The Path to Power

The city had a way of suffocating people. The streets, though bustling with life, felt like a cage with invisible bars. Merchants hollered their wares, beggars lingered in the alleyways, and armored knights patrolled the main roads. It was a world in motion, a stage filled with characters playing their part. Yet, to me, it was nothing more than a scripted performance.

A script I was about to rewrite.

Orion had given me a lead—a place known as the Shadow Sanctum, where warriors were forged in secrecy. If I wanted power, I had to seize every opportunity. I knew where the story was headed, but knowledge alone wasn't enough. Strength dictated fate in this world.

And I refused to be weak.

I met Orion in a secluded corner of an underground tavern. The air was thick with the scent of cheap ale and burning tobacco. A few eyes lingered on me when I entered, but they quickly turned away when Orion gave them a look. It seemed he had some influence here.

"You're early," he noted, sipping from his mug.

I took a seat across from him. "And you're late."

He smirked. "Patience is a virtue."

"Time is a resource."

Orion chuckled. "Fair enough." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I spoke to a contact. There's an initiation happening soon. A test. If you pass, you'll be considered for training."

"What's the test?"

"They don't tell you until you're there."

Of course. That made things complicated. But complications weren't an excuse to back down.

"Where is it?" I asked.

Orion slid a small piece of parchment across the table. I unfolded it, scanning the crude map. The location was outside the city, deep within the forest.

"They don't like outsiders sniffing around," Orion warned. "Once you're there, you either impress them or you disappear."

I nodded. "When?"

"Tomorrow night."

That gave me little time to prepare. Not ideal, but I'd worked with less before.

Orion studied me for a moment. "You're taking this seriously."

I met his gaze. "I don't do things halfway."

He smirked. "Good. You'll need that mindset."

The next day passed in quiet preparation. I gathered supplies—basic gear, a weapon, and a few emergency tools. I didn't know what the test would entail, so I had to be ready for anything.

When night fell, I made my way to the designated meeting point. The forest loomed ahead, its darkness stretching endlessly beyond the reach of the city lights. A few other figures stood in the clearing, silent and watchful.

No introductions were made. No instructions were given.

A hooded figure stepped forward, their voice cold and commanding. "You are here to prove your worth."

The air grew heavy with tension.

"The rules are simple," the figure continued. "Survive until dawn."

I remained motionless, absorbing the information. That was it? No further details?

The hooded figure gestured toward the forest. "Run."

No one hesitated. The moment the word left their lips, the others bolted into the trees.

I walked.

I could already hear the sounds of struggle breaking out behind me. Some of the participants had made the mistake of assuming this was a race.

It wasn't.

This was a hunt.

I stepped into the forest's embrace, my senses sharpening. The night was alive with whispers—the rustling of leaves, the distant snap of a branch. I was being watched.

And I wasn't alone.

I moved with purpose, keeping my steps light. The goal wasn't just survival—it was observation. I needed to understand the test, to find its loopholes.

Then, I saw them.

Shadows flitting through the trees, barely visible against the night. They moved in pairs, armed and prepared.

Hunters.

So that was the real test.

They weren't waiting for us to prove ourselves.

They were the ones deciding who lived and who didn't.

A mistake here meant death. But mistakes weren't in my nature.

I pressed myself against a tree, slowing my breathing. The hunters moved past me, their gazes scanning the forest floor. They weren't looking for just anyone.

They were looking for the weak.

I let them pass, calculating my next move. Fighting them head-on was foolish. But eliminating them one by one…

That was an option.

I picked up a small stone and tossed it into the underbrush. The hunters reacted instantly, weapons raised as they moved toward the sound.

I moved in the opposite direction.

Time passed in silence, the night stretching on as I maneuvered through the test. Others weren't as lucky. I heard the brief clashes, the pained cries that were quickly silenced.

I ignored them.

They weren't part of my plan.

Dawn came slowly, the first rays of sunlight piercing through the trees. The hunters had grown more aggressive as the night wore on, but I had evaded them all.

I wasn't the strongest.

But I was the smartest.

As the light grew, the survivors were gathered back at the clearing. Fewer than half remained.

The hooded figure from before stepped forward, scanning the group. Their gaze lingered on me for a moment before they spoke.

"You have proven yourselves."

Silence.

"The real test begins now."

I smirked.

So this was only the beginning?

Good.

Because I wasn't done yet.