The enormity of the entrance hall astounded Fin, its sheer size dwarfing any interior space he had ever encountered. Its dimensions could comfortably accommodate three regulation-sized basketball courts, with ample room left to spare. The flooring was made of glittering mica, which he had previously seen in the apparition in the airplane hangar, while the walls were adorned with flowstone, resembling the result of thousands of wax candles that had melted and trickled down the surface. Stalagmites jutted out along the edges of the room, while stalactites hung low, almost touching in certain areas. A radiant blue river bisected the chamber, its luminosity reminiscent of a brilliant sapphire. It flowed in from one archway and out through another, a carved stone bridge spanning its course. Intricate patterns were etched into the sides of the bridge, patterns unfamiliar to Fin yet reminiscent of the markings on the dagger his father had thrown to him.
As the new apprentices from the Trial inundated the hall, Fin hung back, his leg feeling stiff from the long bus ride and his movements hampered. He fervently hoped that their designated sleeping quarters were not too far away.
With a thunderous crash, the massive doors slammed shut behind them, causing Fin to start in surprise. In a coordinated manner, a series of pointed stalactites detached from the ceiling and impaled the ground, effectively sealing the doors.
West, positioned behind Fin, swallowed audibly. "But...how are we supposed to exit?" he inquired.
Fin, grateful to have an answer, replied, "We're not. We're not intended to leave."
West instinctively recoiled at the prospect, but Fin was becoming wearied of being perceived as a deviant for simply pointing out the obvious.
As Fin's sleeve was clasped by a firm grip, he was beckoned to follow. He turned to find Lance, the tall and imposing figure, leading the way alongside Master Zoltar and Samantha, who now exuded a newfound confidence under the watchful gaze of her parents. The group treaded through the archways of the Memora and into the labyrinthine tunnels.
Master Zoltar raised a hand and summoned forth a blazing torch that flickered with a supernatural glow. Fin was reminded of the final test, where he was required to contain a fire resting on water. He ruminated on what he could have done differently to truly fail, to fall short in a manner that would have prevented his arrival in this place.
As they journeyed down the sulfurous smelling passage, they stumbled upon a chamber filled with pools. One of the pools bubbled with a murky mire, and the other held pale, sightless fish that scattered at the sound of their footsteps. Fin was tempted to make a jest about how dark-ridden and eyeless fish might be undetectable servants of the Deathless One, but he suppressed the urge as the thought of the fish spying on the students sent chills down his spine.
The group then came across a cavern with five doors, each made of a different metal, ranging from iron to gold. The doors reflected the light of Master Zoltar's torch, casting eerie, flickering flames on their polished surfaces. High above, Fin caught a fleeting glimpse of a shining object, with a tail, that scurried into the shadows and vanished.
Master Zoltar did not lead them through any of the doors, but instead took them to a grand, round room with a high ceiling and five arched passages leading in different directions. On the ceiling, Fin spotted a group of lizards with gems on their backs, some of which seemed to burn with blue flames. Samantha gasped in awe, recognizing them as elementals.
"This way," Master Zoltar said, his sonorous voice resounding throughout the cavernous chamber, marking the first utterance he had made. Fin marveled at the emptiness that surrounded him, wondering about the whereabouts of the other sorcerers. Perhaps it was later than he had anticipated and they had retired for the night, but the desolate nature of the passageways they had traversed led him to believe that they were truly alone in this subterranean abode.
At length, Master Zoltar came to a halt before a massive square portal, its front adorned with a metallic panel in place of the customary door knocker. With a raised arm, the wizard triggered the wristband he wore, eliciting a brief flash of light. A metallic clack echoed within the door, causing it to swing open with ease.
"Can we do that?" Lance asked in a hushed and awed tone.
Master Zoltar cast a benevolent smile down at the young apprentice. "Indeed, you shall all possess the capability to access your quarters with your wristbands, albeit with some restrictions. Step inside and behold the place where you shall reside during your Arcanum Year of apprenticeship."
"Arcanum Year?" Fin echoed, his thoughts drifting to the doors.
With a sweeping gesture, Master Zoltar entered the room, revealing a space that combined a living area with a study. The cavern walls towered high, arcing upwards to form a dome. From its center hung a colossal coppery chandelier, its dozen curving arms, each intricately carved with designs of flames and each bearing a blazing torch. Upon the stone floor lay three desks arranged in a loose circle, with two plush sofas facing each other before a fireplace large enough to roast a full-grown bovine or equine. Fin suppressed a fleeting grin, thinking of his friend West.
"It's incredible," Samantha exclaimed, turning to take in the surroundings. For a moment, she seemed like a regular child rather than a mage of an ancient and revered sorcerous lineage.
Veins of radiant quartz and mica were woven throughout the stone walls, their glow intensifying as the torchlight illuminated them to form a pattern of five symbols - a triangle, a circle, three wavy lines, an upward-pointing arrow, and a spiral.
"Fire, earth, water, air, and dark," Lance proclaimed, demonstrating that he had been paying close attention during their journey.
"Very good," Master Zoltar praised, his approval clear.
Fin pointed towards the symbols, querying, "Why are they arranged in such a manner?"