Chapter 5 – The First Trial
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"Sometimes, fear itself is the very first test…
and overcoming it becomes the greatest battle."
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1 – The Training Grounds
The next morning.
Sunlight scattered across the stone pavements.
Hundreds of students stood assembled at the Academy's training grounds.
Nervous faces. Unsteady breaths.
The sound of heavy boots echoed.
Teacher Bull entered, his towering figure cutting through the tension.
His face carried the same stern, unshaken expression as always.
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Bull (in a booming voice):
"Today marks your first trial.
From this moment—learning stops… fighting begins."
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Aura glanced at Shoho.
Shoho, as usual, wore a mischievous grin, as if enjoying the moment.
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Aura (softly):
"I don't have a good feeling about this…"
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Shoho (winking):
"Relax. They won't kill you… probably."
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2 – The Trial Announced
Bull slammed his axe into the ground.
The earth shook.
Four massive platforms rose into the air, floating like ancient monoliths.
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Bull:
"This is the Elemental Trial.
Cross the paths of wind, fire, ice, and shadow—without falling."
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Aura's throat went dry.
A dark, endless pit stretched beneath the platforms.
One wrong step… meant certain death.
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3 – Shoho's Flight
Shoho volunteered to go first.
He moved like a feather caught in the breeze—
Leaping from one platform to the next, slipping past fire, skating across ice, almost dancing through the air.
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The moment his feet touched the final platform, the entire field erupted in applause.
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Bull (even through his strict demeanor):
"S-Class movement."
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Shoho turned, shot a wink at Aura.
Aura's breathing grew heavier.
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4 – Aura's Turn
Now, it was Aura's turn.
His legs felt like they were made of stone.
In his mind, a distant voice echoed—his mother's voice—
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"If you ever wish to protect someone…
you must first lift your sword."
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He stepped forward.
The instant his foot landed on the first platform, a ball of fire shot up.
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Aura staggered back—
The flames grazed his leg. He cried out.
Slipped on the ice, falling hard to his knees.
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Bull's eyes burned with anger.
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Bull:
"Is this a joke?! Boy, if you fall—you die!"
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Shoho called out, his voice steady—
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Shoho:
"Aura! Focus! Remember your strength!"
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5 – The Call of Shadow
Aura shut his eyes.
The mark on his hand began to burn.
A familiar darkness appeared before him—
The shadow of himself… Dark Aura.
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Dark Aura (a voice echoing inside his mind):
"If you don't want to fall… then set me free."
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Aura's eyes snapped open.
He was about to slip—but suddenly—
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6 – Shadow Phase
A wave of black energy burst from his hand.
His body turned weightless.
Fire, ice, wind—none of it could touch him.
He cut through the obstacles, landing on the final platform in a single sweep.
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Silence fell over the grounds.
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Student 1 (whispering):
"What… what was that?"
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Student 2:
"That was Shadow Walk! A beginner shouldn't be able to do that!"
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Bull's eyes glimmered, but his lips stayed cold.
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Bull (harshly):
"Next."
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7 – The Spy's Gaze
In the crowd, a masked student stood still.
His lips moved with a dark incantation.
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Spy (whispering):
"Aura has revealed his power. Master… he's awakening."
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Far away, in a chamber swallowed by darkness—
A villain opened his eyes.
A faint, sinister smile curved on his lips.
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Villain (softly):
"The stronger he grows… the closer he comes to his own ruin."
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8 – The Beginning of Friendship
That evening, Shoho and Aura sat under a tree.
Aura's face carried exhaustion, his body still aching.
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Shoho:
"What you did out there… that was Shadow Walk. No beginner could pull that off."
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Aura (quietly):
"I don't know… it just happened."
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Shoho placed a hand on his shoulder—
a look of genuine friendship in his eyes.
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Shoho (smiling):
"Seems like something far bigger is hiding inside you, my friend."
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9 – Uno, Watching From Afar
From a distance, Uno stood in silence, observing everything.
His face carried a shadow of concern.
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Uno (to himself):
"He's not ready yet.
But time… time is running out."
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The sky darkened with heavy clouds.
Something was coming. Something far greater than anyone expected.
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CHAPTER 5 – END
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