The sky above Etherion Castle was tinged with shades of orange, the hues of twilight dancing upon towering crystal spires. A soft light cloaked the grand structure with somber beauty, as if mourning the trial to come. In the castle courtyard, Satya stood, breath still ragged after the Sky Run. His body trembled, yet he forced himself to remain upright. In the distance, Darius watched him with a sneer, making Satya's heart pound a bit faster. Cassian, standing beside him, elbowed him with a wide grin.
"You're still alive, kid. Ready for the next one?"
Satya only nodded, though his chest felt tight. Two thousand qualifiers now filled the courtyard, their bodies drenched in sweat and dust, their faces etched with exhaustion and anxiety. Before them stood the castle gates, grand and adorned with softly glowing blue runes, as if hiding unspeakable secrets.
From the balcony above, an elegant figure appeared—Overseer Veyra. Her golden cloak billowed in the evening wind, and her sharp gaze swept across the crowd. When she spoke, her voice echoed through the air, amplified by magic, heavy and cold like a funeral bell.
"The Sky Run has filtered out the physically weak," she said firmly. "But a Holy Knight is not just a strong body. They are fortresses of the soul. The second phase, the Labyrinth of the Soul, will test your mental endurance. Inside the castle, the Aether Gem has transformed the corridors into a maze of mental magic. Shadows, voices, and illusions will attack your mind. Only those with strong hearts will reach the center. And only six hundred will be chosen."
A wave of fearful murmurs spread among the applicants. Satya swallowed hard. Mental magic. He remembered Leon's stories of mages who could make one believe hallucinations, even drive the sane to madness. Beside him, Cassian tried to look nonchalant.
"Sounds fun," he said, though his tone felt forced.
Suddenly, the castle gates creaked open, revealing a dark corridor lit by a pale rune glow. The smell of metal mixed with dew wafted out, along with a denser scent—like sorrow trapped within. Veyra raised her hand high.
"Begin!" she called out.
The ground rumbled. The castle walls shifted with a deep groan, forming new passageways as though the building itself breathed and lived. Without further command, the crowd surged forward. Satya was swept along, pushed into the narrow stone corridor. In his heart, he clung tightly to Leon's advice: don't let your mind go blank. Stay focused.
The labyrinth felt alive, watching. Its walls constantly shifted, forcing Satya down a new path every minute. The pale runes cast dancing shadows on the walls, and whispers began to creep into his ears—soft yet cold, seeping in like mist.
He shook his head, trying to stay sharp. But the whispers grew stronger, murmuring doubts and guilt. As he moved through the corridor, he saw an applicant standing still, eyes vacant, mumbling over and over, "I can't… I don't deserve to…" while clawing at the wall until his hands bled.
Satya quickened his pace, resisting the creeping fear.
The deeper he went, the more violent the magic became. The air pressed down on his chest. From a side corridor, a familiar voice called—his mother's. Gentle. Loving. "Satya, come home…"
At the end of the hall, he saw his family—father, mother, and older brother. They smiled, their hands reaching out. But their eyes were empty, and their faces pale. "You're not real," he whispered, almost like a prayer.
The phantoms didn't vanish. They followed him at every turn, calling out, accusing. "You couldn't save us…" The whispers became screams. Memories of the night his village was slaughtered struck his mind mercilessly—screams, blood, goblin laughter. His knees hit the cold stone. Tears fell unnoticed.
But he clenched his fists. "You're not them," he said, trembling. "I have to go on… for you."
He stood. Each step felt like walking against a raging storm, but he kept moving. Until another sound stopped him—a sobbing voice.
In a narrow corridor, he saw a young girl. Her short black hair gleamed. Her body looked strong, but she knelt, holding a small knife to her wrist. "I'm not strong enough… they were right…"
Satya froze. He didn't know her. But seeing her felt like seeing himself drowning in despair. He ran forward, pushing through the magic that tried to stop him.
"Stop! Don't do that!"
He slapped the knife from her hand. The clatter echoed through the corridor.
The girl looked up at him with wet, empty eyes. "I always fail…" she whispered.
Satya shook her. "This isn't real! It's the magic! You have to wake up!" But she kept sobbing.
Leon once said: pain could break the grip of mental magic. With trembling hands, Satya took out the small knife Leon had given him. "I'm sorry," he whispered, then made a shallow cut on the girl's arm. Instantly, she gasped, her vacant eyes regaining focus.
"I… I almost…" Her voice broke. She covered her face, crying harder—but now with relief.
Satya helped her stand. "We have to reach the center. Together, okay?"
The girl nodded. "I'm Elara Vionne. From Azure Bay. I… won't forget this."
They ran together, facing the maze's remaining illusions and whispers. But Elara's presence made Satya feel stronger. They shared stories between gasping breaths. Elara wanted to prove herself to a family that always underestimated her. The labyrinth, she said, knew their deepest fears.
"I saw the ones I loved too," Satya said softly. "But we have to keep going. For them."
Finally, the last corridor opened into a vast chamber adorned with golden runes. A pillar of warm light stood at the center. They stepped in together. Satya saw other applicants who had made it—many pale and shaken, some crying silently.
Veyra's voice echoed from the air.
"Six hundred applicants have reached the center! The Labyrinth of the Soul is complete. You who stand here have proven your inner strength. Rest tonight—the final trial will take place tomorrow."
Satya looked around. Many faces appeared broken. He felt lucky—not because he was stronger, but because of Leon's guidance and the chance encounter with Elara.
Elara touched his arm. "You're stronger than you think, Satya."
Before he could reply, Cassian emerged from the crowd, face bright as if he'd just been out for a stroll.
"Kid! You made it!" He clapped Satya's shoulder hard. "Cool place, huh? I just heard some weird voices. I told them, 'Shut up, I'm busy!'"
Satya just shook his head. Cassian seemed untouchable.
"Cassian, this is Elara," Satya said.
Elara nodded politely, her eyes still swollen. Cassian gave her a friendly smile.
"Nice to meet you, Elara! If you're friends with this kid, you must be good people."
For the first time, Elara smiled with a hint of warmth.
Together, the three walked out of the labyrinth, following the others toward the temporary dormitories. In the distance, whispers spoke of unrest in Solamria and strange creatures at the borders. But that night, Satya was too tired to care. He only wanted sleep, to prepare for the final trial, carrying the memory of his family and newfound courage from Elara in his heart.