The hall was buzzing with anticipation as the students stood before the massive, ornate mirror in the middle of the room. Its surface shimmered like a calm lake, rippling every so often with colors none of them could fully comprehend. The teacher, an alien creature with four arms and skin covered in luminescent markings, stood at the front of the room. His eyes gleamed with amusement, sensing the tension.
"I know what you're all thinking," he began, a toothy grin spreading across his face, "Who is this strange-looking creature? What have you gotten yourselves into?"
Jin, never missing an opportunity, leaned over to Kael, "Yeah, I was thinking more like, did they drag this guy out of an alien circus?"
he teacher's ears twitched, and he glanced directly at Jin with a sharp grin. "Ah, and we have our resident joker. How delightful."
Jin flashed an innocent smile but said no more.
"Well, where I come from, you humans would be the aliens. Don't worry, in about a year, you'll start encountering more beings like me as you venture into other planets—if you make it that far." He laughed heartily. "Now, let's get serious. I'm Professor Zaal, and I'll be your guide for the next week, helping you unlock your first Naadi."
The mention of Naadi got everyone's attention. Professor Zaal continued, "Some of you might expect to get your elemental powers right away, but that's not how it works. The first Naadi doesn't give you access to any elements. It strengthens your body so that you're physically capable of handling the elements later. Think of it like tuning your body for the future."
Kael listened intently, while Jin still seemed to be trying to hold back more jokes. Tarek, standing nearby, nudged Darin, who simply gave a quiet nod in understanding. The energy in the room was intense, with everyone on edge about what was coming next.
The teacher gestured to the enormous mirror behind him, which shimmered like molten silver, reflecting not just their appearances but something deeper, something more mysterious.
"This is the Mirror of Paths. It does more than reflect your face; it reflects your soul. Each of you will enter, and within it, you will face a test. How you respond to that test will determine which of the four houses you will join."
The students whispered amongst themselves, intrigued and slightly nervous.
"Each of you will enter the mirror alone. Inside, a scenario will unfold. How you react to it will determine which of the four houses you will join."
He gestured to the four banners hanging on the far side of the room. They represented the four houses:
"Zephyrus – The house of winds and flexibility, for those who adapt and flow through any situation.
Ignis Solis – The house of burning ambition and bravery, for those driven by courage and determination.
Terra Firma – The house of patience and resilience, for those who are rooted, strong, and unyielding.
Lumenis – The house of clarity and wisdom, for those who think before they act and strive for knowledge.
"Step into the mirror, and it will show you your path."
Kael felt his heart race, but kept his face stoic. He always preferred to observe rather than lead, though Jin's constant chatter often made that difficult. Tarek, however, was bouncing on her toes, excitement lighting up her face.
"I'll go first!" she declared, stepping forward without hesitation.
"Of course you will," Jin whispered with a grin.
Tarek walked up to the mirror, gave the teacher a small nod, and disappeared into its shimmering surface without a second glance.
Inside the Mirror: The Common Test
When Tarek emerged on the other side of the mirror, she found herself standing at the edge of a small village nestled between tall mountains. Smoke rose from several huts, and in the distance, the sound of cries and shouting filled the air. A group of bandits had just attacked, setting fires and looting the village.
In the center of the village stood three distinct choices. To her left, a small child was crying for help, trapped under debris from a collapsed hut. To her right, an elderly woman was struggling to carry a heavy basket of supplies to safety. And directly ahead, several villagers were battling the bandits, outnumbered and desperate for aid.
Tarek's heart raced. The village was burning, the people were desperate. The situation demanded immediate action.
Without a second thought, she sprinted toward the bandits. "If you want something done right, you face the danger head-on," she muttered to herself. She grabbed a discarded staff from the ground and charged into the fight, taking on one of the attackers with bold confidence. Her quick thinking and bravery helped turn the tide, and soon enough, the villagers had the upper hand.
The scene faded, and Tarek found herself back in the classroom, panting slightly. The teacher smiled knowingly.
Darin's Test
Next was Darin. His quiet demeanor betrayed none of the nervousness the others felt. He approached the mirror and disappeared inside, just as Tarek had done.
Inside the test, Darin saw the same burning village, with the same choices laid out before him. His eyes scanned the scene, taking everything in, but unlike Tarek, Darin didn't rush into the fray.
He moved toward the child trapped under the debris, his face calm and determined. With careful movements, he lifted the heavy wood off the child and carried them to safety. Though the battle raged on, Darin kept his focus on the small, seemingly insignificant tasks, methodically helping where he could. He wasn't interested in being the hero, but in doing what needed to be done.
When the village faded away and Darin returned, he said nothing, merely standing in place, as calm as ever.
Kael's Test
Kael stepped up to the mirror next, his face neutral, but a storm churned behind his eyes. When he crossed into the test, the same scenario unfolded before him—the burning village, the desperate cries, the same three choices.
For a moment, Kael hesitated, feeling the weight of indecision. He could help the child, the elderly woman, or join the fight. But instead of rushing into action, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. His instinct told him that not all battles were meant to be fought directly.
He walked toward the elderly woman, helping her with her basket, moving her quickly to safety. Kael's choice was not the most dramatic, but it was measured. He had learned that sometimes, small acts of wisdom outweighed bold gestures of bravery.
As the scene faded, Kael opened his eyes, feeling a strange calm settle over him.
Jin's Test
Jin, with his usual smirk, swaggered toward the mirror and disappeared into it. The familiar village scene awaited him as well.
"Great, same setup," Jin muttered, eyeing the chaos. He looked at the child, the woman, and the battle ahead. "Tough call."
After a brief moment, Jin decided to do things his way. He approached the villagers battling the bandits, but instead of joining the fight, he used his quick wit to distract the bandits. "Hey! You guys really thought this was a good idea? Attacking a village? Amateurs!"
Confused, the bandits turned toward Jin, who had climbed onto a roof. "Come on, let's make this fun," Jin teased, tossing rocks at them, causing chaos. As the bandits chased him in frustration, the villagers regrouped, quickly overpowering the scattered attackers.
Jin's tactics were unorthodox, but effective. He had turned the tide of the battle in his own way, without throwing a single punch.
The village dissolved around him, and Jin reappeared in the classroom, still wearing his trademark grin.
Back to the Classroom: House Assignments
One by one, the students returned from the mirror, each of them having faced the same test but making vastly different choices. The teacher waited patiently, watching their reactions.
"The Mirror of Paths has spoken," he said, gesturing toward the four banners, which now glowed faintly.
"all of you enter the mirror again it will send you to your designated house" he said gesturing towards the mirror.
One by one, the students stepped into the mirror, disappearing from sight as its surface rippled. Each time someone entered, the mirror would glow momentarily before fading again. Tarek went in first, followed by Darin. Jin shot a playful grin at Kael, then stepped through as well. Finally, it was Kael's turn.
Looking around, he saw all the other students who had entered before him—Tarek, Darin, Jin, and others—standing together in confusion.
"Wait," Jin said, glancing at Kael, "weren't we supposed to be sorted into different houses? What is this?"
Kael, equally puzzled, was about to respond when a burst of laughter filled the air. Professor Zaal strolled into the hall, grinning widely, his arms folded in a relaxed posture.
"Just kidding!" he said, his laughter echoing. "You're not being sorted into different houses. I was just having a bit of fun with you. All of you will be in the same house."
The students blinked, trying to process what they'd just heard.
Zaal, still chuckling, continued, "That whole soul test thing? Not a test at all! You've just imprinted a mark of your soul onto the system so we can monitor your progress. It's just a fancy way to keep track of your growth. Don't worry, though, once you open one Naadi and complete its first orbit, that imprint will stop being active."
Kael, confused, opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, a burst of laughter filled the air. Professor Zaal strolled back into the hall, grinning widely.
"Just kidding!" he said, his voice echoing with amusement. "You're all in the same house. The soul test wasn't a test at all! It was just a scan to imprint your soul's energy into our system. Don't worry, once you open your Naadi and complete the first orbit, the imprint will deactivate."
Jin groaned loudly, throwing his hands up. "Seriously? We just went through all that for a cosmic soul-scan prank? is this guy, really an alien stand-up comedian?"
He crossed his arms, frowning. "Next, he'll say we're not real just some imaginative characters of a novel."
Zaal smirked. "Sarcastic, aren't we? But don't worry, you'll thank me when you start exploring the universe. There are creatures out there far more confusing than me."
"Now," Professor Zaal said, becoming serious again, "each of your soul imprints has been recorded. This will be important later. These marks are what we'll use to craft your personal Translatum Orb."
Zaal lifted a small, glowing sphere from his pocket. "The Translatum Orb will allow you to understand any language spoken by beings from different species, and they will understand you as well. I learned your human language when I came to this planet, but for you, the orb will make it much easier when you begin traveling to other worlds."
A murmur of excitement swept through the students.
"For now," Zaal continued, "the next step is unlocking your first Naadi. We'll be focusing on that for this entire week. Some of you will unlock it faster than others. For those who can't open it within this time, you'll be sent to a different class for extra help. Typically, only fourteen to sixteen students manage to unlock their Naadi in the first week, but let's see how many of you will succeed."
The weight of the challenge settled in, and Kael could feel the tension rising in the room. Zaal's alien grin returned.
"After you've opened your Naadi, we'll divide you into teams of four. You'll compete with other groups to increase your strength and hone your abilities. But that's for later. For now, go to your rooms and rest. Girls' quarters are down the right corridor, boys' to the left."
The Night Before the Challenge
Kael, Jin, and Darin made their way to the boys' quarters, while Tarek and the other girls headed in the opposite direction. The rooms were simple but spacious, each one equipped with beds that looked more comfortable than the students had expected.
Kael sat down on his bed, his mind racing with thoughts of the Naadi paths, the alien teacher, and the challenges ahead. Jin, ever the jokester, flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"So," Jin said, "we're all in the same house, huh? Guess that means we're stuck with each other."
Kael smirked. "I could think of worse company."
Darin, who had been silent most of the time, leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "I just want to get stronger," he said quietly.
Kael nodded, feeling the same drive within himself. They had a long journey ahead, and unlocking the Naadi was just the beginning.