As Azriel and Lily made their way through the forest paths toward the main island, Sophia had already arrived. It was only natural lightning always struck before anything else.
The first thing she saw as she stepped into the heart of the island was a vast, open ground, shaped like an arena. The space was unnervingly silent, its boundaries marked by cracked stone pillars and ancient carvings that hinted at countless battles fought here before.
At the center of the arena stood a massive barrier an opaque, shimmering wall of energy. It distorted the air around it, concealing whatever was trapped within. Even with her lightning-charged senses, Sophia couldn't pierce through its veil.
Her gaze shifted, catching sight of a large, weathered rock a few meters away from the barrier. In the next instant, her figure blurred, vanishing in a streak of silver-blue light. A faint crackle echoed in her wake as she reappeared atop the stone, lightning still dancing across her form.
Sophia sat atop the stone, lightning flickering faintly along her arm as her gaze lingered on the barrier. She didn't need to rush. Whether it was the arena, the hidden trial within, or the others still making their way here everything would eventually come to her. After all, she was lightning. And lightning always struck first.
---
Sophia sat upon the rock in silence, her brown eyes fixed on the arena, the crackling hum of her lightning faintly echoing around her. Hours slipped by in patient stillness until movement caught her gaze.
A figure emerged in the distance wreathed in a faint, fiery glow. The air itself seemed to bend with the heat around her. Irina Emberheart. Her long, fiery red hair shimmered under the dim light of the setting sun, each strand like a burning thread, casting her in a glow of authority. Her steps were steady, proud, and every line of her body carried the grace of a seasoned warrior. Though still young, her sharp, refined features bore a beauty that rivaled that of a mature woman, commanding both admiration and unease.
As she crossed into the arena grounds, the temperature seemed to rise ever so slightly her presence alone was enough to make the empty air feel alive with fire.
---
As Irina stepped into the arena grounds, her fiery red hair catching the last light of the setting sun, her eyes quickly scanned the scene. The vast arena lay empty, silent, and at its center stood a mysterious barrier opaque and unyielding, hiding whatever lay within.
Her gaze shifted. On the far side, seated casually upon a rock, was a girl with brown hair and sharp brown eyes. Sophia Dragonheart. She sat elegantly, one leg crossed over the other, both hands resting lightly on her knees, her posture calm yet commanding. And her gaze was fixed directly on Irina.
In the blink of an eye, Sophia flickered. Lightning traced the air, and before Irina could blink, she was standing right in front of her. Instinctively, flames sparked to life in Irina's hands, heat rolling off her in waves.
"Relax," Sophia said smoothly, her tone calm yet edged with amusement. "I won't fight. Sitting there alone gets boring."
She leaned slightly closer, her lips curling into a faint genuine smile by seeing her. "Honestly, I didn't expect you to be the second one after me. I thought you'd still be busy playing with monsters or kicking around the idiots who thought they had a chance with you."
Irina smirked back, though flames still curled around her fingertips. "I can beat those idiots without even warming up."
The fire slowly faded from her hands as she continued, "I expected you to be the first. So… how long have you been here?"
She said lightly showing how bored she was. "Almost a full day now. Nothing much to do. No monsters near the arena either."
Irina blinked, stunned. "A day…!" She drew a sharp breath, then calmed herself before asking, "When did you even arrive at the main island?"
"The end of the second day," Sophia replied lightly."It took me another full day to get here. And now, you've shown up almost a day later."
Irina's lips parted, her confidence faltering for a moment. She fell silent, her thoughts racing. 'That fast?' She tried to calm herself by thinking 'It's to be expected she wields lightning, after all… but still, that's fast too fast'.
Their conversation eased, her earlier boredom vanished. Together, they made their way back to the rock and sat side by side.
Night soon descended, wrapping the arena in silence. Both opened their dimensional pockets and brought out food, sharing a simple meal beneath the dim light before finally choosing to rest.
Awakened didn't need sleep their willpower and stamina far surpassed that of ordinary humans. Yet tonight, they allowed themselves the luxury, knowing the coming days would be merciless. This might be their final moment of peace.