The morning sun had just risen, spilling its warm light across the long road that stretched toward the Kingdom's gate. A crisp breeze carried the scent of dew, and the chirping of birds filled the air—but all of that vanished the moment I laid eyes on the Gate of the Thousand Kingdom for the very first time.
The colossal wall loomed like a mountain, its ancient carvings glowing faintly in the golden light. At its center stood the gate itself: a towering structure of silver and gold alloys, its height reaching the sky. Above it, the royal emblem shone—a dragon coiled around a radiant star, as if guarding it from all harm.
Crowds filled the entrance lines: merchants clutching their goods, adventurers carrying gleaming weapons, children holding their parents' hands, even cloaked mages covered in dark runes. Everyone waited for their turn.
I reached into my worn travel bag, my heart pounding as my fingers found the envelope hidden within since the start. Tearing it open, I pulled out a polished identity card etched with my name, a small portrait of my face, and the royal seal outlined in threads of gold. My master… he had prepared everything, even what I could not imagine.
When my turn came, the guard at the gate extended his hand and said firmly:
"Identification."
I handed him the card. He pressed it onto a glowing stone slab beside the gate. Instantly, the carvings lit up with blue light, forming a circle of magic around me. The entire line stared in awe. The guard's eyes widened for a moment before he quickly returned the card, bowing slightly.
"Recorded… Authorized entry. Welcome to the Kingdom of a Thousand."
The ground trembled as the gates began to part with a thunderous roar. With every inch they opened, more of the world behind them was revealed.
The Kingdom of a Thousand.
Marble streets gleamed white, towering buildings with stained-glass windows shattered the sunlight into a million colors. Stone bridges arched between spires, while tiny dragons soared overhead like sparrows. Airships powered by mysterious energy floated across the clouds. And the people—so many people—warriors clad in armor, sorcerers in elaborate robes, merchants, even musicians playing in the streets.
I stepped forward, heart racing with awe.
"This… is a new beginning."
---
The Academy
I asked for directions until I stood before the grandest structure in the kingdom: The Academy of a Thousand.
It was like a city within the city. Its outer wall gleamed with luminous stone, and above the central gate was engraved: "Here, heroes are born." Behind the walls stretched soaring towers connected by bridges, gardens blooming with radiant trees, and vast training fields filled with hundreds of students.
As I entered, whispers followed me.
"Who is that?"
"He looks like an outsider…"
But I ignored them and made my way to the main tower. Its doors opened into a colossal hall lined with statues of ancient heroes. At the far end stood a massive desk, behind which a man awaited.
The Headmaster.
He was in his fifties, his hair snow-white yet his posture as sharp as a blade. Clad in a royal dark-blue robe, his storm-gray eyes carried the weight of a thundercloud. The aura around him felt like standing before a mountain.
When he saw me, his gaze sharpened.
"Who are you?"
I stepped forward, pulling out the sealed letter my master had given me. The moment his eyes caught the insignia, they widened. He broke the seal and read swiftly, then looked back at me with a mix of shock and unease.
"You… are a disciple of the Dark King?!"
Silence filled the hall. Even the statues seemed to lean closer to listen.
I swallowed hard and answered,
"Yes."
The Headmaster straightened, his voice firm but laced with tension.
"Even if you are the Dark King's disciple… that does not mean I will grant you entry so easily. The laws here are absolute. Every student must undergo the trials from the very beginning. If you succeed, your place is secured. If you fail… you will leave this kingdom forever."
Despite the pressure, a small smile crept onto my lips.
"Fine. I'm ready."
---
The First Trial: The Trial of the Mind
They led me to a massive underground chamber. Its iron door bore the symbol of an eye carved deep into its surface. One of the guards pushed it open and muttered:
"This is your first test. The Trial of the Mind. Enter… and face it."
I stepped in, and the door shut behind me.
The chamber was empty—or so I thought. Suddenly, the ground beneath me dissolved, and I felt myself falling into a void. When I opened my eyes again, I stood inside a colossal labyrinth. Its walls were made of glass, reflecting endless copies of me. Above, the sky swirled with shifting colors like a storm of dreams.
A voice thundered from every direction:
"The trial begins. To escape this place, you must answer the questions of your own soul… and choose the true path."
I moved forward, countless reflections following. Soon I came upon the first words, etched into the wall:
"Who are you?"
I laughed bitterly.
"I… I am myself."
The letters glowed red. The wall split open, and from the crack emerged a dark shadow shaped like me, but faceless. It lunged.
I raised my sword, parrying its strike. Each time I attacked, it vanished, only to reappear from another wall. The voice whispered:
"If you do not know who you are… your shadow will hunt you forever."
I shut my eyes.
"Who am I really?"
Memories flooded back: my grandfather's death, the voices calling me weak, the emptiness I once felt. But also—the moments I rose again, step after step, refusing to bow.
I opened my eyes, fire burning inside me.
"I… am the one who does not break."
The wall burst into white light, and the shadow disintegrated into nothing.
I pressed onward.
---
The Riddles
A long corridor stretched before me, inscribed with a riddle:
"I am unseen, yet I guide every step. I have the power to raise you to the skies… or drown you in despair. What am I?"
The reflections whispered different answers:
"Death."
"Hope."
"Strength."
But deep in my chest, I knew.
"My will."
The inscription glowed, and the wall opened, revealing the next path.
---
The Final Confrontation
At the end, I entered a circular chamber. At its center stood a stone chair, and above it hung a massive mirror. When I approached, it reflected not my present self, but a weak, broken version of me—eyes filled with fear.
The voice roared:
"The final trial: can you face the worst version of yourself?"
The mirror rippled, and the fragile version stepped out, tears in its eyes.
"You'll never succeed. You're just a lost child."
My hands trembled, my blood boiled. But instead of raising my sword, I reached out and placed a hand on its shoulder.
"Maybe I am weak… but I chose to rise. And I will keep rising… no matter how many times I fall."
The broken reflection smiled faintly before dissolving into white light that sank into my chest. The mirror shattered, revealing a door of radiant light.
I stepped through, finding myself back in the entrance hall. The iron doors opened, and the students gasped. The Headmaster stood waiting, his eyes reflecting both disbelief and admiration.
"The Trial of the Mind… you have passed. Few among our finest have achieved this."
His gaze lingered on me, then softened into the faintest smile.
"It seems the Academy has found a new student… one unlike any other."
I lifted my head, my sword gleaming with renewed brilliance.
"This… is only the beginning