Chapter 53 – The Dragon's Games
The next morning;
the red sun of Dragonil had barely risen, yet the black walls of the kingdom were already trembling under suffocating heat. The buildings, carved from volcanic stone, seemed to breathe lava. Gigantic dragon statues watched over the city, their jaws open as if to spit eternal fire.
Seth, Alma, and Damian were awakened by a booming voice that shook the entire palace.
— Get up, ! roared Vulcan.
The stone walls vibrated, the red stained glass trembled, and every room felt the full force of his cry. Seth jolted awake and leapt from his bed. Alma, still half asleep, sat up groaning, while Damian rolled off his bed, muttering:
— Seriously… couldn't he just use a normal alarm clock?
In the adjacent rooms, three other young disciples were awakened at the exact same time. Reinard, tall, blond, with piercing blue eyes, jumped up with a confident smile on his lips. Kana, with her blazing red hair, stood up with steady steps, casting a cold glance at Seth. Noël, small and timid, rubbed his eyes, his pale face showing worry—he knew very well what was coming.
They all gathered in the great courtyard of volcanic stone, where Vulcan awaited them. His massive body, covered in scale-like armor, gleamed with golden and crimson reflections. His fiery mane lit the courtyard with an otherworldly glow, and his incandescent eyes bore into each of them with almost unbearable intensity.
— Finally awake! Vulcan shouted. Today, I will see if you are worthy of walking alongside dragons… Ahah!
Noël recoiled slightly, whispering under his breath:
— That's why I usually run… Vulcan always overdoes it… with his training and childish challenges!
Reinard folded his arms, an arrogant smile on his lips.
Kana raised an eyebrow, her red eyes sparkling.
— Tss… I hope it's not another one of your stupid trials, Vulcan.
Noël, however, stayed silent, biting his lip as if to hide his anxiety.
Damian, irritated by the atmosphere, shot at Reinard:
— Hey blondie, stop smiling like that, or you'll choke on it.
Reinard slowly turned his head towards him, his icy blue eyes locking onto Damian's.
— And you, shut up before I make you crawl on the ground.
Vulcan burst out laughing, his power shaking the courtyard.
— Noël!!! Don't think you're escaping today.
He turned his gaze to all six of them.
— Well then, we're going to start with a little roleplay game this morning. Every day is a kind of training game. Reinard, Kana, and Noël know the drill, but for you three it's different… so here are the rules. You will face my labyrinth. It's not just a test—it's alive. Every corridor is filled with traps, every rune can injure you, and every step is dangerous. But that's not all. You are six. This labyrinth will separate you into teams of three: the humans together, the dragons together. Each of you will have a piece of the treasure map. To win, you must steal the opposing team's maps and get the treasure. You cannot simply follow your own map. Only ingenuity will allow you to find the treasure.
He snapped his fingers. A red light burst forth, projecting a holographic image above the labyrinth. Fragments of maps floated in the air, glowing, each representing a precise piece of the treasure's location.
— You have five hours to find the treasure. If you fail, your punishment will be six hundred million push-ups with a weight strapped to your back. And one more detail: the maps change every second, at the same time as the labyrinth. I hope you understood. There's also food inside the labyrinth in case you get hungry… he added, laughing heartily.
Seth crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on his opponents.
— Hm… I guess we don't really have a choice.
Reinard sneered, his blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.
— Stealing maps in addition to these three? You could have made it harder, Lord Vulcan! Fine. I love this kind of challenge.
Kana sighed.
— Pfffffff.
Noël backed away again, whispering:
— And here we go again with another game… he's the biggest kid among us all.
Damian burst out laughing and raised his fists.
— Finally, a real challenge! Seth, Alma, are you ready? Time to hunt some dragons.
Alma nodded, already focused on the labyrinth forming before them.
Vulcan clapped his hands. A wave of energy hurled the six students into the abyss. The ground closed behind them, and in an instant, the labyrinth split them apart. Three corridors branched off, creating two distinct teams, each lost in the moving, burning tunnels, lit by runes of fire.
The Dragon watched them from above the courtyard, a predatory smile on his face.
— Show me your worth, children of Etheria.
And so the trial began. Not only did they have to survive, but they also had to steal the others' maps to even hope of reaching the treasure. The labyrinth, already dividing the six youths, promised to push them to their very limits.
---
Far away, in Etheria;
The grand hall of Luxurius's office was silent, disturbed only by the rustle of parchment as Valtherion unrolled it over the black stone desk. The Rector, fingers interlaced, observed the records with an exaggeratedly theatrical expression. Valtherion handed him the first parchment.
— So, he muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm: Seth Britania, Damian Alecdora, and Alma Atlante… on an S-rank mission… Class B students… really? Are you mocking me, Valtherion? Or… is this just a contest to see how far you can push my patience?
Valtherion remained impassive, his gaze as steady as a general facing a subordinate who spoke too much.
— Rector, I wouldn't joke about this. The mission was accepted, and it's been nearly two days since they took part. Nothing major or concerning.
Luxurius rolled his eyes, sighing so theatrically it could have woken the dead of the Academy.
— Oh, of course, Valtherion. Nothing "major"… like sending three Class B kids on an S-rank mission, right? Brilliant idea! Should we give them a prize for suicidal bravery? Or celebrate their talent? I hope those three idiots signed the waiver… And to top it off, the princess of Atlantis, and two students under King Arthur's sponsorship… what utter nonsense…
Valtherion tilted his head slightly.
— Luxurius, apparently the mission was assigned by the top of Class S, Alexander the Knight King.
Luxurius barked out a dry, sarcastic laugh.
— Alexander?… And I'm supposed to be more reassured because of that? I don't give a damn… Class B students… oh, look at them! They're going on an S-rank mission, like gods oh… how wonderful!!!… And me, poor Rector, I'm supposed to be impressed, right? Finish and get out of here.
— Luxurius… Valtherion pressed calmly. I believe there's hope. Since the mission chose them, maybe there's a chance they have… hidden talent. The parchments never choose the wrong person.
— Hidden talent…? Luxurius muttered, drumming his fingers on the desk impatiently. Talent… hm… Yes, of course. Talent. I suppose that's what I'd call "recklessness" or "glorious ignorance of life and death." Really, Valtherion, I applaud their audacity—and yours, I suppose.
Valtherion gave a slight nod.
Luxurius slowly swiveled in his chair, his eyes sparkling with irritating sarcasm. Then, suddenly, he stood up, the stone floor creaking under his steps, and raised his hands as if to illustrate his "great enlightenment."
— In any case, if a Class S is involved, I guess there's nothing to worry about… Let's hope.
— I think so too. With Alexander, and the fact they're in the Dragon Kingdom, the crime rate there is near zero.
After that, Valtherion handed Luxurius a second parchment…
— And here's another message. A student has been requested by a Class S.
Luxurius took time to read the letter, his expression shifting from surprise to suspicion.
— This student… who requested him? And for what reason? Nothing is mentioned… Class S think they can impose their laws in my school??? They can all go to hell! he muttered, his eyes narrowing at the inscriptions.
Luxurius let out another sharp, sarcastic laugh as Valtherion silently withdrew, leaving the parchments behind.
— Ah… those damn kids… Luxurius muttered, tapping his desk. Always ready to surprise me, always testing my nerves…
---
At the same moment;
Kael walked through the silent halls of Etheria Academy, his steps echoing on polished stone. The air was heavy with an ancient scent—a mix of parchment, wax, and residual mana. Each torch cast dancing shadows on the rune-etched walls, giving the place a sacred yet oppressive feel. His bag weighed heavily on his back, not just from the grimoires but from the anxiety he carried himself.
— So… today's the day, Kael whispered, fists clenched. Finally… I'll be able to…
He paused, breath short, running a hand through his black hair. His heart was pounding, a mix of nervousness and excitement. This S-rank mission wasn't just dangerous—it was his only chance to prove his worth and earn the points needed not to remain forever stuck as a Class D.
Arriving at the reception hall, Kael stopped. The receptionist, a tall and broad man with an impassive face, was already watching him with skepticism.
— Good morning… the man said, his voice calm but firm. You've come for the S-rank mission?
Kael took a deep breath, his gaze burning with cold determination.
— Yes. The mission chose me, he replied, his tone steady with conviction.
The receptionist slowly shook his head, as if to make Kael feel the weight of the challenge he was about to attempt.
— This mission was canceled two months ago. It was far too dangerous. And even if it were still active… a Class D alone is not allowed to participate. You have no teammates, and your rank is insufficient for this level of danger.
Kael felt frustration and anger boil inside him. His fists clenched, and he swallowed hard, aware of the rejection but refusing to yield.
— But… I have to go! he said, his voice trembling but firm. I can do it! I must go!
The receptionist sighed, crossing his arms. Silence settled, heavy, broken only by Kael's uneven breathing and the creak of the heavy doors behind him. That was when two figures appeared in the doorway—Teddy and Vegas. They were there for Teddy's mission, delivering his research on a strange disease striking certain Fire Kingdom villages to Dr. Ignis. Vegas, meanwhile, was tasked with accompanying him.
The receptionist watched for a moment, then pretended to check the records, tapping the wooden counter as if verifying details. Deep down, he knew Kael had too few points and risked expulsion by semester's end. Wanting to help him, discreetly, he made his choice.
Keeping his calm, feigning hesitation, he announced:
— Wait!! I just received a message from… Rector Luxurius. It seems he wants you to join Teddy and Vegas's team for this B-rank mission.
Kael froze, shocked, his heart tightening.
— What?! Me?! I was supposed to do my S-rank mission!
Teddy folded his arms, a sarcastic smile curling his lips.
— Huh? Why him? Vegas is more than enough already. He'll just slow us down… Damn it… Well, if it's an order from the Rector… I guess I'm forced to accept you. Annoying as hell.
Kael swallowed hard, frustration and anger rising. The last thing he wanted was to end up with Teddy, whose cold, sarcastic gaze constantly unnerved him.
— Pffffffff!
The receptionist averted his gaze slightly, calm and collected.
— Hey, kid… he said gently, you don't have a choice. The Rector—or rather "the order"—comes from above. Refusing would cost you points. This is your chance to prove yourself. Trust me, it's for your own good.
Kael frowned, not understanding fully. He didn't know the receptionist had prepared everything to help him, that the lie was meant to protect him.
— Fine… Kael muttered, his voice tight. I… suppose I don't have a choice.
Vegas raised an eyebrow, still relaxed.
— Oh, this is off to a great start… he murmured. We've got a newbie who doesn't even know why he's here. Lovely.
Teddy stepped closer to Kael, his gaze cold and sarcastic:
— Listen to me. I don't care why you're here. What matters is you follow my instructions. No slip-ups. No mistakes. Got it?
Kael's blood boiled, but he nodded, realizing he had no other option.
— Yeah, I got it, thanks! … he snapped firmly.
The receptionist, standing aside, observed in silence, a faint smile on his lips.
— The portal is ready, he said. Be careful. Kids… chances like this don't come twice.
Kael inhaled deeply and stepped forward with Teddy and Vegas. Tension surged in him, his heart pounding. The portal's light crackled around them, shimmering with silver magical energy. Each rune on the floor sang a note of power and danger.
— This was my only chance to find the third grimoire… damn.
… Whatever… Let's go, Kael murmured, determined. Seth and Tara are evolving… so must I…
And in an instant, Etheria vanished behind them. In its place stretched the dark, magic-charged skies of Solgaleau, the air thick with residual power. Kael set foot on that foreign land, fully aware that every decision would be crucial for survival.
Teddy scanned the horizon, his face cold and unreadable.
Kael clenched his teeth, adrenaline and determination coursing through his veins. No matter Teddy, no matter the rest… he would prove he could succeed and survive, no matter the cost.
---
To be continued…