In the real world, Benjamin, Avil, and Nikita burst out of the magical gate. They hit the ground hard, rolling across the arena floor.The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, not realizing what had happened inside.Benjamin looked up first—and saw Draco standing in front of them, glaring coldly.His eyes narrowed. Because of Draco, Sadi couldn’t make it out with them.Benjamin stood, just as General Mason approached.“General, we need help,” Benjamin said quickly.Mason frowned. “What happened?”“There’s a celestial beast in there. It attacked us. Sadi stayed behind to fight it.”Mason’s eyes widened. “A celestial beast?”“Yes,” Benjamin confirmed. “We couldn’t stop it. That thing... it’s too powerful. We need to do something—now.”Mason froze for a second. He looked deep in thought, as if something clicked in his mind.“What kind of beast was it?” he asked.“It’s Drakari. The Aries sign.”Mason didn’t respond. He turned sharply and leapt onto the upper floor, where the sages and le

Damon stormed into the chamber and, without a word, slapped Draco across the face.Draco staggered back, eyes wide. He slowly touched his cheek, lowering his gaze in silence.“This is ridiculous!” Damon roared. “You couldn’t even capture the beast?”Draco stammered, “Father… that beast was too strong to handle.”“Shut up!” Damon snapped. His voice thundered through the room. “Then how did Sadi—that worthless boy—manage to capture it? Are you that pathetic?”Draco’s shoulders slumped. He couldn’t look his father in the eyes.“You’ve ruined everything,” Damon growled, veins bulging in his temple. “You’ve spilled water on all my plans.”“I… I’m sorry, Father,” Draco murmured, barely audible.Damon took a deep breath, trying to cool the fire in his chest. He stepped back, sank into his chair, and leaned back.He pinched the bridge of his nose, voice now low but still sharp. “Tell me exactly what you saw in there.”Draco nodded hesitantly and began recounting the battle—Sadi’s speed, the s

As the applause echoed across the hall, Sadi stood unmoving—his expression calm, almost unreadable. The Sword of Surtr rested in his hand, its flames now dulled but still warm, as if acknowledging its new master. The badge on his chest gleamed beneath the torchlight, but he didn’t smile.Not yet.He could feel their eyes. Their awe. Their envy. Their doubt.Behind him, the other warriors watched in silence. Some with admiration. Others with veiled resentment.Antonio stood tall, pride lighting up his features. But he kept a hand on Sadi’s shoulder, grounding him.“You’ve done well,” he whispered in his son’s ear. “Now begins the harder part—proving you’re worthy of it.”Sadi gave a small nod. He understood.Ethan dismissed the gathering with a respectful bow. The sages stood, robes flowing behind them like waves, and began to leave in silence. The crowd murmured in groups, buzzing like a stirred hive.Sadi stepped down from the platform.As he moved through the crowd, some gave him no

The moment Sadi stepped out of the High Quarter, the sunlight felt different—warmer somehow, as if it reacted to the ancient flame now resting at his hip. The Sword of Surtr remained wrapped, but even within the cloth, it pulsed like a heartbeat of molten light.Antonio walked beside him, posture stiff, face unreadable. The gates behind them closed, muffling the remnants of applause and whispers that still buzzed through the halls.Sadi tightened his grip on the strap of his satchel.“Father,” he said softly, “I didn’t expect any of this.”Antonio exhaled through his nose, tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “No one did,” he admitted. “Not the sages, not the realm heads. Not even Ethan, I think.”They began their descent along the long stone steps toward the lower pathways of the Sky Temple. The air shimmered faintly—the natural barrier that separated the High Quarter from the rest of the city. Here, everything felt heavier. The ancient magic that protected the place recognized

The sky over the High Quarter dimmed into a deep indigo, the last traces of ceremony fading with the distant chatter of sages returning to their chambers. The applause had ended hours ago; the great hall had emptied. But the tension left behind—especially around Sadi—lingered like smoke.Sadi walked slowly along one of the upper corridors of the Sky Temple, the Sword of Surtr wrapped and strapped across his back. Its heat pulsed faintly through the cloth, like a living heartbeat. Part of him still didn’t believe Ethan had handed it to him so openly.Nor did he understand why.The Temple’s torches flickered, shadows dancing along the marble pillars. Sadi kept his posture straight, but his mind twisted in knots.Why him?Why this sword?Why now?A faint whisper seemed to echo through the corridor—voices, hushed but strained. Sadi paused, glancing down a side hallway. At the far end, two figures conversed quietly.He recognized the silhouettes immediately.Sage Maron and Sage Enos, both