[You have failed your first trial. Again, Aspirant.]
Lucius jolted awake, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he clutched his neck in terror. His heart pounded as he scrambled to his feet, frantically checking his body.
Relief washed over him when he realized he was still in one piece.
His breathing was heavy, each gulp of air a desperate attempt to steady himself.
As he took in his surroundings, the sinking realization hit him—he was back at the beginning.
'Oh no, I failed again," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "Why am I always the one who's different? Do the others have it difficult like this? I doubt it…"
His gaze dropped, anger and regret swirling within him as he thought about that unknown guy—the one who betrayed him.
That bastard must have really wanted the crystal.
But Lucius knew he couldn't dwell on that. He needed to get it right this time.
He couldn't give up.
Killing a Zyronox was the top priority on his list, and to achieve that, he had to pass the Ethersphere trials. Failure wasn't an option.
You cannot lose, Lucius.
He exhaled deeply, trying to calm the nerves that were still jangling within him.
The memory of his head being severed was enough to make him question everything.
He was scared.
This place might be an illusion, as Chief Karigal had suggested, but the pain was undeniably real.
The whips, the stabs—the agony he felt was as tangible as anything he'd ever experienced.
The only difference was that he should have died… and yet here he was, still alive. It struck him as odd.
He had failed his trial twice, yet he was still standing, still breathing.
He wasn't sure what to make of it.
But one thing was clear: he needed to complete his first trial, and he needed to do it now.
[This is your last chance, Aspirant.]
His heart nearly stopped when he heard those words.
Of course… why would I get so many chances to begin with? Who am I?
As he pondered his next move, a realization dawned on him. He looked at himself and something clicked into place.
Ahhh… I see.
He started to walk, and just as he suspected, the surroundings shifted, and he found himself standing in front of the castle once more.
Then, the hand he'd been expecting reached out, yanking him away from the gaze of the guards.
"You look different,"
Lucius immediately glanced down at himself, and then…
"What was I saying? Do I even possess knowledge of what I speak? If thou wishest not to be caught by Lord Sorrowshade, I implore thee, follow me."
Lucius did his best to keep from frowning as the man led him toward the bustling crowd. Lowering his gaze, he muttered under his breath, "Lord Sorrowshade, huh?"
As they continued deeper into the bustling crowd, Lucius couldn't ignore the growing unease radiating from the unknown guy. He kept glancing back at Lucius, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
Suddenly, the man spun around, fixing Lucius with a sharp, cautionary gaze. "Shhh!"
Lucius blinked in surprise, his patience finally wearing thin. "What? I didn't even say anything! Why are you shushing me?" he demanded, his suppressed anger starting to boil over.
The guy's expression went blank, as if he'd been caught off guard.
"Oh… I thought I heard something," he muttered, quickly turning back to his path. His eyes locked onto one of the guards, who had taken notice of them.
Offering a respectful bow, he tried to divert attention, but one of the armored figures began to approach.
Lucius scoffed inwardly, his suspicions solidifying. It was all becoming painfully clear what this man was trying to do.
"Pray, what business hast thou here? Go hence and assist in catching a fish for Lord Sorrowshade, or find some other task to occupy thyself!" the guard commanded in an authoritative tone.
The unknown guy nodded quickly, bowing once more before turning to drag Lucius along with him.
Lucius yanked his hand free from the man's grasp, his voice laced with irritation. "I can walk on my own."
After all, he now knew the path to the river.
And he also knew he had to start being smarter.
In no time, Lucius found himself among the other people, all of them struggling to catch fish with a mix of desperation and fear.
Amidst the activity, the unknown guy muttered in a low, grave voice, "If we fail in our labors, the punishment that awaits us is more gruesome than death itself. Here, death is deemed a luxury."
WHIP!!
The sharp crack of a whip sliced through the air, sending shudders through the crowd. But unlike the others, Lucius didn't flinch.
His focus was inward, consumed by his own thoughts and survival.
The fate of an old man, who had dropped a fish was the last thing on his mind.
But something about that old man gnawed at Lucius.
The old man was taken to the mountain. He'd most likely follow the path lights leading to the door housing the Shade Crystal, so why… why didn't they find his dead body?
Despite the numerous souls sent there, why didn't he find the remains of any dead body?
Something was off. Something he couldn't quite grasp.
And he needed to figure it out.
"How darest thou be so reckless?! To let fall Lord Sorrowshade's fish is an offense most grievous! Bind him forthwith and dispatch him to the mountain!" the armored enforcer roared, his voice a brutal command.
"No, I beseech thee, have mercy! Spare me, I implore you. Condemn me not to the mountain. I am an old man, frail and —"
The old man's desperate plea was abruptly silenced by another vicious lash, his frail body collapsing under the force.
This is it. I have to change things.
Without hesitation, Lucius stood up, defiance blazing in his eyes as he called out, "Hey, soldier guy! Come on, he's just an old man!"
All eyes snapped to Lucius, as if he had just spoken a foreign language.
Everyone stared at him as if he'd lost his mind.
The armored enforcer's glare was cold and deadly. But Lucius didn't back down; he held his ground with a stubborn determination.
Beside him, the unknown guy tugged frantically at Lucius' tattered trousers, his voice a frantic whisper. "Ho! What art thou doing?! No! Stop! Get down before thou get us both killed!"
Lucius heard the warning but ignored it. This time, he would do things differently.
The armored enforcer stormed toward Lucius, his face twisted with fury. "Boy! How darest thou interrupt me?! How darest thou speak to me in such a manner!"
The anger was palpable… he was furious.
Sensing the danger, the unknown guy sprang to his feet, bowing repeatedly in a desperate attempt to defuse the situation. "My deepest apologies! I beg thy pardon! Please, forgive him! He knows not what he does! He is but a child, lacking in sense! I beseech thee, let him go this once!"
The enforcer opened his mouth to retort, but something he saw made him hesitate.
"Huh?"
His eyes widened momentarily in fear before he quickly looked away, composing himself.
When he turned back, Lucius was still staring at him, unyielding.
The enforcer pointed his whip at Lucius, his voice dripping with menace. "This is thy final warning, boy! Attempt such again, and thou shalt face a fate far worse than death itself…" With that, he shifted his attention to the old man, who was trembling on the ground, silently praying for mercy.
But there would be none.
"What dost thou wait for? Take him to the mountain!" the enforcer barked, sealing the old man's fate.
Lucius' brows knitted in confusion
"What? What the hell is going on here?"