The next morning, Raizen arrived at the Central Academy earlier than usual.
The sun had barely risen above Valthera, and the academy was almost completely empty.
He stood alone in the training courtyard, his eyes fixed on the ground.
He raised his hand.
A small shadow appeared beneath his fingers.
He concentrated.
Nothing happened.
The shadow disappeared.
Raizen clenched his fist.
Again.
The shadow returned, spreading slowly across the ground.
He watched it carefully.
— Move.
Nothing.
His breathing grew heavier.
— Move!
Suddenly, the shadow shot forward.
Raizen stepped back in surprise.
It stopped several meters away, motionless.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he smiled — a small smile, almost impossible to notice.
He had finally managed to make the shadow move through his own will.
— I’m getting closer.
But the smile disappeared almost immediately.
— Not enough.
Raizen looked toward the academy and remembered why he had come here.
He hadn’t come to make friends.
He hadn’t come to live an ordinary life.
He had come for one reason: to become stronger.
No matter how long it took.
No matter how difficult it became.
He would become strong enough to never be powerless again.
A voice came from behind him.
“You’re here early.” Raizen turned around.
Kaira stood at the entrance of the courtyard, her axe resting over one shoulder.
Zayden walked beside her.
“You didn’t sleep much, did you?” Zayden asked.
Raizen looked away.
“I slept enough.” Kaira laughed.
“That’s a lie.” “Why?” “Because you have the face of someone who spent the entire night thinking.” Raizen said nothing.
“She’s right,” Zayden said, smiling.
He sighed.
“My power is still out of control.” Kaira’s expression turned serious.
“Then we’ll help you control it.” “You don’t have to.” “I know.” She stepped closer.
“I said we would.” Raizen didn’t answer.
For a brief moment, he remembered the night before — his parents, the cave, the silence, the feeling of being completely alone.
Then he looked at Kaira and Zayden.
They were still there.
He lowered his eyes.
“Thank you.” Kaira smiled.
“You’re welcome.” The Announcement The academy’s bell rang, and students began filling the courtyard.
A professor walked toward the center, his expression serious.
“Everyone, listen carefully.” The conversations stopped at once.
“Today, you will participate in your first official trial.” Excitement rippled through the crowd.
“A trial?” “Already?” “What kind?” The professor raised his hand, and a magical map appeared above him — a vast forest surrounded by mountains, projected in shimmering light.
“The Trial of the Forgotten Forest.” The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Some students grew visibly nervous.
“You will enter the forest in groups,” the professor continued, pointing toward the map.
Several glowing symbols appeared across it.
“Your objective is simple.
Reach the center of the forest and retrieve one of these magical emblems.” A student raised his hand.
“Professor, are there monsters inside?” “Yes.” The professor let the word settle before continuing.
“But this is not a real battle.
The academy’s protective magic will prevent serious injuries.” Raizen’s eyes narrowed.
This wasn’t simply another lesson.
It was an opportunity — a chance to test himself.
“You will also be evaluated on your ability to cooperate.” Raizen looked away immediately.
Kaira noticed.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to do it alone.” “I am.” She sighed.
“Of course you are.” Zayden smiled.
“We should probably follow him before he disappears.” The Forest Several hours later, Raizen, Kaira, and Zayden stood at the entrance to the Forgotten Forest.
The trees were enormous, their branches swallowing most of the sunlight, and a strange mist clung to the ground.
Raizen looked ahead.
Something felt wrong.
The forest was too quiet.
Kaira tightened her grip on her axe.
“I don’t like this place.” “Me neither,” Zayden said, resting his hand on his sword.
“Then stay close,” Raizen said, stepping forward.
“Was that an order?” “A suggestion.” “You’re terrible at making suggestions.” Raizen ignored her, and they entered the forest.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
Then— Crack.
A branch broke behind them.
Raizen stopped.
Kaira raised her axe.
Zayden drew his sword.
Silence.
Nothing.
Raizen closed his eyes and listened.
A second sound came from the left.
Then another.
Then another.
They were surrounded.
“Three—” Kaira started.
Raizen opened his eyes.
“No.
Five.” She smiled.
“Finally.” Five magical creatures emerged from the mist, their bodies covered in dark scales.
The first one attacked, and Kaira stepped forward to meet it.
BOOM!
Her axe struck the ground.
The impact sent the creature flying backward.
Zayden moved in the same instant, his sword flashing.
A dark, crackling energy wrapped around the blade, forcing two creatures back.
Raizen stood still.
One creature charged directly toward him.
He raised his hand, and a shadow appeared beneath it, stopping it cold.
He pulled his hand back, and the creature was thrown aside.
He stared at his own hand.
His shadow had responded faster than before.
Kaira noticed.
“You’re getting better.” Raizen didn’t answer.
Another creature attacked — and this time, the shadow moved before he even gave it an order.
It blocked the attack on its own.
His eyes widened.
It was protecting him.
He didn’t understand it, but deep inside he felt something strange.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Something else.
A connection.
“You…” The shadow slowly circled his feet.
“What are you?” he whispered.
The creature attacked again.
Raizen raised his hand, and darkness exploded outward, throwing it backward.
The forest fell silent.
Kaira stared at him.
Zayden went completely still.
Raizen stared at his own shadow.
Something was awakening inside him — something far deeper than ordinary magic.
The First Failure They continued deeper into the forest until they reached a large stone bridge.
On the other side stood the emblem they were looking for.
Kaira smiled.
“There it is.” She started forward.
Raizen grabbed her arm.
“Wait.” “What?” “Something is wrong.” The ground shook.
A massive creature rose from beneath the bridge, far larger than anything they had faced before.
The students froze.
“That’s not supposed to be here,” Kaira said, raising her axe.
“You’re right,” Zayden said grimly.
The creature roared, and the sound echoed through the forest.
Raizen stepped forward.
“Stay behind me.” “Raizen—” “I’ll handle it.” He walked toward the creature, his heart pounding.
He knew he wasn’t strong enough.
He knew it.
But he didn’t step back — because this was exactly why he had entered the academy.
To become stronger.
The creature attacked.
Raizen jumped aside as the ground shattered beneath the impact.
He countered with his shadow, but the attack barely slowed the beast, and he was thrown backward, hitting the ground hard.
Pain spread through his body.
“Raizen!” Kaira shouted.
He slowly stood up, his hands shaking.
For the first time since arriving at the academy, he understood something: wanting to become strong wasn’t enough.
He needed to earn that strength.
He wiped the dirt from his face and looked at the creature.
“Again.” The creature charged.
Raizen raised his hand, and his shadow spread across the entire ground.
“Raizen…” Kaira whispered.
“He’s learning,” Zayden said, smiling faintly.
Raizen’s eyes changed.
Darkness rose behind him — and this time, he didn’t lose control.
He controlled it.
The shadow wrapped around the creature.
Raizen pulled his hand downward, and the creature crashed into the ground.
BOOM!
The forest shook.
Raizen stood there, breathing heavily.
He had won.
But instead of celebrating, he looked at his trembling hands.
“I’m still too weak.” Kaira walked toward him.
“You won.” He shook his head.
“Barely.” “That’s why we’re here,” Zayden said, approaching.
Raizen looked at them both.
Kaira smiled.
“We’ll get stronger together.” He remained silent.
Then, for the first time, he nodded.
“Together.” Far from the students, someone was watching from the shadows between the trees.
They had witnessed everything — especially Raizen.
“So the darkness has finally begun to awaken,” the figure whispered.
A brief pause.
“Interesting.” Then they vanished into the mist.
Meanwhile, Raizen looked toward the deepest part of the forest.
He didn’t know why, but he could feel it: something was waiting for him.
Something far more dangerous than the trial.
And somewhere beyond the forest, his true journey had already begun.
To be continued…