The final trial was not like the others. Unlike the tests of knowledge or strength, this was something much deeper—something that seemed to reach into the very soul. Elba had heard whispers about it before, but none of the rumors could prepare him for the reality of what was to come.
As he approached the entrance to the final hall, his heart pounded in his chest. Only students with dragon blood were required to take this test, and it was one that separated those of true potential from the rest. Anyone below a B rank didn't even have to attempt it. Elba swallowed hard. What will happen?
When he stepped into the massive hall, he was met by the sight of hundreds of students, all gathered for the same purpose. The room was brimming with tension, the air thick with the weight of expectation. The students here were of dragon descent, like Ignis and Elba. An instructor stood in the middle of the hall, his voice amplified by a sound spell that made every word boom with clarity.
"Each of you will be assigned a capsule," the instructor announced, his voice echoing off the high walls. "These capsules will put you into a deep sleep, and your soul will be pushed deeper into your dragon core. There, you will uncover your inner secrets—secrets necessary for your future as mages and dragon-blooded warriors."
Elba felt a shiver run down his spine. What kind of secrets could lie within me?
The students were herded to their capsules, each one a sleek, metallic structure with glowing runes carved into its surface. Elba was led to one, and as he lay down inside, the lid slowly closed, sealing him in. Almost immediately, he felt the effects of a spell cast on the capsule—his mind began to drift, his consciousness slipping away as he was forced into a deep sleep.
Seconds later, Elba's soul plunged into the depths of his dragon core.
---
At first, there was only darkness. Elba floated in a void, his body weightless and his mind blank. He struggled to make sense of it, trying to understand where he was, what was happening. "I can't see anything…" he whispered to himself, fear rising in his chest.
Suddenly, a bright light pierced the darkness, illuminating his surroundings. Elba blinked in awe as the world around him became clear. He was surrounded by massive, ancient clocks, their gears turning slowly in perfect synchrony. The air felt heavy, like time itself was tangible. And there, high above him, he saw the faces of dragons, their eyes glowing like embers. Their gazes were cold and distant, watching him as though he were nothing but a passing moment in the infinite stretch of time.
Elba's heart pounded in his chest. He had never seen anything like this—he was terrified, yet at the same time, filled with a strange awe.
As he ventured deeper into the space, the world seemed to shift and distort around him. The clocks grew larger, their ticking growing louder, as though counting down to something. Then, in the distance, Elba saw it—an enormous throne, shrouded in shadow, but unmistakably the center of this strange realm.
Upon the throne sat a figure, towering and imposing, his presence dominating the space. As Elba drew closer, his blood ran cold. The figure was draped in darkness, but Elba could make out the magnificent horns that adorned his head and the massive wings that unfurled behind him, stretching out like a dragon's.
The figure's eyes glowed, locking onto Elba with a gaze that felt like it could pierce through his very soul. Then, the figure spoke.
"I who shall awaken… who rules over the ____, frets over dreams and laughs at eternity…"
The voice was thunderous, and yet it felt like a thousand voices speaking at once, each word reverberating through Elba's body. His ears hurt from the sheer power of the sound, but he could hear every word with terrifying clarity. It felt like the words themselves were binding him.
Then, the figure spoke something in the ancient dragon speech. The words twisted in the air, incomprehensible to Elba, but the moment they were uttered, he felt a searing pain inside him. It was as though something deep within him was being ripped apart. He screamed, clutching at his chest, the agony unbearable. He wanted to wake up, to escape this nightmare, but the pain only grew stronger.
Just as he felt like he couldn't take it anymore, the figure's eyes flared with power, and Elba's vision began to blur. His body trembled as he caught a final glimpse of the figure, sitting upon the throne, ruling over this strange, eternal space.
And then everything went dark.
---
Elba jolted awake, gasping for breath. His body was drenched in sweat, his heart racing. "Help!" he shouted, his voice hoarse from the strain. Pain still pulsed through him, though it was duller now. He sat up, clutching his head, confused and disoriented. What happened?
But the more he tried to recall what he had seen, the more it slipped away. No matter how hard he focused, he couldn't remember the details. The figure's words, the images, the pain—it was all a blur. All that remained was a vague sense of dread.
An instructor approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, boy," the instructor said calmly. "Everything you saw in there will come back to you once your dragon speech awakens. You haven't unlocked it yet, which is why you can't remember it now. But you're not alone. Many students go through this."
Elba nodded, though his mind was still spinning. He had so many questions, but the answers felt just out of reach.
The instructor handed him a small set of keys and a card. "These are the keys to your dorm room," the man said. "Ask the guards outside for directions. This is your verification card—it's important, so don't lose it. Your uniform and other items will be waiting for you in your room. You'll be sharing your dorm with one other student."
Elba stared down at the keys, still trying to process everything that had happened. The instructor smiled, his voice warm and encouraging. "And once more, welcome to the Great Magus Academy."
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