Chapter 5: The Illusion Trial

The academy representatives led the candidates into a new part of the square, this area veiled in a surreal haze. The crowd's murmur quieted as they approached, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. Axton felt a strange pressure in the air, a tension that made his skin prickle.

"This trial," the silver-haired woman announced, her voice echoing across the open space, "will test your ability to withstand mental manipulation. You will be subjected to illusions, crafted by us, that will distort your perception of reality. Your task is to maintain focus and recognize what is true."

Axton's stomach twisted. The very idea of being manipulated so directly unsettled him. His mind was his sanctuary—what would he do if it turned against him?

The candidates lined up, all looking uneasy. Axton was no exception, but he tried to steady his breath. If he was going to make it through this trial, he had to stay sharp.

"Lila, you're first," the silver-haired woman called.

Lila stepped forward, eyes narrowed in concentration. As soon as she crossed the threshold into the trial space, a soft glow enveloped her, and the world around her shifted. The sounds of the village disappeared, replaced by a haunting silence. The ground beneath her feet felt unstable, as though the earth were shifting like quicksand. She glanced up, and the sky was no longer blue but a dark, swirling vortex, pulling her vision into a whirlpool of colors.

The academy representatives observed her carefully as she began to falter, her steps becoming less certain. She looked around, disoriented, as more bizarre, impossible things began to manifest: floating rocks, sudden flashes of blinding light, and shadows that stretched unnaturally long.

Axton watched, heart pounding. It was clear that the illusion was powerful. Lila's confident demeanor wavered, and he could see her struggle to maintain control. She clenched her fists, grounding herself, and after a few moments, her breathing slowed. The illusions flickered, losing their grip on her. She stepped forward with renewed focus, finding her way through the distortions until she finally crossed a shimmering threshold and was free.

"Well done," one of the representatives commented, though their tone was cold. "Next, Gavin."

Gavin stepped into the trial area with a confident swagger, his muscular frame tense with anticipation. The moment he entered, the air around him shimmered, and the ground seemed to open up into a massive chasm. Dark figures leapt at him from the edge of the abyss, their claws reaching for him. Gavin's fists clenched, but before he could react, the chasm seemed to swallow him whole.

Axton could barely see him now, lost in the illusion. He watched intently, noting how Gavin fought back against the images, swinging punches at shadows that weren't real, his body swaying to dodge things that didn't exist. It wasn't long before the illusion began to dissolve, the chasm disappearing, leaving Gavin breathing heavily but standing tall.

"Your strength won't help here," one of the representatives muttered, but there was a hint of approval in their voice nonetheless.

Next, it was Elias's turn. He stepped forward with a knowing grin, ready to face whatever the academy threw at him. Axton couldn't help but notice how Elias seemed calm despite the trials that had come before. He had an air of confidence about him, a quiet belief that no matter what happened, he would be fine.

As Elias entered the circle, the air warped around him. His surroundings flickered like a broken reflection in a mirror. A moment later, everything shifted into a scene that seemed far too familiar: the village square, but distorted, darker—almost as if it were a memory. And then Axton saw it—himself, standing near the trial's starting line, with a crowd of villagers watching, muttering under their breath.

Elias froze, his gaze meeting Axton's illusionary self. "What is this?" he muttered, looking back to the shifting figures of villagers who suddenly pointed at him, accusing.

The false Axton smirked. "You don't belong here, Elias," it sneered, "just a village boy, not good enough for this academy."

Elias's face tightened, but Axton could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. He wasn't used to being questioned, least of all by his own mind. Elias gritted his teeth, but then he shook his head, stepping forward with determination. "This isn't real."

With that, the illusion shattered, and Elias was free to move on.

Finally, it was Axton's turn. His stomach churned. He had no idea how he would fare in this trial. He stepped into the circle, breathing deeply. The moment the boundary was crossed, the air seemed to shift. For a heartbeat, everything was perfectly still. Then the illusions began.

First, there was the village—his home, but twisted. He saw his foster parents, William and Evelyn, standing at the edge of the square, but their faces were blank, expressionless. A deep sense of unease crept up his spine.

"Why did they send you here, Axton?" a voice echoed, low and menacing. The illusion of William stepped forward. "You don't belong with us."

The world around him rippled, distorting further. Axton's hands shook as the images flickered faster, now showing him alone, abandoned. The whispers around him grew louder, seeping into his mind like a poison. He tried to focus, to remind himself that it wasn't real, but the doubt they instilled in him was suffocating.

He staggered, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't tell what was real anymore.

And then, a brief flicker—something. It wasn't much, but it was enough. A brief flash of clarity—his true self, strong and whole, not the broken version the illusion wanted to show. In that moment, he felt something stir within him, a hint of power, but it was fleeting, almost like a whisper.

The illusion shattered, and the real world came back into focus. He was standing in the center of the circle, surrounded by silence.

The academy representatives exchanged glances, but none of them spoke. Axton felt the weight of their scrutiny, but he didn't know whether it had been enough. Was it enough