Trials of Strength

The morning sun cast golden rays over the Academy of Veythar, signaling the day of the official Ranking Evaluation. Students bustled through the marble-paved courtyards, their nerves palpable in the crisp autumn air. Conversations buzzed in clusters—bets placed, rivalries intensified, and ambitions sharpened like well-honed blades.

Raine Vaelor adjusted his leather gauntlets as he strode toward the central coliseum, where the evaluations would take place. The tension in the academy had reached its peak, as the rankings would determine privileges, resources, and one's place in the ever-growing hierarchy of Veythar. For nobles, it was a matter of prestige; for commoners, it was a rare chance to defy expectations.

As Raine entered the arena, he noticed Aldric Valtheris standing near the contestant's waiting area, his silver hair catching the morning light. Their eyes met, and for a moment, there was an unspoken acknowledgment. Aldric, his expression unreadable, turned his gaze toward the royal balcony where influential figures of Vaeloria's noble houses observed the trials. Among them were representatives from the Elven Dominion, Dwarven Forgemasters, and the enigmatic Shadowcloaks—Vaeloria's elusive intelligence faction. The presence of these powerhouses spoke volumes; the Ranking Evaluation wasn't just an academy event—it was a stage where future leaders and warriors of Vaeloria would be scouted.

The first trials focused on individual combat. The students were divided into matchups based on their previous rankings, but newcomers like Raine had no initial standing. He would have to carve his own path with steel and spell alike.

His first opponent was Cedric Montclair, a noble scion wielding twin rapiers imbued with wind magic. The duel began with Cedric launching a flurry of rapid thrusts, his speed amplified by aeromantic enchantments. Raine, relying on Phantom Steps, danced between strikes, countering with precise movements that disrupted Cedric's momentum.

A clash of steel, a sudden feint, and Raine capitalized on an opening—his blade drawing a thin crimson line across Cedric's arm. The match was called in Raine's favor, drawing murmurs from the crowd. A commoner-born challenger besting a noble? The hierarchy was already being questioned.

Between matches, the academy's loudspeaker announced a pressing matter beyond Veythar's walls: a border skirmish had erupted between the Kingdom of Vaeloria and the Dominion of Eldrath. Whispers spread like wildfire. Was this merely a political flex, or the prelude to something far greater? Even within the Academy, students knew that noble houses had stakes in every battle beyond the walls.

Raine watched as the next match was announced—Aldric Valtheris against a third-year prodigy. As Aldric stepped onto the field, a sudden gust of wind swept through the arena, as if heralding something inevitable.

The real trials were only beginning.