Eclipse

"Please proceed through the portal. Hope everyone performs well... alone..."

Alone?

"It is a feat for the strongest minds."

Most of them shared glances. Their reactions were natural and expected. Anyone could feel scared to enter a cave through a portal, especially if they were alone.

Would they appear on different planes to fight and survive?

But Magnus Alaric didn't give any more explanations. Nero clenched his fist with resolve. Zmey and Annie were already in his line of sight. Seeing them gave his heart a kind of warmth he didn't expect.

'I will do this! If it's to do this all alone, be ready for a sweet ride then!'

He smiled. Annie shared a glance with him, giving him a firm smile.

Zmey was the closest one to the portal, his arms crossed.

He dragged in some air. 'Well then... Let's see. Spark, your footsteps on me.'

'Yes, master,' Spark's response came as a gentle, submissive-toned whisper.

Zmey and Spark got inches away from the portal. In the next second, their figures blended into the purple watery pathway. They vanished.

Later, two more wearing the kind of red jacket lined with runes at the hems - exorcists - followed.

Skyler knew she had no other choice, like everyone else. This was different and new to her. Still, it was exhilarating. She was going through the same process as the others.

This was her first time, actually. Nothing compares to the seriousness with which everyone took her in her family. Others view her the same here.

Although coming to the Sanctuary wasn't really her choice, it still was. She must reach a milestone to become her dream person.

Skyler chuckled.

'This is just the beginning!'

Like a fluid, she moved past and between the others. The portal's air flowed with gentleness, making her rune-etched, crimson jacket dance. The purple light cast on her, stretching her tall shadow behind her.

Skyler vanished into the portal as well.

At that moment, Annie creased her brow.

"The guy's shadow..." she mumbled in a gentle, confused tone.

A few more tamers and exorcists proceeded inside as well. She focused on everyone's shadows as they entered. But all were different from the creepy guy's own.

Before she could process things further, a figure stood tall beside her. Glancing left, it was Nero.

She sighed out the slackened tension in her heart.

"Are you waiting for me to go in first?" Nero asked, a hint of humour in his eyes.

Annie chuckled. She slapped his arm with a playful gesture. "Look who's talking. Seems someone is holding back because of fear of what could be inside..."

Nero rolled his eyes. He whispered as he moved towards the portal, "As if."

Soon, everyone entered the portal.

***

'Huh? Where's this?'

Nero thought. Pebbles crunched underfoot.

Flames flapped in the distance.

"Nero...?" Annie's trepidatious voice intoned behind him.

Shhh....

Behind Nero, a frail-looking guy turned as he walked. His eyes flashed from one corner to the other. His mouth was a little bit open.

"Uh... this... it looks like the hall we met with the instructor last. Doesn't it?" His voice echoed, demanding confirmation.

"Exactly," a guy with a strong physique, his arms crossed, said while walking behind. A silvery short bird with shining eyeballs sat on his shoulder. It dripped with caution as it turned this way and that. As if in search of something.

They had seen a thick fog upon entering. Once they stepped into it, it would seem as though the fog shifted positions. This happened in a repetitive manner.

Occasional scratching, crunching, and all sorts hissed in the distance.

But without warning, the fog lifted. It felt as though it had blindfolded them before, and now their vision seemed clearer.

....

"Uh?"

They all paused at the same time. In the distance...

"... Those are the others."

The rest of the ten best performers spaced out ahead, which was not expected.

Later, everyone joined the others. There was no call for alarm. Some thought they had to wait and their instructor would explain things as always. Yet, the deep thinkers were thinking the other way. They had the single word that stood out in Alaric's earlier statement.

Alone.

Zmey, his arms crossed with a wholesome amount of stoicism, glanced at the others. His eyes locked on each and everyone of them.

'What are we supposed to do? Wait...? Or... fight...?'

They had come in with a suspicion of getting on different planes. Or, anywhere else but this isolated hall. Well, they might have to undergo some essential steps before proceeding. But... hell no, it's taking too long!

Skyler's eyes locked on Zmey, who was observing everyone around with keen interest. She tilted her head.

For a reason that she couldn't put her finger on, they seemed to have something in common right now. And even two more guys and a lady shared the same thing.

Suspicion. And hyper-consideration.

She turned, glancing at the raised surface a few metres away.

"What is going to happen?" she mumbled.

Seconds passed...

In a sudden manner, long materials formed out of thin air at everyone's chest level. Some took a few steps backwards without knowing it.

These were creamy scrolls that suspended themselves at chest level. The scrolls emitted twinkling yellow lights that danced like embers of a dying fire.

Without hesitation, everyone had already grabbed theirs, reading through. Zmey cleared his throat, looked around, then grabbed onto the scroll's cold metallic sides.

...

His brows creased.

'This is ridiculous...'

Nero clenched his jaw. He glanced at Annie, trying to see if she saw the content in the scroll as unbelievable as he did. At that moment, Annie grabbed his wrist.

She said in a serious manner, "Don't sign it, Nero. Don't..."

Nero swallowed.

He nodded his head.

"Mm... I won't..."

Skyler's eyes ran up and down the scroll. She mumbled, "What!? A death waiver!? We are..."

The flash of someone's shadow beside her made her stop. She glanced to her side then forward. She saw someone tall in a normal range, with straightened shoulders.

The person walked up a set of stairs to the high platform ahead, flanked on both sides by blazing flamelamps.

The moment they turned, she creased her brows in wonder and shock.

It was that guy...

Zmey.

"What's up with him?" the strong-physiqued guy who came in with Nero, having a bird as his tame, mumbled.

Everyone glanced at him. He looked almost straight into everyone's eyes. His close look unnerved Annie so much that she looked away, shaking her head - creepy eyes as usual.

Before talking, Zmey noticed something. Everyone's shadows were umbrae. But looking beside him, his was different. It stretched in a faint manner, as if dead, yet still alive.

It wasn't an umbra nor a penumbra. Remaining there, as though hopeless. As though held in place by something unknown. Like being bound at a crossroad.

His brows creased. 'My shadow is fading. Is this a sign that my time is near?'

He stared down for a few more seconds. But at that moment, he returned to the real business. The shitty instruction in that scroll.

He raised it, the orange light of the flames blending with the scroll's colour.

"This is everyone's first encounter with such a nightmare. But to have made it to this stage, it means we have either hardened our goals or found a new one..."

Skyler's shoulders rested.

"... We had got hurt against the elementals, being amateurs, but no one died. But, I'm afraid this trial would not keep to it anymore. The overseers have openly announced that... YOU might die in this last stage. That's why you're asked to sign this shitty waiver..."

Kai, who did well with Zmey in the last fireball challenge, squared his shoulders. He sighed.

"What is he getting at?"

At that moment, Zmey turned his wrist. And without any hesitation, he threw the scroll into the flamelamp.

Some gaped. Many more creased their brows.

Zmey smirked. "Of course, there are lowly people here. Those who would do anything at the expense of their own lives for others to perceive them as the best students. Or heroes. Yes, those worthless cog-in-the-machine bastards..."

A particular guy stepped forward without knowing it. He clenched his fist...

Zmey smirked upon seeing him.

He extended his hand to him.

"Bring it on..."

Astonished murmurs filled the air.

The guy clenched his fist more. "Everyone's on edge because of this waiver. We're experiencing emotional turmoil about what to do. You can't just come..."

"Are you deaf?" Zmey's voice pierced the air like a serpent's hiss. He smirked with increasing annoyance.

That hesitating anger.... it might be so exhilarating than anything else. Like the Frosthaven villagers! Where was that gall that pushes people to overreact!?

"Come on. Vent your anger, bastard. It's what dogs are adept at," Zmey said in a manipulative tone. A smile crept at the corners of his lips.

The guy was about to storm towards him. At that moment, Skyler stood in his way. She spread her arms, looking at the guy with a persuasive countenance.

"Please, let's be calm," she said to the guy. She glanced over her shoulder. She said in a serious tone, "What's the point of tormenting him? This is no act of someone that would one day save the world..."

"Tell me," Zmey cut in, "is acting indifferent towards one's life the act of that kind of person?

Must you die for others to see you as a hero? If you sacrifice your life, does that mean you have resolved everything?"

Silence stretched in the room.

For the first time in Eldengrove, Zmey felt a hint of an emotion enough to make him clench his fist. And furrow his brows.

His voice came as a gentle groan. "Get it down there, any cursed bastard thinking of signing. You're yourself, not a human weapon.

Not war machines! If you'll die, die. But don't... at the expense of satisfying anyone's wishes. Don't die for anyone!"

Some amateurs held their breaths. Even those that were always stoic felt the weight of those harsh yet true words. A particular guy, in his heart, thought of the legendary beast tamer, Silvan Ferox.

The instructor said that he sacrificed his life to wipe out a Necrot from Frosthaven. Now that he and the Necrot had perished, does that mean the invasion of beasts and the other Necrots had stopped?

Not by a chance! The irony was exactly why every one of them was at the Magic Sanctuary.

And the coldest truth about it was that battles might sacrifice them all. Yet, neither beasts nor Necrots would perish as well.

'There must really be a rule for Marked Ones at this rate,' Skyler thought. 'The key to conquer evil is for a fighter to priotize their own lives as well. Not being as one-dimensional as those that call themselves... heroes.'

But just at that moment....

"Curse your advice, man! Like no one would listen to you!" the guy that lashed at Zmey earlier yelled. Then he bit blood out of his thumb, and he imprinted his bloodied fingerprint on the scroll.

He had agreed to the death waiver for the next trial that could make him one of the three who would receive a reward. He needed this reward. This recognition!

In a flash, two more ladies did the same thing. Zmey wasn't surprised. Nor was he concerned.

'I don't want to die. But I'm not afraid of death,' he thought. 'I might die before breaking free from the ritual, nor accomplsihing the dragon's wish. But I will do all I can to stay alive through the days to come.'

Meanwhile, one guy was hesitant about putting his print on the waiver. Though he had already bitten his thumb...

Without warning, Alaric's voice came...

"Those of you who have signed the waiver..."

Under pressure, the guy finally placed his thumb firm on the waiver.

Nero swallowed down.

Annie looked here and there. She didn't want to risk her life, as Zmey said, but she still had the reward at heart.

Skyler sighed. 'I might not be a prodigy child after all. Might just be an ordinary spoilt brat I always have been.'

Zmey thought, 'Cursed worlds, always!'

"... You're disqualified." Alaric completed his statement.