**Chapter 12: Dance of the Magma**

The instant Elias stepped through the doorway, the world around him dissolved into a disorienting swirl of light and darkness. When his feet touched solid ground again, he found himself standing on the edge of a vast, bubbling magma field. The heat was overwhelming, and the air was thick with the stench of sulfur. Elias squinted through the haze, trying to make sense of what lay ahead. Scattered across the fiery landscape were platforms—some larger than others—like islands in a sea of molten rock.

A voice echoed in his mind—the calm, steady tone of Arkhale, the spectral butler.

"Your first trial begins now, Elias. Cross the magma field within ten minutes. Be warned: the stones shift every three seconds. One wrong step, and you'll fall."

Elias's heart pounded in his chest as he took in the chaotic landscape. The platforms appeared and disappeared, random and unpredictable, as if they were taunting him. It was like a twisted version of hopscotch mixed with stepping stones—only with death lurking beneath every misstep.

"This can be completed by one without magic," Arkhale's voice reassured him. "It is a test of agility, reflexes, and, most importantly, your ability to adapt. The key is finding the rhythm."

Elias took a deep breath, his mind racing. He didn’t have magic, but he had trained his body for years. His reflexes, speed, and endurance would have to be enough. It wasn’t about brute strength here—it was about precision.

He watched the platforms carefully, noticing the rhythm in their movement. Every three seconds, they shifted, the larger ones sinking more slowly, while smaller stones blinked in and out of existence.

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"It’s a game of stepping stones and hopscotch," Elias muttered to himself. "I just need to time it right."

He loosened his limbs, readying himself for the challenge. His muscles tensed as he eyed the nearest stone. No hesitation, no second-guessing. He had to move.

With a burst of energy, Elias jumped onto the first platform. It wobbled under his weight, but he kept his balance. Three seconds. He leapt again, landing on a smaller stone. The heat from the magma made his skin prickle, but he couldn't afford to lose focus.

The stones shifted again.

One second. Leap.

Two seconds. Land.

Three seconds. Move.

Elias danced across the platforms, finding the rhythm in their chaotic movement. Each step was calculated, each jump timed to perfection. His body moved instinctively, years of training in the forests around Barnes paying off. He had always been quick on his feet, and now, those skills were being tested to their limits.

Halfway across the field, Elias dared a glance ahead. The exit was still far away, but the path was becoming clearer. The platforms were smaller now, shifting faster. He had to be even quicker.

His legs burned, muscles screaming in protest, but Elias pushed through the pain. There was no room for error. He leapt again, narrowly avoiding a patch of bubbling magma as the stone beneath him disappeared.

Three minutes left.

The final stretch was in sight. Elias paused for a brief moment, gathering his strength. He had to time this perfectly. Three jumps. That’s all it would take.

With a final burst of energy, Elias sprinted across the last few platforms. His body moved like clockwork—precise, fluid, and unyielding. One jump, then another. The last platform wobbled beneath him, but he kept his balance.

Then, with one final leap, Elias landed on solid ground, just as the magma field behind him shifted once more.

He collapsed onto the cool stone floor, panting, his body drenched in sweat. His limbs trembled from the exertion, but a triumphant smile crept across his face.

"You have completed the trial," Arkhale's voice echoed in his mind, calm and approving. "Well done."

Elias lay there for a moment, staring up at the cavernous ceiling above. The trial wasn’t about magic—it was about instinct, quick thinking, and sheer determination.

He had survived the first test, but he knew it was only the beginning. The road ahead was long, and the trials would only get harder.

But for the first time, Elias felt a flicker of hope. He had proven that he was more than just a boy without magic.