The sun peeked over the hills of South Crest as Vishwa tightened the strap on his travel pack. His eyes scanned the horizon where thick fog curled lazily around the mountain path ahead. The Sect Trials were calling—and this time, it wasn't just a game. This was the real thing.
Behind him, Joseph stumbled out of the house, yawning loudly, his fiery-red scarf trailing behind him like a cape.
"You're already up?" Joseph blinked. "It's not even breakfast time yet, you weirdo."
Vishwa smirked. "I like watching the fog. Helps me focus."
"Right," Joseph muttered, rubbing his eyes. "I focus better with dumplings."
Hitami skipped toward them, her twin braids bouncing with each step. "You two better come back with big grins! No getting eaten by monsters or falling off cliffs!"
Joseph puffed out his chest. "We'll be fine. Especially with me there."
Vishwa raised an eyebrow. "Confidence won't block punches, y'know."
"Dark boy, please."
They both laughed.
Hitami tilted her head. "Do you think they'll let ten-year-olds join in a few years?"
"Only the cool ones," Joseph said.
"I am cool!"
"We know," Vishwa said, patting her head.
The Sect Trial was being hosted in Verdant Fang Valley, a region filled with ancient trees, jagged rock spires, and untamed elemental energy. It was a natural testing ground, and the three top guilds had each sent their elders to observe the participants.
But everyone knew the one that mattered most: The Crescent Fang Guild—the strongest guild in the entire region. The one everyone wanted to join.
And the one Vishwa and Joseph had secretly dreamed about since they were kids.
By noon, dozens of trial participants had gathered at the starting plateau overlooking the valley basin. Young warriors from every village in the south stood in groups—some dressed in elegant robes, others in lightweight armor. But all of them held one thing in common: their elemental cores shimmered faintly beneath their skin.
The trial moderator, an old woman with sharp eyes and flowing silver robes, stepped forward and raised her cane.
"Listen up! This year's Sect Trial will be divided into two parts."
The crowd quieted.
"Part one will test your teamwork, your instincts, and your survival. You will be placed in randomized teams of two and dropped into the valley. Your goal is to find the three trial tokens hidden within and return before sunset tomorrow."
She paused.
"However, this year, some tokens are protected by… guardians."
"Wait, guardians?" someone whispered.
Joseph leaned over to Vishwa. "They better not mean bears. I hate bears."
Vishwa looked calm but alert. "They're testing us under pressure. Just stay smart."
The moderator's voice cut through the tension. "If you lose your badge, or your partner is injured and cannot continue, you're disqualified. If you take a life—you're banned forever."
She raised her cane.
"Trial begins now. Teams will be assigned on the transport crystal pads. Good luck."
Joseph and Vishwa stepped onto a shimmering platform, and in a flash of blue light, they were teleported into the heart of Verdant Fang Valley.
The air was damp, the smell of moss thick, and the sound of distant creatures echoed around them.
"Okay," Joseph said, gripping the edge of his vest. "Rule one: don't scream. Rule two: don't punch everything just because it moves."
"Glad you made that rule for yourself," Vishwa deadpanned.
The two started forward. Their bond had grown a lot in the past six months. Training together, surviving the hunting competition, and awakening their powers side by side had made them an odd but effective duo.
"Let's split up and—"
"Nope," Vishwa interrupted. "We stay together. This place is crawling with illusions and ki traps."
"You read the trial pamphlet?"
"Yes."
"…Nerd."
They moved quickly but cautiously through the twisting trees. Vishwa's dark element gave him a natural advantage in the shadows. He could sense disturbances in energy, which helped them avoid a poisonous vine trap early on.
Joseph's fire element helped clear paths by burning away parasitic plants clinging to trial markers. They worked in sync.
By mid-afternoon, they'd found their first token, buried beneath a crumbling statue of an old warrior spirit.
But as they headed toward the second marker, something growled.
A guardian.
From the brush, a massive beast made of twisting roots and stone burst out, its body rippling with wild earth energy.
Joseph whistled. "That's not a bear."
"Stay sharp!" Vishwa shouted, shadows pooling around his arms.
The beast lunged, but Vishwa threw up a wave of shadow mist, cloaking them in a veil. Joseph darted behind and unleashed a burst of fire straight into the beast's back.
It roared, spinning, and caught Joseph with a branch swipe that sent him tumbling.
"JOSEPH!"
"I'm okay! Just… woozy!"
Vishwa's eyes glowed as he stepped forward, shadows trailing from his fingers like smoke. "Hey! Tree-jerk."
The beast charged, and Vishwa stood still—then in a flash, vanished. His shadow blinked to the other side. The beast hesitated, confused.
Then flames exploded from behind.
"Surprise!" Joseph grinned, landing a flaming uppercut.
The beast shrieked and exploded into leaves, dropping a glowing orb—the second token.
They both dropped to the grass, panting.
"That," Joseph said, "was awesome."
Vishwa gave a rare smile. "Agreed."
By the next morning, the boys had secured their final token near the valley's edge after outsmarting a team of ice-element twins who tried to trap them with illusions. Joseph had melted their cover with a few clever fire flares while Vishwa created a double illusion of himself to throw them off.
When they returned to the base camp, all three tokens in hand, the elders watched closely.
"Team Vishwa and Joseph—completed all objectives in record time," the silver-robed elder announced.
Joseph nudged Vishwa. "Bet that's gonna look nice on a guild scroll."
"I just want a bath."
That night, as trial fires burned across the hills, the names of those who passed Part One were called out.
Hitami had waited at the village all day, her hands behind her back, a small wind wisp floating at her shoulder.
She looked up at the messenger hawk flying overhead and beamed.
"They did it."