The arena was a cathedral of light and silence.
Carved from obsidian and glass, its floor reflected the sky — a perfect mirror that made it feel like we were standing on nothing at all. Around us, hundreds of other applicants formed groups, waiting, whispering, radiating nervous energy.
Above, the proctor floated — an old man with white hair and golden eyes that looked half-asleep but saw everything.His robes shimmered with runes that hummed faintly in time with our heartbeats.
"Welcome to the Entrance Trials," he said, his voice echoing like thunder across a canyon. "The first test is simple. Face your truth. Confront your soul."
A hundred glowing circles bloomed across the arena floor.Our names appeared in runes of light.
When mine appeared — Farein — I felt the air tighten. My pulse quickened.
[System Notice: Trial by Soulfire Initiated.][Warning: Resonance stability low.][Objective: Survive internal manifestation.]
Before I could ask what "internal manifestation" meant, the circle beneath me ignited.
Fire erupted around my feet — blue, translucent, and soundless. It didn't burn my body… it burned something deeper.
The world melted away.
Suddenly, I was standing in a void of black glass and shattered stars.A reflection stared back at me — my own face, twisted, mocking, eyes glowing crimson.
"So," it said, grinning, "you think you can start over?"
Its voice was my voice — deeper, heavier, crawling with venom."You failed once. You'll fail again. You'll get strong just to protect people who don't care. You'll love, and they'll leave. That's your cycle."
I clenched my fists. "You're not real."
"Oh, I'm real enough. I'm every doubt you've buried. Every time you pretended not to care. Every time you said you didn't need anyone."
The fire surged higher. My reflection stepped forward, dragging a burning chain behind it.When it swung, the air cracked open like glass.
Instinct kicked in — I dodged, barely, but the chain grazed my shoulder. The pain was raw, electric — not physical, but emotional.Every buried guilt, every loss, hit me like a flood.
[Emotional Overload: 74%.][System Stabilization Required.]
"I can't—" I gasped, falling to my knees. "I can't handle this—"
[Resonance Pulse Detected: Luna Vael — nearby presence linked.][Synchronizing emotional frequency.]
Somewhere outside the void, I felt her — Luna — calm, steady, focused.Her emotion reached me like a lifeline, cutting through the storm.
Her voice echoed faintly in my mind: "Breathe. Feel it, don't fight it."
And I did.
I didn't resist the fire — I let it in.The pain, the fear, the regret — all of it flowed through me instead of breaking me.The flames turned from blue to silver, and the reflection staggered back, cracks forming across its body.
[Resonance Achieved: Luna Vael — 48% Synchronization.][New Skill Acquired: Soulflare — Convert emotional pain into power.]
I rose to my feet, silver fire swirling around my hands.
"You're right," I told the reflection quietly. "I'll fail. I'll fall. But I'll keep moving anyway."
The mirror version screamed as it shattered — the pieces turning into a storm of light that rushed into my chest.
The void collapsed.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the arena — kneeling, panting, silver fire still flickering in my palms.The crowd was silent.
Above, the proctor watched me with new interest. "Rare," he murmured. "A Resonant Soulflare. Haven't seen that in decades."
Luna stood near the edge of her own circle, her eyes meeting mine.For a second, I thought I saw a hint of warmth behind her usual calm — pride, maybe. Or recognition.
[Trial Completed: Success.][Level Up.][New Quest Unlocked: Explore Resonance Bond (Luna Vael).]
The silver flames faded from my hands, leaving only the faint echo of her calm still pulsing in my chest.
For the first time since arriving in this world…I didn't feel weak.I felt alive.