The morning ca slowly, the light of dawn extending across the royal grounds lazily. The air had a bite that showed the seasons were changing, but the mood in the trial hall was more imdiate than the weather.
Noah and his friends had left early to arrive at the trial, none of them had really slept—except for Seraphina, who had to be pulled out of bed—and yet, they were still among the last to show up. All Drakonians had already been there, likely having arrived at the break of first dawn. The only ones who ca after Noah’s group were others like them, from outside the kingdom. One thing was clear, the Drakonians definitely took the whole military culture thing quite seriously.
Walking in with the rest of the group, Noah noticed the magic on the walls. Patterns of runes shone on the floor, pulsating in a rhythmic beat, almost like the beating of a heart. The air was charged with mana and Noah could almost taste it in every inch of the area. It was harsh and tallic, like iron and ozone. Not that he knew how either of those tasted, but sohow he felt like if he knew, this would be similar.
There were a number of wizards in blue and white uniforms working around the area, so Drakonian ones, others primarily human. With a few that looked to have celestian blood mixed in them. They moved with the grace that only experience gave, as they looked at the various enchantnt nodes, using hand motions to change the flow of energy, and made the spell forms that were crackling in the air stronger.
Seraphina looked at the mages, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the enchantnts over her head. She humd to herself. “I must admit I’m sowhat impressed, they an so serious business with this magic."
"I thought that was the point," Valeria remarked, reaching for her ax by her side. "A big part of this entire thing is supposed to show their might and conduct an old rite of passage, not surprising that they will put effort into that."
"I like it,” Seraphina said, as if she’d only just made her mind. “When done right, well-structured enchantnt design is beautiful, like watching a composer write a symphony while the orchestra plays it."
Noah looked around the room and took note of where the mages were, how the magical constructions moved, and where each ritual piece was. Different faces, most vaguely familiar, mingled around the chamber as everyone waited. Noah glanced around looking for one face in particular, before turning towards his group. "Has anyone seen Vion?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Valeria frowned. "Well, considering her situation. I don't believe it would be a big problem even if she doesn’t take the trial, but she’d insisted and wanted to do things properly, so it would be a pity if she couldn’t do it now after having already cleared the first one.”
Aurelia looked at Noah, quiet thoughts flickering through her eyes. “I don’t think she’s going to miss the trial, but she might be running a bit late, or may arrive from an entirely separate place. Either way we don’t really know and can’t do much about it. We should stay focused on our task.”
Noah nodded, preparing himself for what was to co.
Almost as if on cue, a trendous clang rang out in the room. The sound bounced off the walls and obstacles, drawing everyone's attention.
An elderly Drakonian woman walked forward, whose presence commanded attention. She had a military physique, and her posture and motions were like those of a soldier. Her scales exhibited indications of age, and her voice sounded like soone who had delivered orders to new recruits for a long ti.
"Quiet," she said, cutting off the chatter. When there was stillness, she nodded to herself.
She pointed to the spell circles carved into the floor, which were filled with tals and gems that mirrored the magical forces that flowed through them. "The rules for the trial are clear, and I'll go over them once, so listen carefully. Each of you will be taken to a separate realm made just for this test. These realms are not simulations or illusions; they are real pocket dinsional spaces with their own physical laws and effects."
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She looked, making eye contact with each participant. "In your assigned area, you will find a specific object. Your job is to keep that object and return with it intact. If you lose it, give it up to any force or entity, or fail to return, you will be disqualified from further consideration."
"Do you have any questions?" The invigilator asked, and her tone made it clear that she didn’t expect any.
Noah caught Valeria grabbing Seraphina’s hand, and pulling it back down.
The chamber remained quiet save for the sound of the magical constructions humming above and the wind hitting the palace walls.
"You must give up all magical tools, artifacts, enchanted goods, and supernatural tools that you own. This contains weapons, defensive gear, useful things, and personal charms. No exceptions will be made for sentintal value or alleged need.
A few murmurs rose at that, but the woman gave them a sharp look that quickly silenced it.
“That is all. Line up in front of the mages to be inspected once, to make sure you do not have any items that should not pass. The trial will begin after that,” the woman said, glanced around the room once last ti and then walked away.
After a mont of hesitation, people began to join the lines of the four to five mages doing the inspection, and Noah joined as well.
He felt a slight pang as he unclipped his bracelet from his wrist. It was unlikely that anyone would be able to truly see sothing Zax had made, but he’d decided to be safe. No reason to be caught in the middle of his trial and then kicked out prematurely.
Briefly, he wondered if they would ask him to empty his pocket dinsion as well. He definitely had a lot more junk filled inside there, but the mage inspecting him over simply nodded as he put the few magical items he had, and after checking Noah’s necklace to make sure it wasn’t magical, he allowed him to walk away.
Guess I could’ve cheated then.
He felt a stare at his back and turned to see the head invigilator glancing in his direction.
…Maybe not.
The others followed as well, so not caring much at all while others seed distraught and reluctant to part.
Seraphina had managed to pull out a bunch of trinkets, foci, and devices from hidden pockets and pouches. Noah had expected she’d raise a fuss, but she gave them up easily. Aurelia gave up her protective jewelry and her own bracelet as well. Valeria had produced at least three different hidden daggers and half a dozen small enchanted weapons on her in total besides her axe, her face looking sowhat disgruntled at that. And finally, Erwest had given up his bracelet and other minor items with the sa calm acceptance he showed in all situations.
The mages took their things, putting them in a pocket dinsion that appeared with flashes of magic. The containers were structures that held containnt spells and temporal stasis fields. Magic flared as each container was sealed and locked with security enchantnts that would make them impossible to open without the right keys.
With one final glance as the inspection ended, the head invigilator nodded, before looking towards all of them. “Good. Everybody, gather at the center of the chamber. And do not try to resist the spell.”
Noah looked at the area, watching the thrumming magic formations. He saw obvious hesitation on so faces, while others imdiately stepped forward with no concerns. Noah followed along as well, standing inside the magical formation.
The spell circle was almost thirty ters wide, the carved arrays under their feet reacted to their presence by lighting up with flickers of magic. The energies in the room changed and focused.
Noah took a glance at the rest of his group.
"Good luck to all of us. And try not to lose, I’d like to beat you guys personally in the tournant,” Noah said.
"Right back at you," Aurelia said. “And try not to just get distracted and drop the trial object… sohow I can see you doing that.”
"Oh please, I'm not Seraphina,” Noah replied.
"Hey!" Seraphina remarked. "I've only lost dangerous relics twice in my academic career, and one of those tis wasn’t even my fault!"
Before anyone could react to that piece of information, the spell circle filled up with a bright light. Mana stread through the formation making Noah's hair stand on end. The world warped around him, as if everything was made of glass.
Then everything broke.
Pieces of the room slung away as if being launched into a distant void.
The last thing he saw were the faces of his friends, each exhibiting determination and dread, as they were swallowed up by the storm.
Noah abruptly vanished.
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