Elias stepped through the shimmering portal, his body briefly weightless as the world shifted around him. When his feet touched solid ground, the landscape that greeted him was unlike anything he had ever seen. Pieces of land floated in the air, each an isolated fragment of terrain suspended over an infinite, swirling void. Precarious bridges of light connected the platforms, their faint glow flickering ominously, as if threatening to vanish at any moment. Above, an endless expanse of stars pulsed faintly, like a living heartbeat echoing through the realm.
At the center of the fragmented battlefield stood a radiant obelisk, its glow intense and mesmerizing. Pulsing waves of energy rippled outward from its surface, illuminating the void with each beat. It was clear to Elias that the obelisk was their goal, though how they would reach it seemed far less obvious.
Glancing around, Elias noted the absence of the larger group of hopefuls. Instead, only five others were scattered across nearby platforms: Kiran stood to his left, already inspecting the flickering bridge of light connecting their platforms; Aeryn and Sylra were on a fragment slightly higher than his, the spirit's glow adding an ethereal touch to the already surreal scene; Kaelen appeared to be surveying his surroundings with an analytical gaze, his hand hovering near his side as if ready to manipulate time at any moment; Martice crouched near the edge of his platform, eyes fixed on something Elias couldn't see, his face set in a familiar expression of frustration; and finally, the quiet boy who had been with them during the Oasis trial stood motionless, his piercing gaze taking in the entire battlefield with unsettling calm.
Elias's heart raced as he took a tentative step forward, the ground beneath him solid but unnervingly smooth. "Well," he muttered, his voice breaking the silence, "this isn't exactly what I expected."
Kiran glanced over at him, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You mean you didn't plan for floating rocks in the middle of nowhere? I'm shocked."
Elias rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small grin that crept onto his face. Despite the situation, Kiran's humor was a welcome distraction. "Any idea where we're supposed to start?"
Before Kiran could respond, Aeryn's voice carried across the void. "Does anyone else feel that?"
Elias followed her gaze to the obelisk, its glow intensifying for a brief moment before returning to its steady pulse. The energy radiating from it seemed to vibrate in his chest, a sensation both invigorating and unsettling.
Kaelen spoke up, his voice calm but deliberate. "The obelisk… it's sending out waves of mana. It's almost like a beacon, but it's too irregular to just be that. There's something up with it."
Sylra's soft glow pulsed in agreement, her eyes locking onto Aeryn's. The spirit didn't speak, but her presence was reassurance enough for Aeryn, who nodded resolutely. "Then I'd wager a guess that we need to figure out how to stabilize it somehow."
Martice, still crouched near the edge of his platform, let out a quiet huff. "Easier said than done. There are sigils embedded in the bridges and platforms. Some of them are familiar, but others…" His voice trailed off as he shook his head. "We'll need to interact with them to make progress, but I can't guarantee what will happen when we do."
The quiet boy finally spoke, his voice as calm and deliberate as his gaze. "Then we'll have to move carefully. Splitting up to cover more ground might be necessary, but staying in pairs or small groups will reduce the risk."
Elias crossed his arms, his flames flickering faintly around him. "Great, so we're supposed to fumble our way across floating rocks and hope we don't fall into the abyss? Sounds like a blast."
Aeryn turned to him, her expression firm. "We don't have time for sarcasm. If we're going to get through this, we need to work together."
Kaelen stepped forward, his eyes scanning the nearest bridge of light. "Let's start with the closest platform. If Martice is right about the sigils, we'll need him to decipher them. I'll help with whatever… interference they might throw our way."
Sylra floated closer to Aeryn, her soft light brushing against her partner's shoulder. The unspoken bond between them was palpable, and Elias couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at their seamless coordination.
"Alright," Kiran said, his tone unusually serious. "Let's get moving. We'll figure it out as we go."
With that, the group began to cautiously navigate the fragmented battlefield. Kiran and Elias took the lead, stepping onto the first bridge of light. It flickered ominously under their weight, but held steady enough for them to cross. Aeryn and Sylra followed close behind, while Kaelen and Martice trailed, the quiet boy hanging back slightly as if studying the group from a distance.
As they reached the next platform, Martice knelt immediately to examine the sigils etched into its surface. His brow furrowed in concentration, and he muttered under his breath as his fingers traced the patterns. The others stood in a loose circle around him, their eyes scanning the surrounding void for any signs of danger.
"This one's different," Martice said after a moment. "The lines are more intricate, almost like a puzzle. It'll take me a bit to figure it out."
"Take your time," Kaelen replied, his tone measured. "We'll keep watch."
Elias glanced at the obelisk in the distance, its glow pulsing steadily. The energy emanating from it seemed to hum in his chest, a constant reminder of their goal. "Let's hope we're not running on borrowed time."
From the chair in his office, Caelus watched the scene unfold with a faint smile. The glass orb on his desk shimmered faintly, displaying the fragmented battlefield and the six hopefuls as they moved cautiously from platform to platform.
"Interesting," he mused, leaning back in his chair. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk as he observed their interactions. "The trials always change, year to year, but this one… this one has a certain unpredictability to it. Let's see how far they can push themselves."
His gaze lingered on each of them in turn. Elias, with his untamed flames and impulsive nature; Kiran, always calculating but prone to hesitation; Aeryn and Sylra, whose bond gave them strength but also left them vulnerable; Kaelen, whose calm exterior masked the weight of his power; Martice, stubborn and brilliant but often blinded by his frustration; and the quiet boy, whose motives remained as enigmatic as his demeanor.
"The obelisk awaits," Caelus murmured, his smile widening ever so slightly. "Show us what you're truly capable of."
With a wave of his hand, the glass orb dimmed slightly, the image within flickering as the trial continued.