Chapter 23: The Shadow's Embrace
The Ragandarok Academy testing grounds lay shrouded in an eerie silence, broken only by the whispering wind and the occasional groan of the fallen. Less than ten minutes had passed since the exam had begun, and already, twenty-eight participants had secured their spots. High above the battlefield, a massive stone platform—carved by Fayrouz's hand—stood as a solemn monument to the final moments of the test. Dark clouds churned in the sky, casting long, restless shadows over the towering rock formation.
At its peak, the green-haired twins stood in stark contrast against the overcast heavens. The younger twin knelt on the cold, uneven stone, his brother's head resting gently in his lap. The older twin lay still, his breath shallow, yet his lips curled in a faint, peaceful smile. The silence between them was thick, heavier than the storm clouds above, broken only by the occasional drop of rain that splattered against the stone.
A single tear traced down the younger twin's cheek, falling onto his brother's skin like a raindrop kissing a dying flame. The older twin's smile widened ever so slightly as he spoke, his voice soft and strained.
"As always... you're the crybaby. That's how Mom always knew which of us was older. It's how she remembered our names..."
Haru clenched his fists, his green eyes gleaming with unshed tears. His brother's words were a cruel echo of their childhood, a reminder of their bond, but they did nothing to lessen the bitter weight pressing against his chest. His voice trembled as he spoke.
"So many have already passed… Our dream, our goal… we can't achieve it now. Not after all our training."
The older twin's smile wavered for a moment, his exhaustion deepening. He exhaled slowly before responding, his voice calm but undeniably weak.
"We can't? That's not true." He hesitated, then continued, each word carrying the weight of a final confession. "The truth is… I'm weak, Haru. I'm not as talented as you. Our family possesses rare and powerful Menma cells, but our bodies… they're fragile. We can't endure pain like the others can. That's why I lost so easily. If my aura had been as strong as yours, I wouldn't have fallen so quickly." His fingers twitched as if grasping for something unseen. "But this way… I can entrust everything to you."
The wind howled mournfully as the storm above thickened, the scent of wet stone and earth mingling with the fading embers of the battlefield below.
"Don't say we can't. You can do it." His voice wavered slightly but steadied. "Haru, I was never meant for this. I knew that from the beginning. I was afraid I'd only hold you back in this exam. My only goal was to ensure your success."
A bolt of lightning split the sky in the distance, illuminating the battlefield for the briefest of moments before plunging it back into gloom.
"There's still a way for you to pass," the older twin continued, his breath ragged now. "You have nine points… and that boy took exactly eight from me. That means I still have one left." He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to finish before his strength gave out. "Take it. Pass this exam. For me… for Mom. You must move forward. You must join the Exploration Corps."
Haru's hands trembled. Their dream was not about glory or riches. It was about finding her—their mother. The Exploration Corps was their only chance, the safest way to uncover the truth behind her disappearance. Somewhere beyond the kingdom's borders, lost in the uncharted lands, was the answer they had sought for years.
Over 1,601 years had passed since Menma first spread across the world, changing everything. The lands beyond Saita Kingdom were riddled with dangers, harboring horrors far worse than the bandits Fayrouz and Fulan had fought earlier. And yet, that was where their mother had vanished.
Haru hesitated, his heart twisting. If he refused, he would have to wait three more years before taking the exam again—three years they couldn't afford to lose.
With a deep, shuddering breath, he clenched his jaw and struck his brother's thigh with a trembling hand, absorbing the final point.
The older twin exhaled softly, his smile returning. His voice was barely more than a whisper now.
"Thank you… for being smart enough not to argue."
His consciousness faded, his body finally succumbing to exhaustion.
Haru bit his lip, his vision blurring as he stared at his brother's still form. Grief burned hot in his chest, but beneath it, something stronger smoldered—resolve. He would not let his brother's sacrifice be in vain.
He would join the Exploration Corps.
No matter the cost.
Below the mountain platform, the battlefield lay in ruin. The acrid scent of scorched earth clung to the air, mingling with the lingering traces of burnt cloth and sweat. The black smoke had thinned, revealing the aftermath of the brutal struggle.
Unconscious students were scattered across the ground, their bodies bruised, their clothes singed from earlier explosions. Fayrouz stood among them, her expression conflicted as she drove a controlled blow into the gut of a barely conscious participant, knocking them out completely.
She exhaled, watching the student crumple to the ground before muttering under her breath, "I know this was the plan… but seeing this… I can't help but wonder if this was really the right way."
Nearby, her teammates surveyed the battlefield with grim expressions. The blonde girl beside her, her green eyes sharp yet thoughtful, responded in a hushed tone.
"I understand what you mean. This scene… it's tragic. But this is Ragandarok Academy. Surely, they have a solution for this… right?"
As if summoned by her words, the air suddenly shifted.
A massive shadow spread across the battlefield like ink spilled upon the earth, devouring every corner in its path. A suffocating weight descended, freezing everyone in place. The darkness was absolute, swallowing even the light itself.
Then, from within the abyss, he emerged.
An elderly man, his white hair and beard stark against the void behind him. His presence alone silenced the battlefield, an unshakable aura of authority radiating from his calm, measured steps.
It was the academy's head servant—the silent overseer of the exam.
His gaze swept over the battlefield before he addressed the blonde girl with an almost amused expression.
"You're right, young lady." His voice was steady, unhurried. "All the students here are our guests. And we honor our guests to the very end."
His gaze darkened, sharp as a blade.
"Did you ever wonder why no one dies in this academy, despite the dangers of these exams?" He let the question linger before answering it himself. "The reason is simple: we ensure that doesn't happen."
He raised a single hand.
"Did you think I wasn't watching over you all this time?"
With a snap of his fingers, the vast shadow writhed, surging forward like a living entity.
One by one, the injured and unconscious students were engulfed by the darkness. Their faint murmurs of confusion barely had time to escape before they vanished entirely into the void.
The team watched in stunned silence.
The old man's voice was calm, yet final.
"Bless your efforts, rising stars."
The students consumed by the shadow would awaken in Ragandarok Academy's hospital, their wounds healed by Menma-infused medicine—one of the academy's greatest mysteries.
The exam had ended.
And the number of successful candidates had finally reached thirty.
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