Chapter 25: The Beginning of the Real Trials

The morning sun rose lazily, casting its warm light over the training grounds, where the first years had just finished an intense training session. Sweat dripped down Axton's face, but the ache in his muscles wasn't the only thing weighing on him. His thoughts kept drifting back to the library—its unsettling silence, the strange whispers, and the faint glow of the ancient tomes. The memory gnawed at him, but there was no time to dwell.

As they made their way through the bustling hallways, Axton couldn't shake the nagging thought that had haunted him since that night in the library. The eerie silence, the strange pull he felt toward those ancient books, and the unsettling whispers that seemed to call his name—all of it lingered in the back of his mind like a shadow he couldn't outrun. He told himself it was just the nerves of starting the real trials, but something about that place felt… different. Something important had happened, and he couldn't quite grasp why it had left him feeling so unsettled. The sense of being watched, the sense that he was standing on the edge of a deeper mystery—it all gnawed at him.

"Alright, first years, gather up!" Professor Salazar's commanding voice cut through the low chatter, snapping Axton back to the present. Around him, his classmates began forming a loose circle, their faces filled with exhaustion and curiosity.

Axton stole a glance at Elias, who stood beside him, his expression unreadable. They hadn't talked much that morning, though Axton suspected his friend was just as tense as he was. The training was grueling enough, but the unspoken weight of what was coming next was almost suffocating.

"Listen up," Salazar said, his sharp gaze scanning the group. "Everything you've done so far—the drills, the practice, the lessons—that was just the surface. Today marks the beginning of the real trials. The real Academy."

Whispers broke out instantly.

"The real Academy?" someone muttered.

"What does that even mean?" another asked nervously.

Axton felt a prickle of unease as the murmurs grew louder. He could feel the tension around him, hear the nervous excitement and fear in every hushed word.

"Silence!" Salazar's voice boomed, and the students fell quiet. "You're entering a new stage, one that will test not just your abilities but your survival instincts. Missions, trials, life-and-death challenges—this is what the Academy is truly about. Only those who prove themselves will advance."

The murmurs didn't stop entirely this time. Axton caught snippets of conversations around him:

"Missions? What kind of missions?"

"Life and death? He can't be serious…"

"I knew this was coming. My brother warned me about it."

Axton glanced at Elias, whose jaw was set tight, his eyes narrowing slightly. He wasn't saying anything, but Axton could tell he was thinking the same thing: this wasn't going to be easy.

Salazar continued, "You'll be divided into teams of three or four for safety, and your success will depend on how well you work together. Missions will range from collecting rare resources to dealing with… more dangerous tasks." His voice took on a darker edge. "Your life will depend on your decisions, so choose your teammates wisely."

This time, the murmurs grew into an audible buzz. Students began turning to each other, some already whispering plans, others looking around nervously for potential teammates.

Axton felt a pang of anxiety as he realized he hadn't thought about forming a team. He glanced at Elias, who gave him a small, reassuring nod.

"We're sticking together," Elias said quietly, his voice steady.

Axton nodded back, relieved. At least that was one thing he didn't have to worry about.

As the buzz grew louder, Axton caught sight of Seraphina standing a few feet away. She wasn't rushing to form alliances or whispering nervously like the others. Instead, she stood still, calm and composed, her expression unreadable. Corbin, standing not far from her, was equally unaffected, though his smirk made it clear he found the chaos around them amusing.

Axton couldn't help but feel a stab of envy. Seraphina and Corbin radiated confidence, their privileged backgrounds and power making it clear they were no strangers to situations like this. For them, this was just another step, another challenge to overcome.

Finally, Salazar raised his hand, and the noise died down. "You'll have the rest of the day to finalize your teams, but let me give you a word of advice: this isn't a game. Choose people you trust, people who will have your back when things get tough."

Axton felt the weight of those words settle over him like a heavy cloak. Trust. That was easier said than done.

Salazar gestured to the other instructors, who began handing out small metallic bracelets to the students. When it was Axton's turn, he held out his arm, watching as the device clicked into place around his wrist. A soft hum resonated as a glowing screen appeared above it, displaying his name and a pulsating life-status bar.

"This is your Life Tracker," the instructor explained. "It will monitor your life force and keep track of your progress during missions. If your life status reaches critical levels, the system will notify us immediately. Take care of it, and don't ignore the warnings."

Axton stared at the glowing display, his stomach twisting uncomfortably. It was a sobering reminder that this wasn't just about passing classes or earning points. This was about survival.

"Now," Salazar said, his voice cutting through the tension, "it's time to see the real Academy."

The air around them shimmered, and Axton felt a sudden pull in his chest as the world around him dissolved.

When the sensation faded, he found himself standing in the courtyard of a massive structure. The sheer size of it took his breath away. Towering buildings with intricate designs loomed above them, their walls etched with glowing runes that pulsed with energy.

Around him, the other first years were equally stunned, their heads craning as they tried to take in the grandeur of the Academy.

"Are you seeing this?" Elias muttered, his voice filled with awe.

Axton nodded silently. He had no words to describe what he was feeling.

Not everyone was so impressed, though. Seraphina and Corbin walked ahead, their expressions as calm as ever. It was clear this level of grandeur was nothing new to them.

As they made their way to the dormitories, Axton noticed how the crowd seemed to part for the upper years, who exuded an almost tangible aura of power. Whispers followed them, filled with admiration and fear.

"Second years can already go on advanced missions," someone murmured.

"Third years… they're on a whole different level."

When they finally reached the dormitories, the first years were divided into two groups. The boys' dormitory stood on one side of the courtyard, while the girls' dormitory stood on the other. Both were massive, elegant structures with glowing insignias marking their entrances.

Axton and Elias stared up at the boys' dorm, their jaws dropping slightly. The building was nothing like the cramped barracks they had grown used to. Floating chandeliers lit the hallways, and the rooms seemed to hum with magic.

"This place is insane," Elias muttered.

"Yeah," Axton said quietly, though his gaze kept drifting back to the older students. Their power was palpable, a constant reminder of how far he still had to go.

As they entered the dorms, Axton couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The real trials were just starting, and he had no idea what lay ahead.