Volume 1: The Fourth Holy Grail War
Chapter 13: The Final Trial
Winter came once more.
Snow blanketed the sanctuary where Ren and Morgan had spent nearly a decade under Odin’s guidance.
The once-young children who had stumbled through their first rune lessons had become accomplished disciples.
Ren was now almost twelve years old.
Although still young by human standards, his years of relentless training had forged a calm and disciplined demeanor.
His movements were precise, his posture relaxed yet alert, and his eyes carried a quiet confidence that had not existed when he first arrived.
Morgan, several years his senior, had grown into a beautiful young woman.
Her silver hair flowed gracefully behind her, and the composure she carried naturally commanded respect.
Odin watched them both from the porch of his cabin.
“…”
There was little left for him to teach.
At dawn…
The old god summoned them to the clearing.
Neither Ren nor Morgan carried their usual wooden practice weapons.
Instead, Odin stood alone.
His weathered cloak swayed gently in the cold wind.
“The time has come.”
Neither sibling interrupted.
“For years…”
“I have taught you knowledge.”
“I have taught you battle.”
“I have taught you runes.”
“I have taught you the wisdom earned through countless ages.”
He looked from Morgan to Ren.
“Today…”
“I will determine whether those lessons have become your own.”
With a simple wave of his hand—
The entire forest changed.
The clearing vanished.
The siblings suddenly found themselves standing upon an endless plain beneath a grey sky.
The mountains surrounding Odin’s sanctuary had disappeared.
Instead…
Ancient stone ruins stretched endlessly toward the horizon.
Morgan instinctively raised her guard.
“An illusion?”
Ren slowly knelt.
His fingers brushed against the cracked earth.
“…No.”
“It feels real.”
Odin’s voice echoed throughout the world.
“It is real enough.”
“This battlefield exists between reality and illusion.”
“Everything that happens here…”
“…will reflect your true abilities.”
The first enemies appeared.
Dozens of stone warriors emerged from the ruins.
Each carried ancient weapons engraved with Primordial Runes.
Morgan immediately completed her first spell.
Runes spread across the battlefield.
Walls of shimmering light rose before the advancing army.
Ren didn’t remain still.
His spear moved.
Like flowing water.
One thrust.
One enemy fell.
A turn of the shaft.
Another opponent was thrown backward.
His movements contained no unnecessary effort.
Everything flowed naturally.
Exactly as Odin had taught.
More enemies appeared.
Hundreds.
Then thousands.
Morgan’s magic illuminated the sky.
Lightning.
Wind.
Ice.
Protective barriers.
Every spell flowed seamlessly into the next.
Ren stood at the center.
His spear became the anchor around which Morgan’s magecraft revolved.
Without speaking…
The siblings moved as one.
Years of training had erased the need for words.
Morgan understood where Ren would move.
Ren knew exactly when Morgan’s spells would arrive.
They trusted each other completely.
Far away…
Odin silently observed.
“…Excellent.”
Neither of them sought individual glory.
Each naturally compensated for the other’s weaknesses.
That…
Was true partnership.
The battlefield suddenly trembled.
The stone army stopped moving.
A deafening roar echoed across the endless plain.
The ruins collapsed.
The earth split apart.
Something enormous slowly climbed from beneath the ground.
A giant.
Its body resembled black stone, covered in countless glowing runes.
Its height rivaled the surrounding cliffs.
Every step shook the battlefield.
Morgan instinctively drew a sharp breath.
“…A Jötunn?”
Odin’s voice answered.
“A fragment.”
“The true ones are far stronger.”
“Defeat it.”
The giant raised its fist.
It descended like a falling mountain.
Morgan immediately expanded multiple defensive barriers.
The impact shattered every one of them.
The shockwave threw both siblings backward.
Ren slid across the broken ground before forcing himself upright.
“…It’s strong.”
Morgan nodded.
“Far stronger than anything we’ve faced.”
Ren’s eyes narrowed.
“…Then we don’t overpower it.”
“We outthink it.”
The giant attacked again.
This time Ren didn’t meet it head-on.
Instead—
He carved three Primordial Runes into the air.
Raidho.
Isa.
Hagalaz.
Movement.
Stillness.
Disruption.
The runes merged.
The ground beneath the giant instantly froze before violently fracturing.
The enormous creature stumbled.
“Morgan!”
“I know!”
Dozens of runes appeared around the giant’s body.
Chains of light erupted from every direction.
For only a single second…
The giant stopped moving.
That was enough.
Ren sprinted forward.
His spear gathered every ounce of mana he possessed.
Not brute force.
Precision.
Every lesson Odin had taught him.
Every battle.
Every mistake.
Every correction.
Everything became a single thrust.
The spear pierced the glowing rune at the center of the giant’s chest.
Silence.
Then—
Cracks spread throughout the creature’s body.
Light erupted from within.
The giant shattered into countless fragments of stone.
The illusionary world faded.
The ruined battlefield dissolved into light.
The siblings once again stood within the familiar sanctuary.
Snow quietly drifted from the sky.
For several moments…
No one spoke.
Finally…
Odin walked toward them.
“You passed.”
Morgan smiled with visible relief.
Ren quietly lowered his spear.
“…Thank you.”
Odin shook his head.
“No.”
“I merely opened the door.”
“You were the ones who walked through it.”
The old god looked toward the horizon.
“When I first found you…”
“You were frightened children.”
“Now…”
“You possess the strength to survive this age.”
His remaining eye rested upon Ren.
“But remember this.”
“There will always exist someone stronger.”
“There will always be another mountain beyond the one you’ve climbed.”
“If you ever believe you’ve reached the summit…”
“…that will be the day your growth ends.”
Ren bowed respectfully.
“I’ll remember.”
“So will I,” Morgan added.
That evening…
The three shared one final meal together.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
Almost nostalgic.
Stories of the past replaced lessons.
Laughter replaced training.
For the first time in years…
No one spoke of magic.
No one discussed battle.
They simply enjoyed each other’s company.
As the fire crackled softly within the cabin…
Odin quietly watched his two disciples.
The time had finally come.
Tomorrow…
He would entrust Ren with the weapon that had accompanied him through countless legends.
And after that…
Their paths would separate.
The sanctuary that had been their home for nearly a decade would become only a cherished memory.
Beyond its borders…
Fairy Britain awaited.
Along with the destiny that neither Ren nor Morgan could yet imagine.
End of Chapter 13