Stepping through the portal felt nothing like before. Static electricity rippled across my body, tiny needles of energy pricking exposed skin. My armor absorbed most of it, but my face burned—uncomfortable rather than painful.

  Then came the drop. My stomach lurched into weightlessness, like the first plunge on a roller coaster. I missed a step in the dark, my balance wavering.

  The transition ended abruptly. Solid ground materialized beneath me as my surroundings transformed between blinks.

  A white stone pavilion stretched around us, cool air washing over my face. Thick columns ringed the space, supporting a soaring domed ceiling. At its center, water poured from above into a circular pool, its echoing splash a meditative rhythm that helped ground me.

  Ahead, Diana stood smacking Chas repeatedly with a sheathed rapier like he was a misbehaving dog, the thin scabbard making satisfying thwaps as it connected.

  Red shook himself violently beside me, quivering as if throwing off the portal's effects. I dropped to check him over, and he launched a full-scale tongue assault that left me wondering how many licks one dog could deliver per second.

  "Ugh, c'mon, dude!" I tried wiping away the slobber, but my gloves only smeared it worse. I pulled a spare linen shirt from my earring for cleanup.

  As we neared the pavilion's center, Diana and Chas's argument became clear.

  "I said I'm sorry, Dina! Damn!" Chas blocked another strike.

  "I've been sitting here for an hour," Diana jabbed the weapon toward him. "You don't think that's going to raise questions? You're the most stubborn person in the Multiverse—just ask for fucking directions!"

  Cass stood at the pavilion's edge, leaning over the thick stone railing. I followed her gaze and my jaw dropped.

  A vast valley stretched below, filled with sprawling structures nestled among dense forests. A massive stone staircase wound downward, splitting between buildings before vanishing into the distance.

  "No wonder we needed our armor," Cass said. "We're in the Trial Grounds. This is where the Exams happen. How is this even possible?"

  "I connected the Lobby realm to Sylvarus's Trial realm," Diana said, her tone almost bored. "And it'll stay that way all week. While it's used as a test now, it was originally a training ground for Seals—before all the gods-damned politics got in the way."

  "Our very own training course?"

  "Oh no, that would never fly," Diana smirked. "You missed the explanation when the others arrived. You'll be sharing with them, whether you like it or not. Dara will oversee everything to ensure civility. Competition is healthy, but any fighting will have you out on your asses. And you won't be permitted to enter again."

  Her pointed look landed on Cass, who pursed her lips but stayed silent.

  "Who's Dara?" I raised my hand like I was back in school.

  "Gary, but for Sylvarus," Chas answered.

  I frowned. "Which Gary?"

  "They're all Gary," said a melodic voice, calm and too familiar.

  I turned toward the central pool, where a woman sat at its edge, trailing fingers through the water. She looked like she'd stepped from a fairy tale—long pointed ears, flowing blue hair, and a white linen dress that draped over her like liquid.

  "He's always been mischievous," Dara said, her voice carrying Gary’s same playful, knowing undertone that mocked and welcomed all at once. "I prefer being direct."

  Diana groaned. "Dara, darling, what have I said about sneaking up on me?"

  Dara tilted her head, expression innocent. "I believe your words were: 'Stop fucking appearing out of nowhere, you gods-forsaken, sleazy, no-good—'"

  "Yes, yes," Diana cut her off, rubbing her temples. "So if you remember, why keep doing it?"

  Dara rose in a single, fluid motion, smoothing her dress. "That's easy. Because it's fun."

  Diana's exasperated groan suggested this was a well-worn exchange. Meanwhile, recognition clicked in my mind.

  "You're the voice from the reading table," I said, pointing at her. "I'd bet anything on it."

  Dara's smile widened. "Very perceptive. I look forward to seeing how you perform in my Trials." She dipped into an effortless curtsy, movements flowing like water.

  "There will be only one initiate allowed in each structure at a time," she continued, slipping into a measured tone. "There is no time limit; however, if you are injured or fail to make progress within a reasonable timeframe, I will stop the trial to make way for others. Once a trial is complete—or if you wish to exit—you may do so by infusing the panel next to each door with mana. Do you have any questions so far?"

  I raised my hand. "What are the trials?"

  "There are five," Dara replied. "Each focuses on a particular aspect of the skills required to begin the path of Runebinding. They are Power, Versatility, Grace, Perception, and Spirit. Each trial will differ for each initiate. I will explain more when you enter them."

  I nodded, filing that away. "What about Red?" I glanced at the dog beside me.

  For the first time, Dara's composed expression broke into genuine delight.

  "Oh!" She dropped into a crouch as Red bounded over, tail whipping hard enough to stir the air. Her fingers found the exact right spot behind his ears, drawing a deep groan of contentment from him. "What a wonderful visitor."

  Red pressed his entire weight against her like he'd found a long-lost friend, happiness radiating off him in waves.

  Dara scratched behind his ears a moment longer before straightening with a sigh, her smile lingering. "But the trials aren't for him. Although..." She tilted her head. "If he wishes to try them, I won't stop him. He just won't be able to join you directly."

  I watched her fluid, practiced movements with Red, something about it nagging at me, but I pushed the thought aside.

  "It's also worth mentioning," Dara continued, smoothing her dress, "that the portals between these realms won't let you through unless you're properly armed and armored for combat. Injuries can—and do—happen. So it is non-negotiable for each trial."

  Beside me, Cass let out a jaw-cracking yawn that seemed to start at her toes. The sight triggered my own, an exhausted full-body yawn that felt like it started somewhere in my soul. My earlier nap—courtesy of Chas's knockout—was barely keeping me upright after the chaos of Maris's arrival.

  "Let's get you two back to the Tower for some rest," Chas said, stepping forward. "It's been a long day. First thing after you wake up, we'll practice. Then Lagniappe will bring you back here for the trials."

  The next morning, Jeremy was relentless. Every step I took, every shift in my stance, he corrected with razor-sharp precision. He forced me to focus on the flow of mana as I moved, something I hadn't fully noticed when Bravery took over.

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  But as I kept at it, I realized what made this different: keeping mana cycling through my body while preparing for an attack reduced the strain considerably.

  He didn't bother teaching me strikes. Instead, he zeroed in on my complete ignorance of mana mechanics—how it moved, how it affected motion, and how much I'd been wasting without realizing it.

  "Stop trying to brute-force it," Jeremy said, swiping at my legs with his staff. "Flow with it. The mana should be doing the work."

  I stumbled back, gritting my teeth. "Easier said than done."

  "Everything is easier said than done." He didn't stop moving, forcing me into another dodge. "You're making mana fight against your own body. You need to let it work with you."

  I exhaled sharply as he guided me through a series of slow, deliberate movements—something like a martial version of Tai Chi. Each motion aligned with the natural flow of mana, like my body was moving on pure mana rather than muscle.

  The sensation was bizarre. My muscles stayed relaxed, yet I moved with a fluidity I'd never experienced before.

  "You're thinking too much," Jeremy chided as I hesitated mid-step. "Stop analyzing every movement. Stop thinking about moving and move."

  After what felt like hours, the strain on my body began to ease, replaced by a strange sense of synchronization. Moving like this wasn't just efficient—it felt... right. Like I'd stumbled onto something fundamental.

  Eventually, several Hunters arrived for their normal classes. Jeremy gave them a quick nod before turning to me.

  "That's enough for today," he said, waving me off. "Go on. You have things to do."

  I blinked, momentarily unsure if I was actually dismissed, but his expression left no room for debate. Shrugging, I turned and retraced the path Chas had taken me earlier.

  Red trotted out from the trees, carrying a stick in his mouth. He'd vanished when training started, and I had no idea what adventures he'd found.

  The river came into view as we walked, sunlight dancing across its surface. Lagniappe floated on his back, surrounded by several smaller otters, all munching on some kind of yellow fruit. Their contented sounds carried across the water.

  "You're early, Cher," Lagniappe said, not even looking up. "Figured Jeremy'd keep you longer."

  I sighed, watching one of the smaller otters wrestle a fruit away from another. "I think he got bored of me."

  Lagniappe let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. "More like he's makin' sure you practice on your own. Ain't no quick way to learn what he's teachin'."

  Another exasperated sigh escaped me. He wasn't wrong.

  "Cass here yet?" I asked, scanning the area.

  Lagniappe shook his head, flashing a toothy grin. "No sir, but I can take you to the portal's location. Couple folks already went through while you were trainin'."

  The walk took longer than expected, the portal seemingly much farther downriver than before. Finally, a subtle break in the dense tree line came into view.

  "That it there?" I asked, pointing.

  "Good eye, Cher," he replied, grinning. "Now remember—you gotta suit up."

  Groaning, I pulled my armor from my earring, grimacing at the tight fit. Either the armor was shrinking, or I was gaining weight—it felt tighter than yesterday.

  "It's only day one, eh?" Lagniappe said, voice light but pointed. "Don't overdo it."

  "Thanks, Lagniappe," I muttered, adjusting my gear. "I'll see you soon."

  He slipped back into the river, vanishing beneath the water with his usual, effortless grace.

  Red trotted up beside me, tongue lolling out and eyes fixed on me with that unmistakable look—food.

  "Come here," I sighed, pulling out another bread ration. "I swear you eat more than I do."

  Red inhaled an entire loaf of sourdough like it was nothing, tail wagging furiously.

  "Where do you put it all?" I muttered, patting his side before turning toward the portal. "Ready?"

  He shot me a look that screamed not really, but we stepped through anyway.

  The pavilion thrummed with activity, nearly a dozen people moving about, their conversations mixing with the gentle rush of water. As Red and I gathered ourselves after the portal's strange sensations, a familiar scoff cut through the noise.

  "Oh good, the human is here. I don't get why they haven't just thrown you off our world already."

  I turned toward the voice, already resigned. "Dorian Graves." I said, trying to sound elated to see him.

  He stood with two others—Malcolm and someone else I couldn't quite place. I blinked, my gaze snapping back to Malcolm.

  "Malcolm... Valerian?" I asked, the name coming out as more of a question.

  He nodded with a polite, almost amused smile.

  "And I don't think we've met," I added, offering my hand to the third man. He didn't take it.

  "Darryl Summers," he said flatly, arms crossing over his chest.

  "Good! Darryl, nice to finally meet you. Any relation to Katie Summers?" I shot a glance at Dorian. "Bit rude of you not to introduce us last time, but I'm sure he's forgiven you for it."

  Darryl's brows furrowed slightly, but he nodded. "She's my cousin."

  Dorian scoffed again, his irritation practically radiating off him. "We won't need to know you in a week when you're off our world."

  I sighed, keeping my voice light. "I'm really not sure what I've done to wrong you, Dorian. I thought we were square."

  "He did pay for a query in the reading room as an apology," Malcolm cut in, his friendly tone cutting through the tension.

  "One single red mana coin means nothing," Dorian snapped. "We had been waiting for hours for a room, and he just traipses in and takes one."

  I raised my hands in surrender, choosing the high road. "Okay, I get it. I apologize."

  Dorian stalked off, the other two following behind. Malcolm hesitated, glancing back at Red.

  "Is that your familiar?" he asked, curiosity lighting up his expression. "The one that ruined Jenny's dagger?"

  I nodded, reaching down to scratch Red's ears. "That's him. Name's Red."

  Malcolm took a step closer, studying him with open interest. "He's nothing like anything I've seen before."

  Red tilted his head, tail wagging tentatively, as if debating whether to be friendly.

  "Yeah," I said, patting his side. "Turns out he's one of a kind."

  Malcolm's grin widened slightly. "She's pissed about it. That thing was worth a fortune." He chuckled. "I've heard of things that can mess with Spirit Steel, but I've never seen it. How'd he do it?"

  I shrugged. "No idea. He just... barked at it."

  "That's it?" Malcolm laughed outright, shaking his head. "No wonder she's so mad. Best of luck with the training."

  As he walked away, I muttered to Red, "Turns out Malcolm doesn't suck."

  I started to make my way to the railing when Dara's voice rang out, cutting through the chatter.

  "The pool in the pavilion contains glass beads. Pull one out to determine your first trial and the order in which you'll be allowed to attempt it."

  I spun, moving toward the pavilion's central pool, watching as others reached into the water, pulling out small glass beads. Their groans told me they weren't thrilled with their draws.

  Shrugging, I dipped my hand in, fingers closing around something smooth. I pulled it out and examined it, red letters floating inside the glass: First Position - Power.

  I spotted Malcolm heading toward the large staircase leading into the valley. Grinning, I caught up to him, Red padding along at my side.

  "What'd you get?" I asked.

  "Grace. And you?"

  "Power."

  Malcolm winced. "Ouch. Not many pass that one on the first try, let alone use it to train. But hey, if you could knock Jenny down..."

  Dara's voice rang out, cutting through the chatter.

  "Approach the structures. They will open to the bead of the matching color. Should you have any questions, you may ask once inside. These training rooms will differ for each person within them. It is up to you to determine what you will gain from them."

  Malcolm squared his shoulders and sighed. "Of course they're different... Tower spirits never like to keep things simple."

  "Are they that common?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "More than most think. There are several spirit-based towers in the world, but only two with enough depth to access the Multiverse. Many have spirits like Dara or Gary—and all of them are annoying to a fault."

  I shook my head. "I've only been here a week. That's new to me."

  Malcolm chuckled. "Outworlders are more common through the other Tower in Sunspire. That one's considered the main tower."

  "Well, thanks for the info," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. His slight smile told me he didn't mind.

  "It's common knowledge, but... you're welcome."

  As I walked toward the red-marked door, my marble buzzed with mana. The moment I reached some kind of threshold, the glass disintegrated into dust, flowing into the door's markings. A hiss sounded as the chamber slid open.

  I turned to Red. "Guess I'm solo in here—be out shortly, okay?"

  Red plopped down, ears forward, tongue hanging out, completely unbothered.

  "Alright then. Good talk."

  Dara’s voice surrounded me but was soft. “Do not worry, I will allow him to observe if he’d like.”

  The door slid shut behind me as I stepped in. Ahead, another wall opened, revealing a large circular chamber.

  At the center stood a massive white statue of a man gripping a hammer, his stance powerful and commanding. At his feet lay what looked like an anvil or a solid metal block, another hammer resting across it.

  Dara's voice boomed through the chamber, echoing off the walls.

  "Show your strength to the universe, Ben Crawford. Strike the anvil true."

  I exhaled, rolling my shoulders as I stepped toward the block. The hammer gleamed in the chamber's strange light, looking very similar to the sledgehammer I'd used on the Carapax—only heavier. Much heavier.

  With a sigh, I gripped the handle, hoisting it up with both hands. The weight was immense, but mana flowed through me, reinforcing my arms.

  "Alright, universe," I muttered. "Here we go."

  I raised the hammer high and swung down like I was going for the top prize at a carnival.

  The hammer struck the block with a deafening metallic clang, a pulse of red energy rippling outward from the impact. The whole room shuddered as the air seemed to thicken.

  A low, grinding sound rumbled through the chamber, like stone shifting against stone.

  I stepped back, pulse quickening as I looked up at the statue.

  The massive figure moved.

  It straightened to its full height, gripping its own hammer with a slow, deliberate motion—like I'd just pissed it off.

  A cold wave of realization settled over me as its glowing eyes locked onto mine.

  "Oh fuck," I whispered. "I should've brought some healing potions."