Dawn eyes wandered away from the soul diary as he walked alongside his classmates, his heart racing with anticipation and of fear. They were headed to the crystal pyramids behind the school, a place he had never been before. The air was thick with an eerie, pulsating energy that seemed to emanate from the pyramids themselves.
As they approached the pyramids, Dawn saw that they were surrounded by a group of still figures that appeared to not be alive at al, their faces hidden behind masks of polished silver.
"Aren't they the same as the one at the entrance of the school". With no one to verify he kept his thought to himself.
Mr. Ryker and Mr. Orion stood at the forefront, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of sadness and pity.
Dawn's classmates seemed to be in a state of nervous anticipation, their eyes fixed on some point ahead as if they were being drawn towards it by an unseen force. Dawn, on the other hand, felt his senses on high alert, his mind racing with questions and doubts.
As they reached the base of the pyramids, the air seemed to vibrate with energy, and Dawn felt his skin tingling with anticipation.
Mr. Ryker stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Dawn and his classmates. "You have been chosen to participate in the trials," he said, his voice low and somber. "To ensure that your body would be in a perfect shape during the trial, you will be encased in crystal. This will prevent the formation of a gateway, should you... not survive the trials."
Dawn felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized the true nature of the trials. He glanced at his classmates, and saw that they were all pale and nervous, their eyes wide with fear.
The air was alive with anticipation as the students stood before the shimmering crystal pyramid. Their journey was about to take a profound turn, and they could feel it. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, commanding attention and exuding an aura of wisdom.
The Headmaster, a towering figure with piercing blue eyes and long silky black hair that cascaded down his back like a river, stepped forward. His presence was imposing, yet gentle, like a summer breeze that carried the whispers of the ancients. His long, flowing robes seemed woven from the very fabric of history itself, with intricate patterns that shimmered and danced in the flickering torchlight.
As he approached, the students felt an inexplicable sense of reverence wash over them. It was as if they were standing before a living embodiment of the wisdom, courage, and perseverance that had guided countless generations before them.
The Headmaster's eyes, deep pools of wisdom and compassion, swept across the assembly, meeting the gaze of each student in turn. His voice, like thunder on a summer day, boomed out across the chamber, shaking the very foundations of their souls.
"My dear students," he began, his words dripping with a sense of gravitas and urgency, "today marks a turning point in your journey. Today, you stand at the threshold of a great unknown, poised to embark on a path that will test your courage, your wits, and your very souls."
He paused, surveying the sea of pitiful faces before him.
"You have been chosen for this journey because you possess a spark within you, a spark that sets you apart from your peers. It is a spark of curiosity, of wonder, and of awe. It is a spark that drives you to explore, to discover, and to push beyond the boundaries of what is thought possible."
His eyes seemed to bore into their very souls, as if searching for the deepest, most hidden recesses of their hearts.
"But this journey will not be easy. There will be challenges that will push you to your limits, that will force you to confront your deepest fears and doubts. There will be moments when you will feel lost, alone, and uncertain."
His voice dropped to a whisper, taking on a conspiratorial tone.
"But it is in these moments that you will discover your greatest strengths. It is in these moments that you will learn to tap into the deep wellspring of resilience that lies within you. It is in these moments that you will discover the true meaning of courage, of perseverance, and of determination."
He paused, his eyes flashing with a fierce inner light.
"So I ask you, my dear students, what is it that drives you? What is it that burns within you, that sets your soul on fire? Is it a desire for knowledge, for power, or for fame? Or is it something deeper, something more profound?"
His voice seemed to echo off the walls of the chamber, resonating deep within their chests.
"Is it a desire to make a difference, to leave a mark on the world that will outlast you? Is it a desire to push beyond the boundaries of what is thought possible, to explore the unknown, and to discover new worlds?"
He smiled, a warm, gentle smile that seemed to envelop them in a sense of comfort and reassurance.
"Whatever it is that drives you, I urge you to hold onto it, to nurture it, and to fan it into a flame that will burn brightly for all to see. For it is this flame, this spark within you, that will guide you on your journey, that will illuminate the path ahead, and that will lead you to greatness."
His eyes seemed to bore into their very souls, as if searching for the deepest, most hidden recesses of their hearts.
"So go forth, my dear students, and may the light of knowledge, the fire of passion, and the flame of courage guide you on your journey. May you discover new worlds, new civilizations, and new wonders. And may you always remember, no matter where your journey takes you, that you are not alone, that you are part of a community that is bound together by a shared sense of purpose, of passion, and of wonder."
As the Headmaster finished speaking, although there was no applause everone including him knew he had made a profound impact. The Headmaster smiled, a warm, gentle smile that seemed to envelop them in a sense of comfort and reassurance." Fear not I have hope you lots will survive."
And with that, the students braced themselves, ready to embark on their journey, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, and ready to discover the wonders that awaited them.
The robed figures closed in, their hands reaching out to grasp Dawn and his classmates. As they were lifted and carried towards the pyramids, Dawn saw that Mr. Ryker and Mr. Orion were watching them with a mixture of sadness and pity.
"You will be taken to the trials by the Soul Dairy itself," Mr. Ryker said, his voice barely above a whisper. "May the odds be ever in your favor."
As Dawn was encased in crystal, he felt a sense of disorientation and disconnection. He was trapped, unable to move or escape.
Then the pull of the soul diary became stronger but held on thanks to the evolution of his brains and eyes which indirectly affected his soul.
"What do you consider a dishonoured death."
Dawn was more interested in the question than how Mr. Ryker had arrived at his side.
Drawn by the question Dawn opened his mouth " A death, giving no time for last words, my father's death, my mother's death."
Then the memories of the death of his parents surged from the deepest part of his brain.
Then without being asked he continued to talk, "I has... no I am still trying to escape the reality of the deaths of my parents, I had distracted myself from the truth of the world and the cruelty of the Nether beast so I will not face the death of my parents." Sometimes it took only a question for your mental fortitude to crumble, as so in the case of dawn after being asked a question he exploded up all the pent-up trauma in his mind as he began to cry.
"I failed my parents, I tried to hate but am a coward, I know I won't be able to avenge them so I lied to myself. Then Dawn stopped crying as he looked at Ryker at his side.
"I know am going to die and I am ready to die". Wiping the remaining tears in his eyes, his red eyes had already became more bloodshot. "My only regret is not bringing an end to the killer of my parents.
Then Dawn succumbed to the Soul Dairy
The last thing he saw was the pitiful look on Mr. Ryker's face, and the movement of his lip as he seems to be saying something, Dawn frowned as he managed to read the movement of his lip as his consciousness to dark.
The Soul Dairy would take them to the trials, and only time would tell if they would emerge victorious, or succumb to the dangers that lay ahead.