Chapter 20 – Whispers of War
The Academy grounds buzzed with tension. The duels from the day before had stirred not only excitement, but also rivalry, curiosity, and something darker—something deeper than youthful competition. The new generation had arrived, and the eyes of the Empire were watching.
Early morning light filtered through the stained glass of the Grand Auditorium, where students from all dorms gathered. The Head Instructor, a stern man known only as Professor Aldros, stepped forward. His presence alone was enough to silence the crowd. Clad in obsidian robes laced with magical glyphs, he was a man said to have once stood against an entire battalion of foreign mages—and won.
"This generation," he said, his voice a thunderclap wrapped in calm, "will be the most important in centuries. Because you are not being trained for peace... but for the storm that approaches."
Whispers broke out among the students. Marcus and Valen exchanged glances. Even Selene looked up from her silent brooding.
"A war brews beyond the borders," Aldros continued. "And forces within the Empire seek to exploit its chaos. You will be molded, tested, and either forged into weapons... or discarded as failures."
He raised his hand, and the floor beneath the auditorium shifted. Students gasped as the panels gave way, revealing a descending spiral staircase. It led into a glowing chasm beneath the Academy.
"Your first real trial begins now. Welcome to the Veiled Labyrinth."
---
The Veiled Labyrinth was a massive underground complex beneath the Academy, filled with magical constructs, illusion barriers, summoned beasts, and reality-warping challenges meant to test all aspects of a cultivator—strength, intelligence, teamwork, resolve.
"You'll go in teams of two," Aldros explained. "Survive, learn, and return before sundown. Or don't return at all."
Murmurs of disbelief and fear spread.
Pairings appeared midair in glowing script:
Marcus Alderwood and Alexander Caelum
Valen Veridian and Siegfried Dragunov
Selene Evernight and Micheal Ollivier
Seraphina Lysander and Lucian Caelum
Cyril Morvan and Vesper Albrecht
Galahad Vortigern and Ellis Runestone
Valen muttered, "Again with this maniac?" as Siegfried cracked his knuckles.
Alexander patted Marcus's shoulder. "Looks like we're a team again, partner."
"Don't call me that."
---
Inside the Labyrinth
Each pair was transported to a different section of the Labyrinth.
Valen & Siegfried
Their trial placed them inside a burning forest—illusory flames licking at their feet, but the heat and the suffocation were real. Shadow creatures emerged from the smoke.
"Fight them or run?" Valen asked.
"Fight them!" Siegfried roared.
Valen sighed. "Of course."
Valen's blade cleaved through illusions, revealing real enemies hidden behind magical cloaks. Siegfried's dragon spear spun in brutal arcs, scattering foes like ragdolls. But soon, spectral chains rose from the ground, attempting to bind Valen.
"Watch it!" Siegfried jumped in front, taking the hit and smashing the chains apart.
"You… protected me?" Valen asked, confused.
"I'm your partner. Even a caveman knows loyalty."
Valen blinked. "Maybe you're not as dumb as you look."
---
Marcus & Alexander
They landed in a floating maze of mirrors.
Alexander laughed. "Let me guess, another illusion test. I love these."
"Don't underestimate it," Marcus warned.
Every mirror showed twisted versions of themselves—traitors, tyrants, failures. Voices whispered doubts.
Marcus ignored his own reflection, eyes scanning for inconsistencies.
Alexander, however, approached his darker reflection. "That's not me anymore," he whispered. The reflection lunged. He shattered it with a tidal wave.
"Found the exit," Marcus said, pointing to a mirror that didn't reflect them at all.
They walked through and emerged victorious.
---
Selene & Micheal
A puzzle room filled with traps.
"Selene," Micheal said while dodging darts, "why is everything trying to kill us?"
"It's a metaphor for politics," she replied.
"I hate metaphors."
Selene disabled a trap with surgical precision. Micheal manipulated spatial fields, teleporting them past walls and barriers. When they reached the core, a construct of light and shadow attacked.
Selene and Micheal combined their magic—darkness coiling around bent light, forming a blade that cut through the core.
"Well," Micheal said, panting, "we didn't die. That's a win."
"I still might kill you," Selene replied.
---
Seraphina & Lucian
A trial of morality: a choice between saving illusory innocents or defeating a beast terrorizing a village.
"Test of heart," Seraphina whispered.
Lucian frowned. "But what if both are traps?"
"Then we do both."
Lucian flew on his griffon, drawing the beast away. Seraphina performed a sacred ritual that cleansed the illusory innocents, revealing their true form—corrupted spirits.
Lucian returned, breathless but grinning. "Told you I could multitask."
Seraphina gave a rare smile. "You're not bad, sky knight."
---
Cyril & Vesper
Their challenge: barter with a mythical merchant to earn a key.
Cyril grinned. "This is my domain."
The merchant demanded truths in exchange for the key.
"I don't care about power," Vesper said, handing over a vial.
"That's a lie," the merchant hissed, but accepted the trade.
Cyril offered a coin with his family crest.
"You would give up your name?"
"For the right price."
They earned the key. As they left, Cyril looked back. "Vesper… what truth did you give?"
"My fear. That I'll never be enough."
Cyril said nothing, but his expression softened.
---
Ellis & Galahad
A battle of endurance. An arena where time looped. Every minute they didn't defeat their foes, the battle reset, and they began again.
"Loop four," Ellis said. "Getting tired yet?"
"No," Galahad said. "Just angry."
By the seventh loop, Galahad charged with renewed rage, while Ellis used the patterns he'd memorized to land fatal arrows. Together, they broke the loop.
"We made it," Ellis said.
Galahad extended a hand. "Until the next battle."
---
Outside the Labyrinth
As each pair emerged, Aldros stood watching. One by one, students collapsed to the ground, panting, bleeding, or stunned.
"You passed the first trial," Aldros said. "But more await. Go rest. Tomorrow, you'll learn what it truly means to serve the Empire."
Later that night, in the shadows of the Academy towers, masked figures gathered.
"They survived," one said.
"They're growing stronger," another replied.
"Then we must move quicker. The heir of Veridian and the last Alderwood are awakening too soon."
From atop the highest tower, a figure cloaked in shadow watched the stars.
"The Empire must burn before it can be reborn."
Chapter 20 – End.