In the depths of a thick forest, standing in front of a gate embedded deep within a mountain, Caine stood alone, his tall figure dwarfed by the imposing structure. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional distant call of a bird.
The coming-of-age ceremony of the Velios was many things at once. It was a trial, a baptism, a transition, and much more. But most importantly, it would mark the beginning of their quest for power—the start of their cultivation journey.
Caine had prepared for this moment his entire life. This wasn't just about proving his worth; it was about unlocking his true potential, the latent power that had been waiting within him.
The ceremony was divided into three sections. Completing the first section would allow him to obtain an awakening stone, something he absolutely needed to unleash his innate gifts.
Approaching the gate, he felt the coolness of the mountain air against his skin. He placed his palm upon the cold metallic structure of the gate, feeling a subtle vibration as it responded to his touch.
A screen appeared before him, its glowing text floating in the air.
[Coming-of-age parameters… royal lineage… Velios Heir…]
[Trial difficulty has been set to—ERROR!]
Caine chuckled softly, not surprised in the least by this 'sudden' error.
[Trial difficulty is unknown.]
The gates slowly parted, revealing a grand swirling blue portal that seemed to pulse with energy. Without hesitation or fear, Caine stepped through the portal, ready to begin his ceremony.
As he vanished into the swirling vortex, the gates closed behind him with a heavy thud, and a final screen flashed briefly before disappearing.
[Good Luck!]
****
When Caine emerged from the portal, he found himself standing in the middle of a vast plain. The winds were fierce, so strong that his robes whipped and fluttered around him, his hair blown back in a dramatic display.
The sun hung high above him, its rays bathing the landscape in golden light, casting long shadows on the vibrant green grass beneath his feet. Nearby, a tall tree stood, its leaves rustling softly in the wind, providing a patch of shade where he now stood.
In the distance, Caine noticed a woman. She wore long, flowing purple robes, and her face was concealed by a delicate veil. There was an aura about her—one of mystery and quiet authority.
Without hesitation, Caine began walking toward her. When he reached her, he sat down cross-legged across from her, his gaze calm and unwavering. He said nothing, simply waiting.
After a moment, the woman chuckled, a soft sound that carried on the wind. "Do you know what they say about you, Velios?"
With a graceful motion, she waved her hand, and a marble table appeared between them. A pot flashed into her hand, followed by two cups as she began to pour a steaming liquid into them.
"Not sure," Caine replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "They say we're greedy, corrupted, evil, tyrannical—"
"Prideful," she interrupted, pushing a cup toward him. "The Velios are known to be prideful beyond belief."
"Well," Caine said, taking the cup but not drinking from it yet, "power stands on a foundation of achievements, which inevitably breeds pride. Though it can easily turn into arrogance, I think my people have managed."
"Is that so?" she murmured, lifting her veil just slightly to take a sip of her cup. Caine paid little attention to this, instead allowing his gaze to wander over the expansive landscape around them.
'I expected the trials to happen within pocket spaces,' Caine mused to himself, 'but what is this? I wonder if this is a trial of the mind?'
"It is a trial of the heart," the woman said aloud, as if reading his thoughts. She set her cup down gently and leaned forward slightly. "Tell me, as you stand before me, here on the verge of beginning your path, what makes you worthy?"
She paused, her eyes gleaming behind her veil. "Why should I give you this so-called awakening stone? Why do you deserve the gift of ascendance?"
Caine's head turned slowly, his attention returning to the woman before him. His silver eyes met her amethyst gaze with calm detachment. There was no fury in his gaze, no frustration—only a touch of confusion, tinged with faint mockery.
"Worthy?" he repeated, a small smile playing on his lips. "What do you define as worthiness? What does it mean to you?"
As if she had anticipated this response, the woman nodded slowly. She set her cup down and spoke again, her voice soft but firm. "It's all a matter of value, and our relativity to external value."
"Fancy way of saying it depends on each person's opinion. Be direct," Caine replied, his tone sharp.
Her gaze darkened. In a flash, her hand shot forward, aiming for his throat. But before she could make contact, Caine's body dissolved into mist, reappearing a moment later behind her.
The woman spun around, a blade materializing in her hand as her qi flared, slashing at the spot where he stood.
"Rather aggressive," Caine remarked with a smirk.
Her blade struck nothing but air. She turned again, only to see Caine sitting calmly in his original position, his expression unbothered.
Suddenly, nine overlapped rings began to materialize behind him, their ethereal glow casting long shadows across the ground. The world seemed to dim, and an oppressive pressure filled the air.
"You people underestimate me too much," Caine said, shaking his head. "I'm not sure why you do this, nor why you want me dead so badly, but…"
His eyes sharpened, narrowing as his gaze seemed to pierce through space, locking onto something hidden beyond the surface of the trial. He knew who had tampered with it—he had suspected from the moment he stepped through the gate.
"…I know you're responsible for their disappearance."
The woman's body disintegrated into a cloud of ash, leaving behind only a single obsidian stone. The stone floated in the air, glowing with hues of gold and white, pulsing softly.
"Your time will come," Caine muttered, reaching out to take the awakening stone into his hand.
***
In a dark room, far away from the trial, a figure sat on a throne, their gaze fixed on a floating screen. The moment Caine's words reached them, the figure's pupils dilated. Blood gushed from their mouth, golden in color, as black chains suddenly materialized, wrapping around their body, sinking deep into their flesh.
Their breathing grew ragged, a mixture of rage, terror, and disbelief flooding their mind. How could a mere gaze from that bastard child cause such a violent backlash?
Just as they prepared to scream in fury, Caine's final words echoed in their mind, cold and unforgiving.
[Your time will soon come.]
The screen before them shattered.
***
Caine glanced down at the awakening stone in his hand, his lips curling into a smirk. What he had done wasn't as impressive as it might have seemed. It was only due to his expertise in the arts that he'd been able to detect the tampering in his trial almost immediately.
The technique he'd used, [Runic Eye], allowed him to read the runes of the world around him. As he conversed with the woman, he had been rapidly analyzing the illusory realm and its formations, uncovering the flaws and the foreign interference.
Once he found the cancerous rune formation that had corrupted his trial, the rest was simple. He summoned his rings, using their power to shatter the formation and form a connection with the entity who had placed it there.
As he severed the connection, he also cast a curse and a tracker through his arcane ring, marking the hidden figure for future pursuit.
His enemies had been waiting for his trial to begin. But so had he.
Now, he finally had a lead.