The Grand Hall was still buzzing with the echoes of Neil’s speech, the weight of his words settling deeply in the minds of every new student. It was an invitation—and a challenge. They were on the brink of their first real test at the Academy of Equilibrium, and anticipation filled the air like the scent of rain before a storm.
Rena Lumius stepped forward with her usual poised elegance, her voice resonant and clear as she addressed the students. She drew every eye in the room, her presence demanding their full attention.
"Your first trial will not be an easy one," she began, her gaze sweeping over the students, each one eager and anxious in their own way. "Today, you will form teams of three. Together, you’ll test your ability to collaborate and strategize. Your task is simple—catch the flying lemurs that have been causing disturbances around the academy grounds. Be warned, however; these creatures are fast, elusive, and rather cunning. Each of you must use your ring’s powers to outwit and capture them.”
A ripple of excitement ran through the hall at the announcement. The notorious flying lemurs were small, winged creatures with a mischievous glint in their bright, glowing eyes. With their swift, darting movements, even seasoned hunters found it a challenge to corner them. The task required much more than raw power; it demanded patience, quick thinking, and trust among teammates.
As Rena finished speaking, the hall exploded into movement. The new intake turned to each other, quickly assessing their peers, debating who would make the best teammates. Some, like Stanley Godwill, leapt into the fray with enthusiasm, while others, like Rem, hesitated, unsure of how to approach this first crucial test.
Rem stood quietly amid the bustle of students forming alliances, her heart pounding as she watched the groups come together around her. The noise and energy felt overwhelming, and she found herself hesitating, unsure of where she might fit in. Just as her resolve began to waver, a familiar voice called out behind her.
“Hey, Rem!”
She turned to see Stanley waving, his easygoing grin a reassuring sight. Beside him stood a broad-shouldered boy with a calm, steady expression, his hands tucked casually in his pockets as he scanned the chaotic room.
Stanley approached with a friendly nod, then gestured to his companion. “Rem, meet Leonardus Lanlark,” he said, clapping the other boy on the shoulder. “I was thinking—if you’re interested—we could team up. Leonardus here… he’s a bit of a tank. Turns into an iron ball and all that. I figured he’d be good muscle for our team if you’re up for it.”
Leonardus gave her a slight nod, a faint smirk breaking his calm demeanor. “I can roll around and smash things, so… that’s useful, I guess,” he added, humor evident in his quiet tone.
Rem didn’t hesitate. Relief and gratitude surged through her as she met Stanley’s gaze and then nodded at Leonardus. “I’d love to join,” she replied, her voice firming with newfound confidence. “Let’s see if we can catch ourselves a lemur.”
——
Meanwhile, across the hall, another team was beginning to take shape. Margerete Verdant stood by the wall, her sharp violet eyes scanning the crowd with a focused intensity. She was no stranger to competition, and she had no intention of forming a team hastily. This trial was as much a test of her independence as her skill, and she was determined to prove herself on her own terms.
Martin Apollo caught sight of Margarete Verdant and made his way over, grinning widely. “Margarete! Let’s team up,” he suggested enthusiastically, knowing their combined family legacies and training would make for a powerful duo. Margerete raised a brow, offering a wry smile. “First, don’t call me Margarete—Marge will do. Second, I appreciate the offer, but I want to challenge myself, and sticking together might give us an unfair advantage. This is about testing my own strength.”
Martin nodded, slightly taken aback but understanding her perspective. “Fair enough. I’ll see you out there, then,” he replied, giving her an approving nod before moving on. After he left, Marge scanned the hall, searching for familiar faces among the unfamiliar crowd of new recruits. Her gaze paused when it fell upon a tall figure with an easy, slightly awkward stance that jogged her memory, reminding her of summers spent in Thalassea. It was Hans Nimbersonn—her old friend from her childhood.
Marge’s lips curled into a smile as she made her way over, her curiosity piqued. As if sensing her approach, Hans looked up, his eyes widening as recognition dawned. "Margarete Verdant?" he asked, sounding almost in disbelief. "From Thalassea?”
Marge laughed. “The one and only! I never thought I’d see you here, Hans. You must’ve mastered walking in a straight line if they let you into the academy,” she teased, recalling his many clumsy moments.
Hans chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, still working on that, actually. But, hey, I guess the Academy figured they needed a klutz or two to keep things interesting.”
They shared a laugh, the nostalgia of their childhoods blending seamlessly with the newness of their surroundings. Then, Hans’ expression shifted, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes. “You wanna see something?” he asked, rolling up his sleeve to reveal the Aero Aqua ring on his finger. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a small stream of water from thin air, shaping it into a translucent barrier that hovered and shifted at his command. With a graceful motion, he sent the water swirling in the air, creating a delicate, spiraling form.
Marge’s eyes widened with admiration. “Hans, that’s incredible! You’ve really come a long way since those summers in Thalassea.”
“Yeah,” he said with a modest grin. “Still can’t believe I made it here, though.”
She looked at him thoughtfully. “Well, how about we team up? I think we could make a strong pair.”
Hans nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely! It’d be great to work together.”
They turned, scanning the hall for a third member to complete their team. Hans’ gaze soon landed on a tall, athletic girl with striking auburn hair and sharp, Western features who was standing nearby. She looked like she belonged on the battlefield, her confident stance setting her apart from the crowd. The two of them approached her cautiously, not wanting to intrude.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
The girl’s piercing green eyes met theirs, and she smirked, as if she’d been expecting them all along. “You two look like you need a third,” she said, extending her hand with a firm, no-nonsense grip. “I’m Flover Rozenberg, but you can call me Flo.”
“Nice to meet you, Flo,” Marge replied, shaking her hand with matching strength. “I’m Margarete Verdant, but everyone just calls me Marge. And this here is Hans Nimbersonn.” Flo looked between the two, intrigued by their familiarity. “You two know each other?”
“We used to meet every summer during my childhood,” Marge explained. “My family would vacation in his town, and we’d end up running around together.” She gave Hans a playful nudge. Flo glanced between them, her gaze flicking over their rings with interest. “So, are we forming a team or what?”
Marge exchanged an excited look with Hans, nodding. “Definitely. Hans, Flo, let’s make this interesting.”
The trio moved to a quieter corner of the hall, huddling together to finalize their strategy. Marge’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she took the lead, her natural confidence and agility evident in every movement.
“I’ll go ahead,” She held out her hand, revealing a golden ring adorned with intricate engravings of a crescent moon and a tiny, delicate figure of a moth. The ring seemed almost to glow under the dim light, its markings catching the eye with an ethereal quality.
“This is Lethal Moon,” Marge explained, brushing a thumb over the ring’s surface. “It grants me the power of stealth in darkness and command over moths.”
Flo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “So, you can summon and control moths whenever you want? And are they poisonous?”
Marge nodded with a slight smile. “Yeah, they’re not exactly fighters, but they’re versatile. Perfect for stealth and surveillance, and they are poisonous, if I need to, I can amplify their poison. I haven’t tried pushing it to the limit, though—not yet.”
“Here’s the plan,” Marge continued, her voice low but filled with excitement. “I’ll track the lemurs and keep an eye on their movements. Hans, you’ll use your Aero Aqua ring to create a water barrier, keeping them grounded.” Marge pointed to his golden ring, its clear blue crystal and tiny stones arranged like a sea serpent winding around his finger.
Hans nodded, confidence building in his smile. “Got it. I’ll make sure they don’t get a chance to fly out of our range.”
Flo added her own thoughts, her eyes bright with determination. “I can use my Gorgon Rose.” She revealed her golden ring—a ring formed like vines, with a golden rose on top. “It can summon and manipulate rose plants. Once we’ve got them in the right spot, I’ll trap them with vines.”
Marge grinned, impressed by the plan’s synergy. “Perfect! We’ll work together to herd the lemurs into a corner, and then Flo can do her thing with the vines.”
Hans and Flo nodded in unison, picturing how each part of their plan would come together. Hans gave Marge a reassuring smile. “This might actually work.”
Flo looked at her teammates with a gleam in her eye. “Let’s make this mission one to remember. If we pull this off, we’ll set the bar for every team here.”
Their shared determination locked in, the three of them were ready for the mission, confident in their strengths that would guide them through the trials ahead.
——
Martin Apollo stood alone in the middle of the hall, glancing around as teams began to form around him. He'd been hoping to see a familiar face or two, but no luck. Scanning the room, he spotted two figures who seemed equally isolated, standing apart from the others. Just the bunch of leftovers, he thought wryly, including myself. He adjusted his sword strap and started toward them, deciding this was his new team by fate—or lack of other options.
As he approached, he sized them up. The first was a girl with long, dark hair that flowed down her back, dressed in traditional red and white robes. The outfit was distinctive—eastern ceremonial wear, like what the riverland communities often wore during Gaea festivals. At her waist, two large golden bells chimed softly with each movement, lending her an almost otherworldly air. Martin pegged her as a native easterner, someone with a deep-rooted culture, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit curious about her.
The second was a shorter, intense-looking guy. A jagged scar ran across his right forehead, and his amber eyes held an intimidating, almost unfriendly gleam. The way he stood, arms folded and gaze sharp, gave Martin the impression he was from the rougher southern regions, the kind of place where folks were hardened by their land.
“Well, it looks like we’re a team by fate,” Martin said, grinning as he stopped in front of them. “Seems like no one else left to choose from, huh?”
The girl turned to him with a warm smile, her expression kind. “I suppose that makes us teammates, then. I’m Ika Honohara.”
“Martin Apollo.” He gave her a nod, trying not to show his surprise at her unexpectedly welcoming response.
The shorter guy, however, didn’t seem nearly as enthusiastic. He gave Martin a curt nod, barely acknowledging him. “Lorenzo Mazco,” he muttered, his tone blunt, making no effort to hide his disinterest. “Let’s just get this done.”
Martin chuckled, brushing off the coldness. “Well, pleasure’s all mine.” He looked between them, seeing potential. “So, what are you both capable of?”
Ika raised her hand, and the ring glinted on her finger—a golden band with two small, rounded orbs set into a delicate, open design. The balls within the gaps moved smoothly with each slight movement of her hand, emitting a faint but resonant chime, like tiny bells. “My ring, Sacred Bells, allows me to create barriers of fire or unleash waves of heat,” she explained, her voice calm, a quiet confidence evident as she looked at Martin. “If we need defense or crowd control, I can cover that.”
Lorenzo, standing nearby, unfolded his arms and glanced at his own ring. His was a darker, more formidable piece—a thick, golden band with a tiny skull carved into its center, its eye sockets embedded with dark stones that gleamed ominously. “Shadow Spectre,” he said, a hint of mischief in his eyes as he eyed Martin, sizing him up. “I can manipulate shadows, blend into them, and move through them unseen. It’s effective for getting in and out unnoticed—and for striking from unexpected places.”
Martin grinned, tapping his chest confidently. “Sounds like we’ve got the perfect mix for this task. A little fire, a little stealth, and… well, me.” He extended his hand, showing his own ring. A golden band with intricate sun motifs engraved on it, the center marked by a bright, amber stone that caught the light with every gesture. “This here is Humming Sun—sound manipulation,” he added, his tone as bright as the sun emblem. “Can work as both offense and distraction.
Ika nodded thoughtfully, seeming pleased with the abilities laid out in front of her. “So we’re dealing with flying lemurs. I could set up fire barriers to trap or guide them.”
“And I can use shadows to close off their escape,” Lorenzo added, already calculating their approach.
“Then I’ll throw in some sound to keep them disoriented,” Martin finished, snapping his fingers with a grin. “This should be a breeze with all three of us.”
Lorenzo raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Don’t get cocky. Just because we have a plan doesn’t mean it’ll go smoothly.”
Martin just chuckled. “Not cocky. Just confident. We’ll make this work.”
Ika’s gaze softened as she watched them. “Let’s trust each other’s strengths, then. If we work together, we can handle it.” With a sense of purpose starting to form between them, the three headed toward the designated training field, discussing each step of their plan.
——
As the Grand Hall settled into a hum of activity, Rena Lumius watched from the front, her discerning gaze sweeping over the gathered students. She took note of the promising alliances forming, each one a blend of talent, potential, and ambition. This entrance mission was more than just a trial; it was the first step in their journey, a moment that would define them as ring bearers and as members of the Academy.
The hall grew quiet as Rena signaled for attention once more. She raised her voice, addressing the students with calm authority. "Your trial will begin in five minutes. Capture as many lemurs as you can. Each successful capture will earn your team five points toward your year’s score. These points will contribute to your standing, so work wisely—and may the best teams prevail.”
Rem took a steadying breath as she looked at her teammates, her confidence renewed. Martin glanced at his new formed team felt a spark of excitement. This was the start of something—not just a training exercise but maybe even a team that could prove itself within the academy walls. Marge, Hans, and Flo exchanged determined glances, ready for the challenge that lay ahead.
With one final, quiet smile, Marge whispered to her team, "Let’s show them what we’re made of.”
The trial was set to begin, and as the students dispersed, the Academy of Equilibrium buzzed with anticipation for what this new generation of ring bearers might accomplish.