Morning mist enveloped the crystal towers of Etherion Castle, making it appear like a palace floating on the edge of dreams. Satya stood in the courtyard with 600 applicants who passed the Soul Labyrinth, her heart beating fast, mixed with fatigue and enthusiasm. The shadows of her family from the labyrinth still haunted her, but Elara and Cassian by her side gave her strength. Elara, her short black hair tied neatly, stared straight ahead with determination, though her eyes held traces of sadness. Cassian, with a casual smile, chewed an apple from who knows where, as if this test was just a game.
Supervisor Veyra, a woman with sharp eyes, appeared on the balcony, her golden robe gleaming under the morning sunlight. The Kingdom of Asran flag—sapphire blue with a golden eagle—fluttered behind her, a symbol of the kingdom's glory that sheltered the academy. Her voice, amplified by magic, echoed. "Congratulations to those who survived. The third stage is a team test, taking place two hours from now. You will be divided into teams of three, and only one hundred teams—three hundred applicants—will be accepted into the Aurumblade Academy."
The crowd murmured, their breath forming vapor in the cold air. Veyra continued, "The rules are simple, but full of risk. Each team gets two flags: red and white. To pass, your team must bring three red flags and one white flag to the collection point. You can seize flags from other teams. If you lose a red flag, you must collect ten monster cores from the demon forest replica inside the castle. Choose your strategy carefully."
Satya felt her blood rushing, enthusiasm burning in her chest. This test seemed like a real step toward her dream—fighting demons, avenging her family. She glanced at Elara, who nodded slightly, and Cassian, who grinned widely. "Monsters or flags, we'll take them all!" said Cassian, his tone full of contagious enthusiasm.
Cassian pulled Satya and Elara aside before other applicants approached. "You're with me, right? We've passed the labyrinth, this will be easy." His casual tone contrasted with the tension, but Satya felt relieved. "Let's go," she said, her voice firmer than she felt. Elara smiled thinly. "I'm in."
Veyra, her golden robe fluttering, cast a spell, and the castle rumbled. The courtyard walls dissolved, replaced by a dense forest with black thorny trees and gray mist creeping. The smell of wet soil mixed with something sharp, like dried blood. The forest stretched wide, as if swallowing the castle. Satya stared, amazed. The Aether Gem must have created this, she thought, remembering stories about the castle's magic that could bend space, making a forest as large as ten square kilometers fit inside stone walls.
The narrator—an old man in a silver robe on a floating platform—said, "Teams that have been formed, report to me to receive your flags!" Cassian stepped forward casually, ignoring the scrambling crowd, and returned with two flags: red and white, both faintly glowing. Satya tucked the white flag into her belt, while Cassian held the red flag, twirling it like a toy.
"The test begins!" shouted the narrator, and the forest came alive with the sound of footsteps, shouts, and collisions. Some teams attacked each other, fighting for flags with rough blows. Cassian shook his head, grinning. "Waste of energy. Hunting monsters is way more fun. Let's go!" He ran into the forest, his steps light, and Satya and Elara followed, leaving the chaos behind.
Mist enveloped their feet as they went deeper, strange howls echoing in the distance. Elara walked beside Satya, her voice soft. "Thank you for including me. After the labyrinth... I wasn't sure I could do this alone." Cassian waved without looking back. "Relax, Elara. You're part of the team." He stopped, looking at them with a mischievous expression. "By the way, what made you guys apply to the academy? Just curious."
Elara hesitated, then answered, her voice full of pain. "I want my family in Azura Bay to acknowledge me. My father said I'm just a burden, I'll never amount to anything. I'm here to prove them wrong." Her eyes watered, but she held her head high.
Satya felt a bond with Elara. "I want to become a Holy Knight," she said, her voice firm yet trembling. "I will slaughter every demon that exists. They... took my family." The words were like knives, sharp and bitter.
Elara's eyes widened, and Cassian looked at Satya, his eyes narrowing for a moment before returning to his casual smile. "Wow, kid, that's a big reason. I support you! Destroy those demons!" he said, sincere though light. Elara nodded. "You can do it, Satya."
Cassian twirled the red flag on his finger, grinning. "Me? I'm just bored. My father keeps making me handle tasks that make me sleepy, so I ran away here. Adventures like this are much more fun!" He laughed. Satya and Elara laughed, considering "tasks" as just ordinary family matters, like cleaning the storehouse or helping at the market, without suspecting anything hidden.
A rustle in the bushes broke the laughter. A goblin appeared—small body, grayish-green skin, red eyes like embers. Though a replica, it was so real that Satya felt the world vanish. Flashbacks flooded in: her mother's screams, goblin laughter, blood on their house floor. Her chest burned, anger and sadness exploding. "You!" she screamed, her voice breaking like glass. She charged, grabbing a wooden staff, beating the goblin wildly, each blow full of hatred.
"Satya, stop!" Elara shouted, trying to pull her back, but Satya seemed possessed. Tears flowed, her eyes blurred, her mind filled with the night when her family was taken. "You killed them! You killed them!" she screamed, her voice raw, full of unhealed wounds. The goblin stood, her attacks ineffective, as if mocking her.
Cassian stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Satya, enough." He pulled Satya back gently but strongly, forcing her to stop. "It's just a replica, kid. You're just wasting energy. Breathe, focus." His eyes were full of empathy, like a friend who understood pain.
Satya sat down, her breath panting, tears wetting her face. She stared at the goblin, still intact, and realization hit her like a slap. "Sorry..." she mumbled, her voice breaking. "I... couldn't control myself."
Cassian knelt in front of her, smiling slightly. "I know it's hard. But if you fight like that, real demons will win. Watch." He stood, facing the goblin with nimble movements. One precise hit to the replica's neck, and the goblin collapsed, dissolving into smoke, leaving a glowing monster core. "Focus. Think. If not, you won't survive."
Elara helped Satya stand, her hand gentle. "You're not alone," she said softly. "We're here."
Satya nodded, wiping away tears. "Sorry... I caused trouble for you." She picked up the monster core, her hand trembling, but her determination slowly returning. "Let's continue."
They advanced deeper, working together to defeat other monsters—shadow wolves, giant spiders, mist snakes. Cassian led with sharp instincts, Elara used her agility to divert attention, and Satya, though shaken, learned to control her emotions. Together, they collected nine monster cores, enough to replace a red flag.
As they exited the forest toward the collection point, three applicants blocked their way—hard faces, staffs raised. "Hand over your red flag," said their leader, his voice cold.
Cassian grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Take it," he said, casually throwing the red flag to the ground. The team was surprised, taking the flag and leaving in confusion. Elara looked at Cassian, eyebrow raised. "Why did you give it up so easily?"
Cassian laughed. "We have nine monster cores—enough to replace the flag. Why bother fighting them? We win with style." Satya smiled, impressed by Cassian's cleverness.
At the collection point—a stone platform with glowing runes—Satya handed over the white flag and nine monster cores to Veyra. The woman nodded, her eyes evaluating. "Your team is the first to finish," she said, her voice flat but with admiration. "Congratulations. You've been accepted into Aurumblade Academy."
The narrator appeared on the floating platform, his voice echoing. "Team Satya, Cassian, and Elara, congratulations on your success! You are new students of Aurumblade!" Other applicants in the forest heard, and Satya felt the burden in her chest lift slightly, though shadows of goblins still lurked.
That night, in the dormitory—a simple stone room with hard beds and rune lanterns—Satya, Cassian, and Elara sat together, exhausted but full of spirit. Elara leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "Satya, you said you want to be a Holy Knight. They're amazing, aren't they? I heard a new story about them."
Satya looked at her, curious. "What story?"
Elara lowered her voice, as if sharing a secret. "In Solamria, a Holy Knight—Ser Valthor—just destroyed a corrupt noble family. The Baterbane family. They say they were traitors, planning something against the kingdom, perhaps collaborating with enemies. Ser Valthor hunted them until none remained. In Azura Bay, people say it's a warning: don't mess with Holy Knights." Her tone was admiring, but her eyes showed fear, as if the power of Holy Knights was a double-edged sword.
Cassian nodded, looking at the rune lantern. "I heard that. But it's strange, you know? The Baterbanes were once an honorable family in Solamria. How suddenly they're traitors? I don't believe the story is as simple as people say. Maybe there's a secret behind it." His voice was casual, like someone who enjoys hearing gossip, without special insight.
Elara shook her head, her black hair swaying. "Maybe, but the story gives me chills. If Holy Knights can eliminate a family that large, imagine what they do to demons. I just want to be half as good as them—enough to silence my father about me being 'useless'." She smiled bitterly, but there was fire in her eyes.
Satya listened, her heart full of determination. "Holy Knights are great," she said, her voice steady. "They protect people, hunt demons, uphold justice. I will be like them—or better." She smiled, though thoughts of goblins made her chest tight. She was grateful for Cassian and Elara.
Cassian yawned, stretching. "Okay, future Holy Knight, we need sleep. Tomorrow we're official students, and I bet they'll make us run around again." Elara chuckled, and they parted to their respective beds, the rune lanterns dimming. Satya stared at the ceiling, thinking about Holy Knights, Baterbane, and demons waiting. With her friends, her dream felt more real.