Professor Grimm walked in, mumbling to himself as he made his way to the front of the class. He glanced at the calendar on the wall, shaking his head in disappointment before turning to face the students.
"I hope you all are focusing on your studies and training," he said, his voice sharp and authoritative. "There's not much time left, especially with everything coming up in the next couple of months. The Blood Trial will be happening for the first time in seven years. You all know how important this is, particularly with the Ember Games just around the corner."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. The room felt heavier, more tense, as the mention of the Blood Trial seemed to stir a mix of curiosity and apprehension among the students.
"The presence of His Highness and the High Esteemed members of the Parliament will only add to the pressure," he continued, his gaze sweeping across the room. "I suggest you all prepare well, because there will be no room for failure. This is your chance to prove yourselves, and I expect nothing less than your best."
A few of the students exchanged nervous glances, but none of them dared speak up.
"Moving on," the teacher said, his tone becoming more serious, "today we will learn about the Blood Moon Trials. These trials, which usually occur every year, have been mysteriously absent for the past seven years. No trials have opened, not even one, throughout the kingdoms. In that time, monsters have begun rampaging, swarming in clusters, and rift zones are opening everywhere."
"So, it's up to you students to know when and how to face these challenges when they arrive," the teacher continued, his voice stern and unwavering. "It's a life-or-death situation, and your survival depends on you and you alone. It's not certain that everyone will survive. The Blood Moon Trials take whomever it wishes, and this year, for the first time in Blackspire history, it will be mandated that all students will face the trial."
The classroom fell into a heavy stillness, the weight of his words sinking in. No one dared to speak. Even those who usually had something to say remained eerily quiet, eyes wide as the reality of the trials settled in. There was no escaping it. This time, the trials would come for everyone, and each student would have to face them, no matter their rank, no matter their skills.
"Remember this," the teacher added, his gaze sweeping over the room with unspoken authority. "What you learn here will determine your fate in the trials. Master the skills you're taught. Prepare yourselves for the unknown. The Blood Moon waits for no one."
"Some will meet their end as soon as they enter," the teacher said, his voice darkening, "and some will wander aimlessly in there for years, unable to find a way out. It's up to you to gather enough resonance energy. Once you've accumulated enough, your soul core will begin to saturate. This process pulls you toward your soul realm or sanctuary."
He paused, letting the words resonate in the air. The students, now fully captivated, leaned forward, eager to understand more.
"Your soul sanctuary is a physical location tied to your Resonance and Archetypes, often hidden within Rift Zones or unique places in the world. These sanctuaries are external—they act as catalysts for awakening or refinement. They are sacred spaces where your true potential can be realized. However, the Soul Realm is vastly different."
The teacher's voice softened as he delved deeper into the nature of the soul realm, but not everyone was paying attention. Octavia, sitting in the back, scoffed loudly, her fingers expertly picking at her perfectly polished nails, the sharp click of her biting down on them distracting the room. She seemed utterly unimpressed, as if the lecture didn't concern her in the slightest. Cassian, too, seemed disinterested, his usual smirk replaced by a look of boredom as he leaned back in his seat, staring off into space.
Silas, on the other hand, sat several rows ahead, alone as usual, his attention completely focused on his sketchbook. The only sound from his side of the room was the occasional scrape of pencil on paper as he effortlessly sketched whatever caught his attention, his expression unreadable, as usual.
Milo, ever eager, sat at the front, his eyes wide and focused on the teacher, hanging on every word. He was taking notes feverishly, his hands moving quickly as he tried to absorb everything he could from the lesson. His enthusiasm was almost infectious, contrasting sharply with the disinterest from the others around him.
The classroom atmosphere was thick with varying degrees of attention, but the weight of the teacher's words hung in the air.
Despite the distraction from a few students, Ezra couldn't help but feel the gravity of what was being said. The idea of the soul realm—something deeply personal, a space that mirrored your very essence—made the trials ahead seem even more daunting. His gaze lingered for a moment on Silas, who seemed so detached from everything. What was he drawing, and how did he remain so focused amid the growing tension?
The teacher continued, unbothered by the lack of focus from some, his voice carrying the importance of the lesson.
"Understanding your soul realm will be crucial for the trials. It is not just a place you go to; it is a reflection of who you truly are. Embrace it, or it will be your downfall."