Training and Reconciliation

The days leading up to the final Aether Knight trial were a whirlwind of preparation and training for Mixarnt. He spent countless hours honing the skills and knowledge Merlin had imparted to him, delving deep into the engraved wisdom within his soul in the Solaris training ground. Yet, despite his efforts, one thing continued to elude him: the activation of the Ideal Zone.

"Hmmm, why though? Why can't I activate Ideal Zone?" Mixarnt muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in concentration. He wasn't annoyed—more than anything, he was confused. The feeling was the same as when he had accessed it before, but no matter how hard he tried, it just wouldn't work. Shaking his head, he decided to put the thought aside for now, focusing instead on the upcoming trial.

"Hey, Mixarnt! Gahahaha! We're here to train you for the remaining days," Gundrik announced, his voice booming with enthusiasm.

Mixarnt, however, was skeptical. He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "What would three drunkards teach me?" he asked, his tone laced with playful sarcasm.

The three men erupted into laughter. Arthur's hearty laugh echoed across the training ground, Gundrik held his belly as he guffawed, and even Lancelot chuckled softly at Mixarnt's audacity. Their laughter only served to annoy Mixarnt further, his brow twitching as he watched them.

"Hey, I'm training!" Mixarnt said, his voice tinged with annoyance but lacking any real malice.

Lancelot, still smiling, stepped forward. "Did you forget, Mixarnt? You were having trouble landing a single hit on me during our spar," he reminded him, his tone light but pointed.

Gundrik chimed in, his grin widening. "And I deflected that mana wave of yours easily during our match," he added, clearly enjoying the chance to tease Mixarnt.

Arthur, ever the philosopher, raised a finger dramatically. "And I imparted you with words of wisdom!" he declared, his voice filled with mock grandeur.

Mixarnt's eye twitched at Arthur's words, but he chose to ignore it. "Fine, fine," he said, relenting. "So, it's special training, then?"

"Exactly," Lancelot said, his tone now serious. He casually tossed two anklets toward Mixarnt, who caught them with ease. "Now, wear these."

Mixarnt raised an eyebrow but complied, slipping the anklets onto his legs. At first, they felt light, but the moment he stood up, his legs nearly buckled under the sudden weight. "AGHHH-" he exclaimed, his words cut off as he struggled to stay upright.

Lancelot smirked, clearly enjoying Mixarnt's reaction. "Those anklets are called Mana Anklets. You'll need to pour mana into them to stabilize their weight. They'll improve your concentration and control over your mana. When you need to remove them, all the mana you've stored in them will be released back into your body. Be careful, though—if your body can't handle the quantity, you could suffer from mana poisoning."

Mixarnt gritted his teeth, already feeling the strain of the anklets. He focused, channeling his mana into them, and slowly the weight became more manageable. "Alright, I get it," he said, his voice strained but determined.

Gundrik stepped forward next, his grin as wide as ever. "Next, you'll be training with me. Unlike Lancelot and Arthur, my fighting style is balanced, allowing you to mix offense and defense effectively. You'll need that if you want to stand a chance against stronger opponents."

Mixarnt nodded, his expression serious now. He could feel the weight of the anklets constantly reminding him to stay focused, to keep his mana flowing steadily. "I see... Alright then!" he said, a grin spreading across his face. Despite the challenge, he was excited. This was an opportunity to grow stronger, and he wasn't about to waste it.

Arthur clapped Mixarnt on the back with a boisterous laugh. "And I'll teach you a one-time technique to activate Merlin's secret art!"

Mixarnt's eyes sparkled with excitement, but before they could begin, Elara came sprinting into the Solaris training grounds, waving frantically. "Mixarnt! They're ready!" She proudly presented three bulging sacks, each filled with shimmering vials. "Each potion cost 5 million to make, but Guild Master Orion negotiated a bulk discount. Total production cost: 90 million gold."

Gundrik nearly choked on his drink. "What in blazes are these, lad?"

Arthur's eyebrows shot up. "Could it be...?"

Lancelot crossed his arms. "Could it be what?"

"These aren't ordinary potions," Arthur explained, his voice tinged with awe. "They're brewed from Blessing Flowers - so rare they can fetch 25 million per vial at auction! The recipe is a closely guarded secret of the Adventurers' Guild's master alchemists."

The two veteran warriors gaped at Mixarnt with newfound suspicion.

"What? I didn't steal them!" Mixarnt protested, scratching his head. "I just happened to collect a bunch of Blessing Flowers during my travels."

Arthur chuckled. "Ah right, your infamous habit of gathering ten times the requested materials. Though even for you, thirty flowers is impressive."

"Actually, they were tough to find," Mixarnt admitted. "I used five for guild quests and turned the other twenty-five into these." To demonstrate, he uncorked a vial and drank deeply. Golden light enveloped his body as all his wounds vanished instantly, the bandages falling away to reveal unblemished skin.

Gundrik and Lancelot stared, slack-jawed at the miraculous healing.

"Don't look so shocked," Arthur said with an amused grin. "One benefit of being a well-traveled adventurer is learning secrets you'd never encounter in royal courts. The guild keeps this alchemical knowledge strictly guarded."

Lancelot frowned. "But why make so many? You could've made a fortune selling them."

Mixarnt shrugged with a carefree smile. "I can always find more flowers if I need to, though it might take a while. After nearly dying in the first four trials, I figured having these on hand would be... prudent." He gave them his trademark grin. "Better safe than sorry, right?"

Meanwhile, in the grand round table room, Eclipse, Althea, Sunshine, Gerald, and Lamorak were deep in discussion, finalizing the details of the final exam. The atmosphere was tense but filled with anticipation.

"We've already talked to some important people who will be participating in this event as third parties," Gerald reported, his tone professional. "They've agreed to be part of the escort mission. Everything is set on that front."

"Stronghold defense is also ready," Lamorak added, leaning back in his chair. "The final candidates have basically already passed the exams in terms of skill. Now, we just need to test their loyalty and decision-making under pressure."

Sunshine nodded, her expression calm but focused. "The enclosed magical dome in the colosseum Arena is also ready as you requested, Eclipse. Now, you just need to activate it."

Althea, ever the meticulous planner, chimed in with a grin. "And the observation tools and magic are all set. The entire kingdom will be able to watch the final exam unfold. This is going to be quite the spectacle."

Eclipse leaned forward, her sly grin widening. "Kuku. Now this will be interesting," she said, her voice dripping with mischief. As the mastermind behind the final exam, Eclipse had designed it to be a true test for the candidates' abilities, judgment, and character. And as the wildcard, she herself would play a pivotal role in the trial, ensuring that nothing would go as expected.

On the day of the exam, the air was thick with tension and excitement. The remaining 34 candidates gathered in the designated area, their expressions a mix of determination and nervousness. Mixarnt scanned the crowd, his eyes landing on Liva, a fellow candidate he hadn't had the chance to properly reconcile with since the fourth trial.

Without hesitation, Mixarnt made his way over to her. "Liva!" he called out, his voice earnest. When he reached her, he took a deep breath and spoke with genuine sincerity. "I'm terribly sorry for how cold I acted during the fourth trial. Can we start over and be friends? This time, I'll do better."

Liva blinked, caught off guard by his sudden apology. Her cheeks flushed as she processed his words. During the fourth trial, Mixarnt had been distant and indifferent, his broken heart clouding his judgment and leading to rash decisions that nearly jeopardized their team. Yet, in the final moments, he had sacrificed himself to secure their victory, proving his worth as a teammate. Liva had always felt guilty about her own incompetence during that trial, knowing that she had only passed because of Mixarnt's actions.

"Mixarnt, I..." Liva stammered, her voice soft. "I should be the one apologizing. I was a mess back then, and I know I only made it this far because of you. I'm sorry for not being more reliable."

Mixarnt shook his head, a warm smile spreading across his face. "No, it's okay. We all have our moments. Let's just do our best today, okay? As friends."

Liva's eyes widened, and then she smiled, a genuine expression of relief and gratitude. "Yeah... as friends."

As the two shook hands, the tension between them melted away, replaced by a newfound sense of camaraderie. Around them, the other candidates were preparing themselves, unaware of the challenges that awaited them. The final exam was about to begin, and with it, a test that would push them to their limits—not just as warriors, but as individuals.

Mixarnt took a deep breath, his resolve firm. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it head-on, with Liva and the others by his side. The trial would be grueling, but he was determined to prove himself—not just to Aetherlight, but to himself as well.