The second test of the Adventurer's Academy was more than just a survival challenge-it was a battlefield designed to weed out the weak. The rules were simple yet brutal:
1. Be among the first thirty to escape the labyrinth.
2. The maze shifts every ten minutes, altering paths and blocking exits.
3. Monsters lurk within, growing stronger as time passes.
4. Eliminating competitors was allowed, but killing was strictly forbidden.
5. A final trial awaited near the exit-only those who conquered it could pass.
As the horn sounded, chaos erupted. Students dashed in all directions, some forming alliances while others chose to fight immediately. Red, as usual, opted for the simplest strategy-avoid unnecessary battles and navigate efficiently.
Sephyra, however, had her own reasons for taking the test seriously.
Unlike many students who sought fame or fortune, Sephyra carried a burden heavier than most. She was once known as Lady Sephyra Alvaine, the youngest daughter of the noble Alvaine family. Yet, she had forsaken her title and her home.
She remembered the night it all changed. The grand halls of her estate were bathed in moonlight when the assassins came. Her father, a high-ranking general, had made enemies, and they sought vengeance through blood. She had barely escaped with her life, saved only by Duke-the family's loyal knight who had sworn to protect her until his last breath.
For years, she had trained in secret, honing her magic and combat skills, waiting for the day she could reclaim what was lost. But she knew one truth: noble status meant nothing in a world where only strength mattered. That was why she was here.
Sephyra's grip tightened around her staff as she moved through the maze, her keen eyes scanning for threats. Duke followed closely, ever-vigilant.
"We should avoid unnecessary fights," Duke murmured. "The real challenge is at the exit."
"I know," Sephyra replied, though she didn't like it. She wasn't afraid of combat, but reckless fights only delayed their progress.
From the shadows, Red observed their movement. "She's different from the others," he muttered.
Anna, who had just finished knocking out a group of reckless brawlers, jogged beside him. "You mean quiet and brooding?"
"More like calculating."
As if on cue, a group of five students blocked Sephyra's path. "Hand over your tokens," the leader demanded, referring to the proof needed for qualification.
Sephyra sighed. "You can walk away, or I can make you."
The leader scoffed. "You? A mage? Without your knight, you're nothing."
Duke stepped forward, but Sephyra raised a hand, stopping him. "I'll handle this."
She extended her hand, and in an instant, the ground beneath the group froze. Ice spread rapidly, locking their feet in place. Before they could react, she summoned Undine, a water spirit, who sent a freezing gust through the corridor. Within seconds, the students were encased in a thick layer of ice, immobilized but unharmed.
Anna whistled. "Okay, that was cool. Literally."
Red smirked. "Yeah, she's not playing around."
With the obstacle cleared, Sephyra and Duke continued forward, unaware of the growing interest Red and Anna now had in them.
As they neared the final section of the maze, the walls rumbled again, shifting unpredictably. Sephyra and Duke found themselves trapped in a dead-end, just as a powerful beast-a Minotaur Guardian-emerged from the shadows.
"Well," Duke muttered, drawing his sword. "This is unfortunate."
The beast roared, charging toward them.
Before it could strike, a blur of movement dashed between them. Red.
"Mind if we cut in?" Red said casually, dodging the Minotaur's axe with ease.
Anna cracked her knuckles. "I was getting bored anyway."
Sephyra hesitated. She had never fought alongside others before-only Duke. But this wasn't the time to be stubborn.
"Fine," she said. "Let's take it down together."
As the four prepared to fight, Sephyra couldn't shake the feeling that this battle wasn't just about survival anymore-it was about proving to herself that she could stand on her own, not as a noble, but as a warrior.
End of chapter 6.