Chapter:14
The gateway to the labyrinth was hidden beneath the southern wing of Aflety Academy—sealed by ancient runes older than the Empire itself. When the professors activated the spell circle, a vast circular platform descended with a low hum, taking the selected students down into the bowels of the earth.
Evan stood with his group on the platform as it slowly lowered.
Nyx curled tighter around his shoulders, glowing faintly with tendrils of violet and blue light—his Water and Darkness mana reacting to the environment.
"This place smells like dust and secrets," Nyx whispered through their mental link.
"It is both," Evan whispered back, earning him a few strange looks from Gareth and Lilith.
"You always whisper to your snake?" Gareth asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He has better conversation skills than you," Evan replied without looking.
Silva, who had been silent until now, let out the faintest breath of laughter.
Cassia observed the runes etched into the walls. "There's magic from every element here. Earth supports the walls, Metal strengthens them, Space twists the path, and Time… slows everything."
"Are you trying to scare us?" Lilith said, rolling her eyes.
"No," Cassia replied. "I'm telling you not to get cocky."
The platform stopped with a soft thud. Before them stood a massive stone door, humming with raw power. Twelve glowing symbols hovered around its edges—each one representing one of the Twelve Elements:
1. Nature – green and vibrant
2. Water – fluid and deep blue
3. Fire – searing red
4. Wind – swift and silver
5. Time – violet, hard to look at
6. Darkness – black as void
7. Light – golden and warm
8. Ice – pale blue and crystalline
9. Earth – steady brown
10. Space – twisting and cosmic
11. Belt – a unique golden-orange magic of binding
12. Metal – gray and cold
The twelve elements pulsed as if aware of the students' arrival.
Then, the door split open without a sound, revealing a yawning corridor that stretched into darkness.
—
The moment the team stepped through, the door slammed shut behind them—and each of the students felt a shift in the air, as though something ancient had taken notice of them.
The hall ahead split into five different paths—each one glowing with different elemental runes.
A projection of Professor Caldus appeared above them in ghostly form.
"Choose your challenge. Each path represents an elemental domain. You may select the path most aligned with your affinity—or brave the unknown."
Silva stepped forward, examining the options.
"I sense Wind and Ice on the far right path."
"Fire and Metal to the left," Gareth added.
Evan stared at the third path from the left. It pulsed with deep blue mist and curling shadows.
Water… and Darkness.
"Guess that one's yours," Lilith said, nudging him lightly.
"…I'll take it."
Cassia smirked. "I'll go with you. Darkness matches my aesthetic."
Lilith didn't even wait. "I'm going, too."
"You're not invited," Evan muttered.
"You don't get to decide who dies for you, darling."
Silva and Gareth followed on instinct, and soon the whole group entered the same path—triggering a faint shimmer of light behind them.
The test had begun.
—
As they stepped deeper into the passage, the walls shimmered with shifting water and darkness. Shadows stretched unnaturally, and illusions flickered at the corners of their eyes.
Then they entered a chamber with a floor of polished black water—reflective as glass.
A voice echoed around them.
"Face yourself, or fall forever."
Evan stepped onto the water first—and his reflection rose from the surface.
It wasn't him now.
It was him before.
Torn robes. Hollow eyes. A child from his past life—alone, broken, trembling.
He froze. Nyx hissed in warning.
The shadow version lunged at him.
—
"Evan!" Lilith shouted.
He snapped back, raising a water shield just in time. The impact rippled, and the illusion dissolved—but he was pale.
"I saw…" he muttered. "I saw me. Before."
Lilith didn't speak. She reached out and gripped his wrist.
"You're not him anymore."
Evan stared at her, heart pounding. "I know. But that part of me… it never left."
Behind them, Gareth fought off a twisted version of himself—his fire clashing with shadowy fists. Cassia's eyes had gone wide as she faced a younger version of herself, alone in a cage of thorns. Even Silva faltered for a moment—before cutting her illusion down with wind blades.
Each of them, in that chamber, confronted fragments of pain.
Only Lilith's reflection stood still.
It looked at her. Smiled. "You'll never reach him."
She shattered it with a blood-infused burst of Light magic.
—
After several minutes of silence, the illusions faded, and a door opened on the far side of the chamber.
No words were exchanged—but something had changed.
Their bond as a team had grown tighter… forged not in strength, but shared pain.
—
Light Returns
As they stepped into the next room, the darkness faded—replaced by gentle lights and warm mana. A place to rest. A campfire burned in a floating basin. Blankets appeared along with water and rations—magically summoned.
Cassia sat down first and opened a book.
Gareth lay flat, arms behind his head. "This place is insane."
Silva drank quietly. Lilith moved closer to Evan, who sat cross-legged with Nyx nestled in his lap.
The little basilisk blinked. "You're tired."
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
Nyx coiled up and yawned. "But it's okay. I'll bite your enemies for you."
That made Evan chuckle.
Even Lilith smiled. "He's getting bolder."
"He's learning from me," Evan said with a shrug.
"You mean he's sarcastic and emotionally stunted?" Lilith teased.
"Shut up."
They all laughed—quietly, but it was real.
Chapter End
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