Jessica stood in the heart of the labyrinth, an aura of quiet confidence radiating from her. Selene, her trusted friend and a master of illusions, hovered nearby, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"So, the students can't see us, correct?" Jessica asked, her voice calm but carrying a note of authority.
Selene nodded. "No, we're invisible to them. They won't even sense our presence."
Jessica's lips curled into a small smile. "Good. Then can you create an illusion of me? Something realistic."
Selene frowned slightly, tilting her head. "What are you planning? The trial is almost over."
Jessica's smile deepened. "I just want to see how far the students can push themselves. I need to know if they're truly ready for what lies beyond these walls."
Selene sighed but raised her right hand, letting her aura flow freely. The shimmering energy took shape in front of them, gradually solidifying into a perfect replica of Jessica. Every detail, from her striking features to her confident posture, was identical.
"Impressive," Jessica murmured, stepping closer to inspect the illusion. "What abilities does it have?"
Selene crossed her arms. "I couldn't replicate that power of yours, obviously. But I've equipped it with basic sword skills taught here at the academy. It's formidable enough for students at their level."
Jessica chuckled softly. "Perfect. That's exactly what I wanted. I need to see how much they've truly learned from their lessons."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "They're about to arrive. What are you—hey, wait!"
Before Selene could react, Jessica plucked the golden coin from her hand.
Jessica twirled the coin between her fingers, a playful glint in her eyes. "I'll award this to whoever manages to defeat my illusion."
Selene huffed, shaking her head. "So, in other words, no one. You could be a little less harsh sometimes, you know."
Jessica's grin widened. "Who knows? They might surprise us. And if they can't…" Her voice trailed off, her expression briefly thoughtful. "…then they still have a lot to learn."
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Meanwhile, Isaki and Marie pushed forward through the stone doorway, their breaths heavy from exertion. On the other side, they found a long, open corridor flanked by towering stone walls that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. The air was dense and cool, with a stormy gray sky above hinting at impending rain.
The corridor ahead opened into a circular clearing, barely visible in the distance. Exhaustion weighed heavily on them, but they pressed on, their footsteps echoing faintly against the stone walls.
"This feels endless," Marie murmured, brushing a strand of her pink hair from her face. "How much longer do you think?"
Isaki adjusted the grip on his sword, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. "Not sure. But we've come too far to stop now."
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At the same time, in another part of the labyrinth, Ray and Gaus finally reached the center. The transition was abrupt: the oppressive maze of hedges gave way to an open, circular clearing bathed in a dim, eerie light. The ground beneath them was smooth stone, etched with intricate patterns that seemed to glow faintly.
Ray stopped, his sharp eyes surveying their surroundings. The air felt heavier here, charged with an unnatural energy.
"This is it," Gaus said, his voice tinged with relief and apprehension. "The center of the labyrinth."
Ray nodded silently, his expression unreadable. His sharp eyes scanned the clearing as he and Gaus stepped cautiously forward. Something felt off. He narrowed his gaze at a figure standing further ahead, motionless.
"There's someone up there," Ray murmured, his tone calm but laced with suspicion.
Gaus squinted, leaning forward slightly. "Looks like a woman…"
The two advanced, their steps echoing faintly on the smooth stone ground. As they drew closer, the figure became clearer. Ray's sharp instincts tingled, but Gaus was quicker to speak.
"It's Jessica," he said, his tone a mix of surprise and uncertainty.
The woman in front of them smiled warmly and raised a hand in a casual greeting. "Welcome. You've finally reached the center of the labyrinth," she said, her voice calm and inviting.
Neither of them knew this wasn't the real Jessica, but merely an illusion crafted by Selene. Unseen to the students, the true Jessica and Selene stood invisibly nearby, watching the scene unfold. Jessica's expression was serene, her arms crossed as she observed the students' reactions with an air of quiet amusement.
Ray stepped forward, his eyes locked on the figure. "So, where's the coin?" he asked, his voice steady.
The illusion of Jessica tilted her head slightly, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "I can't tell you just yet. We'll wait for the other group to arrive first."
Gaus's brows furrowed in frustration. "What? No way! We got here first, so we win! The coin should be ours!"
The illusion maintained her calm demeanor, her voice even. "The final challenge has been changed. You'll need the other group to complete it and claim the coin."
Gaus's expression twisted in disbelief. "What?!"
Ray, however, remained calm. He swept his gaze across the area, taking in every detail of their surroundings. Finally, he walked over to a nearby statue, its weathered stone figure looming silently, and sat down with an air of quiet patience.
Not long after, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the labyrinth. Isaki and Marie emerged from the long corridor, stepping into the clearing at last. Both looked worn and exhausted, but determination burned in their eyes.
Marie caught her breath, brushing her pink hair from her face. "Finally… we made it," she said, her voice tinged with relief.
Isaki's gaze immediately locked on Ray. A small, knowing smile spread across his face. "I knew you'd make it to the center."
Ray met his friend's gaze, nodding slightly. "I didn't doubt you'd make it either."
Gaus stood off to the side, his arms crossed, observing in silence.
Marie, noticing Jessica, stepped forward. "Professor, where is the coin?" she asked eagerly.
The illusion of Jessica smiled, her expression tinged with mischief. "The coin is right here," she said, pulling a fake coin from her pocket and letting it catch the faint light as it spun between her fingers. "But I'll only give it to the one who can defeat me."
The students exchanged surprised glances. Their expressions reflected the same thought: this was an impossible challenge. How could they hope to defeat one of the academy's professors?
Seeing their hesitation, the illusion of Jessica added with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry. I'll only use the basic sword techniques I've taught you. All you need to do is disarm me."
A flicker of hope sparked in the students' eyes. Disarming her sounded much simpler than outright defeating her. But they weren't naive—Jessica was still a professor, and even with basic techniques, she would be a formidable opponent.
The four students exchanged nods, silently agreeing on one thing: they would face this challenge head-on. Each of them stepped forward, their hands hovering over the hilts of their swords, their determination solidifying.
Jessica's smile widened as she drew her blade, the sound of steel ringing in the air. "Whenever you're ready," she said, her voice calm but challenging.
The students braced themselves, adrenaline coursing through their veins. The clearing grew silent except for the faint rustle of the wind and the distant rumble of thunder.
And so, the final trial of the labyrinth began.