The second trial had finally come to a close. Out of the 200 young candidates who had stepped into the arena of growth and danger, only 125 had passed. Those who had failed were gently escorted away, their journeys as bond masters not over, but merely diverted. They were sent to join other academies across the land, each one determined to continue their path and make their own name as future bond masters.
Soon after, a colossal magical bond screen shimmered to life above the central plaza of the trial zone. The radiant glyphs twisted and spun before settling into a clear display. It listed all the names of the children who had successfully passed the second trial. Beside that list was another, glowing faintly red—a somber reminder of those who had succeeded but were currently injured. One name stood out among them: Gu Na'er.
Far from the plaza, watching the bond screen anxiously were Lan Xin and Lan Hua. When they saw the names of Zhen and Na'er, both erupted in joyful cheers. But their joy was short-lived. Upon noticing Na'er's name under the "Injured" category, their smiles faded. Concern shadowed their faces.
Meanwhile, within one of the infirmary rooms near the examination grounds, soft candlelight flickered against the walls. The room was quiet, filled with the sound of shallow breathing and the soft rustle of blankets. Those who had been injured during the trial lay resting on clean, white beds.
Gu Na'er lay unconscious, her usually vibrant face now pale, her breaths shallow but steady. Beside her sat Lan Zhen, his tiny fingers wrapped around hers. He sat motionless, his eyes fixed on her face, tears streaming down his cheeks as his shoulders trembled.
"Na'er... please wake up," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Please… don't leave me. I need you."
The silence was broken as the door opened. Lei Wei, Bing Queer, and Shi Feng stepped in. Their faces were solemn as they approached Zhen. Shi Feng and Lei Wei gently rested their hands on his shoulders, offering quiet comfort.
"She'll be okay," Shi Feng said, his tone soft and steady.
"You did everything you could," Lei Wei added reassuringly.
Bing Queer stood a few steps away, her eyes misty with guilt. She was visibly shaken, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"I… I think she got hurt because of me," she said, her voice trembling. "She jumped in to protect me from the Devouring Dragon. I didn't do enough. Even though I come from a noble clan, I've always been alone… I didn't know how to open up to others. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."
Just then, the door creaked open once more. Long Yi, in her flowing robes, stepped inside. Her calm yet powerful presence filled the room. The children fell silent, eyes turning toward her.
"Don't worry," she said, her voice warm and assuring. "A healing bond master will be here shortly. She will tend to Na'er and the others."
The tension in the room began to ease. Relief washed over the faces of Zhen, Lei Wei, Shi Feng, and even Bing Queer.
Long Yi's gaze softened as it fell upon Zhen. He still hadn't let go of Na'er's hand.
"You truly care about her," she said.
Zhen didn't look up. "More than my life," he murmured.
Long Yi chuckled. "Such bold words from a seven-year-old boy. You'll grow into someone interesting."
Just then, a woman entered the room. She wore pale robes that shimmered faintly with golden threads, her presence calm and radiant. She walked straight to Long Yi and bowed with deep respect.
"Greetings, Holy lord Demon Dragon," she said.
The children gasped. A Holy Lord? And not only that—her bond was a Demon Dragon?
Long Yi nodded. "You may begin, Luo Na."
Luo Na smiled gently. A blinding yet soothing light aura radiated from her body. The air around her shimmered with holy energy, making the children tremble slightly.
"What a powerful light aura…" Lei Wei murmured in awe.
Long Yi turned toward them. "Luo Na is a Rank 68 Holy Spirit. Her bond is the Light Swan."
Bing Queer's eyes widened. "Light Swan? That's one of the highest-ranked healing bond beasts!"
"Yes," Long Yi confirmed. "So do not worry. Na'er and the others will be fully healed soon. Instead, you should prepare yourselves for the third and final trial. It's far more dangerous than the last two."
Her eyes glinted as a reddish-dark aura flickered briefly around her form. Then, without another word, she vanished into thin air.
The children stood in stunned silence.
"Guess that's what a Holy Lord can do," Lei Wei whispered, half in fear, half in awe.
Zhen remained seated, gripping Na'er's hand tightly. Long Yi's words echoed in his mind. The third and final trial… What would it be?
Meanwhile, Luo Na had begun her work. The light around her grew stronger, wrapping Na'er in a healing cocoon. As time passed, Na'er's breathing stabilized, her color returning.
Then, her lips moved faintly. "Zhen…"
Luo Na turned, watching her with a smile. "You care for him deeply, don't you?" she said quietly.
A few more minutes passed. Luo Na stepped outside and addressed the group. "She's awake. You can go in now."
Zhen rushed in, with Lei Wei, Shi Feng, and Bing Queer close behind.
Na'er lay there, eyes open and glowing faintly with warmth. She looked at them and smiled. "Zhen…"
Zhen dashed to her bedside, kneeling and gripping her hand. "You're okay? You're not in pain, right?"
Na'er nodded. "I'm okay now. Thank you, Zhen."
Lei Wei glanced toward Bing Queer and gave her a small nudge. "Na'er, Queer has something she wants to say."
Na'er looked over, her expression calm and patient.
Bing Queer stepped forward, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Na'er, I'm really sorry. You were hurt because of me. I didn't know how to be a good friend. I was scared… and I froze. But you protected me. I feel so ashamed… I'm truly sorry."
Na'er slowly got up from the bed. She walked to Bing Queer and wrapped her arms around her in a warm embrace.
"Silly girl," she said softly. "Why are you so worried? I protected you because I already thought of you as my best friend. And friends protect each other, don't they?"
Bing Queer broke down in her arms, hugging her back tightly. "Yes! Friends stay together and protect each other! Thank you, Na'er… and thank you, everyone!"
Zhen, Lei Wei, and Shi Feng smiled warmly at the scene. In that moment, their bond as a team solidified even further. They weren't just teammates anymore. They were family.
Hours later, the infirmary was empty. All the injured children had fully recovered thanks to Luo Na's healing magic. The 125 candidates who remained now stood together outside, eyes wide with anticipation.
The atmosphere was charged with excitement and tension. They were ready.
The third and final trial was about to begin.
And none of them had any idea what awaited them in the coming hours.