Extremely challenging trials

As Nicholas crosses the archway to the Forest of Ossau, he finds himself in a small, underground cave. Torches illuminate the space, their flames guiding him to a single way out at the end of a rudimentary flight of stairs. By the exit, magical runes, carved in the rock, shine a blue light. The symbols create a distorted field, separating them from what lies ahead.

“A dead end?” Guava questions.

Asai tilts her head, confused, as if she were staring at a solid wall.

At first, Nicholas doesn’t understand their reaction, because to him, the hole to the outside world, despite being wavy, is as clear as day. Then, he realizes. It’s a work with the purpose of deceiving those who are not Corrupters, an illusion capable of making a fool of even an elf.

He walks past the deception, pulling his small, reluctant companions with him. On the other side, they are greeted by a unique set of flora. Trees that grew so big they covered the sky with their large branches. However, their leaves are translucent, allowing the sunlight to pass through as a relaxing penumbra. On the ground, the plants display a beautiful variety of colors and shapes, some as big as him. Each flower exhales a different aroma as fragrant as a perfume. The fruits, appetizing just by their looks, make Nicholas salivate at the thought of their taste.

The fauna doesn’t fall behind in its magnificence. Creatures straight out of fairy tales wander freely, leaving behind traces of magic wherever they go. Some possess the cuteness of a fluffy furball. While they might be very dangerous, they inspire an irresistible urge to be squeezed and pet. Others bear the majestic aura of a mythical being, graceful to look at but intimidating to approach.

“Amazing, that portal really led us to my home! My people’s village is not far from here,” Guava points out.

“Asai…” she doesn’t seem particularly happy to be back.

Suddenly, they are cornered by a patrol of soldiers in shiny silver armor, detailed with ornaments of nature. Their pointy ears give away their race immediately.

“I demand an explanation on how a group of invaders managed to get through all the defenses I’ve created in the blink of an eye. Appearing out of nowhere in our territory as if mocking my capabilities as the strongest mage of Ossau,” one of them, their apparent leader, speaks with a deep voice of authority.

Unlike his subordinates, he wears long, white robes enhanced with multiple, visible layers of magic. His exposed face directs a sharp, angry glare to Nicholas’ group as his bald head, despite the lack of a stronger source of light, almost blinds them with how lustrous it is.

“Wait, Zummaris! It’s me, Guava!” she protests, taking a step forward.

“Who?” he says with disdain.

“How cruel! I've known you for centuries!” the girl tears up.

“Asai!” her friend exclaims, revolted by the way he treated Guava.

“Almighty Lady Asai, my apologies! I haven’t noticed your presence with that rag covering you!” he speaks in a more formal tone, making a reverence that feels slightly forced.

The knights follow, doing a synchronized bow. Their leader continues:

“Please, allow me to throw that away immediately,” he says, referring to the cape Nicholas gave her back in Vatogus, which she still wears with much care.

As he was about to reach her, she opened her mouth, revealing sharp teeth. She bites his hand using all her might.

Zummaris let out an exaggerated scream, jumping in pain. The knights remain standing still.

“You! How dare you act with such insolence!”

Nicholas steps between them, shielding Asai, who sticks out her tongue while hiding behind him.

“Easy there, Baldilocks. I was playing cool until now, but I won’t let you be mean to the little ones anymore.”

“What?! A human capable of speaking the ancient language of my people?!” Zummaris shouts, shocked.

His soldiers also can’t hide how surprised they are.

“Ugh… Yes? Now that I think about it, Kai could also speak a rare language without noticing it,” he whispers to himself.

“Zummaris, for someone who claims to be wise, you are an utter fool. Can’t you see the human carrying a weapon that is filled with a considerable amount of ancient magic?” a female figure speaks mockingly, materializing from the trunk of a tree as if she were initially part of it.

She wears a black dress of luxurious fabric combined with a pair of elegant gloves. Her long, white hair bears black streaks, a hint of maculation that sets her apart from her kin. Roses adorning her waist seem to bleed their colors onto the cloth, staining her clothes. A single tear-shaped pendant hangs from one of her ears. With a mischievous grin, she approaches the others, her eyes carefully studying Nicholas.

“Aunt Gilkrana!”

“Hag!”

Asai and Guava call the woman with enthusiasm. She pinches her cheeks, scolding them with slight annoyance.

“I’ve warned you not to address me in such a way. I’ve not even reached my second millennium yet. Regardless, it is good to see you brats doing well.”

“What are you doing here? Poking your nose into matters that do not concern you again?” the bald elf speaks in an irritated tone.

“As I said before, I’m here to prevent you from being stupid.”

“Great Mages, allow me to clarify. This man is Nicholas. Asai claims that the item he carries is capable of waking Goddess Harmonia from her long sleep,” Guava explains.

“Now that’s a bold claim. Interesting.”

“And a ridiculous one. You can’t possibly be considering its veracity. It’s obviously a trick, expected from a human.”

Asai growls at him.

“Careful, Zummaris. You may see yourself as the biggest authority in Ossau, but the younglings' words hold way more weight than yours in this particular matter.”

“So be it. We take the sword in, but I refuse to allow the human in our village!”

“Actually-”

Before the Corrupter could explain, the prideful mage snatched the weapon from him. He pays no mind to trying to get it back as the elf walks away with his nose in the air, and his soldiers follow him in single file.

A few seconds later, the sword magically materializes lying on the grass in front of its original bearer.

Furious, the elf comes back with hurried footsteps.

“Where is it?!”

“There,” Nicholas lazily points at the blade on the ground.

Zummaris grabs it, casts a spell that creates a barrier around it, and smirks.

“Let's see your trick working now.”

He leaves more full of himself than before.

The same thing happens.

The egocentric figure comes back a second time, enraged. Now, he casts a stronger spell around the sword and takes his leave once again.

It materializes near its owner soon afterward.

This cycle repeats five more times before the grumpy man with pointy ears gives up and drags the party with him to the village against his will.

“I’ll make sure you have the worst time of your life with my clan, you damn human!”

And with that intimidating claim, Nicholas proceeded to have the best time of his life. The elder elves, grateful that he took good care of Asai and brought her back safely alongside Guava, rewarded him with gifts and a grand feast. The clan's true leaders, showing hospitality and friendship, shared the story of their home and what happened to their deity, who now hibernates in the forest.

Centuries ago, Harmonia, the kind elven Goddess of Balance, was deceived and mercilessly killed by an evil divinity. Her body was laid to rest in the Forest of Ossau, becoming the very seed from which the most marvelous flora in the world, the giant central tree, grew. Before she perished, Harmonia, aware of her fate, prepared a countermeasure: she created keys capable of awakening her when her body was ready to be reborn. These keys grew into new beings, each bearing a trait of her true self.

Guava, the first key, holds her knowledge and goodwill. Asai, the second, carries her great raw power. The third, representing her judgment and ability to bring equilibrium, was stolen by an immoral trickster for unknown purposes.

Their clan was entrusted with three missions: protect the living keys, find the missing one, and guard her final resting place. To fulfill this duty, they founded a humble village whose entire architecture blends graciously with the forest itself, living by their Goddess's side until their obligations are complete.

And so, it seems the sword is the missing piece needed to awaken their Goddess. However, just as they were about to take him to the giant tree, Zummaris steps in, declaring it a blasphemy to allow a human onto sacred ground. He invokes the Trials of Ossau, an ancient challenge meant to test one's worth. Impatient to save his friends without more delay, Nicholas accepts and is then led to a wide arena, another structure intricately fused with nature, to face the trials.

The entire community gathers to witness the event, doubtful and curious if a mere human can overcome such challenges. Without further ado, the prideful elf, doing a dismissive gesture, declares the first trial as a probation of will, summoning the strongest knight of his clan to the arena.

An imposing male elf strides into the arena. A warrior with no armor, for his muscles are all the protection he needs. His body, covered in scars, tells the story of a true soldier. Since the battlefield has no need for it, his white hair is cut short, and his green eyes pierce his enemies' souls with just a glare. Dressed only in a pair of green pants and comfortable boots, he rests his trustworthy silver spear on his shoulder.

“Zummaris, what am I doing here again?” he questions, his voice flat.

“To fulfill your duty as the wall that defends the Forest of Ossau from invaders! Crush him, Keaneiros!”

The knight sighs and looks at his opponent.

“Look, I have no interest in spitting your blood in our land. If you surrender now, I’ll let you live.”

“I can’t chicken out now. My friends need me.”

With a single swing of his lance, Keaneiros cuts through thin air, creating a powerful wave that hits an empty spot in the audience, splitting the arena in half.

“Since you seem like a good man, I’ll ask again. Are you sure about this?”

“I am. Even with no hope of winning, I must stand. For them,” trying to keep his feet together, Nicholas stays in a fighting stance.

“I see. You have passed.”

“Eh?”

“What are you doing, Keaneiros?!” the bald elf yelled.

“This human has more guts than you, Zummaris. He proved not only his will, but his loyalty. I approve of him as worthy. Now, if you excuse me, I’m going to take a nap.”

Keaneiros leaves the scene, scratching his back.

Zummaris, his head smoking with rage, calls for the second trial, a probation of cunning. Gilkrana steps in as Nicholas’ opponent.

“I would never obey that fool's orders if it weren't for the promise of some fun. Let's dance, Corrupter.”

“You know?” he asks, surprised.

“Indeed, I once studied one of your kind as a subject and discovered much interesting information. I hope you prove yourself just as fascinating. Now, for my trial, I shall make you face Mother Nature's true colors. You shall be part of an experiment in which a single failure will condemn you as my eternal guinea pig!”

As she speaks, vines creep into the arena, rooting her opponent in place. Branches grow from the ground, twisting into humanoid beings, while leaves fly around with the speed and sharpness of daggers. As Gilkrana summons her horde of natural aberrations, she laughs maniacally.

“And that is merely the start! Come, my dear children! You shall all have-”

Her wicked discourse is interrupted by an angry child in the audience.

“Hag!” Asai shouts, her hands resting on her hips in annoyance.

“Eh?!” Gilkrana changes her demeanor immediately, looking at her in disbelief.

“You heard her! If you hurt our friend, we will never forgive you!” Guava backs her up.

“I yield,” the elf lady lifts her hands and surrenders, looking away.

All the figures she summoned fled immediately.

Zummaris was left flabbergasted.

“So… I won?” Nicholas asks, confused.

“I’m not letting my relationship with the cuties be shattered for a few minutes of entertainment. You’ve passed.”

“Gilkrana! You will pay for this insolence!”

“Like I care. Come, do your final trial to the human and let me laugh deeply as you fail to prove his unworthiness.”

Zummaris goes to the arena grumbling. He declares the last trial as a probation of wisdom.

“Enough! You got on my nerves for an entire millennium!”

He casts a spell that surrounds both him and Nicholas with a blue fire, creating a death trap that could consume them at any moment.

“Three questions shall be asked. If any are answered wrong or left unanswered, these flames will consume you for a thousand years! Obviously, all of them will be about the culture of my people. Something you clearly won’t be able to answer. Are you ready to face your doom?”

“Bring it on! Wait, does that count as the first question?”

“What? I don’t know.”

Zummaris is immediately consumed by the flames, running away desperately as he screams in a high pitch.

The arena sparks magically, announcing Nicholas as worthy to be among the elves. The audience applauds and cheers, accepting his performance as the winner of the Trials of Ossau.