Year 900.Lerin Village sat far away from the busy towns and kingdoms of the world. Most people living there never thought much about what lay beyond the forests, hills, and fields around their homes. Their lives followed a simple, steady rhythm. Wake up early, work until their bodies felt heavy and tired, rest through the night, then start all over again the next day.They farmed the land, hunted in the woods, gathered supplies, fixed broken tools, and helped one another whenever someone needed a hand. It wasn’t an easy life, but it was familiar and safe. Most people were happy enough with what they had.News from outside almost never reached the village. When stories from distant lands did arrive, they sounded more like legends than real events. To the people of Lerin, those far-off places felt like an entirely separate world.But tonight felt different.Inside Long’s house, a group of children sat together on the wooden floor. Some shifted around to find a comfortable spot, while o

The next morning started with a loud roar that shook the whole house.“GET UP!”Teacher Long’s voice boomed through every room like a war drum. Even the walls seemed to shake.“How many times do I have to tell you lazy brats? Wake up before training starts! You have chores to do, clothes to wash, and yourselves to clean! Do I need to do everything for you?”The quiet, peaceful morning vanished in an instant.Blankets flew into the air. Several children nearly rolled right off their beds. Others jumped straight up before Teacher Long could reach them, scrambling to their feet with wide, worried eyes.The old man stood in the middle of the room with his arms crossed tight and a deep frown on his face.“In ten minutes, I want everyone outside.” His eyes narrowed. “I’ll be waiting in the backyard. If anyone is late, they will regret it.”The children nodded right away. “Yes, Teacher!”Ten minutes later.Long grunted as he began counting heads. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eigh

The path up Sigil Mountain felt much shorter than Tyda expected. His legs moved forward on their own, carrying him without feeling tired. Maybe it was pure excitement. Maybe it was just that his mind was too busy to settle down.The huge castle grew bigger with every step they took. It stood high above the mountain, looking like something that had existed long before any kingdoms or cities were ever built. Its old stone walls reached toward the sky, covered in carvings so ancient that no one could read them anymore.Behind Tyda, Bren and the rest walked in quiet silence. No one was joking or complaining. For once, even Rona had nothing to say.The closer they got, the heavier the air around them felt.Teacher Long walked at the front, never slowing his pace. He moved as calmly as if he was just taking a walk through the village fields. Eventually, the whole group came to a stop right in front of the main entrance.Tyda’s eyes went wide.The castle gates were already open. The doors we

The three great spirits floated high above the castle once again.They were enormous. Each stood nearly five times taller than a normal human. Their forms shimmered against the darkening sky, looking ancient and full of power. Just their presence alone made the whole hall feel different, as if even the pull of gravity had changed.More than a hundred examinees stared upward, too amazed to blink.Then it began.A wave of warm, powerful energy flowed down from the spirits. It spread across the whole room like a soft tide, touching every person at once. It brushed against their skin, sank deep into their bones, and settled somewhere right in the center of their chests.Tyda felt it immediately.A strange, lively current moved through his whole body. The air around him suddenly rushed upward. His dark blue hair flew wildly in the wind, and his clothes flapped as if invisible hands were tugging at them toward the sky.The same thing happened to Bren, Maya, Judy, Glendo, Rona, Bram, and Big

“Let the boy go.”The Great Sage’s voice rang out across the hall. It was calm and steady, but it carried more weight than any shout ever could.The two hooded guards obeyed right away. The swords that had been pressed against Tyda’s neck slowly pulled back. Cold air brushed against the thin red line left on his skin.Even though the blades were gone, the heavy feeling in the room stayed. No one relaxed. No one moved an inch.Tyda rubbed his neck once, then lifted his head again. His eyes never left the old man sitting on the throne.The Great Sage stayed perfectly calm. The other examinees remained silent. The guild members kept watching closely.Tyda took a deep breath.Then he spoke.“I’ll say it again.”His voice wasn’t loud, but in the quiet hall, every single person heard him clearly.Bren looked worried right away. “Tyda…”Maya grabbed his arm, looking scared. “Someone stop him.”“I’ve trained and waited for years for this,” Tyda said, ignoring them.He started walking forward.