The cold, dim light of dawn seeped through the narrow windows of the student dormitory, casting long, eerie shadows on the stone walls. Malachi awoke with a start, his heart racing as he recalled Headmaster Balor's ominous words from the night before. Today marked the beginning of their trials.
Lilith was already awake, seated on the edge of her bed and sharpening a small, wicked-looking dagger. She glanced up as Malachi stirred. "Time to face the music," she said, her voice steady.
Azazel, who had barely slept, rose silently and began to gather his belongings. Belial, ever the contrarian, stretched lazily and yawned. "Let's hope this isn't too boring," he remarked with a smirk.
The four of them made their way to the central courtyard, where a crowd of anxious first-year students had already gathered. At the center of the courtyard stood a tall, robed figure—a senior instructor named Morgath, known for his brutal teaching methods and unrelenting standards.
"Attention, initiates!" Morgath's voice sliced through the morning air, silencing the nervous chatter. "Your first trial is simple in concept but deadly in execution. You will navigate the Maze of Shadows, an ever-changing labyrinth filled with traps, illusions, and creatures of the dark. The goal is to reach the center and retrieve the Infernal Key. Only then will you be allowed to continue your training."
Malachi's heart sank at the sight of the massive stone structure that loomed beyond the courtyard, its walls seemingly alive with shifting shadows. The Maze of Shadows had a reputation for devouring the unwary and unprepared.
Morgath raised a skeletal hand and pointed towards the entrance of the maze. "You have until dusk. Those who fail to return by then will be considered unworthy and cast out."
As the students lined up, Malachi found himself flanked by Lilith, Azazel, and Belial. They exchanged determined glances, understanding that their survival depended on their unity and cunning.
"Stick together," Lilith whispered. "We'll have a better chance if we pool our strengths."
The gates of the maze creaked open, and the students surged forward. The entrance swallowed them in darkness, and immediately, the air grew thick with an oppressive, sinister energy.
Inside the maze, the narrow corridors twisted and turned unpredictably. Malachi took the lead, his sharp eyes scanning for traps and hidden dangers. Lilith moved with feline grace beside him, her dagger ready. Azazel trailed behind, murmuring incantations under his breath to detect magical illusions. Belial, true to form, kept a watchful eye on their rear, eager for any excuse to unleash his destructive tendencies.
Suddenly, a section of the wall to their left shifted, revealing a hidden passage. Malachi hesitated, unsure if it was a shortcut or a trap.
"Let me," Azazel said, stepping forward. He extended a hand, and a faint glow emanated from his fingertips, revealing ancient runes etched into the stone. "It's a shortcut," he confirmed. "But it's guarded by a shadow beast."
Belial grinned. "Finally, some fun."