2025-04-05 21:59:39Illusions of the stars crafted detailed and convincing illusions that could deceive the senses or obscure reality. Distinguishing those illusions from reality was an arduous task, which made the overall task even more challenging. If participants distinguished the illusions and returned to reality, then they would go to the next challenge; if not, then they would be out of the selection. Illusions of stars were difficult arts; if anyone could not master the arts well, then he could stay in the illusions.
It could easily trap an untrained mind, so one should have needed to settle his mind to get through the illusions. The second challenge started with Sadi's turn. Sadi stepped in the middle of the stage, his gaze unwavering. When Sadi stepped, the crowd did not make any sound of mockery; they just sat on their seats silently, their attention fully on Sadi.
The atmosphere in the amphitheater differed totally from a moment ago—no laughter, no mockery, no whispers of doubt. Sadi moved his gaze around, and suddenly, a white, thick fog swirled around. Within moments, the white fog became chilly and completely covered him. Sadi did not even move from his place; he only kept his senses alert; it enveloped him completely. The outside of him vanished, leaving him alone in the chilly mist.
As faint whispers echoed around, he felt the ground beneath him shift. The fog started shimmering with a soft, dainty light suddenly, and the fragrant breeze filled around, making the atmosphere intoxicated. The temperature suddenly dropped, making the situation alarming. Sadi's grips tightened, and with his sharp eyes, he checked out the surroundings; he knew what had been happening around. Instantaneously, he heard a kid's laugh; it was not just one kid but several, their laughter echoing through the fog.
Sadi arched his brows and stepped forward with a calm face. The sound of their laughter slowly became loud, and soon he spotted some kids running through the mist; their forms ghostly passed him. But then, within the fog, Sadi noticed a small boy was walking slowly behind others; he had a book, clutching tightly to his chest. Sadi narrowed his eyes, and as he noticed his breath caught, the kid was himself. It was a childhood memory of him.
Just as he was processing the situation, he heard a familiar girl's voice to his left. As he looked to his left, he stepped forward slowly and found Sophia standing there with a smile. In that moment, her smile appeared ethereal and heavenly. As he stopped, Sophie arched her brows with her smile; it seemed Sadi disappointed her by not coming toward her. Sophia tilted her head and smiled at Sadi; her inviting smile took him by surprise. He had not expected to see her; it had always been his dream, but he knew he had closed all the paths of his dream.
But in that moment, Sadi found himself captivated by her beautiful smile; he felt so real, which made him wonder if that was really an illusion or not. Sophia came toward Sadi with a soft tone; she asked, "Honey, I have been waiting for you; let's have lunch together."
Sophia held his hand; he felt her warmth was so real. Sophia took him, and after moving a bit, Sadi spotted his house.
Sophia and he entered there, his gaze unflinching. She moved a pillow for him and tapped there to have a seat. Sadi did not want to, but unknowingly he sat there; it seemed a power was controlling him. Sophia's sweet smile sparked around her; she poured wine in a small cup for Sadi.
Then, with her delicate fingers, she offered, "This is for you, honey. Try it."
Sadi looked at the wine; the color of the wine was red like blood. Sadi raised his gaze to Sophia; her smile was on her face. Sadi kept looking at Sophia for a few minutes, and she also kept looking at him with a smiley face. But suddenly, Sadi pulled out his sword from his sheath and attacked Sophia's face. The image of Sophia suddenly shattered into pieces. Sadi got up on his feet as he looked around.
The fog started turning black suddenly; it seemed like it became a black hole. In the meantime, the amphitheater became very quiet. They could only say Sadi had been sitting there and suddenly pulled out his sword and attacked in the air.
Dimitri's face was stern; he did not bother anyone's performances, but Sadi's performance bothered him. Making him think that finally he might get a competitor. Sadi spotted his surroundings turn black, all the light devoured in there. He tightened his grip on the sword.
'Before I vanish into the darkness, I need to do something,' Sadi thought, and he slowly closed his eyes and made a triangle shape with his fingers.
There was no point in using the sword; the more he attacked them, the more it would grow because those were all just illusions. Sadi's concentration was deep. The surroundings became wild; the wind blowing up everything around him, and it was just the illusion. Because the people there were only watching Sadi stand motionlessly with a triangle sign.
Sadi felt everything around him was trembling, shattering, and twisting. And finally he slowly opened his gaze, and finally he witnessed the light of the sun. The fog was nowhere to be found, as was the black hole. It was gone. The illusions tried to play with his vulnerable thing. Sadi spotted the crowd looking at him. Then it meant he came back from the illusions; the reality was around him. Sadi curtsied, and as he did, the crowd buzzed with clapping and cheering.
For the first time, he spotted everyone cheering for him. He stepped down from the stage; his brother, Luca, was standing at the corner. As he noticed Sadi come toward the exit way, a smile appeared on his face, and he cheered with a low tone, "Bravo, Sadi."
"I am proud of your performance."
The noises and clapping sounds were way too loud, which could suppress Luca's voice.
Said remained calm and nodded. It was Luca's turn, so he only wished, "Best of luck."
"Keep your emotions calm. It will help you." Sadi had given a hint to his brother.
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The First Signs
The sun had barely risen over the Sky Temple when Sadi sensed something unusual. The morning air felt heavier than normal, thick with static, as though the realm itself was holding its breath. Surtr hummed faintly across his back, and Drakari’s flames flickered nervously, a signal Sadi had learned to trust.Hiro, pacing beside him, frowned. “You’ve been staring at the horizon for five minutes. Something’s wrong?”Sadi’s gaze didn’t move. “The celestial energy… it’s… unstable.” His voice was low but sharp. “The seal over the Shadow Realm—it’s weakening.”Hiro’s eyes widened. “You mean… the thing we faced earlier?”Sadi nodded slowly. “Yes. But this isn’t just a minor tremor. Something—or someone—is forcing the cracks to widen. I can feel it in the beasts, the ley lines… even the air itself.”Drakari’s roar echoed sharply, and Sadi glanced down at the riverbank. Several beasts that had been roaming peacefully now moved erratically. Their scales shimmered unnaturally, some partially cloa
Secrets of the Shadow Realm
Dawn broke over the Draconis Realm, but the air remained heavy with the remnants of last night’s battle. Sadi stood on the edge of the cliff where the Shadow Realm had briefly bled into their world, Surtr strapped across his back, Drakari’s obsidian cage hovering nearby. The Leviathan stirred in the nearby river, sensing his master’s unease.Hiro stood beside him, arms crossed, his gaze scanning the horizon. “You’ve been quiet since yesterday,” he said, breaking the silence. “You’re thinking about that figure again, aren’t you?”Sadi didn’t reply immediately. He traced a finger along Surtr’s hilt, feeling the hum of its power. “It’s more than the figure, Hiro. That Shadow Realm… it’s not natural. Its energy… it’s older than anything I’ve ever felt. Someone—or something—is using it to manipulate reality itself.”Hiro frowned, shifting his weight. “You mean it’s alive?”Sadi shook his head slowly. “Not alive like us… but aware. It reacts, it adapts. Last night, it tried to drown us in d
Into the Shadow Realm
The cliff trembled beneath Sadi’s boots as the shadows surged again. Surtr blazed in his hands, the fire sword radiating warmth that cut through the unnatural chill of the night. Hiro’s sword hummed with latent energy, his movements precise, controlled, but tense.The cloaked figure hovered above them, its aura twisting the darkness into shapes that clawed at reality itself. “You think your fire and steel can resist the Shadow Realm?” it hissed. “This is not a realm of mortals. This is where gods hide, where powers older than your temple sleep. And soon… they will awaken for me.”Sadi narrowed his eyes. “I don’t care if it’s older than the heavens. I’ve faced the impossible before, and I’ll face it again.”A wave of darkness surged forward. Massive, serpentine shadows rose from the ground, their eyes glowing red like coals. They moved with an unnatural fluidity, slipping between reality and illusion. Hiro stepped forward to intercept, swinging his sword in arcs of precise force. One s
Shadows Rising
The night air in the Draconis Realm was unnaturally still. Even the faint rustle of leaves had vanished, leaving a heavy silence that pressed against Sadi’s senses. He stood atop the cliff, the Sword of Surtr glowing faintly against his chest. Beside him, the golden badge felt heavier than usual, a constant reminder of the responsibilities now resting on his shoulders.“Something’s wrong,” Sadi murmured, tightening his grip on the hilt. His instincts screamed danger, a pulse that he could not ignore. The magical energy surrounding him, which usually thrummed with warmth, felt jagged and off-balance tonight.Hiro appeared silently from the shadows, his expression unreadable. “You feel it too?” he asked, his voice low.Sadi glanced at him, nodding slightly. “Yes. There’s a surge in the elemental nodes… someone is awakening power that should remain dormant.”Hiro’s eyes darkened. “Could it be Draco?”Sadi shook his head. “Not him. This… this is older. Far older than any of us expected.”
The Beast-Caller’s Mark
The moment Sadi entered the Sky Temple’s northern wing, he felt it—the faint tremor of celestial energy lacing through the halls like a heartbeat. It pulsed softly, slow and steady, calling to him. Or warning him. He wasn’t sure which.Behind him, Luca walked with his usual relaxed steps, though his eyes flickered around with barely hidden curiosity. Nowshin moved quietly beside them, hands clasped, her gaze full of worry. Mason led the group, pushing open the old iron-bound door of the chamber where the Leviathan seal had been installed the night before.The room hummed with a strange mix of ancient magic and new tension.Inside, Ethan stood with several high sages. They had formed a circle around the obsidian prism—the one that held the Leviathan. Blue-white energy spiraled across its surface like veins of frozen lightning.But today… something was different.The energy wasn’t calm.It throbbed.It wanted out.Ethan stepped forward. “Sadi. Come.”Sadi swallowed hard and obeyed.As s
The Shadow That Knows His Name
Night fell over the Sky Temple like a velvet sheet, thick and heavy, as if the stars themselves hesitated to shine. The celebration of the ceremony had already faded; the claps, the cheers, the shock—all swallowed by the creeping silence.But peace never lasted long here.Not anymore.Sadi walked across the quiet courtyard leading toward the trainee chambers. The Sword of Surtr hung on his back in a sealed scabbard, its heat muted yet alive—like a sleeping beast aware of his heartbeat.Wind brushed his hair. The sky was clear, but the air felt wrong. Too still. Too sharp.Something was waiting.Something had followed him from the arena.He reached the corridor, footsteps echoing. A soft glow from the lanterns swayed on the walls, casting long shadows that trembled like living things.Sadi inhaled deeply.Someone was here.“Are you going to hide the whole night,” Sadi said calmly without turning, “or is this another test?”A low chuckle answered him.Not human.Not beast.Something in
