Forged for Survival

Deception

Eris exhaled. This had to work.

Outside, the palace was a whirlwind of movement. Servants bustled through the halls, gathering trunks and silken parcels in preparation for the royal outing. She was surprised when she got home in the evening only to be informed. Her family would be gone for an entire week—a rare opportunity, but one that came with its own risks. If she vanished without a valid excuse, suspicion would fall on her immediately.

She uncorked the vial, tilting it against her lips. The liquid was tasteless, deceptively smooth. Within moments, a slow heat crept through her veins. Her skin prickled with discomfort, her pulse growing erratic. She let herself slump onto the bed, breathing unevenly as a wave of unnatural exhaustion settled over her limbs.

Moments later, a knock sounded at her door.

"Your Highness?" A maid's voice, cautious. "The Queen requests your presence before departure."

Eris forced herself to respond with a hoarse whisper. "I—I'm not well…" She let the words trail off, closing her eyes.

Silence. Then hurried footsteps retreating down the hall.

Good. They took the bait.

It wasn't long before the royal physician arrived, murmuring soft reassurances as he checked her pulse. The fever felt real—because it was. The merchant hadn't lied. Every sluggish movement, every burning sensation beneath her skin was genuine.

"She's in no condition to travel," the physician declared. "Rest is essential. Any strain could make it worse."

Her mother's voice was laced with concern, but also finality. "Then she stays."

Eris almost smiled. Checkmate.

---

Freedom in Chains

The palace was eerily quiet after her family's departure.

Eris lay still until she was certain the last of the royal entourage had left, carriages rattling down the stone-paved roads. Then, carefully, she pushed herself upright. The moment she moved, the weight of the medicine hit her full force. Her limbs trembled. Her breath came in short, uneven gasps.

She had planned for this.

A second vial—this one filled with a neutralizing agent—waited on her bedside table. She downed it in one swift motion, wincing as the bitter liquid burned her throat. The effects wouldn't vanish instantly, but within half an hour, she would be strong enough to walk.

Enough to meet the scheduled appointment with Orin by 10am this morning.

Yes, she might miss her combat lessons with Sir Alec because of her feigning illness but what she needed wasn't only traditional combat. She needed more.

She rang for a maid and requested privacy, claiming she needed three hours of undisturbed rest. It was an easy request—after all, she was sick. Who would question a princess confined to her chambers?

With the door locked and no eyes watching, she moved to the hidden compartment beneath her wardrobe and retrieved training clothes.

Very quickly, she summoned the system and soon she was gone.

Through the Hub – The Clock is Ticking

When Eris opened her eyes, the familiar shift of reality settling around her as the streets of the Hub came into focus. The air was thick with activity and urgency, merchants barking out prices, cloaked figures moving with quiet intent, and the ever-present hum of deals being struck in dark corners.

She barely spared it a glance.

The Hub had once felt overwhelming, but now it was just another maze to navigate. She had been here before. Enough times to know its shortcuts, its dangers, and its unspoken rules.

But today, there was no time to linger.

She was late.

Her plan to fake an illness had worked, but the medicine had left her slower than expected. And now, she was behind schedule.

Orin wouldn't be pleased.

Eris moved quickly, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease. She applied creative magic to make speedy boots so she could be faster. And soon she was at the door.

She knocked once. Sharp. Deliberate.

A pause. Then the door creaked open.

Inside the Lodge

Eris stepped through the threshold and was met with silence.

The air inside was cool and still, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy outside. The room was small but functional—a meeting table, old maps, training gear stacked neatly against the walls. No wasted space.

Only Saria was there, sitting alone at the table.

She glanced up as Eris entered, her sharp eyes assessing, calculating.

"You're late," she said flatly.

Eris exhaled, shutting the door behind her. "I know."

Saria didn't question it. Didn't ask why. Just watched.

Eris studied her in return. The last time she came here, Saria had still been in the middle of her third trial. Now, she was here. That meant one thing—she had passed.

Eris was elated for her. This further proved she made the right decision to seek this crew.

Then she nodded toward the hallway. "Are the others already waiting?"

Saria stood, stretching slightly before jerking her chin toward the door leading deeper into the lodge.

"Come on. You'll see for yourself."

The Training Hall – The Team Assembles

Eris followed Saria through the narrow, dimly lit corridors of the lodge, the sound of their footsteps quiet against the worn wooden floor. The air grew thicker, heavier. Not with tension—but with purpose.

Then, they stepped into the enclosed training chamber.

It was larger than the rest of the lodge, carved into the underground stone. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows over scarred floors and old sigils. A space built not for show, but for preparation.

And waiting there—leaning against the walls, seated on worn benches—were the rest of the team.

Orin. Aven. Ash.

Eris forced her expression to remain neutral as their gazes locked onto her. She had kept them waiting. A mistake.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she said evenly. "I had a few issues with leaving home unnoticed. I'll do better next time."

Orin didn't sigh or roll his eyes. He simply acknowledged her words with a nod before stepping forward.

"Now that everyone is here, we begin."

His tone was clipped and direct.

"You're both here because you want to survive. But right now? Both of you would last a day if thrown into a different realm for months. You might have been able to adjust to it if not for the fact that it's a deadly trial."

No one argued.

"This isn't just about strength. If you can't think, adapt, and outlast your opponents, you're dead. Our training will be split into three parts."

He gestured to Aven first.

"Survival & World Adaptation."

"Aven will teach you how to move unnoticed, navigate foreign environments, and avoid unnecessary fights. If you don't learn, you'll die before you ever get a chance to fight back."

Aven flicked a coin into the air, catching it between her fingers. She gave Eris a slow, unreadable smile.

"Some people like the thrill of a chase," she said lazily. "I prefer never getting caught to begin with."

Eris didn't react, but her mind was already working. Stealth had never been her strong suit, but adaptation? She could learn.

Orin ignored the comment and continued.

"Mind & Emotional Resilience."

"Saria will handle this. Strength is worthless if you can't control yourself. She'll teach you how to resist illusions, mind tricks, and fear."

Saria tilted her head, offering a small, knowing smile.

Eris met her gaze. That would be useful. She had already experienced enough manipulation to know how dangerous it could be. This time, she wouldn't be the one left blindsided.

Orin then turned back to the group.

"Combat & Strategy."

"I will handle this. It won't just be about fighting—it'll be about winning. If you hesitate, if you misjudge a situation, you won't get a second chance."

Eris straightened slightly, anticipation curling in her gut. She had been training with Sir Alec for years, but this would be different. This was real.

Then Orin paused as if remembering something.

"Also Shade, I forgot to mention it but Ash will be training with you too. He's preparing for stage two as well."

Eris's gaze flickered toward Ash. He hadn't spoken much, simply watching the discussion unfold with a quiet intensity.

So, they would be training together.

"You guys need to familiarize yourselves. Remember, you're going in together at the same time. It's an opportunity since you'll have your backs in the gate," Orin added.

Eris inhaled slowly. She had once let her inferiority twist into resentment. Not this time. If they were entering together, she wouldn't allow herself to be the weak link. She wouldn't fall behind.

Ash met her gaze, unreadable. Neither of them spoke, but something shifted in the air—a silent understanding.

Orin's voice pulled them back.

"Now, tell us your magic grade and the magic you inherently have so we can move from there," he instructed.

Eris squared her shoulders and spoke first.

"I'm a Neutral High creativity magic wielder, just 900 units short of reaching the threshold for my magic grade."

She expected no reaction, but Orin gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

Then Ash spoke.

"I'm a Divine Low Time manipulation magic user, with 10,000 Units left to my threshold."

Eris froze.

Divine Low. It had a cap of 20,000 Units so that meant Ash had 10,000 Units of magic energy.

Her fingers curled into her palms, but not out of resentment. Once, she might have felt that familiar twist of inadequacy—a reminder that she had been born with the lesser gift, while her sister had shined.

But this wasn't Celeste.

And she wasn't the same girl who let herself be swallowed by jealousy.

Instead, something sharper sparked in her chest. A challenge.

Ash was stronger than her. That was undeniable. But strength alone wasn't everything.

Eris exhaled, keeping her voice steady. "Good to know."

Orin gave a satisfied nod. "Good. We'll start now. But let's make this clear—training will be intense. You'll need to push yourselves."

Saria stepped in. "Our sessions will be scheduled three times a week with a day interval. I advise that back in your world, you review the training and have a personalized schedule."

"They should go through at least a dungeon crystal each week to track their progress," Aven added.

"Agreed. It will be intense, but if you time yourself well, you'll manage. Time is an advantage for us in the Hub," Saria said. "Combat lessons today, Aven's lessons on Friday, and I will take them on Monday."

Aven shrugged in acceptance.

"Three sessions a week. A dungeon crystal after each week. Personal review outside of these days is strongly advised." Orin's eyes flicked between them. "If you fall behind, don't expect sympathy."

Then he turned, already moving toward the training weapons.

"Now, let's see how good you are."

---

Eris's Thoughts

As she stepped forward, Eris felt it—the old instinct to measure herself against others. To compare.

But this time, she didn't feel small.

She felt determined.

If Ash was stronger, then she would be faster. Smarter. Unpredictable.

This wasn't about proving herself to anyone.

It was about making sure that when the trials came—she would be ready.