Revelation: The Dawn Of Celestial Magic

uit provided by the academy, a stark contrast to the intricate uniforms of the students who had already been accept

spered to herself. "I

ds. The air smelled of damp earth and pine, and the sunlight filtering through the illusory trees was almost too real. Around the edges of the room, other applicants sat in a raised galle

voice ringing out in the hushed spa

ut her stomach churned. She couldn't afford to fai

e. They were the inspectors for the trial, their faces unreadable as they observed the proceedings.

your ability to wield a weapon. You will face three illusionary monsters, and your task

simple knife. She glanced at the racks of weapons lining the walls-swords, axes,

i called out. "Just pi

least intimidating, and she reasoned that she could keep her distance from the mon

ter of the room. As soon as she did, the illusion shimmered, and three monstrous shapes emerged from th

e inspector

d pulled the string back, but her grip was unsteady. The first monster lunged toward her, its claws s

rmured, some st

one whispered.

ster. Her hands shook as she let the arrow fly, but it barely grazed the beast'

ding of her heart. The third monster was almost upon her now. Desperation overtook her

g herself for the impact. But just as their claws were about to strike,

ces, their expressions neutral. The

" she said fl

and Dahlia's face burned with shame. Sh

called out, though her voice sounded for

than the laughter. She stepped out of the circle, her head held h

elines to await her next t

ke," one bo

nk she could get in h

ring them. Let them laugh, she

. "Hey," she said gently. "Don't listen to them. It

. "Thanks, Yuri. I'll

she needed to find a way to turn things around-and fast. The stakes were too high to let her nerves or ine

eed. There was

____

l trembling from the humiliation of the first trial. The mocking whispers from the cr

d voice called out,

ial will test your endurance and problem-solving abilities. You will enter a simulated maze designed to challen

go next. Yuri, seated in the audience, cupped her hands around her m

d toward the inspectors, and stepped into the maze. The doors slammed

their jagged edges casting eerie shadows. The air was damp and cold, and the faint hum

herself, taking a deep bre

st the stone floor. She reached the first obstacle quickly-a massive wooden gate bl

grow. I don't have lungs,

sense. She glanced around frantically, spotting an unlit torch on the

e torch and waved it in front of the gate. The flames illuminated the runes, an

muttered.

ing in. As she rounded a corner, the ground beneath her began to crumble. She yelped, leaping backward as c

she hesitated too long, the gap would widen. Taking a running start, she leapt across the ch

he reached a fork in the path. One side glowed faintly, a soft blue l

t too obvious. She remembered something Yuri had told her earlier: T

er hands against the stone walls to steady herself. But as she pressed on, she noticed faint etch

olid stone wall with no visible exit. The timer

ething on the ground: faint markings in the shape of footsteps, forming a pattern. She

step, mimicking the footprints. As her final step landed

it 0:05 as she burst through the exit, collapsing to her knees on the other side. H

s. Some of the students whispered about her resi

e boy muttered, s

fed, though she looke

d inspector raised an eyebrow, her expression unread

ally. "You've earned a moderate sc

r voice rising above the chatter.

. She could feel the weight of the next trial pressing on her alrea

he whispered to he