The day of the Aether Knight trials had finally arrived, and the atmosphere was electric. Mixarnt stood in the middle of the arena, stretching and preparing himself for the challenge ahead. Around him, other participants chatted excitedly, double-checking their supplies and equipment. The audience, both in the colosseum and across the kingdom, watched intently through magical screens that had been set up in various locations. The entire kingdom of Aetherlight was tuned in, eager to see how the remaining 51 participants would fare in the infamous Aether Maze.
In one of the viewing plazas, Elara and Guild Master Orion stood among the crowd, their eyes fixed on the magical screen. "Hopefully, Mixarnt passes this one," Elara said with a hopeful smile.
Orion crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Well, everyone in the guild gave him tips and knowledge about the Aether Maze. But he doesn’t have much of an advantage—he’s never actually explored the maze himself, unlike some of the others."
Meanwhile, in the throne room, the generals had gathered to watch the trial unfold on a large magical screen. Kalavan, Gawain, Lamorak, Percival, Kay, Borris, Althea, and Sunshine were all present, their attention divided between the screen and their casual banter.
"Yawn. I wonder if that brat will go for broke," Kalavan said, leaning back in his seat with a bored expression.
Althea perked up at the mention of Mixarnt. "Oh, you mean Mixarnt?!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm making Kalavan feel awkwardly annoyed.
Gawain chuckled, leaning toward Kalavan. "Keke, don’t tell me the boy has taken your interest, Kalavan."
Kalavan shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. "Tsk, I’ll be lying if I say no. He beat me, of course I’m interested."
Borris, ever calm and composed, added, "Haha, still, he fought you when you were already exhausted. You weren’t in your best condition."
Kalavan waved a hand dismissively. "Nah, a loss is a loss. I might not have been in the best shape, but my berserk mode was active. It’s even more amazing that he beat me in that state. Though, of course, in a real fight, I’d probably win."
The conversation shifted when Lamorak brought up a more serious topic. "On another note, has anyone seen General Xacion? He wasn’t around during the award ceremony. I heard he was sick."
Kay, who had been quietly observing the screen, scoffed. "Who cares what that idiot is doing? He isn’t even that strong if you take away his holy blade."
Percival, ever the provocateur, casually added, "What about Lady Larala? She’s fragile, but you’re very interested in her whenever you are in your Male form. Some nobles even call her useless."
Kay’s face turned bright red, and he glared at Percival. "S-she’s a woman! And of course, I’m interested in her! She’s not a fighter like you guys here! And don’t call her useless, you goddamn annoying idiot!" The other generals burst into laughter at Kay’s flustered reaction.
"You are cuter when you're in your female form Kay Hahahaha!" Gawain said laughing hard.
Sunshine, however, remained silent, her focus entirely on the magical screen. She had been observing Xacion for some time now, ever since Althea mentioned that he had been spending a lot of time with Isolde. Sunshine hadn’t had the chance to ask about the Trial of Tristan Chronos, as she had been busy with her duties. She knew Eclipse had attended the trial, so she planned to ask Althea and Eclipse about it later. For now, her attention was fixed on the screen, waiting to see how the participants would handle the Aether Maze.
Back in the arena, the announcer’s voice boomed, signaling the start of the trial. "Participants, prepare yourselves! The Aether Maze awaits. Your goal is to reach the 30th basement floor. But remember, every 10 levels beyond that will earn you greater rewards and a higher rank upon completion. However, once you go beyond the 30th floor, there’s no turning back. You must reach the next 10th level to exit. Good luck!" Sasa announced as she activated terrain shift and teleported every one of them Infront of the Aether Maze.
Mixarnt took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing with determination. He glanced around at the other participants, some of whom looked nervous, while others seemed eager to prove themselves. As the gates to the Aether Maze opened, Mixarnt stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The generals in the throne room leaned in, their banter momentarily forgotten as they watched the participants disappear into the maze. Sunshine’s eyes remained fixed on Mixarnt, a small smile playing on her lips. She had a feeling this trial would be one to remember.
