Michael stepped through the portal. The air on the other side felt thick, almost sticky, like walking into a room full of unspoken words, and words that would never be uttered.
He blinked, expecting the roar of the crowd or the clash of other Adventurers warming up. But there was nothing. No cheers filtering through the barriers. No opponents are sizing him up from across the arena. Just silence, heavy and complete.
He looked around. The space wasn't what he'd imagined for the Envy trial. No open field scarred with craters from past battles. No river or forest to twist into weapons. Instead, it was a single room, not too big, maybe the size of a small gym.
The walls, floor, and ceiling were all mirrors, smooth, flawless panes that caught every bit of light and threw it back at him. His boots echoed softly as he took a step forward, the sound bouncing off the glass like a whisper that wouldn't quit.
