Chapter 7: The Trial Forest and the Whisper of Ice

After the swirl of azure light subsided, Aria found herself standing in the midst of a dense and ancient forest. Sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves created dancing patterns of light and shadow on the ground. The air was fresh and damp, carrying the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves. The chirping of birds echoed in the distance, but nearby, a palpable tension hung in the air among the crowd of children her age scattered throughout the forest.

They hailed from various races and nations across Nytharia. Aria saw elven children with graceful pointed ears and eyes as sharp as emeralds, some of whom emanated a faint magical aura like ripples of water beneath moonlight. There were also several dwarven children who appeared sturdy and robust, their hair and beards neatly braided, their hands occasionally touching the small hammers or tools at their waists. In addition, there were, of course, many humans from different regions, with physical features and clothing reflecting their respective cultures. More interestingly, Aria saw several half-beast children—a human girl with nimble fox ears and a tail sniffing the air, a boy with sharp feline eyes and movements as smooth as shadows, and others with a subtle whisper of the wild in their gaze. Aria realized that not a single one of them possessed the terrifying physical characteristics of demons. They were all descendants of Nytharia's diverse peoples, though an aura of determination and a hint of anxiety emanated from their eyes.

Aria carefully observed her surroundings. There was no magnificent academy building in sight, no gate bearing the place's name. Only towering trees stretched towards the sky, dense undergrowth formed tangled barriers, and narrow paths wound between the roots of ancient trees. She clutched the locket from her grandfather, feeling the warmth of the metal in her palm, an anchor in this uncertainty.

Slowly, understanding dawned upon her. This place... was not the academy itself. This must be some kind of test, an obstacle to overcome to prove their worth before being allowed to enter the actual training grounds for heroes. The gazes of the other children, occasionally meeting hers, held a cold wariness and competition. They all undoubtedly shared the same goal: to be the best, to prove themselves worthy of the title of Nytharian hero. Aria took a deep breath, feeling the forest air fill her lungs. "Arthur" might just be a guise, but her determination to protect Nytharia was real. She would face this trial, whatever the challenge.

Amidst the diverse crowd, Aria's blue eyes caught an unpleasant interaction. Near a towering oak tree, stood a young elf radiating an air of superiority. His silver-white hair was neatly styled, and his blue robe, woven from fine fabric, moved gently in the breeze. This was Valerius, a prince from one of Nytharia's most respected elven kingdoms.

Before him stood two beautiful elven twin girls, Sylvana and Sylvia. Their skin was as white as marble, emitting a soft glow amidst the shadows of the trees. Sylvana had long, soft earth-brown hair, interwoven with strands of small forest flowers, while Sylvia's hair was the fresh green of young leaves, shimmering in the sunlight. Their eyes, the dark color of pine needles, were now dimmed by discomfort. They appeared smaller and more slender than Valerius, and their expressions showed unease and fear. Valerius spoke to them with a mocking tone, often pointing with his slender fingers adorned with silver rings. Aria could hear snippets of Valerius's condescending words about "lack of courage" and "inability to compete."

Her instinct to protect the weak surged, a deeply ingrained response even as she concealed her own identity. Witnessing injustice before her eyes compelled her to act. With steady steps, Aria approached the group.

"What's going on here?" Aria asked, her voice clear but not threatening, cutting through the tense silence. She stood beside Sylvana and Sylvia, offering a small reassurance with her gaze that they were not alone.

Valerius turned with a look of disdain, assessing Aria from head to toe as if she were an irritating insect. "None of your business, human child. This is an elven family matter." His tone was as cold as a mountain wind.

"If your 'family matter' involves bullying those weaker than you, then it becomes the business of anyone with a conscience," Aria retorted, her gaze unwavering in the face of Valerius's narrowed eyes, as sharp as ice.

Valerius gave a cynical laugh, a dry sound without warmth. "Look, the lowly human trying to defend these cowardly elves. You two deserve this treatment for your lack of confidence."

Sylvana and Sylvia flinched at Valerius's insults. Aria could feel their bodies tense beside her. In fact, Aria sensed a faint magical aura emanating from the beautiful twins, like blossoms unfurling in a hidden place, implying that their abilities were not weak, merely suppressed by their shyness.

"No one deserves to be treated like that simply because of their shyness," Aria said firmly. "We're all here for the same reason, aren't we? To become heroes."

Valerius scoffed, his eyes flashing with anger like lightning in a night sky. "You think a child like you knows what it means to be a hero? Begone before I make you regret interfering."

Aria stood her ground, her feet rooted firmly to the earth. "I won't leave. They've done nothing wrong except become targets of your arrogance."

Valerius's eyes blazed with fury. However, before he could unleash more cutting words, a loud voice echoed through the forest, silencing all conversations as if by a binding spell.

"Attention everyone!"

A human adult in a brown robe with a carved staff appeared from behind the trees. An aura of wisdom and power emanated from him like the morning sun.

"Welcome to the Hero Academy of Nytharia's Eligibility Trials. I am Master Elara." His sharp gaze swept over the crowd of children. "Your first trial is simple: survival. You will remain in this forest for three days and three nights. Every person for themselves. No assistance, no interference from us. Only the strongest and most cunning will pass and be entitled to proceed further towards the academy. May fortune favor you."

Master Elara then vanished as quickly as he had appeared, leaving a tense silence before the forest filled with whispers and restless movements from the test takers. Valerius scoffed in annoyance and glanced at Aria and the beautiful elven twins with a disdainful look before striding away haughtily.

After the departure of the teacher and the arrogant elven prince, Aria turned to the beautiful elven twins. "Are you alright?" she asked in a gentle tone, implying genuine concern.

Sylvana and Sylvia exchanged glances, then looked at Aria with expressions of surprise and sincere gratitude.

"Yes... thank you," Sylvana replied softly, her voice like the murmur of water in a small stream.

"He's always like that," Sylvia added in a low voice, though a newfound spark of courage flickered within it. "Because we... aren't as brave as the others."

"But you have magic, don't you?" Aria said, sensing their faint aura earlier. "Don't let others make you feel weak."

For the first time, Sylvana and Sylvia gave small smiles. A glimmer of hope and warmth appeared in their dark eyes as they looked at Aria.

"My name is Arthur," Aria said, extending a hand to one of them.

"Sylvana," the beautiful, brown-haired, white-skinned elf girl replied, hesitantly shaking Aria's hand but with a more confident smile.

"And I'm Sylvia," her beautiful, green-haired, white-skinned twin added, doing the same, her gaze now bolder.

In the heart of the forest filled with aspiring heroes from all corners of Nytharia, an unexpected friendship was born from the defense of a girl disguised as a prince and two beautiful elven twins who were shy but possessed hidden magical potential. The bond formed while facing the arrogance of an elven prince became the beginning of an alliance that might play a crucial role in the survival trial that had just begun.

The first night in the trial forest was cold and silent. Aria, Sylvana, and Sylvia huddled together behind a large pile of rocks they had found, sharing body heat and the meager supplies Aria had brought. A small fire danced before them, casting a soft glow and warding off the dancing shadows. The scent of burning wood mingled with the earthy aroma of the forest and nocturnal plants.

While sharing the forest berries they had found, they began to talk quietly. Sylvana, with her gentle voice, spoke of her deep connection with the forest creatures, how she could sense their presence like subtle vibrations in the ground and even communicate on a simple level, understanding the language of rustling leaves and birdsong. Sylvia, with her keen eyes and sensitivity to her surroundings, shared her knowledge of various plants, which were safe to eat with a slightly sweet taste, which were poisonous with a pungent odor, and even the hidden magical properties within their sap and roots. Aria, with her intelligence and courage, led the discussion about survival strategies, reminding them to always be vigilant for strange sounds and movements in the darkness, and to move together as one unit. The three of them, though newly met, began to feel the budding of friendship in the face of hardship, a warmth more real than the small fire before them.

The next day, the challenges of the forest began to feel more tangible. They had to work together to find clean water flowing from a crack in the rocks and additional food. In the middle of their journey, they were ambushed by a shadow wolf, a vicious magical beast with dark fur that blended perfectly with the forest shadows, its eyes like glowing red embers. With Aria's wind elemental magic, creating a swirling gust of air that disrupted the wolf's movements, combined with Sylvana's ability to summon a swarm of large forest rats that with sharp bites and nimble movements diverted the wolf's attention, and Sylvia's power to accelerate the growth of tree roots around the wolf, ensnaring its powerful legs, they managed to defeat the creature with difficulty. The fight left a small scratch on Aria's arm and a tear in Sylvana's robe, but strengthened the bond of trust between them.

They also occasionally observed other test takers from a distance. They saw some groups working together seamlessly like the gears of a clock, while others were sabotaging each other for personal gain, revealing the darker side of ambition. Aria noticed a young dwarf who was remarkably skilled at setting traps from branches and thorns, and a group of humans who relied on physical strength and solid teamwork, moving like a small military formation. In the distance, they saw a group of children gathered around a large rock covered in strange carvings, seemingly engaged in a heated discussion. "What are they doing?" Sylvia whispered curiously. Aria shook her head. "Maybe there's more to this test than just survival."

As the second day drew to a close, they found a safer shelter in a small cave hidden behind a waterfall, the sound of the cascading water creating a natural and soothing curtain. They shared stories about their homelands and the reasons they were taking this test. Aria, though unable to reveal her true identity, spoke of her desire to protect the weak and uphold the justice she believed in. Sylvana expressed her closeness to nature and how she hoped her abilities could be useful to many, creating harmony between humans and the forest. Sylvia shared her dream of healing illnesses with her knowledge of plants, bringing remedies from the earth's embrace.

After venturing deeper into the forest, Xarther found himself facing a different kind of trial. In a valley shrouded in a biting cold mist, a colossal monster confronted him. The creature, standing five meters tall and weighing approximately 250 kilograms, had rough, moss-green scaly skin that glistened with moisture and sword-sized sharp teeth that dripped with a viscous green fluid. Its thick tail lashed like a whip ready to strike, and its glowing yellow eyes stared at Xarther with predatory hunger. The creature was known as a Grimscale Behemoth. Minor injuries and the exhaustion from the long journey made Xarther feel weak, his muscles aching and every movement heavy, but his blood-red eyes remained coldly vigilant.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, as cold as the touch of rusted steel. Use my power, boy. The voice felt alien yet disturbingly familiar, slithering through his thoughts like an icy serpent. Xarther flinched, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. That voice... he didn't recognize it, yet its presence stirred a deep-seated bitterness and anger, a reminder of the shadows of the past that always clung to his and his mother's life.

You can't defeat it without me, the voice urged, its tone laced with a mocking edge. Look at yourself, weak and injured. I can give you the strength you need to crush this beast with a single touch.

It's because of creatures like you that my mother and I live in exile, Xarther retorted inwardly, his jaw clenching against the boiling anger. You stole my normal life. I will not use your power.

The Grimscale Behemoth roared, its sound shaking the surrounding trees and sending vibrations through the ground, and lunged towards Xarther with surprising speed for its size. With swift movements despite his heavy limbs, Xarther dodged to the side. The monster's massive claws slammed into the ground with a loud thud, creating a small crater and releasing the scent of damp earth. Xarther used his agility, darting around the monster, his red eyes quickly analyzing the environment, searching for an opening or an advantage. He noticed several partially fallen trees from a previous storm, their roots still clinging to the earth but their trunks leaning precariously.

The monster attacked again, this time with its thick tail slamming into the ground with great force, leaving cracks in the soil. Xarther leaped high, narrowly escaping the blow that could have shattered his bones. While airborne, the unfamiliar voice pressed him again, more urgently and angrily. Fool! Use me! We can end this quickly! You'll only die here!

Xarther growled inwardly, resisting the temptation that felt like an icy whisper in his ear. He landed with bent knees and sprinted towards one of the leaning fallen trees. With precise calculation, he leaped and pushed the tree trunk with all his might just as the Grimscale Behemoth attacked again with its jaws wide open.

The massive tree trunk crashed down with a deafening rumble, slamming into the Grimscale Behemoth's body with full force. The monster roared in pain and lost its balance, its large frame staggering. Xarther didn't waste the opportunity. He sprinted towards the monster's head, now on the ground, and agilely leaped onto it, searching for a weak point among its tough scales. With eyes as sharp as razors, he found a small gap near the monster's eye and thrust the sharp edge of a rock he had been gripping tightly into it.

The Grimscale Behemoth bellowed in deafening agony, thick green fluid oozing from its eye as its body thrashed wildly in convulsions before finally going still, its breath ceasing. Xarther jumped down, panting but unharmed. He stared at the giant monster's corpse, a victory achieved not through the dark power that whispered in his mind, but through his cunning and utilization of his surroundings. The unfamiliar voice in his head fell silent, perhaps surprised by Xarther's rejection and triumph, leaving an eerie quiet in his thoughts.

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