Chapter 23: End of second trial

One moment he wasn't there, the next he stood before them, blocking their path.

Gasps erupted across the courtyard.

"What the hell, how did he…?!"

"I didn't even see him move!"

"Impossible, he was all the way back there—"

Riven froze, his eyes widening at the sudden presence. 'Fast. Too fast. Not even my eyes tracked it.'

Behind him and Kevan, Leo's gaze narrowed at Corrin.

'The phantom steps!'

Corrin's expression was cold as addressed them both. "Get back in line."

The two froze under his stare. Reluctantly, they obeyed.

Leyra's form shimmered faintly as she lifted Lynn's limp body, carrying her from the field.

Borah's voice carried again.

"Next… Ceyric."

Ceyric strutted forward with his usual arrogance, smirking back at the others.

"Watch and learn losers," he said confidently, cracking his knuckles before stepping forward.

Leo didn't even glance his way. His eyes were half-lidded and he let out a quiet sigh shoving his hands deeper into his pockets.

'How long will it take for brick-face to kiss the floor? I'm starting to get bored.'

Riven and Kevan exchanged a brief glance, both waiting to see how long Ceyric could last.

The moment Ceyric took his first step, Borah's aura slammed into him like a wall of iron. His shoulders stiffened and his steps turned heavy. Still, his grin remained plastered across his face. It was more a mask than a sign of ease. He forced his way forward, step after step, his movements jerky, his pride refusing to let him falter.

By the eighth step, his legs buckled slightly. Darius, watching from the side, frowned but said nothing.

"Damn it…" Ceyric hissed through clenched teeth. His legs felt like they were being crushed in an invisible vice, like something was gripping his bones and grinding them together. Still, he pushed on, roaring through the pain.

On the ninth step, his breathing was ragged, his arms trembling violently. With one last stubborn burst, he forced his way to the tenth. His knees hit the ground hard, his chest heaving.

"Ten feet," Borah rumbled without even opening his eyes.

Corrin's voice followed, calm and smooth. "That's quite impressive… and he didn't fully lose himself under Borah's intent."

"Tch…" Ceyric spat on the ground, forcing a cocky grin as he staggered back… though the fear in his eyes betrayed him.

---

Kevan rolled his shoulders, exhaling shakily. "Alright, here we go."

Riven gave him a sidelong glance. "Don't worry. You've got this."

Kevan laughed faintly. "I'll try not to embarrass myself, then."

He stepped forward, the pressure clamping down on him like a crushing weight. Unlike Ceyric, his movements were steadier, his breathing measured. Sweat gathered along his brow, rolling down his face as he passed the sixth step.

"Six… seven…" Riven muttered under his breath, counting.

The crowd murmured as Kevan's pace slowed, his legs trembling. By the tenth step, his vision blurred, Borah's intent pressing down on him like a boulder. His teeth ground together—then he bit the inside of his tongue so hard blood filled his mouth. He roared through the metallic taste, forcing his body to obey. His foot slammed down.

Then he collapsed to his knees, chest heaving, but smiling faintly through the exhaustion.

"Eleven feet," Borah declared. For the first time, his lips curved into a small chuckle. "Good. Very good."

The crowd erupted.

"Kevan did better than Ceyric?"

"No way! That's insane!"

Ceyric scowled, folding his arms. "Hmph. Beginner's luck."

Corrin's smile widened faintly. "A student capable of lasting that long under Borah's aura… interesting."

Leyra chuckled in agreement. "Quite the surprise."

Arven only nodded, his eyes already on the next contender.

---

Leo strode forward, hands still in his pockets, a grin tugging at his lips. The moment Borah's aura pressed down on him, his body stiffened slightly, but instead of strain, a chuckle slipped past his teeth.

"So this is it, huh? Not bad."

He moved step by step.

By the ninth step, whispers spread through the crowd.

"He's not even slowing down…"

"Is he even feeling it?"

Leo's grin stretched wider as the pressure deepened. His breathing grew heavier, his legs trembling faintly as he pushed onto the eleventh step. Then he froze, body locked in place, unmoving.

"What's happening?"

"Did he get stuck?"

But Leo's sharp eyes burned with focus. Slowly, with a low growl, his muscles quivered and bulged, his hair spiking as if the weight itself was reshaping him. His teeth clenched as an animalistic growl rumbled from deep in his throat.

With one final, violent push, he roared and slammed his foot forward onto the thirteenth step.

The courtyard erupted.

"Thirteen feet!"

"Unbelievable!"

Leyra smirked knowingly. "As expected of Veylin's prodigy."

Corrin crossed his arms, nodding once in agreement. Even Borah's eyes opened again with faint astonishment gleaming within.

---

Finally, Riven stepped forward.

The courtyard buzzed with whispers.

"The defect's really going up?"

"There's no way he makes it past five steps."

"He's lucky he's still here."

Riven ignored them all, his eyes fixed straight ahead. 'Here we go.'

The moment he stepped forward, he felt the weight of Borah's aura slammed into him. His body tensed as he absorbed the feel.

Second. Third. Fourth. His pace was steady, breaths even.

'Strange… this feels almost like that aberrant. That threat of death… makes this seem too easy.'

By the eighth step, his vision blurred a bit. His ears rang with the roar of his own blood. He stopped suddenly, turning his head slightly in confusion. His gaze met Darius, whose face twisted with fury.

"You mocking me, defect? Standing there like it's nothing?" Darius spat, fists clenched.

The instructors frowned at Riven's pause.

Leyra tilted her head. "Is that it?"

Inside Riven's chest however, his lumen surged in rhythm with his heartbeat.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

'What the hell is happening?'

He winced, then forced himself onward. Ninth. Tenth. His body screamed in protest, an itchy burn crawling across his spine. He cursed under his breath and tried channeling lumen, but nothing happened until his sclera flickered black for an instant. A faint pale-green shimmer ghosted over his body before vanishing.

Arven's eyes narrowed. 'What was that?'

Leyra's lips curled in a smile. She whispered, "Is that…?"

Corrin's gaze sharpened like a blade.

---

Step by step, Riven pressed on. Eleventh. Twelfth. His breath was a growl, sweat dripping from his chin. The aura now bore down like a massive deviant, daring him to continue. On his back, the black spine-shaped tattoo flickered in and out, aligning with his real spine.

A surge of energy burst through him.

Thirteenth.

Leo grinned, impressed. "Magnificent—" His smirk then faltered, eyes widening when he saw what happened next. "No way."

Riven's body shook violently as he dragged himself to the fifteenth step. His thoughts blazed like fire.

'I will not fail. I will not return to being nothing. I WILL WIN—'

With a final roar, he slammed his foot down, reached forward, and grasped the pole.

The courtyard fell silent.

Beneath his shirt, the black spine tattoo flared to life, glowing along his back with eerie brilliance. His heartbeat thundered like war drums, each pulse sending a ripple of energy outward. For one fleeting second, his aura burst forth as pale green flames shimmering around him before vanishing.

The shockwave staggered the crowd.

"What, what the hell was that!?"

"Did his aura… just flare!?"

Arven's eyes hardened. 'That wasn't normal.'

Leyra chuckled softly, amused. "Interesting…"

Corrin said nothing, but his clenched jaw betrayed his intrigue.

Riven's sclera flickered back to normal as he released the pole. Panting heavily, his body gave out and he collapsed into unconsciousness.