David paced the corridors of the Academy, his mind still clouded by the visions from the Heart. It had been a few hours since he'd left the chamber, yet the images clung to him like a second skin. He rubbed his temples, willing the remnants of that experience to fade, but it was as though the Heart had etched itself into his consciousness.
He turned a corner and nearly collided with Peter, a fellow apprentice and one of the few people who hadn't treated him differently since his awakening. Peter's sharp blue eyes widened as he caught sight of David's expression.
"Whoa. You look like you've seen a ghost," Peter said, stepping back. "You alright?"
David exhaled, forcing a weak smile. "I'm fine. Just… tired."
Peter didn't look convinced. "Yeah? Well, you'd better shake it off. The instructors are talking about another test—one that's coming sooner than expected. Rumor has it they want to push the boundaries this time. Something to do with the recent shifts in the Astral Sea."
David frowned. "Another test? We just finished the last one two days ago. They're really not giving us any time to recover."
Peter shrugged. "Welcome to the Academy. They say it's about preparing us for the real threats out there. Personally, I think they just enjoy seeing us squirm."
David considered this. Ever since his awakening, he'd been pulled into the depths of the Academy's rigorous training regime. It was relentless, designed to break even the strongest students and force them to adapt or fall behind. But this wasn't just about survival anymore. The stakes had risen, and the Heart's visions proved it.
"I guess we don't have much of a choice," David muttered.
Peter grinned, slapping him on the back. "That's the spirit. Come on, they've posted the details in the central hall. Let's see how bad it's going to be this time."
As they walked, David's thoughts returned to the Heart. He couldn't shake the feeling that this test was connected to what he had seen. The Academy's leaders knew something—something they weren't sharing with the students.
When they reached the central hall, a large crowd had already gathered. Students were clustered around the announcement board, their faces ranging from excitement to dread. Peter elbowed his way through, dragging David along until they were close enough to read the glowing text projected in mid-air.
"Upcoming Field Test: Astral Rift Infiltration."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Astral Rift? They're sending us into an actual rift?" one student whispered.
"That's insane. We're not even fully trained yet!" another hissed.
Peter whistled under his breath. "Well, that's different."
David read the rest of the announcement carefully.
"Objective: Secure and retrieve the core of an unstable plane fragment. Success will be determined by team cooperation, survival, and completion of the mission parameters. Failure is not an option."
Peter chuckled nervously. "'Failure is not an option.' They really like their dramatic phrasing, don't they?"
David's eyes narrowed. A plane fragment? Why would they send apprentices on such a dangerous mission? It was far beyond anything they had faced before. The risks were astronomical, especially for those who had only recently awakened their talents.
A familiar voice broke through his thoughts. "David!"
He turned to see Anna, her fiery red hair unmistakable in the crowd. She pushed her way through the students, her expression set in determination.
"You saw the announcement?" she asked, her eyes flicking between David and Peter.
"Yeah," David replied. "And I'm not sure what they're thinking. This is too dangerous."
Anna nodded, her brow furrowed. "I agree. There's something more to this than they're letting on. I heard whispers about disturbances near the rift—they think something might be leaking through."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Leaking through? Like what?"
Anna hesitated, lowering her voice. "No one's saying it outright, but some of the instructors think it might be linked to the Void Demons. If they're right…"
David's chest tightened. Void Demons were the stuff of nightmares—creatures born from the chaotic energy between planes. They were unpredictable, powerful, and nearly impossible to kill without extensive preparation. Sending apprentices into a rift where demons might be lurking was practically a death sentence.
Peter's lighthearted demeanor vanished. "Well, that's just great. Void Demons. I was hoping for something a little less apocalyptic today."
"We have to be ready," David said, his voice firm. "Whether it's demons or something else, we don't have a choice. We need to figure out what's going on and how to stop it."
Anna nodded. "I'm with you. But we'll need more than just luck to survive this. We need a strategy."
Peter sighed. "Alright, fine. But if we're doing this, I'm bringing extra wards. Lots of them."
David couldn't help but smile despite the tension. "Good idea. We'll need all the help we can get."
The announcement faded from the air, but its impact lingered. The students around them were already breaking off into smaller groups, discussing their strategies and preparing for the worst.
David knew this wasn't just another test. It was something much bigger. And whatever awaited them in the rift, it would change everything.
The crowd in the central hall slowly dispersed, but a heavy tension hung in the air. Everyone knew this was no ordinary test. David exchanged a glance with Anna and Peter, each of them silently acknowledging the weight of what lay ahead.
"We need to gather our team," Anna said decisively. "If this is as dangerous as it sounds, we can't just rely on raw power. We'll need people we trust."
Peter crossed his arms. "Agreed. I'll speak to Marcus and Elena. They're solid in a fight and good under pressure. Who else?"
"Sarah," David suggested. "She's one of the best when it comes to defensive wards. We'll need someone to cover us if things go south."
Anna nodded. "And maybe Jacob. His spatial manipulation talent could be crucial in navigating the rift."
Peter let out a low whistle. "You're pulling in all the heavy hitters. You really think this is going to be that bad?"
David hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. I do. The instructors wouldn't risk this unless they had no other choice."
"Great," Peter muttered. "Looks like we're diving straight into chaos."
They split up to gather their team, each taking a different part of the Academy. David headed towards the training grounds, where he hoped to find Sarah. She was usually there, refining her warding spells, pushing her limits even when she didn't need to.
As he approached, he spotted her surrounded by shimmering layers of translucent barriers, each one pulsating with a different energy. She stood in the center, her brow furrowed in concentration, her hands weaving complex patterns in the air.
"Sarah!" David called out, careful not to disturb her focus too much.
She finished the final gesture, letting the wards dissolve into thin air, and turned to him with a smile. "David. What's going on? You look… intense."
"There's a new test. An Astral Rift mission," he explained quickly. "It's dangerous—more dangerous than anything we've faced before. We need you on the team."
Sarah's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "An Astral Rift? That's not something they usually throw at apprentices. Why now?"
"I don't know," David admitted. "But something's happening. We need the best, and you're the best at what you do."
She sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Alright. I'm in. But if we're going into a rift, I'll need time to prepare. I'll need more than just the basics to protect us from whatever's out there."
"We'll make sure you have what you need," David assured her.
Together, they headed back to the meeting point, where Anna, Peter, and the others were already gathering. Marcus, tall and imposing with a talent for elemental control, stood with his arms crossed, listening intently. Elena, with her sharp eyes and quick reflexes, adjusted the straps on her gauntlets, ready for battle. Jacob leaned against a pillar, his expression calm but his eyes sharp with focus.
David addressed them all. "You've all seen the announcement. You know how dangerous this is going to be. But we're not going in blind. We stick together, we plan, and we get through this."
Marcus grinned. "Sounds like a plan. Let's show them what we're made of."
Elena cracked her knuckles. "I've been itching for a real challenge."
Jacob remained quiet but nodded in agreement.
Peter clapped his hands. "Alright, team. Let's gear up. We've got a rift to conquer."
As they dispersed to prepare, David couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The Astral Rift loomed ahead, a gateway to the unknown. And whatever was waiting on the other side was ready for them.