The Hall of Darkness
Miki, like all the others, had taken the space shuttle to head towards the moon dedicated to the element of darkness. Unlike the moon where Phaistos had gone, this one was as far from the sun as possible. Its position ensured that the planet Nemesisia, where the academy was located, was aligned between the sun and the moon. Since the moons did not move, this moon was plunged into darkness all year round.
The building of the hall of darkness is a masterpiece of mysterious and enigmatic architecture. It is constructed of black stones and obsidian, barely reflecting the faint surrounding light, creating a play of shifting shadows on its surface. Gargoyles and complex sculptures adorn the exterior, adding a touch of strangeness and mystery.
The main entrance is a massive dark wooden door, framed by sculpted columns depicting mythical creatures and intertwined patterns. Upon crossing this door, one enters a vast and shadowy reception hall, where wall torches cast a dim and flickering light. The floor is covered with mosaics depicting scenes of darkness and ancient powers. As Miki passed through the creaking door of the building, he heard a voice.
"Welcome to the darkness," said Dusk. "Darkness is often misunderstood. It can be a source of fear but also of power and refuge. Today, we will explore its secrets and learn to use its energy responsibly."
Like Phaistos, Miki was taken with the other apprentices into a room to meditate on the essence of darkness. The room was completely devoid of light as if something was absorbing it. One could barely discern a small obsidian table inscribed with an ancient language reminiscent of Semitic language structures. The writings on the tablet testified to its ancient age.
Unlike Phaistos's practice, the tablet irresistibly attracted the apprentices towards it. This meant that the farther one moved away, the more they could concentrate on the energies it released. Unfortunately, no apprentice could move more than five steps away from the tablet. This showed that the exercise was much harder than it appeared.
After an hour, Miki was pulled out of his practice. Dusk then announced that they had to pass a small test to be considered part of the hall of darkness. "The test is very simple; you must successfully read the first word inscribed on the tablet."
Thinking it would be simple, they focused their gaze on the obsidian tablet, only to discover a veil of darkness over the inscribed words. This made reading the words impossible. The veil seemed to thicken the more one tried to read. As Miki concentrated on the tablet, he let his spiritual affinity with the element of darkness flow through his body.
When he couldn't read the first word, he had a certain realization and felt a deeper connection with the surrounding space, and the first word appeared: Norium. A word whose full significance he did not yet understand.
When he gave his answer to the instructor, the instructor merely replied, "Interesting answer." He didn't understand what it meant but was relieved to have passed the test and become a student of the hall of darkness.
[Miki Takahashi]
[Rank 1: Initiate]
[Magic Power: 15]
[Combat Power: 12]
[Dark middle stage - 0%]
[Spiritual Origin: B+]
[Magical Control: E-]
[Lineage: ???]
[Talent: ???]
Etant donné qu'il est devenu un élève officiel, cela lui permet d'apprendre le nom de la lune qui est : Nocturis.
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The Hall of Ice
The moon, on which Freya traveled, is situated in a distant orbit from Nemesisia, just beyond the other moons of the planet. This distance allows Glaciana to maintain extremely low temperatures and remain in a constant state of ice. The moon follows a stable trajectory that keeps it in Nemesisia's shadow for most of its orbit, thus enhancing its icy environment.
The building is primarily constructed from pure ice and ice crystals, giving it a majestic and ethereal appearance. The translucent walls shimmer in the starlight and auroras, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
The main entrance is marked by a finely sculpted ice portal, depicting snowflake patterns and arctic creatures. The columns flanking the entrance are carved from large blocks of ice and inlaid with luminescent crystals that emit a bluish light.
This castle seemed straight out of a description of the kingdom of Jötunheim: the realm of the frost giants in her homeland's religion. The surrounding cold somehow reminded her of her native land, allowing her to feel comfortable amidst all the changes she was experiencing.
At the center of the room, a man could be seen moving with alien grace and robustness, wielding a two-meter-long axe. As he swung his weapon, currents of cold air swept through the space, and fine ice crystals crystallized in the air.
Even though the room was filled with apprentices, he clearly didn't care. He continued to move his weapon without paying any attention to the outside world. After about thirty minutes, during which the apprentices were awestruck by such a technique, he finally stopped.
Silence enveloped the room as the man delicately placed his axe on the icy floor. He turned to the apprentices, his piercing blue eyes seeming to scrutinize each of them.
"I am Lyrian," he announced in a deep, serene voice. "Welcome to the Hall of Ice. Here, you will not only learn to wield ice but also to understand its true nature."
Freya felt a mix of apprehension and excitement. Lyrian was imposing, but he also exuded an aura of wisdom and absolute mastery. The other apprentices were equally captivated, listening intently to every word.
"Follow me, maggots. Let's get to training." Some were clearly displeased with the way Lyrian addressed them, but the demonstration of power he had shown was enough for them to understand the power gap between them.
As he led them through the empty building, they finally arrived in a room where the temperature seemed to reach absolute zero. Fortunately for them, Lyrian created a barrier to prevent them from turning into ice statues. "What you see before you is our sacred artifact: the Mirror of Eternal Ice. The academy allows you to meditate before it for an hour for free. Make good use of it, as this could already be the anchor point that creates a hierarchy among you. Stay within this air bubble that protects you; you do not have the strength to approach it," Lyrian strongly emphasized these last words.
The apprentices sat in a circle around the mirror, their gazes captivated by its shining and enigmatic surface. As they all dove into meditation at the same time, they closed their eyes and let the icy magic of the mirror penetrate their minds.
Freya immediately felt a wave of cold envelop her, but it was a comforting, almost soothing cold. She focused on her breathing and allowed her mind to empty of all distractions. Images and visions began to form in her mind, scenes from her past, mysterious symbols, and revelations about her connection with ice.
Around her, the other apprentices also felt the effects of the mirror. Some seemed to struggle to maintain their concentration, while others appeared more at peace. The mirror's magic worked differently on each of them, revealing their strengths and weaknesses. It was as if the mirror itself was a sentient being, judging the apprentices based on its own criteria. It seemed that not everyone had the same chance to progress because of this.
"It seems my talent doesn't really appeal to the artifact. The mirror doesn't stop me from communicating with it, but it doesn't help me initiate the conversation either," Freya sighed.
[Freya Sigurdsson]
[Rank 1: Initiate]
[Magic Power: 13]
[Combat Power: 20]
[Ice initial stage - completed - awaiting a breakthrough]
[Spiritual Origin: C+]
[Magical Control: E]
[Lineage: ???]
[Talent: ???]
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Meanwhile, in the main hall of the academy, Phaistos and his friends were exchanging their impressions of their respective trainings. Sitting around large marble tables under the light of enchanted chandeliers, they attentively listened to each other's stories.
As Freya was recounting her adventures, Miki interrupted: "It seems you received more information than Phaistos and I. Apparently, we only have access to one hour in front of our artifact. This makes the training more challenging."
"Indeed, it seems they are doing this to see who will truly put in the effort. They want to know if some will procrastinate after the first day," Zara added. "After we finish discussing, we should go meditate directly."
The others agreed, sensing the importance of maximizing their time. Zara, taking the floor, began to explain her adventures on the moon dedicated to the plant element. She described lush forests, strange creatures, and the enigmatic artifact of nature.
"On the moon of Elderan, everything seems to be alive," Zara said with passion. "The trees, the flowers, even the stones. The instructor, Maelis, showed us how to communicate with nature and feel its rhythms. It was fascinating and intimidating at the same time."
Phaistos nodded, intrigued by his friends' experiences. "It's fascinating how our trainings are different yet complementary. Freya, you with ice, Zara with plants, and me with light, we have the opportunity to use a multitude of elements."
Freya added, "Exactly. Each of us brings something unique. Imagine what we could accomplish by combining our strengths."
Enthusiasm and camaraderie filled the main hall of the academy as they shared their stories and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead. Their determination to excel and master their respective elements united them, forming a solid and resolute group. Nevertheless, Zara hadn't finished explaining all the wonders she had seen.