Chapter 3: The Aftermath

Arthur's entire body ached. His breathing was ragged, his limbs felt like lead, and his mind still reeled from what had just happened inside the Trial of the Veil. The whispers, the doppelgänger, the surge of power that had coursed through him—it was all still fresh, lingering in his veins like a distant echo.

He forced himself to his feet, blinking against the harsh morning light. Around him, the other trainees who had finished their trials watched in silence. Some looked at him with awe, others with something closer to fear. Before he could process any of it, a firm hand gripped his shoulder.

"Arthur."

He turned to see Kyzo, his fiery-haired friend, staring at him with a mix of concern and excitement. "What the hell happened in there? You were gone longer than anyone else."

Arthur hesitated. How could he explain it? That he had fought himself? That he had discovered something deep inside him—something terrifying and powerful? He wasn't even sure he understood it himself.

"I… I saw something," he admitted, shaking his head. "I don't know how to explain it."

Kyzo's golden eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't push. Instead, he smirked and clapped Arthur on the back. "Well, whatever it was, you survived. That's what matters."

Before Arthur could respond, Nexus and Lyric pushed through the crowd toward them. Lyric, ever perceptive, frowned the moment she laid eyes on him. "You look awful," she said bluntly. "Sit down before you fall over."

Arthur opened his mouth to argue, but the exhaustion weighing on him was undeniable. His legs felt unsteady, and he knew Lyric was right. He let himself sink onto a stone bench while Lyric knelt beside him, pressing her hands lightly against his arm. A soft, greenish glow surrounded her fingertips, warmth spreading through his aching muscles. The pain dulled almost instantly.

"You're lucky I'm here," she muttered. "You'd be out for days without me."

Arthur managed a weak chuckle. "Thanks, Lyric."

Nexus, meanwhile, had his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "You really fought yourself in there?"

Arthur glanced at him in surprise. "How do you—"

"I overheard some of the Guardians talking." Nexus adjusted his glasses, his eyes sharp with curiosity. "A doppelgänger trial… that's rare. And from what I've read, it only happens to those with the potential for something… greater."

Arthur swallowed. The way Nexus said 'greater' sent a shiver down his spine. He thought back to the moment he had tapped into time itself, how he had slowed the world around him, how it had felt like he was standing outside of reality.

Was that what the Guardians saw in him? Was that why his trial had been different?

Before he could say anything else, a heavy presence filled the courtyard. The silver-haired leader—the one who had announced the trial—stepped forward, his deep violet eyes scanning the remaining trainees. The murmuring crowd fell silent as he spoke.

"The Trial of the Veil is complete." His voice was steady, yet it carried an undeniable weight. "Those who stand here have proven their resilience. You may now take your first true step toward becoming warriors of the Forgotten Continent."

Some of the trainees straightened with pride. Others sagged with exhaustion. Arthur, however, could only focus on the way the leader's gaze lingered on him just a second too long.

"You have all witnessed what awaits you beyond these walls," the leader continued. "The world is not kind. It will not wait for you to be ready. Train harder. Grow stronger. The future depends on it."

The words settled heavily over them, like a warning and a promise all at once. Arthur clenched his fists. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing for certain:

He wasn't the same person who had entered that trial.

Something inside him had changed.

And soon, the world would know it too.

Later that evening, Arthur found himself staring at his reflection in a small basin of water inside the trainee quarters. His silver hair looked disheveled, and his deep violet eyes carried a weight that hadn't been there before. He splashed water on his face, hoping to shake the feeling of unease that clung to him.

A quiet knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," he called.

The door creaked open, and Kyzo stepped inside, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with something more serious. "Arthur… I saw something during my trial too."

Arthur straightened. "What do you mean?"

Kyzo leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "I saw fire—fire so hot it turned everything to ash. And for a second… I think I controlled it."

Arthur's heart pounded. "You mean—"

Kyzo nodded. "Yeah. I think I'm starting to awaken my magic."

Arthur exhaled slowly, running a hand through his damp hair. First his time magic, now Kyzo's fire. Things were changing faster than they could keep up with.

"We need to be ready," Arthur murmured. "Because I don't think the trials were just about testing us. I think they were preparing us for something bigger."

Kyzo smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Then we better start training."

Arthur met his gaze and nodded. Ready or not, the next step of their journey had begun.