Chapter 5: The First Trial

The morning of the exam arrived faster than I expected. My stomach was a knot of nerves and anticipation. Mateo was beside me, calm as always, but I could feel his tension too.

“This is it, Luar,” he said softly, “the first trial. Stay focused.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. The hall where the exam would take place was massive—columns stretching high above, banners fluttering, and the sound of footsteps echoing through the vast space. I could see hundreds of others like me, all waiting, all tense.

Ofurd appeared beside me, giving a small nod. “Remember what I told you. Move instinctively. Don’t overthink.”

We were herded into the starting area, and an examiner’s voice boomed across the hall. “All candidates, prepare for the Shadow Boxing Trial. Only the fastest and most precise will survive.”

I felt my heart pound. Shadow Boxing. It was a test of speed, reflexes, and perception. I didn’t fully understand the rules, but I had to try.

The first round began. I ran, my hands raised as Ofurd had taught me, muttering the code in my mind: GIMOGMERZNS. The world became a blur around me. Shadows stretched and shifted, moving faster than I expected.

A competitor lunged at me, but my reflexes kicked in, just as Ofurd had said. I dodged, barely. Another attack came, and then another. I could feel my body moving on its own, instincts guiding me. Mateo’s lessons, my own practice—all of it combined into a flow I hadn’t known I had.

I crossed the finish line, gasping for breath. The examiner’s eyes widened. “Candidate Luar… you have passed the first round.”

I barely had time to process before the next round began—mental questions. One by one, numbers, logic, and riddles flashed before me. I wrote, calculated, and answered as quickly as I could, my mind straining. I could hear Mateo behind me, whispering encouragements, and Ofurd’s quiet nods gave me confidence.

Hours passed—or maybe minutes. Time felt strange. But by the end, I collapsed, exhausted, covered in sweat and dirt, my mind buzzing. I had made it through the first trial.

Mateo smiled down at me. “You did well, Luar. But this is only the beginning. The real challenges are yet to come.”

I looked up at the towering walls of the hall, at the competitors still standing, and felt a mixture of pride and fear. I was growing stronger, but I knew I was still just a beginner in a game far larger than I had imagined.