Chapter 14: The Final Trial

The murmurs of the audience still lingered in the air as Mira walked out of the magic testing area. The weight of what she had just done hung heavy in the eyes of the instructors and candidates alike. Even those who had dismissed her before now stared with thinly veiled caution or outright suspicion.

Nia was waiting for her near the teleportation platform, her tail flicking anxiously. "That was… reckless," she murmured as Mira approached.

Mira smirked, crossing her arms. "Reckless? I call it making a statement."

Nia's ears flattened. "You made too big a statement."

Mira scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "If they fear me, then they won't try anything stupid. I want them to know that I'm not someone to be ignored."

Before Nia could reply, a voice echoed overhead once again. "All remaining candidates, proceed to the final trial area."

A rush of teleportation magic surged around them as Mira stepped into the sigil. When the light faded, she found herself standing in yet another vast arena—this one resembling a colossal labyrinth carved into stone.

An instructor stood at the entrance, his sharp gaze scanning the gathered students. "The final trial is the Labyrinth of Tenacity. This test will evaluate your ability to navigate through perilous environments, overcome unexpected dangers, and make strategic decisions under pressure. There will be no direct combat against one another. Your only enemy is the labyrinth itself."

Mira's eyes narrowed. A labyrinth, huh? That means traps, monsters, and misdirection.

The instructor continued, "The goal is to reach the exit. Those who fail to do so in the allotted time will be disqualified. Your performance will be graded based on speed, awareness, and resourcefulness. There are magical beasts within—defeating them is not required, but survival is."

Nia tensed beside her. "A labyrinth is the worst kind of trial for someone like me… I hate confined spaces."

Mira placed a hand on Nia's head, giving her a confident grin. "Then stay close to me. I'll carve us a path."

The moment the trial began, the large stone gates swung open, and the candidates rushed in. Mira and Nia stepped into the dimly lit maze, the towering stone walls stretching endlessly in every direction.

"Stay alert," Mira whispered. "These kinds of trials are never straightforward."

Almost immediately, the first set of obstacles appeared—spiked pits that activated when stepped on, walls that moved unpredictably to block paths, and shifting floors that threatened to send them plummeting. But Mira was quick to adapt, her sharp mind working through the patterns within moments.

She leapt over a pit with practiced ease, motioning for Nia to follow. The nekomimi landed gracefully beside her, her feline instincts helping her maneuver through the treacherous terrain.

The real danger, however, came in the form of the labyrinth's guardians.

A deep growl echoed through the tunnels as a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows. A monstrous, wolf-like beast with obsidian fur and jagged claws slinked toward them, its presence radiating malevolence.

Nia's breath hitched. "A Shadowfang… those things are fast."

Mira smirked. "Let's see how fast."

The beast lunged, but Mira was already moving. She sidestepped effortlessly, her reflexes enhanced by her unnatural arrogance—she believed she would win, and her body followed suit.

With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a blade of crimson energy, slashing at the creature as it passed. The beast howled, staggering back as dark ichor seeped from the wound.

Nia didn't hesitate, taking the opening Mira had created. Her own magic flared as she whispered a single word—"Void Step."

She vanished in an instant, reappearing behind the beast with her claws extended. A deep gash tore across its hind legs, making it collapse.

Mira raised an eyebrow. "Finally using your divine blessing? Took you long enough."

Nia flicked blood from her claws, her ears twitching. "I told you, I don't like using it unless I have to."

The beast tried to rise, but Mira ended the fight with a precise blast of force magic, sending it crashing into the wall. The glow in its eyes faded as it fell still.

Panting slightly, Nia turned to Mira. "We should keep moving. We don't know how many more of those things are lurking."

Mira nodded, her expression hardening. "Right. Let's finish this trial."

Navigating deeper into the labyrinth, they encountered more creatures, more traps—but Mira's sharp instincts and Nia's agility made them an unstoppable duo. Together, they carved a path through the stone corridors, their synergy growing with every obstacle they overcame.

And then, finally, they saw it.

The exit.

A large, glowing archway stood at the end of the passage, a few other candidates already trickling through. Mira smirked, grabbing Nia's hand and pulling her forward. "Let's go."

They stepped through the threshold, and the labyrinth dissolved into light. The trial was over.

When Mira's vision cleared, she found herself back in the academy courtyard, where the instructors were waiting.

One of them smiled. "Congratulations. You have passed all three trials. Tomorrow, the entrance ceremony will take place, where you will be assigned your classes."

Mira crossed her arms, a victorious smirk playing on her lips. I made it.

But in the crowd, she spotted a familiar figure watching her.

The original protagonist.

Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, a foreign hatred surged within her—a hatred she knew wasn't entirely her own.

Her curse pulsed.

And she smirked wider.

Let the real game begin.