The next day dawns, and the sun begins to rise. The sky is clear. After experiencing the constant hustle and bustle of the capital, Geal and her companions head toward Paintbrush Village, the location of the first Chosen One's Trial.
Uruta carries both girls on his back in his giant form. Geal lies face down on his feathers, swinging her legs impatiently, eager to arrive. Bredgy, on the other hand, sits apart, hugging her knees. Her head swirls with thoughts as she tries to figure out how to start a conversation without ruining it.
"What are friends supposed to do? If I don't act well enough, the plan will fail," Bredgy thinks, clutching her knees tighter. "If I fail again… I don't even want to imagine what Mr. Dubh would do to me…"
"You're awfully quiet, huh?" Geal interrupts. "Hee hee hee! You haven't had friends before either, have you? Want to talk about something so we can get to know each other better?"
The flurry of thoughts in Bredgy's mind comes to an abrupt stop. Geal is forcing her out of her shyness, making it impossible to overthink. She shrugs and looks down, embarrassed.
"It's just… I don't know what to talk about," she mutters.
"How about you tell me what kind of boy you like?"
"W-what kind of boy I like…?" Bredgy stammers, hesitating.
"Yeah! I'd like to have a boyfriend who's kind, simple, and thoughtful. I don't care if he's not super handsome; if he loves me a lot, that's enough," Geal says, looking up with rosy cheeks. She rests her head on her hands while swinging her legs, making a duck-like pout. "I want to meet someone I can smother with kisses… I fantasize about that a lot."
"I haven't really thought about it…" Bredgy says, a bit uncomfortable.
"Oh, come on! Don't tell me you don't have a favorite type of guy. Don't be shy, tell me!"
Pressed by the question, Bredgy blushes slightly and presses her lips together.
"Do friends usually talk about this stuff?" she wonders.
After a few seconds of thought, she raises her head.
"Tall, rich… and not a mama's boy," she finally replies, getting more into it.
"Oh, how specific! Hee hee hee!" Geal laughs, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Girls, look down. We've arrived," Uruta calls out.
At last, they've made it! Both girls peer down and see a village with rustic little houses. Though it's early, smoke is already rising from the chimneys. The houses look cozy, made of bricks and wood. People stroll here and there, giving the place a warm, lively atmosphere.
A sturdy wooden fence painted white surrounds the village. At the entrance arch, painted in brown, are the words: "Paintbrush Village." Though small, the village looks bustling.
"So, this is Paintbrush Village? It looks a lot like ours, doesn't it, Uruta?" Geal comments, observing the area closely.
"It's a small village, but there are a lot of people. Where do you think the famous trial is?" Uruta asks, scanning the area.
"Look over there."
A little further ahead, Bredgy points downward. There's an arched gate leading into a forest, marked with an icon of the Chosen One's Crystal, floating and spinning with magic. A crowd has gathered at the entrance.
"I've done some research. The Chosen One's Trials are held where there's a bicolored emblem," Bredgy explains. "If that's right, we need to go there."
"You're so smart, Bredgy! I knew bringing you along was a good idea," Geal says, growing more excited.
"Well, no time to waste! Let's go!" Uruta exclaims as he begins to descend for a landing.
*
Once on solid ground, the trio makes their way through the crowd toward the trial's entrance. The area is filled with all kinds of people—rugged and muscular individuals dominate the space, their strong demeanors evident as they size each other up. Their Crystals glow with vibrant colors.
"Everyone looks so strong! Are they all aspiring to be the Chosen One like us? Let's go in!" says Geal, staring intently at those around her.
"Wait, Geal. We're not even sure if this is the right place. We should ask someone first," suggests Uruta.
Without wasting a second, Geal approaches a large, muscular man with a Green Crystal. She taps his back twice, and he turns around, raising an eyebrow.
"Huh? What do you want, kid?" he responds irritably.
"Excuse me, sir… Is this the location of the Trial of Wisdom?" Geal asks, flanked by her companions.
"Is this the location of the Trial of Wisdom? Of course, it is!" the man exclaims. "Now, this isn't a place for kids like you to be messing around. If you've got no more questions, scram and bother someone else."
"No! My friend and I want to sign up," Geal declares with determination.
At her words, the muscular man blinks twice before bursting into laughter.
"Hey, everyone! Look at this! Some little girls want to sign up for the Trial of Wisdom! Ha ha ha!"
The laughter echoes among the participants, and the entire place breaks into guffaws. Geal doesn't understand what's so funny.
"Look, the blonde one has a White Crystal! She's going to get torn apart in seconds!"
"Ha ha ha! Someone take her back to her parents before I die of laughter!"
"This is no place for weaklings."
As the laughter crescendos, Geal's face flushes with anger. She squares up to one of the men mocking her.
"Who are you calling 'weakling,' musclehead?" she exclaims, her brow furrowed deeply.
"Hey, hey! Wait, Geal, don't get worked up…" Uruta interrupts, knowing her temper and wanting to avoid a bigger problem.
"If you think I'm weak just because I have a white Crystal, you're wrong! I could kick your butt right here if I wanted to," Geal challenges.
"Huh? Who do you think you are?" the man retorts, puffing out his chest. "Want to see who's stronger? I don't care if you're a girl—I'll crush you!"
"I'm not afraid of you!" Geal fires back, rummaging in her backpack.
A circle of spectators forms around them, preparing for a fight. Uruta freezes with nerves, while Bredgy remains somewhat indifferent.
The man pulls out a massive axe, similar in size to the Quake Hammer the thug in Canvas wielded. The blade is a bright sky blue, razor-sharp, with a handle adorned with spikes.
"Don't even dream of entering the trial, brat—I'll flatten you right here!"
As Geal summons her shield, the giant leaps toward her, preparing a direct strike. The blow seems inevitable, but suddenly, the crack of a whip echoes nearby, catching everyone's attention and halting the fight.
"Stop right there!" someone shouts.
All heads turn toward the source of the sound. A young, slim, dark-skinned boy, about Geal's age, steps forward, wielding the whip. The crowd parts to let him through—it seems they recognize him.
"There's no rule that says a White Crystal can't participate," the boy comments, approaching with a serious look in his eyes.
"And who are you? Here to help her? I'll crush you too!" the man threatens.
Unfazed, the boy stands face to face with the axe-wielding man, then glances back and smiles at Geal. When she sees his face, Geal freezes in recognition.
"Wait, that's…!"
A new fight begins! With swift movements, the boy makes his whip dance and crack repeatedly, creating distractions.
The axe-wielding man charges, delivering several powerful but clumsy strikes. Each one hits the ground as the boy leaps and dodges with impressive agility.
Seizing an opening, the boy wraps the whip around the man's legs and pulls hard, knocking him over. The man falls unconscious, and the crowd bursts into applause—his fighting style is truly remarkable. The boy puts away his whip, smiling at Geal.
"Hey, Geal! Long time no see," he says, raising a hand in greeting, his expression warm.
Overjoyed, Geal runs to hug him, both beaming with happiness.
"Mathias! I didn't know you were here!" she says.
The boy's name is Mathias. He's 19, dark-skinned, with round glasses and black hair. Slightly taller than Geal, he wears a steel bracelet on his right arm, and his Crystal glows blue. His gaze is friendly yet resolute.
"Who's this?" Bredgy asks.
"He's Mathias, my childhood friend. We grew up and trained together in the village," Geal explains, standing proudly beside him. She clenches her fist. "We're competing to see who will become the Chosen One! Although he left the village a year before I did."
"Pleasure to meet you!" Mathias greets warmly.
Geal turns to Bredgy, placing a hand on her shoulder. It's time for introductions.
"Mathias, this is Bredgy! We became friends after she tried to kill me, then I threw up on her, and she asked to travel with me—it was awesome!" Geal says, though her storytelling leaves much to be desired.
Mathias takes two steps back.
"Wait, what…?"
"Hey, Mathias, if you left the village a year ago, why are you here?" Uruta asks. "Shouldn't you have passed this trial by now?"
At this, Mathias's expression turns serious. He bites his lip slightly and looks away.
"Well, Uruta, the Chosen One's Trials aren't easy," he explains. "There are lots of people competing for badges, and some are willing to attack others mercilessly. I failed last year because I was injured in a fight. But I'm here to try again."
"So everyone here is our enemy?" Bredgy asks, eyeing the other contenders warily.
"But…"
Proudly, Mathias pulls two gleaming gold badges from his shirt pocket, showing them off to his friends.
"I've already passed the other two trials! I just need one more badge, and I'll be ready to face the Chosen One. If I succeed this time, I can fulfill my dream!" Mathias says, grinning ear to ear.
"You've already passed the other two trials? That's amazing!" Geal exclaims, impressed by his accomplishment—only to grow slightly irritated moments later. "H-hey, that's not fair! You left a year before me, so you've got a head start on becoming the Chosen One. I'm going to pass all three trials in a flash, just watch!"
Mathias laughs as Geal fumes.
"All right, all right! Let's take the trial together then," Mathias says to lighten the mood. "One of us couldn't do it alone, but if we stick together, the trial will be a piece of cake. Follow me! Let's get signed up…"
Mathias finishes, extending his hand to guide them forward.
*
After standing in line for nearly an hour, Geal and her companions finally reach the entrance to the Trial. Beneath its emblem, they are greeted by a mustachioed old man wearing a white robe with red accents, serving as the gatekeeper.
"Your Crystal Warrior Badges, please," the old man requests.
Rummaging through her belongings, Geal pulls out her badge with pride. It's dirty and worn—a golden alloy mixed with other metals, bearing the insignia of seven crystals. In the center, it reads: "Crystal Warrior Badge," and beneath that, her name.
All Crystal Warriors hold official certification. Geal earned hers at 14 from an authorized center in Canvas Village.
Shortly after, Bredgy presents her badge. It's clean and pristine—a fake, but such a well-crafted replica that the gatekeeper doesn't notice.
"Is this your first time here?" the old man asks.
"Yes! This is my first Chosen One's Trial! I'm going to pass on my first attempt, just you watch!" Geal exclaims, clenching her fists in excitement.
"Ha ha ha! I love the enthusiasm of youth," the gatekeeper replies, slightly amused. "But beyond these doors lies one of the greatest challenges of your life. You must only enter if you're prepared to risk it all. If you believe you're ready, go ahead! The examiner awaits you."
Once permitted entry, Geal and her group join the bustling crowd of hopefuls gathered on a path leading into a dense forest.
Then, another old man descends from the sky, standing on a floating platform. He has a long beard and thick, white eyebrows. His attire resembles that of a priest—white with red trim. All eyes are drawn to him.
This man is the Master of the Trial, responsible for overseeing the event to ensure its proper execution.
"Welcome to the Trial of Wisdom. My name is Callum, and I am the Master assigned this year. Each of you must prove that you have what it takes to overcome this challenge. I will be the one evaluating you," he announces, pausing briefly to ensure he has everyone's attention. "Now, let's get straight to the point. The rules of the trial are as follows…"
Everyone perks up, eager to catch every word.
"Within this forest, you will find several chests, each containing three insignias. There are only ten chests. To open a chest, you must first locate its corresponding key. Once you have the insignias, you must return to this path with one in hand. You may form teams or go solo, but guard your insignias carefully—stealing is allowed. All who manage to exit the forest within 24 hours with an insignia will pass. Are you ready?"
Tension rises as the contestants begin to prepare themselves. There are at least a hundred participants, but only thirty will succeed. Then, the Master of the Trial shoots a red flare into the sky using magic, signaling the start of the challenge.
"Go! The clock starts now!" Callum declares.
The trial begins! Everyone rushes into the forest, pushing and elbowing their way through. No sooner have they entered than skirmishes break out. Geal, Uruta, Mathias, and Bredgy stick together to avoid being separated in the chaotic throng.
"Okay, everyone, we need to secure three insignias and protect them until tomorrow. If we work together, we can do this," Mathias says, leading the group.
"I can scout from above. You search the ground while I fly. If I find anything, I'll call to you with my song," Uruta suggests.
"Got it!" the others agree.
"Great! Trial of Wisdom, here we go!" Geal shouts enthusiastically.
Deep in the forest, Uruta takes to the skies, soaring above the treetops, while the others race along the wide path that cuts into the dense woods, leaving the bulk of the contestants behind. With steely resolve and hearts pounding, our heroes brace themselves for what's to come.
The Trial of Wisdom has begun!
*
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the forest's far side, a humanoid robot strides forward with slow, resounding steps toward the trees. Its frame bears a logo with the initials "R.M."—the same as the robot that attacked the capital. Its engines roar, and its LED eyes shine a brilliant blue. It stops just before the forest.
"So, this is the famous Trial of Wisdom, huh?" says the pilot inside the machine.
Emitting a bright white light and a sharp noise, the robot fires a laser from its arm, blasting a hole through the dense trees.
"I'll show them what happens when they provoke Royal Mechanic!"