhTFvDQTT
Sprinting into the dusky woods,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F9ZS3Exx3
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgdZD1CtLO
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nvHmF7497
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWvokUlqa2
«Yeah, Papa. Nothing.» The wolf’s ears flattened. «This forest… feels like the Amarona Wastes.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQT6ycZt5K
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaArR7JLnQ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKu7B0cHkC
His eagerness shattered as Drekarön mumbled, shoulders drooping:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpLBOYh8TD
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeb2Lq38bI
Shadwolf’s voice pierced Arian’s weary mind like an alarm bell:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqaDGHw80R
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR17cO8C47
Leo’s absence screamed back at him.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6KkIAo5iF
«Everyone! Sound off—now! We’ve got a missing student!»
A deathly silence swallowed the forest.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHT4GSAYFl
Not a rustle. Not a chirp.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1vMuO3WQW
As if every living thing held its breath.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfeFwpIajE
Only the ragged gasps of his companions reached Arian’s ears—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRafrKv5qhT
—until298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlpZrAxsgg
An ear-splitting shriek tore through the trees.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71QFRbRpjG
Terror seized them all.
Maru’s eyes bulged, near-leaping from their sockets. «That scream—Laina’s! We move. Now.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27ZKWXLnYx
Flames roared to life in Drekarön’s fists—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDynG8iQzh2
Infernos hungry enough to devour the forest itself.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaIg0Yzmkh
«Fall in behind me! All of you!»
Arian’s boots dug into the trembling earth. «Shadwolf—ready!»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Nvk2bTbn9
His fury roused the forest like a slumbering beast.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEB7H2b7mA
And through the trees, William’s final warning echoed—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtVGgpgrO1
A ghostly taunt:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rwDphPHvv
«Survive…298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkL50isIrh
…or perish.»
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBFKt096Fl
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83IO2vpOjM
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyek1pw7c2r
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkLtXW3wUz
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWWL1hoYml
and then Add to home screen.