The Academy's Survival Trials.
Things were really not as expected.
Because—what the actual hell was this?
In just one week, the academy had constructed an entire facility behind the main building, dedicated solely to this so-called "trial." And this wasn't just some hastily put-together training field, either. No, this was a massive, towering, high-tech structure, complete with looming gates, reinforced barriers, and what appeared to be an intricate magical system woven into the architecture itself.
I could feel the sheer weight of the magic thrumming in the air—strong, ancient, and very intentional. Whatever this place was, it wasn't just for show.
I turned to Claire, my voice filled with accusation. "Claire, how come you didn't tell me about this?"
To my absolute shock, she looked just as baffled as I was. "I didn't know about this either…"
My eyes narrowed. "You're the Student Council President. How do you not know about a giant, highly magical, clearly expensive facility that just appeared behind the academy in one week?!"
Claire threw her hands up. "Hey, I was just as in the dark as you! If anything, I should be the first to know, but nope, apparently they very conveniently forgot to mention it to me!"
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Of course they did."
Camille, who had been silently surveying the facility with an intrigued glint in her eye, let out a low whistle. "Now this is impressive. The Academy really doesn't hold back when it comes to surprises, huh?"
Diana folded her arms, her gaze sharp. "Too impressive," she muttered. "If they built all of this in just a week, that means the Academy had already been planning something like this before the North Gate situation even worsened."
That sent a chill down my spine.
Tessa nodded, tapping her fingers against her hip. "She's right. This level of preparation? No way this was put together on a whim. The Academy must've known something was coming, or at the very least, suspected it."
Lillian, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke, her serene voice carrying an underlying weight. "Which means," she said, watching the facility with careful eyes, "that whatever the Trials will entail… we are not ready for them."
Silence.
A cold breeze swept past, ruffling the edges of our uniforms.
I exhaled slowly. "Fantastic. Just what I needed—more existential dread."
Claire patted my back sympathetically. "Don't worry, Sera! Maybe it won't be that bad."
"Claire, it is literally called the Survival Trials," I deadpanned. "How could it not be that bad?"
She paused. "...Fair point."
I sighed, looking back up at the towering structure before us.
An imposing labyrinth of steel, stone, and magic. A stark contrast to the elegant halls of the academy, this place had been designed for one purpose only—to break us.
Students murmured amongst themselves, voices a mix of nervous energy and hesitant excitement. Some were eagerly discussing potential trial formats, while others were silently assessing their competition.
And then, as if the weight of our impending suffering wasn't enough, she arrived.
Ms. Liora, ever graceful, stood at the entrance like an ethereal warden of fate. The moment she raised a hand, the whispers died down, and an almost eerie silence settled over the crowd.
"Good. You're all here." Her gaze swept over us, as sharp and knowing as ever. "Welcome to the first official Academy Survival Trials. From this moment onward, you are no longer just students—you are participants. And these walls," she gestured to the structure behind her, "will determine whether you are ready to survive what awaits beyond them."
A ripple of unease passed through the students.
"No pressure," Camille murmured beside me, a smirk tugging at her lips.
I shot her a glare. "Yeah, real reassuring."
Tessa folded her arms, eyes narrowing at the facility. "They're making it sound way more ominous than it needs to be. Just what kind of 'trial' is this?"
Ms. Liora seemed to hear the question, because her next words made my stomach drop.
"This is not a game," she said. "This is a test of your ability to think, adapt, and survive. Some of you may thrive. Some of you may fail. And some of you… may find that you were never suited for this academy in the first place."
Silence.
The unspoken meaning behind her words sent an undeniable chill through the crowd.
Lillian's expression was unreadable, though the slight furrow of her brows hinted at her concern. "They wouldn't expel students over this… would they?"
Diana exhaled slowly. "If they're going this far, I wouldn't be surprised."
Claire, ever the optimist, tried to laugh it off. "W-Well, it can't be that bad, right?"
Ms. Liora's lips curved into something resembling a smile.
It wasn't reassuring.
"Oh," she said, almost too softly. "You'll find out soon enough."
And with that, she turned on her heel and strode toward the entrance, the heavy doors creaking open with an ominous groan.
One by one, we stepped inside.
Into the unknown.
Into the Trials.
The moment we crossed the threshold, a heavy silence settled over us. The air inside felt different—charged, expectant. Unlike the familiar hallways of the academy, this facility was colder, the stone walls lined with intricate, glowing runes. The faint hum of magic pulsed beneath my feet, a steady reminder that this place was alive in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying.
I glanced around, trying to take in the sheer scale of what the academy had built in such a short amount of time. Massive was an understatement. It stretched endlessly before us, a labyrinth of unknown challenges waiting to crush us the moment we let our guard down.
I turned to Lillian, who was observing our surroundings with her usual composed expression. "Did your parents help fund this or something?" I muttered, half-joking.
Lillian shook her head, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "No. This wasn't built with the usual royal funding. The academy must have used its own resources… or someone else's."
The implication made my stomach twist. The academy had always been well-funded, but to construct something of this magnitude so quickly? It didn't add up.
Diana, who had been silently watching, hummed thoughtfully. "If the academy had this kind of money lying around, why build this now? Why not years ago? And why do it so suddenly?"
Her words struck a nerve. She was right. If they had the resources to build something like this, why now?
"Maybe it's because of the monsters." Camille offered, arms crossed. "If the North Gate's situation is worse than they're letting on, it would make sense that they're preparing us for something bigger."
"Or someone is," Tessa added, her red eyes flickering with suspicion. "This could be more than just training. We might be the academy's first line of defense."
A shiver ran down my spine. The academy had always been a place of learning, of refining one's abilities, but suddenly… it felt like something else. A battleground in disguise.
I exhaled, forcing myself to focus. "Well, whatever this place is meant for, we're already inside. Might as well figure it out as we go."
Lillian gave a small, approving nod. "Agreed."
Just then, Ms. Liora's voice echoed throughout the massive chamber. "Welcome, students, to the Academy Survival Trials."
With a wave of her hand, the ground beneath us shifted. The very walls began to move, rearranging themselves with the deep, resonating sound of stone grinding against stone. The path behind us sealed shut, locking us in.
There was no turning back now.
Ms. Liora's voice rang out, firm and unwavering, carrying through the vast chamber. "Let me give everyone an introduction."
I barely had time to process her words before I felt a hand tighten around my own. It was warm, slightly trembling.
I glanced to my side.
"Claire?"
She flinched, her violet eyes darting to me before she quickly looked away. "It's… a bit chilly," she muttered, clearing her throat.
A slow smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Are you scared?"
Her grip on my hand twitched. "No!" she blurted, a little too fast, a little too defensive.
I raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh."
Claire huffed, her cheeks turning a faint shade of red. "It's just… this place feels weird, okay? Like it's watching us."
The second she said it, I realized she was right. There was an unsettling awareness in the air, a heavy presence pressing down on us. The way the walls shifted, the way the glowing runes pulsed like a heartbeat—it was like the entire facility was… alive.
Before I could respond, Ms. Liora continued, "This facility has been designed to test your limits—your skills, endurance, magic, and most importantly, your ability to survive."
The word survive carried a weight that made my stomach clench.
"This is not a game," she went on. "These trials have been carefully crafted to push you to your absolute breaking point. You will be faced with challenges that demand your intellect, your combat ability, and your will to persevere. Those who cannot keep up…" She paused, letting her gaze sweep across the students. "Will be left behind."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Some looked nervous. Others—like Camille and Diana—looked thrilled.
I swallowed. Left behind?
"Groups have already been assigned," Ms. Liora continued. "These trials are designed to break apart the predictable and force you into the unknown. Your usual partners? Your friends? They may not be with you."
Claire immediately tensed beside me.
"We will not disclose the groups beforehand," she said. "Your teams will be revealed once you enter the first phase of the trial."
I clenched my fists. We might be split up.
Ms. Liora waved her hand, and suddenly, the runes on the walls glowed brighter. The stone beneath us began shifting, splitting apart into individual platforms.
"The first phase begins now," she announced.
And then—before anyone could react—
The ground disappeared beneath us.