Elian looked around him. He gazed at the infinite expanse of the sky and noticed the cracked, dry ground beneath his feet.
He lowered his eyes and took in the landscape: deep fissures scarred the earth, as if the world itself was broken. A voice suddenly spoke to him:
— ## #### Choose.
Elian didn't understand the sound. Troubled, he asked:
— Huh? Who are you?
— You must make a choice: surrender or survive.
Elian stepped back, his eyes wide in shock. There was no one there, yet he felt a presence—oppressive and overwhelming.
— But I don't understand! What am I supposed to choose?!
The ground suddenly trembled beneath his feet. A void opened up, swallowing everything around him.
— Your destiny won't wait for you.
Elian tried to grab onto something, anything, but his hands met only emptiness. He screamed as he fell, swallowed by the infinite darkness.
And then, everything disappeared.
— Stop screaming, you idiot!
Elian's eyes flew open. A hand was shaking his shoulder. Standing over him was Elira, his best friend, with a mocking grin.
— How long have you been there, Elira? Elian asked, still dazed from his thoughts.
— Long enough to hear you yelling to yourself. So, about five minutes. Come on, we've got training. Get ready, I'll wait for you outside the dorm.
Later, in front of the combat training hall
The hall was empty. After all, it was the weekend. Who would be crazy enough to train on a day of rest? The competitive atmosphere that usually filled the place had vanished. The silence was only broken by the occasional creak of the ceiling under the pressure of the wind.
The walls, usually battered from years of blows, had been repaired, thanks to the school's funding.
— I had that dream again, Elira. Except this time, it felt more intense, like it was urgent, said Elian, his voice uneasy, his hand trembling as it gripped his sword.
— Don't worry. It's just a dream. Anyway, if someone tries to fight you, they'll have to go through me first, replied Elira, his face serious, though his voice was calm.
— You don't understand. It was so realistic. They were asking me to choose between death and survival. That world felt so alive, with its beautiful sky…
— And I'm telling you, I'm ready. Trust me for once; it's never gone wrong before, Elira replied, a mocking tone in his voice.
Elian tried to push the dream aside, but the images kept coming back—stronger and more vivid each time. It was as if something was trying to warn him. He shook his head, trying to focus on the present. Elira, however, was troubled, concerned about the fact that his friend was going through this without any way to help him.
A brief silence settled in the room before Elira broke it.
— Maybe this dream is tied to your Awakening. It means you're getting closer to it, don't you think?
He placed both hands on the hilt of his sword, preparing to strike.
With a grin, Elira kept teasing:
— I hope you remembered what I taught you last time. We can't let more civilians get hurt this time.
Adopting a defensive stance, he waited for the first move.
— I let you win last time anyway, replied Elian before charging at Elira with a vertical strike.
Elira easily dodged the blow.
— Too slow. Is your plan to bore me to death?
The sound of clashing blades echoed through the empty hall. Elian's movements were slow, his posture full of openings. His mind was elsewhere. The images from his dream kept flashing before his eyes, distracting him with every strike.
— I get it, you're still thinking about that dream, aren't you? Elira asked, excitement filling his voice, as he lunged forward with incredible speed.
He aimed for Elian's shoulder.
— The key to success is keeping your composure.
Elian barely blocked the strike and counterattacked, aiming for Elira's leg.
Hit.
The silence in the room quickly gave way to laughter. Elian's face lit up with joy—he had finally overcome the obstacle that was Elira.
Elira, proud of his mistake, was nevertheless pleased. That error had allowed Elian to finally show the potential for his Awakening.
The silence returned, but then, a strange yellow light appeared at the center of the room, flashing like a pulse. An intense heat radiated from it, enveloping everything around.
Elian, terrified, took a step back and looked at Elira, as if silently asking him what to do. Elira, meanwhile, scanned the room. He noticed the exit door slightly ajar, as if someone had been watching them. Without hesitation, he grabbed Elian's hand and started running toward the door.
— Quick, follow me!
The air was growing heavier and heavier, and the door was getting closer with every step. Elian ran as fast as he could toward the exit. The light behind them grew brighter and brighter, accompanied by a piercing sound that cut through the silence. It pulsed, expanding, as if trying to keep them trapped inside.
But finally, they reached the door. The air became lighter, allowing them to catch their breath. They made sure to firmly close the door behind them. A faint silence settled, broken only by the sound of the wind.
— We should tell the dorm supervisor, murmured Elian, his gaze still fixed on the door, as if expecting it to burst open again.
Elira placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but at that moment, Elian collapsed to the ground, unconscious, under Elira's terrified gaze.