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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFveYKrSFm8
William's gaze swept across each face, offering every top-ranked candidate a measured smile.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BIn67sDDH
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt30jczyxl
William’s voice cut through the tension:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv38kimJEOl
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym4CawiFjp
He gave a curt nod. «I take my leave now, and wish you all success.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dAvU2E2KW
A pause, then a blade-sharp warning:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFECBeT2Yta
«Stay focused. Lose focus, and your odds of survival dwindle.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfusAJhY5EI
His cloak swirled as he turned.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpotxneaSco
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLeNZVZfoL
From among the students, a burly lad stepped forward, positioning himself before the group.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ5XHLxha5
«Well met, friends,» he announced. «I am Drekarön. Honored to make your acquaintance.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen1GuFsUPi
His gaze swept across them.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8WnlwubDT
«We’d do well to exchange names first…»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVOfn38ztJ
A deliberate pause.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOmdtFT3pD
«…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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0XTCiBxcl
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O0XAmVGdn
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS0pJcrBw1
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5xxqKvXzO
Icy. Unyielding.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHETzzLWaID
The chill of their races’ ancient divide.
Meanwhile, Drekarön approached them with measured steps.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieAlZYQTEw
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri6yfaK2vG
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgADmXDL7J
«Here’s what’s strange: Yes, we pursue power…»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlleXoVSFCJ
His voice softened. «…but without weakness, how would we grow?»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbsAeTX6m6
A beat of silence.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew3fXh7AFQ
«Know this, Drekarön:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdrLWGMeOe
It isn’t strength that reveals our greatness.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjxTrAjKgO
It’s vulnerability.»
A glacial silence descended between the three—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedKaKqferh
Words frozen in throats.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgB2z5bSBE
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXKByL96xm
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl2C2GOmU0
«I’ll admit, Arian… I like you.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5TxQWhwgQ
A contemplative pause. «Power crowned you at birth. That magnificent beast chose you.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbrNw1oQ3z
His eyes narrowed, not in challenge, but revelation.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvzXY14bqd
«Yet you hunt frailty, not strength.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4KOrgpB6G
He gestured toward the path, the dragonkin’s final words heavy as anvils:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT4ZABKzHB
«Come. Dawn won’t wait.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfvv4My85D
But remember:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl9r8Sdq3d
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNxuMhVPXm
Drekarön, now self-appointed leader of the first-years, addressed the thirty-strong group:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPorxep3v9t
«Friends! With our numbers, there's no call for concern. We've strength to spare for this trial's challenges.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFPMLQzyIA
As one, they surged forward—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxLFnFQjki
Sprinting into the dusky woods,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe5TmTtRRw
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtiQw7JYzp
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb4G6XkOd1
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajgsRaGc3q
«Yeah, Papa. Nothing.» The wolf’s ears flattened. «This forest… feels like the Amarona Wastes.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6nH1hw7A0
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphsvea9urW
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAViPDd1GZb
His eagerness shattered as Drekarön mumbled, shoulders drooping:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ3ZEqdWOQ
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9YHtecu86
Shadwolf’s voice pierced Arian’s weary mind like an alarm bell:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bSZK6jc6l
«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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD8NPTDpHH
Leo’s absence screamed back at him.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oNcwRgAcP
«Everyone! Sound off—now! We’ve got a missing student!»
A deathly silence swallowed the forest.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY9HwVtdvA
Not a rustle. Not a chirp.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PgUiUU0IG
As if every living thing held its breath.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8LYeqhx2P
Only the ragged gasps of his companions reached Arian’s ears—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUZ6Bl7mgT
—until298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxTbVH0tcq
An ear-splitting shriek tore through the trees.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkv85NMxNT
Terror seized them all.
Maru’s eyes bulged, near-leaping from their sockets. «That scream—Laina’s! We move. Now.»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK7QXbuKjm
Flames roared to life in Drekarön’s fists—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aKIlEmqfr
Infernos hungry enough to devour the forest itself.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEWex6ENTJ
«Fall in behind me! All of you!»
Arian’s boots dug into the trembling earth. «Shadwolf—ready!»298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL4b6k90Cv
His fury roused the forest like a slumbering beast.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OY3iADI1M
And through the trees, William’s final warning echoed—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdHcdkfGnX
A ghostly taunt:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqqozVAwC5
«Survive…298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrTI8tsQWR
…or perish.»
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ6dofStzb
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdzd1iMaWT
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6uT61rEq7
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTxkKqhEyp
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncsgfTKD1g
and then Add to home screen.