In a forgotten place beyond space, in a place obscured in eternal dark, there was a mass of air, a thick mass of air laden with cryptic artifacts and inextricably connected histories. Not even a single light could penetrate the shadows. The place itself seemed to deny the very notion of light. In this realm of absence, at the center of the void, stood the four kings--regents from various regions--unmoving beneath the weight of the dark, dumbfounded.
But then--footfalls.
Measured. Slow. Heavy.
A figure began to appear, and simply his presence elicited a chill from the four kings as though they understood death had entered the room. He continued to walk forward, and the sound of his feet felt as a thump in their veins. He said nothing, instead tossing an object before them--a decapitated head, glistening with the sheen of still wet blood.
The four kings dropped to the ground at once, each pressing their foreheads to the cold floor.
Then one of the kings spoke, his lips trembling like dry leaves, "M-my lord... we did exactly as you commanded..."
The man began to walk.
His aura crushed the air around them, invisible yet unbearable. The kings gasped as pain wracked their bodies, though he hadn't laid a hand on them. None dared raise their eyes. Without a word, he ground the head beneath his boot until the skull cracked and blood seeped across the stone.
And just like that—he turned and disappeared into the dark.
Yet the fear did not leave with him.
The kings remained bowed, bodies trembling, unable to forget the weight of his presence.
Meanwhile, at the Academy...
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the corridor as students filed toward the special training wing, chatting nervously among themselves.
"Hey, Leon," Finn said, catching up with him. "Do you know what this training is about?"
Leon pushed his glasses up, thoughtful. "Since it's with Darius-sir, probably something mental. He's always into those mind-over-matter things."
"Finn sighed dramatically. 'Of course it is! You couldn't start with something simple like sparring since they know I'm the worst at mental control...'
Leon chuckled under his breath. 'Because that would just be too gracious.'
Isla trailed behind them quietly, fingers tracing the edge of her sleeve, her thoughts not on training. Instead she kept replaying in her mind when Leon grabbed her hand the day before.
Her cheeks flushed.
'Hey,' Fanny said, waving a hand in front of Isla. 'Earth to Isla.'
Isla snapped back to reality. 'H-huh?'
'You okay? Your face is super red. Are you sick or something?' Fanny moved closer, squinting in an exaggerated way. 'Should I take you to the medical room?'
'No! I mean—I'm fine!' Isla stuttered. 'It's not a fever, I promise.'
Fanny gave her a look but didn't comment. 'Weirdo,' she said with a grin.
They soon arrived in front of a sealed training room. A spider moved sluggishly across the wooden door, and Leon narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
A few seconds later, the door creaked open. Out stepped Darius, arms crossed behind his back, with a straight face.
'Good morning, sir!' the class said in unison.
Bright-eyed Finn rushed in and shouted, "Sir! What will we do today?"
Darius smiled, thin and controlled. "It's very easy," he said. "You will sit in this room and meditate for thirty minutes. But, and yes there is a but, you are not permitted to use your abilities. If you can stay calm, centered, and still for thirty minutes, you pass."
"That is it?" Finn blinked in disbelief. "Thank you sir!"
"You're welcome," Darius replied.
But Leon frowned. Something is wrong...
He looked at Isla and she gave him a little nod. She knew there was something wrong too.
But then Fanny and Finn charged in, beaming that big innocent of happiness and excitement, and other students followed too. Leon and Isla stepped in last and cautiously.
After everyone was seated inside, Darius said through the doorway, "do not use your abilities. Do not disturb others. I will unlock the door in thirty minutes."
And then the door shut—and clicked locked.
Outside Darius' thin smile turned into something darker with a quiet chuckle.
Inside, the students sat cross-legged on the floor, yawning, and some were even closing their eyes already.
Leon breathed in deep, trying to ignore the feeling of gnawing unease in his stomach.
Why would they warn us not to use our powers if it was just meditation?
More time passed.
Finn was smiling smugly. This was the easiest training ever. He could just sit and do nothing? Too easy!
Then - something brushed against his nose.
He opened his eyes.
There was a cockroach on his cheek, gently moving its antennae.
"WAAAAAAH!" He yelled as he threw the cockroach across the room.
All pairs of eyes opened at once.
Bugs began to crawl out from the corners of the room - MORE cockroaches, lizards and EVEN SNAKES slithered from the walls.
Screams blared.
Isla jumped to her feet, holding tightly to Fanny.
Leon stood up slowly, taking stock of the freakout around him. "Uhhhhh... this is... this isn't all about a test of meditation..."
The other students were panicking, sprinting towards the locked door and pounding on it.
Finn was running in circles, shaking these things off of him, his face pale, screaming "GET THEM OFF MEEEEE!"
With each passing moment, students began breaking the rules and called forth fire, wind, and blasts of force to counteract the ever-present swarm crawling their way.
The onslaught was relentless.
Leon clenched his fists. So we're being tested like this? To keep our minds calm under disgust and fear?
Finn was screaming at an unimaginable level as he charged the door, now covered in lizards.
Darius was standing outside with his ear pushed against the door, grinning, completely pleased with their screaming.
Then—
BOOM!
The door blew outwards and Darius was thrown from the doorway and pinned under the splintered door.
Smoke filled the corridor as students poured out of the building, wheezing and gasping for air, some nauseous, while others were in tears.
Finn collapsed face-first onto the grass outside.
Leon and Isla, shaken but aware, ran to Darius.
The green ooze of his blood came out from under the debris of the door.
With a hiss, he healed himself, and pushed the broken remnants aside to stand tall.
Leon stepped forward, unsure of himself. "Sir...are you ok?"
Darius straightened his collar. "So, just who was the genius that blew the door?"
Leon offered a weak smile. "Um, yeah… Let's not worry so much about that, okay?"
Fanny put her hands on her stomach, groaning. "Sir, what the hell was that?!"
Darius looked at them all, his expression unreadable.
"That," he began, "was your training."
Leon frowned. "Meditation while snakes and roaches crawled on us?"
"You were told not to use your powers," Darius said in a calming tone. "That was the test. Stay focused. Control your mind, no matter the discomfort."
He walked to the center of the courtyard and when he spoke again his voice rose.
"Today, everyone failed training. We will repeat it all again tomorrow. Be prepared."
Moans filled the yard.
Fanny sank to her knees. "Please, no."
Finn said, barely conscious, "I would rather fight a dragon..."
Darius turned as he headed inside.
"Oh, and one more thing" he said.
He smiled evilly. "Tomorrow's test is... going to be worse."
Silence dropped like a stone.
The students exchanged horrified glances. Even Leon went cold.
What could possibly be worse than this?