The students were split into two groups.
Seventeen stood beneath Borah's shadow, forming a tense line across the starting mark under his glare. The other seventeen assembled across from Corrin, with Leyra poised at his side, her sharp gaze sweeping the young faces like a hawk measuring prey.
At the far end, Arven lingered in silence, watching the scene with arms folded, his cold eyes settling briefly on the students.
By a twist of arrangement, Riven, Ceyric, and Soren were placed with Corrin's group. Opposite them in Borah's lane stood Lynn, Kevan, Darius, and Leo.
---
Borah's heavy steps rumbled forward. His barrel chest rose as he folded thick arms across it, and his gravelly voice carried through the yard like rolling stone.
"You will run around this courtyard five times. That is your second trial. Five cycles… in ten minutes."
A ripple of disbelief ran through the students. Some stiffened, others looked ready to protest.
Borah smirked at their unease. "Each lap measures six hundred and forty-five meters.That brings you just over two miles. If you can't keep up, if you collapse…" he leaned forward with his eyes glinting, "…you're finished. Fail this and you fail entirely."
Riven's jaw clenched. 'I can't afford to fail again. Not after missing the first trial.' His chest already ached at the thought. 'But two whole miles in ten minutes… with this damned gravity? Are they trying to kill us?'
His gaze slipped across the field toward Lynn and Kevan. Both looked tense, fighting to keep their stance under the invisible weight. Riven exhaled, forcing himself to stay calm, and looked back to the front.
Borah grinned, raising his massive hands.
"Now—GO!"
The clap of his palms cracked through the yard like a gunshot.
And then all at once, boots thundered across stone. Dozens of students bolted forward in frantic bursts of speed, adrenaline surging through them.
Riven pushed off too, but with restraint. His pace eased into a controlled jog, his breathing was measured and he kept his stride even to conserve energy. The gravity dragged at him like chains, but he fought to keep a rhythm, knowing well more than others that burning out early meant death here.
Around him, half the field sprinted recklessly as if chased by death.
By the sidelines, Leyra's lips curled with disdain. "Idiots. The lot of them."
Corrin gave a curt nod. "They are going to burn out and fast."
Borah's chuckle rumbled. "Heh. Watch closely. In minutes, bodies will drop like sacks of potatoes. That's the difference between pride… and endurance." His grin lingered as he caught sight of the back ranks where some of the students seemed to pace themselves. "Some of them at least show promise."
Corrin's eyes lingered on Riven, his brow furrowed.
"I thought that boy was unawakened," Borah remarked.
"He was," Corrin muttered. "But somehow… he's not anymore."
Leyra's head snapped toward him. "And how is that possible?"
Corrin's voice dropped. "I don't know, according to Arven, he awakened after the collapse in the mines."
Borah scoffed. "Hah. Didn't you get chewed out for that? You were the one who sent him there."
Corrin's jaw tightened but said nothing.
---
Three minutes in.
Fourteen students had cleared their first lap, halfway into their second. Four had already collapsed, sprawled across the stones and the rest dragged on behind.
'That was quick,' Riven thought grimly.
Borah shook his head. "Pathetic. In battle, when you face a Deviant, there is no pause or wasted breath. You burn out too quickly and you die."
Corrin pointed. "Well Look here. It appears he's in the lead."
They both turned to see Leo. His pace was steady and efficient as he kept his posture upright. Sweat lined his brow, but his strides were smooth, cutting corners with the ease of practiced control.
Across the yard, Arven's eyes narrowed as he watched the students drag on. He scoffed, shifting his gaze toward Riven.
The boy jogged, then slowed near to a walk on intervals, his breathing became steady before pushing himself again.
'Resting?' Arven frowned. 'With time bleeding away? Strange…'
---
Six minutes in.
Nine students neared the third lap. Seven more lay collapsed, dragged aside by the attendants.
Riven's shirt clung with sweat, every breath he took was heavier than the last. His muscles screamed but he pressed on. He counted about twenty-three students remaining. Ten looked on the verge of collapse.
Beside him, Ceyric stumbled like a drunk man, pure stubbornness dragging his steps. Behind them, Soren had already hit the ground, unconscious.
Riven's gaze flicked sideways to Lynn and Kevan who were faltering badly. Their steps became jerky, faces pale as their lumens struggled to keep them upright.
His throat clenched. 'God, my whole body's in pain again… feels like my bones are plotting murder against my flesh.'
---
Eight minutes.
Yeah, this is definitely hell. The fourth lap was a special kind of torment on its own. Only twelve students remained, their strides became extremely sluggish as their faces twisted in severe pain.
At this point Ceyric, the big bastard looked more like a baby learning to walk, while Darius stumbled with every step he took, his body ready to give.
A sudden crash drew Riven's attention.
His head whipped around just in time to see Lynn and Kevan had collapsed together.
His eyes widened. 'No, no, not now…shit'
The clock was bleeding away. Riven forced his legs forward until he reached Lynn first.
"Why the fuck are you stopping?!" Lynn snapped between gasps. "The time's almost up!"
Riven's chest heaved the looked at Kevan who laid sprawled and drenched in sweat soaking the floor.
"Wait here," Riven rasped.
"Idiot!" Lynn spat weakly. "Where the hell would I move to?!"
Riven gritted his teeth, bending low to drag Kevan upright. Kevan groaned, his voice cracking.
"You stupid… idiot. Why waste your strength? You can still make it—"
Riven ignored him, hauling him along. His vision blurred with sweat as he staggered back toward Lynn. He reached down again, straining to lift her with trembling arms
Unexpectedly another hand suddenly joined his.
Riven turned and was shocked at who it was. It was Leo who had doubled back to help for whatever reason.
Wordless, Leo hauled Lynn up with ease, sweat streaming from his body as well. His face was pale with effort, but he didn't falter.
Riven gave him a quick nod.
And together, they carried both forward.
---
Ten minutes.
The trial ended.
Only nine students out of the initial thirty six had crossed the finish line.
Bodies collapsed in heaps. Even Leo bent over, gasping.
Riven slumped with Kevan's weight against him, chest burning and his lungs screaming. He turned, ready to thank Leo, but the boy was already walking away, saying nothing.
The instructors gathered, murmuring.
"Only nine through," Corrin said with a dry chuckle.
"Better than none," Borah rumbled.
They stepped forward.
"Congratulations," Borah's booming voice declared. "You've passed the second trial."
Corrin raised a hand, deactivating the gravity bands. Instantly, the crushing weight vanished. A collective gasp rose as bodies felt light again, their lumens sparking as it regained its natural flow to heal their wounds.
Riven slumped flat on his back, the cool rush of healing flowing through his veins as his cells drank the energy greedily. His chest rose and fell rapidly.
"One down," he muttered hoarsely, lips curling faintly despite the ache. "One to go…"
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