From early morning, Noa's mood had been completely shattered by the harsh criticisms, and he was entirely beside himself.
He stood motionless in front of the mirror for a long while.
The reflection staring back filled his chest with rage and pain. In his eyes there was no longer self-confidence — only a deep uncertainty about his future.
"When the battle begins," he whispered, knuckles cracking, "I will prove everything."
Yet deep in his heart, he knew the truth.
This was no ordinary trial — this was fate.
A fate inseparably bound to the very existence of the Empire. And the thought that he might be the one to break that fate sent a bitter ache through his heart.
---
The palace corridors were wrapped in absolute silence, broken only by the faint, flickering glow of enchanted lamps.
As Noa walked, thoughts collided violently inside him — between the burning fear and the unquenchable will that had never once faltered.
At the end of the corridor he saw her — his mother, Arya.
Her long silver hair cascaded down her back; in her eyes, grief and love were hopelessly intertwined.
"Mother…" Noa stopped. "I know… you're worried."
Arya stepped closer and placed a trembling hand on his shoulder.
"I want to protect you, Noa. This is no simple test. Your father intends to strip you of the prince's title."
Noa lowered his head; his eyes dimmed with despair.
"I know, Mother. Even without any real reason, fate has made me a hopelessly failed son in my father's eyes."
Arya fell silent. Her eyes quivered.
Noa forced a small, strained smile. "I will come back, Mother. Trust me."
Without looking back, he continued on his way.
---
The palace courtyard was already crowded — dragons, Nivalas, elders, even children — every eye fixed on one single point: the heir's trial.
Before the throne stood the Emperor, his gaze ice-cold, his voice sharp as a blade.
The moment he raised his hand, perfect silence fell over the entire square.
"Today," he declared, his voice thundering across the mountains,
"the heir will face the trial.
If he triumphs, he remains prince.
If he falls… it ends."
A murmur rose through the crowd — approving shouts erupted from every side; the entire empire seemed delighted by the Emperor's words.
Noa stepped forward.
His heart pounded with panic, yet his gaze remained resolute — no hesitation, no fear.
He drew his sword from its sheath — simple, perfectly balanced, steady in his grip.
Suddenly the courtyard exploded toward him.
A colossal creature appeared — scales black as midnight, eyes blazing crimson, smoke curling from its chest.
With every step the ground trembled.
The beast lowered its head.
It fixed its stare on Noa.
Then slowly sniffed the air.
A strange, guttural rumble rose from its throat.
It did not attack at once.
It was… watching its prey.
"This is it," Noa thought. "My trial."
The creature suddenly roared and lunged, slamming a massive paw into the earth.
The ground split open.
Noa leaped sideways, barely escaping the blow.
Rocks shot into the air.
The beast turned its head toward him.
Then advanced again.
This time not fast.
Heavy.
Like a mountain closing in.
His heart thundered with terror; every breath burned with fear — yet inside him burned an even fiercer flame.
An undying blaze.
The creature raised its paw once more.
Noa ducked low and dodged.
The wind of the strike sliced across his face.
A second later and his head would have been gone.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"So fast…"
"The boy won't survive…"
The beast attacked again.
This time with its tail.
A tail like black steel tore through the air.
Noa sprang aside.
The tail crashed into the ground.
Stone shattered.
"Not for myself… but for Mother — I have to win," her final words echoed in his mind.
He gripped his sword tighter and charged forward.
Light flashed along the blade.
He struck the creature's flank.
Its thick, furred hide tore.
Blood sprayed onto the ground.
The beast froze.
Then turned its head.
Its crimson eyes locked directly onto Noa.
In the next instant it unleashed a terrifying roar.
GHOOOOOO!!!!!!
The entire courtyard shook.
With a violent lash of its tail it struck him — Noa was hurled into the air.
He flew twenty meters, tumbling across the ground several times before coming to a stop. Pain ripped through his body.
Laughter rose from the crowd.
"It's over…"
"He's too weak…"
Yet still he clenched his teeth and rose again.
Now his eyes burned — bright crimson rings flared, the black slit at their center deepening.
The creature charged once more.
This time Noa did not retreat.
He raised his sword high.
Every ounce of his will blazed within him.
The world seemed to slow.
The sound of wind stretched.
The crowd's noise receded.
The beast's enormous paw descended as though in slow motion.
Noa's heart beat once.
Then again.
Then he roared:
"I… AM… THE PRINCE!"
The sword came down.
For a moment — it felt as though the blow would connect.
Then…
The creature's paw collided with his strike in a thunderclap.
The force hurled him backward. His sword flew from his hand, spinning far away.
Noa crashed hard against the ground — and silence swallowed the courtyard.
He knelt, trembling, barely able to breathe.
His eyes wide open, pupils shrunk to pinpoints — he could only stare at the ground before him.
A heavy stillness reigned over the palace square.
Murmurs spread among the dragons.
"He… has finally… lost."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed, his voice quiet and icy:
"This… is defeat."
Arya's lips trembled as they parted; her voice broke like shattered glass:
"So… is it truly over? Must I lose my son?"
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