The warm glow of candlelight danced across the polished mahogany table, illuminating the faces of Erick and his family as they shared a meal with Kael. The clinking of silverware and soft murmur of conversation filled the elegant room.
"So, Kael," Cedric, began, his tone genuinely curious, "how has the training been progressing?" He leaned forward slightly, his gaze open and friendly.
Kael, picking at the roasted vegetables on his plate, offered a nonchalant shrug. "Fine, I guess." He didn't elaborate, his demeanor characteristically reserved.
Erick, however, beamed, seizing the opportunity to speak. "Fine? Cedric, my boy, it has been nothing short of astonishing!" He chuckled, a hearty sound that filled the room. "In a mere two weeks, Kael has shown a talent I haven't seen in years. Why, just this afternoon, he held his own against five of my most seasoned guards in a sparring match. Defeated them all, in fact, without breaking a sweat!" Erick's wife, Elara, offered Kael a warm smile, while Cedric's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Indeed," Erick continued, his gaze now fixed on Kael with a hint of pride. "With this rate of improvement, I wouldn't be surprised if he were to take first place in the upcoming Academy entrance examinations."
Kael, who had been quietly listening, finally looked up, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "What's this about placement?"
Erick leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Ah, yes. The Royal Academy holds entrance examinations every year to assess the capabilities of aspiring knights and of course the top three students who achieve the highest scores receive special placements – privileged access to resources, mentorship from esteemed professors , and other benefits that will be explained in detail once you arrive at the Academy."
Kael absorbed this information, a thoughtful expression on his face. Special benefits… that certainly sounded intriguing.
The remainder of the dinner passed with light conversation and the comfortable rhythm of family life. As the last of the meal was cleared away, Erick rose from his chair.
"Kael," he said, his tone shifting to a more serious note as he addressed his lieutenant, who had been present but quiet during the meal. "Could you follow me? There's something I wish to show you."
Kael, intrigued by the change in Erick's demeanor, nodded and followed the him out of the dining room, leaving Cedric and Elara in the warm glow of the candlelight.
…...
Erick led him through a series of dimly lit corridors, the only sound their echoing footsteps on the stone floor. They descended a winding staircase, the air growing cooler and carrying a faint, almost metallic scent. Finally, they arrived at a heavy oak door, intricately carved with swirling patterns that seemed to shift in the flickering torchlight.
"This," Erick said, his voice dropping to a near whisper as he pushed the door open, "is something I've kept… private for a while now."
The room beyond was circular, dominated by a strange, ovoid device in the center. It was crafted from a smooth, obsidian-like material, crisscrossed with glowing lines of a soft, cerulean light. The air around it hummed with a barely perceptible energy.
Kael stared, his usual reserve momentarily forgotten. "What is this?"
"This," Erick explained, a hint of awe in his voice, "is a prototype. A relic from the Elven civilization. They called it a… Cognitive Gateway." He gestured towards the ovoid shape. "It has the ability to project an individual's consciousness into a simulated reality, a world shaped by their own mind or, in this case, a pre-designed environment."
Kael frowned, confusion evident on his face. "A… simulated reality? What for?"
"The original purpose was multifaceted, I believe," Erick said, stepping closer to the device. "But this prototype was adapted for a specific purpose: training arcane wielders." He ran a hand along the smooth surface. "It allows them to hone their abilities in diverse and challenging scenarios without the risks of the real world."
He then turned to Kael, a serious expression on his face. "It has different levels of difficulty, designed to push an individual's limits." He paused, considering the right terms. "We could call them Novice Trials, Ascendant Challenges, and Apex Extremes."
"Apex Extremes?" Kael repeated, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
Erick nodded grimly. "Legends say that level is… unforgiving. But this prototype," he tapped the obsidian surface, "is currently calibrated for the Novice Trials. It's meant to be an introductory experience. The real thing is actually found in the academy, and if you're lucky enough you might get to experience it. But for now…." He offered a reassuring, though perhaps not entirely convincing, smile"…..I plan on sending you in here for a week."
Kael's eyebrows shot up. "A week? In that… thing? What will I be doing?"
"You'll be facing a series of challenges designed to test your adaptability, your resourcefulness, and your combat skills in a variety of environment. Honestly this trial I'm sending you to is one that could be completed in a day if you use your head." Erick explained. "Think of it as accelerated training, a way to expose you to situations you wouldn't encounter in years of conventional practice." He paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "The 'easy' level, however, is merely a description. The Elves had a… different understanding of the word."