The front wall of the entrance hall was taken up by a line of boys and girls whose eyes were flooded by absolute wonder. As they eagerly peeked through each corner, the mixture of happiness and nervousness among them could be felt. The four of them were not on their own. Guided by a very short thin woman with wrinkled pale skin and trembling hands.

“A High Elder, one of the nine.” Jin silently remarked.

He was not that good with appearances, though Jin was sure. That was definitely not the first time he had seen her before on the upper floor. Esther, her name was; if his memory served him right she was the holder of the eighth seat. Soon enough the confirmation had come to his ears. “Keeper of Light,” they called her. That was the title she had earned, to represent Goddess Aurora in her stead. Every High Elder had earned a similar title, though they were hardly exclusive of Sanctum. Vendrick after notable victories in Sanctum had also earned one, Gray Lightning, they called him.

Could it be a coincidence?

He had just realized. Keeper of Light… Jin wondered if she was in any way related to his father. Lord Alaric was known as the Champion of Aurora, the Goddess of Light. Jin wanted to ask but held himself in place. Hesitation had gotten the best of him this time, as she seemed busy.

Although her hair was covered while Vendrick was reporting their mission in Ferris, her ashen-hoary eyes were far distinct from the other elders.

Dark circles surrounded her weary grey gaze that did not seem natural. Her eyeballs seemed to have been ill with the age, and he wondered if she still had enough on her to instruct that group on such a dangerous trial.

Jin could not fathom how old she was, but from the wrinkles and the general elasticity that her skin seemed to have, she was at least a hundred years of age. How lucky he was. For someone like him, to stand close enough from the group sitting by the other corner of the hall. It became easy. To hear her drowsy voice call the names of each hopeful elemental warrior in the making.

Walking with a gnarled black cane, her shoulders were bent forward and slightly curved as she led the group toward the same stairs he had taken. Soon the smiles from that group would turn into despair, Jin thought with certainty. In his eyes, there was no doubt that he had been lucky with the three partners that had come along with him. Had it been with any other group of individuals, one could not assure he would be breathing today. As he recalled, even Eliza’s Inner Technique had not been enough to stop the dark creature coming for them in those dark, windy halls.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

And they soon vanished from his sight, carrying slightly curved edged swords to a room they would surely bleed on. The last glimpses were clear enough to sparkle his mind a myriad of conclusions of what awaited them in the shadows. The group rose in command and resumed following the old woman, her white hair so long it touched the ground as she carefully descended the seemingly endless flight of stairs towards the hall. Where they would soon be taught heroism had long lost its meaning. Their figures soon turned into shadowy blurs as a contraption creaked and left them to their own perils.

"May you all find victory in the trials to come."

That challenge had been conquered, and so Jin turned his head the other way. Holding between his fingers, he squirmed his eyes trying to make sense of the ugly handwriting of Kornovan Gartz. Before he had parted with Tristan to Fanrir the Disciple had made sure to let him know where to find him to start honing his nucleus.

Moving fast like his newfound Virtue, Jin paced anxiously treading his feelings away. Considering going up the initial floors of Sanctum, several people bumped into him but not once did he dare to look around. Like an animal's vision eclipsed by blinders of protection, Jin remained moving forward and not wasting time on meeting up with Vendrick or Viktoria.

The last thing he wanted is to talk about what had happened between him and Tristan to other people.

As Jin felt entitled to his own life, he was also in charge of his decisions. And for now, he would avoid any type of conversation with the people he had met in the past. He was sick and tired of being disappointed in the people he thought he could count on. Today he would get himself some sleep. The focus was on the future. To advance onto the next step. Elemental Warrior to Disciple would be his next goal, thus he'd reserved that evening to prepare himself.

The following morrow, Jin wandered down the corridor described on the piece of paper slowly. Carefully checking both ways, most doors were apparently closed. His path was lit by torches every five steps taken. But even with the absence of the sun descending on the upper panes, the refined details in front of Jin were still noticeable. Sanctum had certainly been a masterful work of skillful architects, sculptors, and workers bearing several elemental affinities. Under his feet, an extensive intricate mosaic with contrasting bands, guilloches, and advanced geometric shapes of plain white marble that extended throughout the entire building still left him in awe.

Jin raised his eyebrows quizzically as he tried to make his way up the stairs without being seen by people he knew. He’d waited for this very moment for so long. The memories of each day he passed in wait. He had not forgotten what had happened in Ferris, what had happened to Faust.

And he promised himself that he would become stronger, whichever way he could. As he rushed upwards to the third floor of Sanctum; he found himself eager to start his training in the elemental. Here stood the son of Alaric, with dreams of advancing to Disciple before the end of the week.

Jin placed the back of his hand on the closed door in front of him.

Between him and the beginning of his training stood room 623.

At last, this must be Kornovan’s quarters.

Extending the back of his hand, Jin hesitated for a moment before knocking.

This is it. With decisiveness, Jin mustered the courage and thumped the door.