"Grey! You made it." a familiar voice called out to me as i entered the Rift academy.
His long black hair danced around his handsome face as he came running towards me.
"Nico, my friend. Aren't you a bit too enthusiastic for someone who is about to die." I said, already uncomfortable by all the eyes staring at us.
"We'll be fine." He said, his smile somehow grew even brighter.
"Anyways, how did you come here without being spotted?" I asked.
"Helicopter."
"You make it sound like a completely normal thing, like i know you're famous and wealthy, but have pity on us commoners." I said trying to tease him.
He looked at me for a bit, embarrassed.
"Relax, i was just joking."
He tried to say something but was interrupted by a loud male voice talking on a microphone.
"Chosen! I Imagine that you already know what to do, but i'll explain either way. Firstly check the time until your Rift open. After doing that you should choose a team with at most six, then head towards a guarded room with your chosen team. Once the timer ends and you're teleported to the Rift realm, check on your Authority and it's runes, figure out what your trial goal is, and please achieve it."
"Wanna team up?" Nico asked.
I looked at him, deadpan. "No."
"What? Why?"
"Look Nico, you're a great friend and i'm sure that you're gonna be a great team mate but you have one flaw."
"What?" he asked.
"You can't say no."
"What? ofcourse i can."
As the world wanted to make fun of him, someone from the crowd came up to him and asked to join us.
He looked at her for a moment, before he could agree, however, i answersed.
"No."
She looked at me of a bit, clearly discussed.
"And who are you?"
Looking at Nico, he looked at me, confused.
With a sigh, i said:
"Unfortunately, i'm his team mate."
***
I was in a white armored room, with Nico ofcourse.
Summoning the runes, to look at the timer, it was counting down from four. I continued staring at it.
[4]
[3]
[2]
[1]
As soon as it finished the count down, two Rifts tore through the fabric of reality, one for me, one for Nico, and started moving towards each other, they moved closer and closer, until they touched.
As soon as that happened, brilliant light shone from both of the Rifts, as they spun around each other, the spinning became faster and faster, to the point that it seemed that both of them became still, the only reason i knew they were even spinning is because of the voice i heard.
After a few moments passed, they merged and became one, and started to pull me and Nico towards it.
I resisted for a bit, but was overwhelmed by the force of the call.
***
Darkness, i was surrounded by complete darkness.
I was floating...no more like swimming.
It felt like i was the only being in the universe, yet it felt like i was nothing at all.
As time passed, a whisper echoed through the darkness.
[Chosen! prepare for your first trial.]