⬧⬧⬧
Night unfurled in silence, like a dark blanket enveloping the world. While people hurried to prepare for the rest that would bring the warm welcome of their beds, a figure moved with firm, resolute steps. Each of his movements seemed to resonate in the air, imbued with an authority that needed no announcement. The young man approached a door. The darkness of night enveloped him, but he didn't seem disturbed by the absence of light. With imperturbable calm, he raised his hand and knocked on the door with a light tap.
—Master, it's me —he said with a deep, clear voice, though with a nuance of respect that didn't go unnoticed.
From inside, a voice resounded, imposing yet strangely kind, like the echo of thunder softened by distance.
—Enter.
The young man pushed the door gently and entered. He made no noise while walking, but the silence was interrupted by the slight creak of the hinges as the door opened, and the presence of his figure filled the room. The Master, with his penetrating gaze, didn't have to turn to know who had arrived.
—The preparations are complete, Master —the young man said with an imposing yet serene voice—. But... is it really necessary to send all the teams? They're just young ones.
His eyes narrowed slightly, his brow furrowed with a concern he couldn't entirely disguise.
The Master let out a brief laugh, subdued but charged with intention. His voice then sounded solemn, almost like an ancient echo among those walls filled with history.
—Remember: it's not age that matters, but capability. And according to the reports, some have already proven to be very capable. Or have you forgotten that you, at their age... had already witnessed death?
—No, Master —the young man responded firmly—. Nor do I forget the kindness you showed me in those days —he added, reproaching with a spark of melancholy hidden behind his composure.
For a moment, silence returned to the room. The Master lowered his gaze, and although he didn't say another word, the weight of shared memories seemed to fill the air.
A cold breeze brushed the top of uncertain terrain. Among the mist, hooded figures advanced without making a sound, as if the ground itself refused to betray them. No banners, no symbols. Only the slight crunching of the earth beneath their steps... and the sensation that something, or someone, was waiting for them.
Elsewhere, where the sky was clearer and the air smelled of damp earth after dawn, someone else was also preparing.
✧ ✧ ✧
Impatience dominated me as I practiced my movements. I had learned them years ago, ancient techniques that seemed simple at first glance, but that time, repetition, and discipline had transformed into a precise and powerful dance within me.
I slowly raised my hands, my fingers relaxed, and began to move in a straight line. I moved my arm backward, followed by a hip rotation and a sudden push with my open palm, simulating the advance of a tongue of fire. Immediately after, I leaned to one side, allowing the momentum to flow through my axis, and delivered a series of fluid diagonal strikes, as if cutting the air with contained fire. There was no rigidity in my movements, only control: heat that knew when to burn and when to wait.
I stepped forward, executing a direct strike. My arm didn't remain static: it recoiled like a whip, and my body spun smoothly on its axis, as if imitating the turn of a flame. The sequences were clear, but I felt each transition subtly altered, as if my body knew how to adapt without losing precision. I used my body weight, the rhythm of my breathing, and the balance of my hips to move as if fire were not destruction, but dance.
—So you always practice at dawn? —said a female voice behind me.
—Hmm? —I responded, turning my head toward whoever had interrupted my practice.
A female figure appeared behind me, with a presence that immediately caught my attention. She wasn't as tall as me, probably a bit shorter, but her posture was firm, as if every movement were calculated. Her body, slender and well-defined by training, suggested that I shouldn't underestimate her. Her legs, long and toned, moved with agility, showing the strength of someone who had worked them tirelessly.
Her black hair fell over her shoulders in a perfectly styled cut that complemented her bright green eyes, which seemed to analyze every detail with almost razor-sharp intensity. Her face, with fine features, was adorned with a kind smile, but her gaze... that left no room for doubt: she wasn't someone you'd want to challenge without thinking twice. Of course, being who I was, that only made me more eager to try.
—What are you doing here? —I asked her, unable to avoid noticing the serenity that seemed to surround her, as if she were already accustomed to being the center of attention.
—I always come to practice on this side of the palace, it's more comfortable and relaxing. Though I must admit I've never seen you here before —the young woman said in a soft, gentle tone.
—You always come here? I've never seen you... You must be hallucinating. You surely got the wrong place —I replied with a cunning smile.
—What?! —she exclaimed, frowning. —Are you trying to pick a fight with me? You should know that's not in your best interest —she retorted, her anger becoming increasingly evident.
—Want to warm up with me? Because you arrived just in time... I need someone to bite the dust before the sun rises —I said with a sly smile, leaning slightly forward as I adopted a fighting stance.
At that moment, I lunged at her with an attack posture, as if my intention were to deliver a decisive blow that would quickly end the argument.
However, the young woman wasn't intimidated. With a fluid movement, she turned to the right, skillfully dodging my blow. The air passed brushing her face while her hands rose in a guard, prepared to intercept my next movement.
I didn't hesitate. I turned, executing a circular kick, seeking to surprise her from the side. But she reacted at the last moment, blocking with a skillful movement of her arm, deflecting the kick with the same smoothness as if she were moving a curtain in the wind.
—Don't waste your energy —said the young woman, smiling as her feet moved softly on the ground.
Taking advantage of the moment, she launched a series of quick punches toward my torso, but with a twist of my hips, I dodged them, my movements as flexible as water, and counterattacked with a low strike toward her legs.
She jumped, rising in the air, barely dodging the blow, and landed with enviable agility, ready to counterattack.
—I didn't expect you to be so fast —she said, surprised, while her eyes shone with a mixture of admiration and challenge.
—I was just warming up —I replied with a defiant smile, but with the rhythm of my movements showing that we both knew well what we were doing.
She's good, very good. I don't think I can beat her with basic methods... I thought as I observed her.
With that realization, I changed my approach. Instead of relying on my conventional movements, I sought a new angle of attack, more unpredictable. Suddenly, I made a fluid movement, a turn that seemed natural, but that actually concealed a more strategic intention. I tried to hook her with a feint, forcing her to move where I wanted.
She reacted quickly, but I was already prepared. I took advantage of the small gap in her defense, seeking a quick blow to her side.
However, the young woman disposed of my attack with an agile hip movement, recovering in seconds. Her eyes shone with a flash of cunning, as if she were also evaluating her own limits.
—Seems like you have dirty tactics up your sleeve —replied the young woman as she made two backward spins, elegantly gaining distance.
Then, I advanced with determination, unleashing a barrage of punches, swift as if the air offered no resistance.
—Haaaaaaaah! —I exclaimed, as my blows fell like a controlled storm.
Just when the tension reached its highest point, a voice resonated with impetus and authority:
—Stop! —it vociferated firmly—. Practice is fine, but starting to use lysae without control... In an unregulated and unsupervised combat, it's imprudent to continue.
Instantly, I realized that our eyes were shining and that the lysae was beginning to intensify our abilities, giving us more agility and strength. Although it has always seemed a strange power to me, it was undeniable that it was essential in moments like this, where control is the key.
On the other hand, the voice, imposing and full of authority, came from a man of no more than thirty years, with a presence that commanded respect and a gaze that pierced like tempered steel.
—Professor Kerl! —we shouted in unison.
When I turned toward him, Kerl presented himself before us, his figure erect and powerful. His face, serious and marked by discipline, was framed by bronzed skin, almost as firm as the muscles that filled his body. Despite his relatively young age, his presence was so imposing that he seemed to carry on his shoulders the weight of countless battles. I couldn't help but remember the moment when, during one of our practices, I had seen the tattoo that ran across his body: it began on the opposite side of the palm of his left arm, and from there, the dragon's tail curled around his wrist, ascending powerfully up his biceps, as if the creature were coming to life. The dragon slid toward his back, traversing his muscles with an almost living fluidity, until reaching his right arm, where the dragon's head rose imposingly, looking at me with eyes that seemed about to spit fire. The tattoo wasn't just a display of his power, but a palpable extension of his own being, as if it reflected the contained fury he always carried within.
—Keia, it's strange to see you acting this way. Are you so interested in this boy? —said Kerl, laughing heartily as his head tilted backward. His laughter was powerful, reverberating with a mocking tone that seemed to fill the air, and his hands rested on his hips, formed into fists, as if his entire body showed itself as untamable as his laughter. The gaze of his dragon seemed to intensify, as if his power overflowed at the slightest gesture.
—W-wh-what are you saying, Master?! —the girl shouted, blushing—. This tadpole provoked me when I just wanted to talk!
—Ha ha ha, calm down, I was just trying to lighten the mood a bit, but you were using the lysae carelessly —replied the Master, with a big smile.
—It's my fault, Master. It had been so long since I'd found an opponent who anticipated my movements so well that my competitiveness accidentally came out. Though I would have won if you hadn't stopped us —I said mischievously while looking sideways, whistling distractedly.
—What did you say?! —exclaimed Keia, frowning as her face reddened even more.
The professor maintained a serene expression, but his eyes opened slightly and his eyebrows rose with a mixture of surprise and contained amusement. Although his face remained firm, I could see he was thinking something like: This boy seems to want to get into trouble... I'd better separate them.
—Get ready, Keia, Yeroy. Go find your teams; the test will begin soon —ordered the master, his tone firm as always, but with a slight grimace of amusement appearing on his lips.
—Ugh! Let's go find the others, stupid —exclaimed the young woman, furious, without looking at me.
—Huh? They're on the same team? —asked the master, with sincere curiosity.
—Yes —replied Keia, frowning with a twisted smile—. I'll have time to get revenge for this little humiliation.
I walked along the polished stone corridor, still with the accelerated heartbeat from the recent combat. The light of the morning sun filtered through the high windows, tinting the floor golden. It wasn't long before I distinguished some familiar voices as I turned the corner.
—...I'm telling you that if you adjust the strap at the base of the glove, the channeling of the lysae becomes more stable —Flumir was saying, while adjusting his equipment with agile hands.
—And I'm telling you what? That if you depend on a strap to control your power, you're toast in real combat —responded Darel with a dry tone, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
—Oh, look at him, Mr. "I control fire with pure willpower" —replied Flumir, rolling his eyes with a smile—. Aethen, say something to him, come on.
Sitting in a squat, reviewing a box with small polished crystals, Aethen barely looked up. His voice was calm, almost detached:
—You're both right. But if you end up fighting again and blow up another preparation room, this time I'm not covering for you.
—Ah, how kind —murmured Flumir just as he saw me approach—. Look who's here. Come to show off your new emotional scar?
—More like I've come to see if you're ready or if I have to drag you one by one —I replied with a confident smile.
Darel observed me with his usual intensity.
—If you're done playing with fire, we have real things to do.
—It was just a warm-up... though, I admit they've left me hungry for something more serious.
Flumir threw me one of the gloves he had in his hand.
—Then gear up well, rogue. Today might be the last calm day we have for a good while.
Then, we entered one of the training rooms assigned for group formation. Inside, there were no more than ten teams, young people who, with the passing days, had grown accustomed to their superiors, and older ones who, over time, had learned to become fond of their juniors.
—Isn't that Darlon over there? —asked Aethen, narrowing his eyes.
—Hey! Darlon, you walking eel! —I shouted, raising my arm as if greeting an old enemy on a friendly battlefield.
—What? Want trouble again, headless lizard? —responded Darlon, turning with a raised eyebrow and a barely contained smile.
I advanced with a light step toward the group that was in a corner of the room, my companions following close behind. Aethen already had an eyebrow raised and Flumir was twirling her ponytail between her fingers as if she were about to bet on a fight.
—Hey, Darlon, you walking eel! —I shouted with a saucy smile.
Darlon turned immediately, his expression already curved into a mocking grimace.
—You again, headless lizard? Didn't you have something more useful to do, like lose another fight?
—I just came to make sure you hadn't forgotten how to walk after the last practice —I replied with a fiery look.
Dorim let out a laugh, arms crossed behind Darlon.
—These idiots again? They always make my tears come out from laughter with their nonsense.
Then, a taller figure with a more mature bearing rose calmly. Kalesh, the oldest of the group, walked a few steps forward and raised an eyebrow, observing us with calculated calm.
—Do you always enter a room as if you were already the champions? —he said, with a firm voice but without arrogance.
—It's not our fault that the floor tilts toward where the competition is —responded Flumir, with a fiery smile.
Kalesh looked at him for a couple of seconds, and then barely nodded.
—Then I hope you're ready. Because when we leave here… we'll all be in the same field. And there won't be time for games.
Darel, from behind, let out an approving grunt.
—I like that part.
The training room silenced as soon as Master Solhen entered. His mere presence seemed to align the backs and erase smiles from faces that, seconds before, still enjoyed juvenile jokes. His dark tunic waved with authority, and his eyes, like lit coals, scanned each group with the gravity of one who knows the weight of what's coming.
—Listen carefully. The Commendation Test will begin in two days —His voice resonated with the clarity of an unsheathed sword—. Each team will consist of two ninth-year members and three seventh-year ones. You already know your companions… what you don't know is that you won't be alone.
A murmur crossed the room.
—The missions will be carried out in sets of three teams. Each set will have a function: Reconnaissance, Logistical Support, and Frontal Attack. You will not only have to fulfill your role but learn to collaborate with groups outside your own. This is not a simple exam. It's a reflection of what your life will be like if you cross the threshold of adulthood.
I exchanged a quick glance with Darlon, who was with Dorim and Kalesh. It wasn't a look of rivalry… it was something else. Something like an unanswered question.
Solhen continued:
—The territories to explore are beyond the Forest of Virtue. The information received suggests unusual activity. Remember: the lysae is not a toy, and your lives are not guaranteed. Every step outside these walls will test you.
A cold tension fell like a veil.
—Prepare yourselves. You will leave at dawn.
Darlon, who had always dreamed of leaving the enclosure, couldn't contain his enthusiasm, his nerves… nor that small flash of fear that slipped between his thoughts.
—Finally, what I was waiting for —he murmured with a lopsided smile, just before giving a small jump that caught the attention of some companions.
The rest of us observed him with a mixture of surprise and understanding. That jump wasn't just an impulsive reaction. It was a symbol. The beginning of something big, something we had been waiting for years.
A metallic creak resonated in the room. The doors at the back began to open slowly, revealing the instructors in charge of announcing the combinations of groups.
—Attack team led by Darel and Flumir… working with you will be the reconnaissance and support teams assigned by direct choice of their members —said a firm voice from the podium.
The groups weren't formed at random, but by established bonds: trust, camaraderie, and mutual knowledge. The selection of seventh and ninth-year practitioners, made cautiously among the crowd,
made clear the level of planning and ingenuity that the masters had applied.
I felt a slight tremor in my hands but concealed it by crossing my arms. I had been waiting for this moment more than I would admit.
The day of the test arrived faster than we thought.
—So, it's the three of us —said Flumir, adjusting his combat glove while his eyes reviewed the two teams in front of us.
The reconnaissance team arrived first, led by a boy with a serious face and pointed glasses, followed by two more young people who remained silent, as if their mere presence spoke for them.
And then, from the other end of the room, the support team entered.
—Were these also chosen because of trust bonds, or was it out of charity? —a mocking voice let out.
We all turned. A young woman with dark hair and a sharp gaze raised an eyebrow with theatrical disdain, while crossing her arms. At her side, a boy with an almost identical expression smiled with a grimace of irony.
—Ylwen —she said, pointing to her chest without enthusiasm—. Support, healing, technical assistance, and free sarcastic comments.
—And Maro —he added, imitating the gesture—. Elemental support, field control, and occasionally I make coffee.
—Are you going to greet us, or are you afraid of being enchanted? —asked Ylwen, turning on her heels with a haughty air.
I observed them for a second. Then, I clicked my tongue and smiled.
—With that attitude, you're going to be fun… at least until things get serious.
—Oh, relax, sunshine —said Maro with feigned sweetness—. When that happens, we'll be the ones keeping you alive.
—I knew they would come, I mean, of course. I sent for them personally —added Kalesh, smiling.
—Ylwen, you look beautiful as always, did you actually get up early today? —he asked with a small laugh.
—Yes, amazing, isn't it? Must be because I don't have to carry your ego today —she responded with a slightly twisted smile.
—That's it! That's what I like, that no one relaxes yet —said Kalesh, laughing, while Dorim let out a snort of laughter in the background.
Master Solhen entered the training room, his steps resounding with authority. Upon seeing the slight relaxation in our faces, his gaze hardened and his voice rose.
—It's time! —he said, with a severity that admitted no responses. The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. Kalesh's slight joke vanished as he looked at the Master seriously.
We all lined up quickly, knowing that this was not the moment to continue with nonsense.
So this is when it happens, I thought, letting the weight of the situation settle on my shoulders. My smile disappeared completely. I couldn't allow myself to relax. The test was about to begin.
—The team designation should already have been completed by you, kids. Today you'll be able to go out into the world for the first time for the seventh-years, for the second time for the eighth-years, and, hopefully, after the test, you can show your worth —vociferated the master with authority.
Someone in the back raises their hand and asks:
—What happens if we don't complete the test with good results? —asks a girl.
—Everyone should know that the results must always be the same —said the master with a grave voice—. It's not just about completing the mission, but doing it with intelligence. You must fulfill the mission, regardless of the cost, but remember, prudence is as vital as bravery. Don't throw a punch without thinking about defense, and don't act with desperation. Any mistake could be fatal.
—So, go to the posts that have been designated for you, there you will be given a scroll with the mission you must fulfill. Everything we have taught you must be executed today as a show of the discipline you had. MOVE OUT! —exclaimed Solhen as he stomped his foot on the ground.
With the thunder of the students' boots resounding on the floor, the groups dispersed toward the assignment points. I walked beside Aethen, Flumir, and Darel, our faces full of determination. The fresh morning air mixed with a slight tension, the kind of tension that could only be felt when facing the unknown.
—Remember, we're not just attackers. We're a team, and each depends on the others —said Darel seriously while adjusting his equipment, his eyes firm on his mission.
—Sure, but if anyone dares to get in our way... they'll regret it! —Flumir, on the other hand, maintained a confident smile while loosening his shoulders.
In the distance, the other teams also moved in the same direction, advancing toward what would be the first real test outside the walls of training. I observed the others, the nervousness in the air as palpable as the enthusiasm.
Suddenly, Solhen's voice resonated across the terrain, cutting the calm that had been left behind.
—Don't forget that the mission is everything! Every movement, every decision has its weight. Remember your lessons and work as one. Let everything learned be demonstrated!
With that last shout, we took our positions and the true test began.
We stopped in a space full of trees, where there was a small natural pond that reflected the temperate morning sun that greeted whoever came near. The 12 members of the 3 teams were preparing to begin when we were interrupted by a senior from the clan's reconnaissance team, who had the task of distributing the scrolls to the teams.
—Here you go —he says as he withdraws at full speed.
—I know it's something we should have considered these days, but who should designate the Leader role in this operation? —asks Ylwen with a face full of seriousness.
—I think we should designate 2 people in command, someone who can think from the rearguard, and the leader should be in the support team —responds Darel serenely.
—Well, I think I have an idea of what you want: Darel can be the leader of the attack team, as we could have more benefits, and Flumir should lead from the rearguard —I mentioned, evaluating the options.
—If I may, I think it would be a better option, since I can't use powers in powerful combats, to use me as Leader is ideal so that the others can use their strength more naturally —says Aethen while looking at the seniors.
—What are you saying? You're even more skilled than I am, even without being able to use a hint of Lysae —I replied, laughing heartily.
—Enough! No one in the attack team will be the leader, it makes sense for Kalesh to lead us, being positioned in the middle of everyone, he'll have more ease in giving orders —exclaims Flumir.
—I agree —responds Ylwen.
—It was the most outstanding option —responds Dorim.
—As long as I can combine my attacks with Aethen, I have no problems —I replied.
—So, you don't ask for my opinion and designate me as leader? Do I exist only to relieve you of responsibilities? Hmm? —exclaims Kalesh with a discontented face.
—Sorry, but you have a leader's face, Leader! —I mentioned mockingly.
—You're going to be a headache, Yeroy! —exclaimed Kalesh, letting out a long sigh while shaking his head.
Without warning, he caught me by the neck with one arm, in a kind of affectionate lock, and with the other hand ruffled my hair with playful force.
—Want to be clever, eh, you bastard? —he said between laughs, squeezing me just a bit, like an older brother who is already accustomed to the antics of the younger one.
—Aaagh, let goooo! Leadership gave you power, and it's already gone to your head! —I protested between laughs, shaking myself as best I could while the others laughed.
When the laughter died down, Kalesh released me, and I saw how his expression hardened slightly. With a firm gesture, he unfolded the scroll they had received. The twelve of us gathered in a circle; while the others crouched down to spread the scroll among the small stones on the ground and began to read its contents, I moved away a bit and leaned against a nearby tree.
—Well, this is what we have —announced Kalesh, his voice recovering the authority that had been granted to him—. Our mission is to explore the ruins of the ancient temple of Vaerim, at the limits of the Forest of Virtue. They have reported... unusual activity.
—What kind of unusual activity? —asked Aethen, with his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Kalesh exchanged a quick glance with Darel before responding.
—The scroll mentions sightings of strange lights and... disappearances. Three clan explorers were sent a week ago. None have returned.
A tense silence fell over the group. The frivolity of the previous moment evaporated like dew under the midday sun.
—That wasn't in the training —murmured Ylwen, her usual sarcasm replaced by an uncommon seriousness.
—No, it wasn't —agreed Kalesh—. That's why we were assigned this mission. Master Solhen trusts that we can handle it.
—But... shouldn't they send seniors with more experience in real combat? —said Aethen, and his face adopted a more serious expression than usual—. This seems... unusual to me.
—I understand your point —Kalesh began to say, but I interrupted him.
—What are you afraid of, Aen? You know the seniors assigned to us have plenty of experience... and some are even very intelligent —I said with a spark of energy that faded at the end—. I don't know, something tells me we have to go.
⬧⬧⬧
Yeroy observed the faces of his companions, each processing the information in their own way. They were no longer students playing at being warriors. The reality of what it meant to leave the clan walls settled on them like a heavy mantle.
As they gathered their equipment and prepared to depart, Yeroy looked toward the horizon, where the Forest of Virtue stretched like a dark patch under the increasingly bright sky. Somewhere among those ancient trees, something more than a simple test awaited them.
"So this is what it means to be a true member of the clan," he thought, adjusting his combat gloves. "Not just showing skill, but facing the unknown."
The group began to move in formation, with the reconnaissance team taking the lead. As they made their way along the path that would lead them to their destination, Yeroy felt a shiver run down his spine. It wasn't fear, he decided. It was that strange mixture of anticipation and resolution that precedes life-changing moments.
The forest awaited them. And with it, a test that none of them could have anticipated.