"WELCOME STUDENTS TO NEW HAVEN ACADEMY'S 99th ANNUAL AWAKENING EXAMS!"
The voice thundered through the skies like a divine proclamation, reverberating off the towering marble walls of the coliseum. Every second-year student flinched or looked up in awe, their chatter cut off as the sheer force of the announcement drowned out thought. High above them floated a man in radiant white—a coat tailored with golden trim billowing around him in the windless air, as if it had a breeze of its own. His long, glimmering golden hair shone beneath the enchanted sky dome, reflecting a glow that wasn't wholly natural.
That was no hologram. The man was very real. And so was the pressure.
The central arena of New Haven's second-year campus had been repurposed into a massive staging ground for the Awakening Exams, its usual sparring platforms replaced with concentric stone circles, rune-etched and humming softly with mana. High above, floating observation platforms carried faculty, staff, and select elite spectators who watched from behind magical barriers.
In the adjacent quadrants of campus, similar gatherings of first-years and third-years were beginning their trials. But for the second-years gathered here today, it didn't matter. Their moment had come.
Elijah stood among the hundreds of students in neatly ordered rows, the buzz of nervous energy crackling all around him. His uniform, freshly pressed that morning, already clung to his back with sweat. He was aware of his heartbeat pounding harder than it should, even with how much control he had built up over the last few months. It didn't help that Tim was standing beside him, uncharacteristically quiet.
The floating man grinned down at them, voice still ringing with theatrical flair. "Now, I'm sure you're all eager—perhaps even desperate—to learn what your first challenge will be. After all, the Awakening Exams are more than tradition… they are a rite of passage. A gauntlet. A battlefield."
With a sweep of his arm, the space above the crowd shimmered and pulsed with golden light. Then it unfolded like a scroll unraveling in midair—revealing a massive, 3D projection of a labyrinth.
Gasps echoed across the field.
The maze was sprawling. Dozens of twisting paths snaked through spirals, dead ends, switchbacks, and corridors that layered over one another. Small glowing dots were scattered through it like stars—each marking what might be a crystal location or a monster den. At the very center stood a glowing beacon labeled "CORE."
"As you can see," the announcer continued, "you'll be placed into a colossal magical labyrinth. You will each begin at different, randomized starting positions on the outer edge. Your three objectives are as follows."
He held up a single glowing finger.
"One: Find your way to the center. The faster you arrive, the more points you earn. The center is your anchor—your finish line. Stalling too long may result in disqualification."
A second finger lit up.
"Two: Obtain at least three mana crystals. They will be housed in alcoves scattered throughout the labyrinth, each guarded by magical beasts. These are not illusions. They will not hold back."
A third glowing finger.
"Three: Defeat as many monsters as possible. The stronger the creature, the more points you earn. A high monster score may compensate for slower maze progress… but it's your gamble to take."
He lowered his hand, letting the image spin slowly above the students.
"As you might expect," he added, "you are not permitted to bring outside weapons, tools, or potions. Only what is on your person and what you summon. Any attempt to cheat will be met with immediate ejection and expulsion. Oh, and one more thing…"
He snapped his fingers. A pulse of mana flickered across every student's wrist as thin black-metal bracelets materialized there, locking gently but firmly into place.
"These are your safety bands. They monitor your vitals and mana flow. If an attack is about to be fatal, the bracelet will forcibly teleport you out of the labyrinth and into the medical bay. Think of it as your lifeline—your one chance not to die."
Laughter—nervous and uneven—rippled through the crowd.
A pink-haired girl near the front hesitantly raised her hand. "W-what happens if we do get taken out? Are we disqualified?"
"Excellent question!" the announcer said with a too-bright smile. "If you are teleported out, you will receive no score for that trial. Survival isn't victory. However, in extreme cases where the bracelet activates prematurely, our faculty will review the combat feed. If they determine you were not in mortal danger, you may be returned to the labyrinth—at a minor point deduction."
Another hand shot up. A lean, dark-eyed boy asked, "Why deduct any points if it was a mistake?"
The announcer's tone sharpened, just a bit. "Because recklessness has a price. If the bracelet activates, it means you pushed too close to your limits—closer than you realized. Even if you survive, we do not reward near-death arrogance here at New Haven. You will learn that discipline is as vital as power."
Silence followed.
The man clapped his hands once, and the maze projection vanished.
"Now, you have five minutes to strategize with your peers—use them well. When the time is up, you'll be teleported into the maze. Choose your goals. Choose your path. Choose who you want to become."
And with that, he vanished in a shimmer of gold.
The moment he disappeared, the field erupted into murmurs and urgent chatter.
Elijah let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His mind was spinning. The sheer scope of the trial… it wasn't like anything he'd imagined.
Tim tapped his shoulder. "Alright. Five-minute strategy session. Thoughts?"
Elijah turned, voice low. "They never said anything about attacking other students… but the implication is clear."
Tim nodded. "Definitely allowed. Maybe even encouraged. Especially since crystals can be stolen."
Elijah grimaced. "Right. So that means three goals and probably three paths. Focus on crystals, monster kills, or rush the center. You can't do all three unless you're an absolute monster."
"You're not wrong," Tim replied, eyes narrowed in thought. "We'll all be split up—no way we can team up. Everyone's on their own."
Elijah glanced at the maze layout that had hovered above them. "Do you think reaching the center first is worth the most?"
"Probably. But the safer bet is doing well in two categories. One strong objective and one medium score to balance."
Elijah's lips pressed into a line. "Then I may have to ignore the monster fights entirely."
Tim gave him a quick glance. "Could be the smart move. You're ranked near the bottom right now. The labyrinth might be your best chance to leap up if you play to your strengths."
"Right," Elijah said softly. "I just have to survive. And move fast."
And deep down, he knew exactly who he had to avoid if he wanted to do either.
Claro.
Across the stadium, Claro Nova stood completely still, isolated from the clusters of murmuring students. His uniform, pristine as always, somehow seemed to catch the light more sharply than the others—as if daring the sun to shine harder on him.
But it was his expression that caught Elijah's eye.
Claro wasn't talking to anyone. He wasn't even pacing. He simply stood there, fists clenched at his sides, gaze burning holes into the floor ahead of him. There was something off about him—something unsettled. His shoulders were tight, jaw locked, like he was containing something barely held in check.
The marble beneath his feet had begun to crack.
Elijah nudged Tim and nodded toward him.
Tim followed his gaze. "Yeah. He's been like that since we got here, even through the presentation. I don't think he's blinked."
"He's completely lost it," Elijah muttered.
"Or close," Tim said. "That pressure from below, pressure from above… either it'll make him stronger—or he'll snap."
They both turned away. Better not to look too long.
The five-minute timer was winding down, but Elijah and Tim still stood side by side, their voices low beneath the mounting buzz around them.
"Elijah," Tim began, eyes sharp, "I'm going to play it differently. I'll focus on mobility and quick strikes. Grab the minimum crystals, avoid long fights with beasts unless it's an easy target, and rush the center with some hits on the way."
Elijah nodded slowly. "Sounds smart. You've got the speed and stamina to pull that off. I can't match that, so I'll try one beast to test the waters, then decide if it's worth sticking around for more or just racing to the core."
Tim smiled, eyes narrowing. "Exactly. If the monsters are too tough for you, you're better off not risking the points you can get from a quick finish. Meanwhile, I'll hit what I can and rely on quick escapes."
The countdown on their bracelets shifted—three minutes left.
Elijah exhaled, feeling the cold weight of the labyrinth ahead pressing on his mind. The rumors, the legends, the stories of students who never returned—it all came rushing back.
"Let's keep our heads," Tim said, clapping a hand on Elijah's shoulder. "We don't get second chances here."
They shared a brief look, silent understanding passing between them.
Across the stadium, clusters of students handled the final moments in their own distinct ways.
Brax stood at the edge of the crowd, rolling his massive shoulders as veins of stone flickered briefly across his skin. His breathing was steady—measured. The ground around his feet bore faint imprints from the times he'd lost control this past year, but today he stood still, as unshakable as bedrock. "Focus. Anchor. Break only what needs breaking," he muttered, reciting a mantra under his breath. Beside him, no one dared step too close.
Near the back of the arena, a girl with long, blonde hair that seemed to change color in the light hummed quietly to herself. Tiny mirages danced around her fingers—heat ripples that shimmered like illusions on a desert highway. She swept her hand across her face and vanished for a moment, only to reappear three steps away, smiling to herself. "They won't see me coming," she whispered, tightening the straps of her gloves.
A boy with short-cropped silver hair stood on a single foot near the center, perfectly balanced. His eyes were closed, his breathing shallow, his entire presence vanishing into stillness. Then, in a blur, he moved three steps and faded into a nearby shadow, only to reemerge elsewhere. The few who noticed barely registered the motion before he disappeared again. "Mobility wins games," he said, barely above a whisper.
Students from all rankings and talents whispered final strategies to themselves, adjusted their uniforms, flexed fingers or recited spells. Some stood alone in meditative calm. Others bounced on their heels, coiled and ready to burst like a spring.
Everyone had a plan. Everyone had fears.
And yet none of them knew what truly awaited in the labyrinth.
As the final seconds slipped away, the familiar shimmer of teleportation magic swirled around them.
And then, the world dropped away.
The sudden change hit Elijah like a wave. The bright coliseum was gone, replaced by heavy stone walls rising to impossible heights on all sides.
The air was thick, humid, alive with faint pulses of magic from glowing runes etched deep into the labyrinth's walls.
Ahead, the passage split sharply left and right. No sounds but the echo of his own footsteps.
A cold stone floor stretched out before him, slick in places, worn in others—as if hundreds of challengers had already passed through.
Elijah's wristband lit up: [Trial Started — Objectives Active]
A growl sounded to his right. Not too close but close enough to worry.
He swallowed down the sudden spike of nerves and chose the left path, hugging the wall, alert for any sign of movement.
The labyrinth wasn't just a maze; it was a test of instincts. The shifting shadows, the faint hums of magic in the air, the ever-changing light from the glowing runes—all designed to wear down the mind as much as the body.
He moved cautiously, feet light but ready to sprint.
Then, a subtle shift—a barely perceptible hiss from above struck Elijah's ears like a hammer to a bell.