Noa slowly rose from his bed. Folding the blanket over his arm, he stared into the mirror.
What he saw filled his chest with fury and pain. Power shimmered in his eyes — a power no one could mock.
And yet… there were still no wings.
He was still trapped in his Niva form.
"Tomorrow at dawn," he whispered, cracking his knuckles, "I'll prove everything."
But deep down, he knew the truth.
This wasn't just a trial — it was destiny.
A destiny bound to the empire itself.
---
The palace corridors were silent, lined only with flickering torches.
As Noa walked, his thoughts clashed within him — torn between fear and a burning will.
At the end of the hall, he saw her — Silvia, his mother.
Her long silver hair fell down her back, and in her eyes, sorrow mingled with warmth.
"Mother…" Noa stopped. "I know… you want to stop me."
Silvia stepped closer, resting a trembling hand on his shoulder.
"I want to protect you, Noa. This isn't a simple trial. Your father is sending you toward death — even though your wings have not yet awakened."
Noa shook his head.
"I can't run. If I flee today, the entire empire will see me as weak. No one will ever respect me."
Silvia fell silent. Her eyes trembled.
Noa forced a small smile. "I'll come back, Mother. Believe in me."
And without looking back, he walked away.
---
The palace courtyard was already filled — dragons, Nivas, elders, even children — all their gazes fixed on one place: the heir's trial.
Before the throne stood the Emperor, his gaze cold, his voice like sharpened steel.
When he raised his hand, silence spread across the entire ground.
"Today," he declared, his tone echoing like thunder over the mountains,
"the heir will face the trial.
If he triumphs, he shall carry the blood of our ancestors.
If he falls… we cast him out."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd — doubt, fear, disbelief.
How could the foolish prince stand against a beast born from nightmares?
Noa stepped forward.
His heart pounded, but his gaze held firm — no hesitation, no fear.
---
The northern valley was drowned in darkness.
Mist slid between the trees, and a deep rumble rolled from the earth below.
Noa unsheathed his sword — simple, balanced, and steady in his grip.
Suddenly, the forest exploded.
From the shadows burst a colossal creature — scales black as night, eyes burning crimson, smoke curling from its chest.
The ground quaked beneath its steps.
"There it is," Noa thought. "My trial."
The beast roared and slammed its claw into the ground. Trees shattered, roots ripped free.
Noa leapt aside, barely dodging the shockwave.
His heart raced; every breath burned with fear — yet within him, something fierce burned brighter.
A flame that refused to die.
"You are not ordinary…" his mother's last words echoed in his mind.
He gripped his sword tighter and charged.
Light flashed along the steel as he struck the beast's flank. Blood scattered — but the creature did not fall.
It roared louder, fury shaking the valley.
With a sweep of its tail, it struck him — sending Noa flying.
He crashed against a tree; pain exploded through his body.
Still, he clenched his teeth and stood again.
Now his eyes burned — crimson rings flaring, the black slit within deepening.
The beast lunged once more.
This time, Noa didn't dodge. He raised his blade high, every ounce of will igniting within him.
"I AM… THE HEIR!"
He brought his sword down — the beast's claw met his strike in a thunderous clash.
The impact hurled him backward.
Noa hit the ground hard — and silence swallowed the valley.
---
Dawn light crept between the trees.
Noa knelt in the dirt, trembling, gasping for air.
His pupils shrank, eyes wide — fixed on the ground before him.
In the palace square, the same silence reigned.
Whispers spread among the dragons:
"He… failed…"
The Emperor's eyes narrowed, his voice calm and cold:
"This… is defeat."
Silvia's lips parted, her voice barely a whisper, trembling like broken glass:
"Is it over, then? Must I lose my son?
Or… is this something else entirely…?"
So… has the trial ended, or is it just beginning?
What do you think — did Noa truly fall, or was this all part of his plan?
Share your thoughts below, and don't forget to support the story with a Power Stone!
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