Chapter 17: The Final Trial Begins
The forest seemed to stretch endlessly before them as Kael’s group pushed on, their bodies weary but their spirits still intact. The encounter with Dalen had left them shaken, but it had also forged them into a stronger unit. They had fought together, survived together, and now they were moving toward the end of the trial with a renewed sense of purpose.
Kael walked at the front of the group, his Sharp Senses (Stream) constantly scanning the area for any sign of danger. The threat of Dalen still loomed in the back of his mind, but for now, there was no sign of the assassin or his companions. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds coming from the rustling of leaves and the occasional call of distant birds.
“We’re close,” Alec said, breaking the silence. He had been studying the map they’d been given at the start of the trial, and his keen eyes had noticed the subtle changes in the terrain that indicated they were nearing the final stage. “The scouts set up a final checkpoint just ahead.”
“Do you think Dalen will try something again?” Tarin asked, his voice tinged with concern as he adjusted his bow over his shoulder. “He’s not the kind to just let us finish.”
Kael shook his head, though he kept his gaze fixed on the path ahead. “He’s wounded, and he lost his advantage. For now, I don’t think we’ll see him again. But we can’t let our guard down.”
Sera, her hammer resting on her shoulder, grunted in agreement. “I hope he doesn’t come back. I’ll knock him into the ground for good next time.”
Mira, walking quietly behind them, nodded but said nothing. Her eyes still held the quiet intensity of someone who had been through a lot in a short amount of time. Kael knew she was thinking the same thing he was—they might have survived the first encounter, but there were no guarantees in the final stage.
As they continued to walk, Kael’s mind drifted to the upcoming trial. This was it—the final hurdle. He had heard rumors about the last phase of the Academy trials, but nothing had prepared him for what they might actually face. The competition had already proven to be brutal, with not just physical challenges but real threats from other competitors who would do anything to secure a place in the Academy.
Kael’s own journey had been full of slow, steady progress. His Sword Talent (Flicker), Agility (Flicker), and Sharp Senses (Stream) had grown incrementally through each battle and challenge, but he was far from the level he wanted to reach. The steady climb was both frustrating and necessary, but it had also kept him grounded, focused on the long game.
The final trial would be his chance to prove himself once and for all.
When they reached the clearing that marked the beginning of the final stage, Kael’s group wasn’t alone. Several other teams had already arrived, and the atmosphere was tense. Competitors stood in small groups, some looking battered from previous encounters, others glaring suspiciously at one another as they waited for the trial to begin.
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Kael’s eyes swept the crowd, noting the strongest-looking competitors. Some were clearly from wealthier families—nobles or those trained by professionals. Their armor and weapons were of higher quality, and their confidence was palpable. Others, like Kael’s group, looked rougher around the edges but no less determined.
Alec leaned in closer to Kael, his voice low. “It’s going to be tough. We’re not just fighting the trial now—we’re competing against these teams for one of those ten spots.”
Kael nodded. He knew the stakes, and the pressure weighed heavily on him. Only ten out of the dozens of competitors from the viscount’s lands would be chosen to go to the Academy. After everything they’d been through, they couldn’t afford to falter now.
The crowd parted as the viscount’s scouts arrived, the same gray-haired man from before leading the way. His sharp eyes scanned the remaining competitors, his expression unreadable.
“You’ve all made it this far,” the scout began, his voice carrying over the clearing. “That in itself is a testament to your strength, skill, and determination. But the final trial will test more than that. It will test your ability to survive, to adapt, and to work under pressure. Those who succeed will earn their place at the Academy.”
He paused, letting his words sink in. The tension in the air grew thicker as the competitors shifted nervously.
“The final trial is simple,” the scout continued, a cold smile playing on his lips. “There is a relic hidden somewhere in the forest. Your task is to retrieve it. The first ten competitors to return with the relic will be given a place at the Academy.”
A murmur ran through the crowd, and Kael’s heart raced. A relic hunt. That meant it wasn’t just about finishing first—it was about strategy, about finding the relic and making it back without getting eliminated by the others.
“But there’s a catch,” the scout added, his eyes narrowing. “Only one relic exists. It’s up to you to decide how to retrieve it—and how to keep it.”
The implications were clear. Only one relic. Which meant the final trial wasn’t just a race—it was a fight for survival. The competitors would have to find the relic, fight off anyone who tried to take it, and make it back in one piece.
Kael’s group exchanged glances. This was going to be harder than they had anticipated.
“The trial begins now,” the scout said, his voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd. “Good luck.”
Without another word, the competitors scattered, rushing into the forest in search of the relic. Kael and his group moved quickly, but with purpose. They couldn’t afford to rush blindly—they needed a strategy.
“We need to figure out where the relic might be,” Alec said as they ran, his eyes scanning the dense forest around them. “The scouts wouldn’t make it easy. It’s probably hidden in a place that’s hard to reach.”
Kael nodded, his mind racing. “There are some areas deeper in the forest that could fit. Dangerous, but if the relic is there, we’ll need to get ahead of the other teams.”
“Let’s not just focus on the relic,” Sera added, her hammer ready in her hands. “We’ve seen how dirty this competition is. We’re going to have to fight for it.”
She was right. Kael knew that it wouldn’t just be a race to find the relic. Once someone had it, every team would converge on them, trying to take it by force. It was going to be a brutal fight for survival.
“We need to move quickly and avoid direct confrontations until we find it,” Kael said. “Once we know where it is, we’ll figure out a way to hold it.”
They pushed deeper into the forest, their senses on high alert. Kael’s Sharp Senses (Stream) were working overtime, picking up every sound, every movement in the dense foliage. The forest was alive with the tension of competitors on the hunt, and the air buzzed with the possibility of danger lurking around every corner.
Minutes passed, and they encountered no one—yet. But Kael could feel the presence of others nearby. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig put him on edge. Somewhere in this forest, the relic was hidden, and the race to find it was closing in.
Suddenly, Alec stopped, holding up a hand. “Wait,” he whispered, his sharp eyes scanning the area. “I hear something.”
Kael’s heart quickened, his own senses flaring as he tried to pick up what Alec had noticed. And then he heard it—a faint hum of energy, barely audible, coming from deeper within the forest.
“That’s it,” Kael said, his voice low but filled with urgency. “The relic.”
They moved cautiously, heading toward the source of the sound. The forest grew darker as they pushed forward, the trees thickening, and the path becoming more difficult to navigate. But the hum grew louder, more distinct, and Kael knew they were close.
Finally, they reached a small clearing, and there, in the center, was a pedestal. Atop the pedestal sat a glowing, stone relic—pulsing with a faint, blue light.
They had found it.
But before Kael could even step toward the relic, the sound of footsteps echoed through the trees.
They weren’t alone.
The final fight had begun.