As soon as they left the limits of Dirfázia behind, everyone turned their attentive eyes to the new scenery. The scorching sunlight bathed the region, yet nothing there conveyed life. The dry earth stretched endlessly in every direction, covered in deep cracks that looked like open wounds in the ground. Dust, lifted by each step of the horses, hung in the hot, heavy air, making the landscape even more suffocating. It was as if everything that had once existed in that place had vanished, leaving behind only silence and emptiness, guarded by the relentless glow of the sun.
— Stay alert. If you see something black on the horizon, it's probably a shadow. And as you've learned, it corrodes and consumes the life of whoever it attacks, until you too become a shadow. The process is slow... and painful — said Alexius.
— We're heading to Mount Arf in search of a relic. This relic allows a person to push their powers beyond their limits. The relic itself cracks under the strain — you still feel the pain, but you don't die. With prolonged use, however, it eventually breaks. I believe you've realized just how important such an item is, especially in the war against the Katlônians, which has dragged on for years — said Alexius.
They rode for a long time, but the landscape remained unchanged — always the same dry, cracked earth, the same dust carried by the wind, the same merciless sun blazing above. The monotony of the scenery weighed on them all, until Arthur, quietly observant, noticed something peculiar: every so often, Alexius would slip a hand inside his tunic and gaze at a small object, as if seeking some answer or reassurance from it before tucking it away again.
— Sensei, I'd like to know... why was only our class chosen to go to Mount Arf? — asked Mia, breaking the silence of the march.
— For two reasons — Alexius replied, his eyes fixed firmly ahead.
— First, because I insisted. And second, because you are a special class. Since the founding of the academy, no group has shown such rapid growth or such potential as yours. That's why it was decided you were ready for real battle experience. And I was entrusted with guiding you to Mount Arf.
— His voice grew graver. — But as I said before: extreme caution. Shadows are dangerous... and, though rare, we may still encounter remnants of ancient civilizations in the form of monsters.
The group was galloping at full speed, the sound of hooves echoing over the cracked ground, when the earth shook violently. Three colossal golems erupted from the soil, blocks of stone fusing together into massive bodies. The horses neighed in panic, halting abruptly; some students were thrown to the ground, but Arthur gripped the reins tightly and managed to stay mounted.
Kidero, meanwhile, though gripped by fear at the sight of creatures he had never seen — nor even heard of — spurred his horse forward in a reckless attempt to prove his bravery.
— WATCH OUT! FALL BACK AS FAR AS YOU CAN! — shouted Alexius, his voice ringing out like a command of war.
Kidero yanked hard on the reins, trying to force his horse to charge the golems. The animal, panicked, neighed loudly and refused to take even a single step forward.
— Move, you useless beast! — Kidero snarled, anger rising in his voice.
But no matter how hard he pulled, the horse only backed away, eyes wide with terror, its body trembling before the towering creatures.
Suddenly, Alexius leapt from his moving horse, turning the animal around to drive it away from danger. In midair, his body flared with a surge of magic, bracing him for the clash.
The first golem swung down its massive hand to crush him, but Alexius propelled himself upward with an explosion of flames at his feet, dodging in a blazing arc. Drawing his sword in a swift motion, its blade ignited in fire, he drove it into the creature's arm. Spinning his body, he slid along the stone like a furious dancer, shattering the golem's limb into flaming fragments that rained to the ground.
— THAT'S HOW YOU DESTROY A GOLEM, CHILDREN! HAHAHAHAHA! — roared Alexius, revealing his hunger for battle.
From the monster's shoulder, he sprang toward its head and, with a single strike, severed it. Before the massive stone skull hit the ground, he blasted it apart into flaming shards, using the debris as a springboard to reach the second golem. He tore through its chest with a brutal slash, carving a colossal hole, and as he emerged from behind it, he became a blazing streak of light, decapitating it in a devastating explosion.
The third golem, seized by instinct, tried to retreat. But Alexius pressed on mercilessly, slicing off its legs in one stroke. The creature crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact, and before its head touched the earth, it too was obliterated by another decisive blow.
The students watched in awe, their eyes wide at the overwhelming display of strength.
Arthur, silent, reflected:
— {He didn't use his magic to attack directly... he used it to move, to fortify his body, and to amplify the power of each strike} — he thought, astonished.
In less than a minute, Alexius had reduced three colossal golems to smoldering rubble. The students' fear shifted into admiration; a wave of confidence rippled through the group, as though the presence of such a powerful teacher was an unbreakable shield.
— Be careful! — Alexius warned, wiping his blade with a swift motion. — Anything can happen here... keep your eyes wide open.