IMMORTAL QUEST
Chapter 5: The First Trial
Scott awoke with a jolt, his heart racing. The silver-haired woman's words still echoed in his mind: "Trust yourself, and trust your friends."
He glanced at the medallion on his desk, its faint glow now dimmed. Whatever had just happened, it felt real. But there was no time to process it—he had a team to lead, whether he felt ready or not.
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At School
The halls of Ridgewood High felt different the next day. Whispers of the fire alarm incident buzzed among the students, though none of them seemed to remember the shadows or the mysterious girl.
"She's not here today," Mia said, joining Scott at his locker.
"Who?" Scott asked, though he already knew the answer.
"The girl from yesterday," Mia clarified. "Whoever—or whatever—she was, she's vanished."
Scott nodded, relief and apprehension warring within him. "Good. But it doesn't mean she's gone for good."
Theo and Derek walked up, Theo holding his notebook. "I've been researching symbols from the medallion. There's a lot of conflicting info, but one thing keeps coming up: trials."
"Trials?" Mia repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Theo nodded. "Apparently, Guardians have to pass specific trials to unlock their full potential. Some texts describe them as physical challenges, others as mental or emotional tests. Either way, they're designed to make sure we're worthy."
"Worthy of what?" Derek asked.
"Of wielding the medallions' power," Theo replied.
Scott glanced at the medallion around his neck, now hidden beneath his hoodie. "How do we find these trials?"
Theo shrugged. "That's the thing—we don't. They find us."
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The Incident in History Class
Later that day, during Mr. Callahan's history lecture, Scott felt the familiar pull again. It started as a faint tug in his chest, then grew stronger, more insistent.
"Scott?" Mia whispered, noticing his distant expression.
Before he could respond, the classroom lights flickered. The air grew heavy, and an unnatural chill settled over the room.
"What's going on?" Allison murmured, glancing around nervously.
Mr. Callahan's voice faltered mid-sentence as the shadows in the room deepened. Then, without warning, the medallion around Scott's neck began to glow, the light piercing through his hoodie.
"Scott!" Mia hissed, panic in her voice.
The pull intensified, and suddenly, the world around them dissolved.
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The Trial of Strength
Scott, Mia, Theo, Allison, Derek, and Malia found themselves standing in a dense, ancient forest. The air was thick with the scent of moss and earth, and the distant sound of rushing water echoed through the trees.
"Where are we?" Allison asked, her voice trembling.
"It's the trial," Theo said, his eyes wide with realization. "We've been pulled into it."
Before anyone could respond, a deep growl rumbled through the forest. The group turned to see a massive, wolf-like creature emerging from the shadows. Its eyes glowed an unnatural red, and its fangs gleamed in the dim light.
"Run!" Scott shouted, instinctively stepping in front of the group.
The creature lunged, and the group scattered. Scott dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws.
"This is insane!" Derek yelled, grabbing a fallen branch and brandishing it like a weapon.
"We can't just run forever!" Malia shouted, her eyes darting around for an escape route.
Scott glanced at the medallion, its glow pulsating in time with his racing heartbeat. He didn't know how he knew, but something told him the medallion held the key to defeating the creature.
"Distract it!" he called to the others. "I'll figure something out!"
Derek and Malia worked together to draw the creature's attention, throwing rocks and yelling. Meanwhile, Theo and Allison tried to climb a tree for a better vantage point.
Scott focused on the medallion, gripping it tightly. "Come on," he muttered. "Do something."
The medallion's glow intensified, and Scott felt a surge of energy course through him. He raised his hand, and a burst of light shot from the medallion, striking the creature and sending it reeling.
The wolf-like beast growled, its movements slowing as the light seemed to weaken it.
"Keep going, Scott!" Mia urged, her voice filled with hope.
Scott concentrated, channeling the medallion's power again. This time, the light enveloped the creature completely. With a final, piercing howl, it dissolved into nothingness.
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After the Trial
The forest began to fade, and the group found themselves back in the history classroom. The lights were on, and Mr. Callahan continued his lecture as if nothing had happened.
"Did…did that just happen?" Allison asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Scott looked down at the medallion, now dim but still warm in his hand. "Yeah," he said. "It happened."
Theo scribbled furiously in his notebook, muttering to himself about the implications of the trial.
"What was that thing?" Derek asked, his usual bravado replaced by genuine concern.
"A test," Scott replied. "And we passed."
"But why just us?" Malia asked. "Why weren't the other students pulled in?"
"Because we're the Guardians," Mia said quietly. "Whether we like it or not."
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The Warning
That evening, the group gathered at Scott's house once more. The mood was tense as they recounted the trial and its implications.
"The medallion responded to you, Scott," Theo said. "You're the key to unlocking whatever power the Guardians have."
"But it wasn't just me," Scott said. "We all played a part. I couldn't have done it without you."
Derek smirked. "So what you're saying is, you need us?"
Scott managed a small smile. "Yeah, I guess I do."
Mia crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "If that was just the first trial, what happens next?"
Scott didn't have an answer, but deep down, he knew the challenges ahead would only get harder.
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This chapter sets up the stakes even higher, showing the group's first trial as Guardians and hinting at the larger challenges they'll face.