A heavy silence hung over the academy corridors after the funeral's events, but it wasn't the silence of peace—it was the silence before a storm.
Keelin, Janero, and Leora entered Classroom B. The air inside felt thick with anticipation. Their usual teacher, the gravity wielder they had only recently learned was named Instructor Ozris, was nowhere to be found. He was still fighting for his life in the central healing wards.
Instead, a tall man stood at the front of the room, wearing a dark green robe. His features were calm, and his eyes carried deep wisdom. The new teacher cleared his throat, drawing the silent students' attention.
"I am Instructor Silas," he said in a steady voice. "I will temporarily oversee Class B until Instructor Ozris fully recovers. We don't have time for long introductions. Today marks the most important stage of your academic journey."
A faint murmur spread through the class.
"It's time for the grand examination," Silas continued. "All of you will be sent to an external training zone designed to push you into fully synchronizing with your aether stone. The objective is simple: reach the Third Level and awaken the Eye of the Spirit."
His tone turned strict.
"Each of you will choose your own training location. Fighting between students is strictly forbidden. The goal is self-development, not conflict. After one month, you must return to the extraction point. Anyone who fails to reach the Third Level will be considered to have failed and must repeat the year with the next batch."
Janero whispered nervously, "So… we won't stay as one team?"
Leora clenched her fist. "It's okay, Janero… what matters is that we grow stronger to protect each other in the future."
Keelin smiled at them both, feeling a spark of challenge ignite in his chest.
"Follow me," Instructor Silas said, heading toward the door.
The students followed him through the academy's long corridors, which strangely felt more alive today. When they reached the main gate, a grand sight awaited them—more than twenty supervisors stood guarding the entrance, and hundreds of students from different classes gathered in the courtyard.
As whispers spread among them, the massive gates opened, and someone entered who instantly silenced everyone.
A man with hair streaked black and white, dressed in pure white clothes that radiated overwhelming purity and power. The teachers bowed respectfully, a sight that stunned the students.
"Who is that?" Keelin whispered.
Janero replied with trembling awe, "That's the Academy Director… the strongest existence in this entire institution."
The Director stood at the center. Without using any amplification magic, his voice reached every student clearly.
"Welcome to the Passage Trial. Today, you will surpass the limits of humanity and step onto the threshold of the Third Level. I wish you all good luck."
He raised his hand.
Suddenly, the ground at the far end of the courtyard split apart, revealing a massive mobile gate. A powerful blue aether aura surged out, strong enough to make their clothes flutter and their hair stand on end.
"Move!" Silas shouted. "Remember—return only after defeating your own weakness!"
Keelin stepped forward and placed his foot into the gate. A blinding light struck his eyes, forcing him to shut them tight.
When he opened them again, the academy's stone walls were gone.
Instead, he stood in a vast, breathtaking world.
They were on top of a high hill overlooking an enormous region.
"Keelin! Look!" Janero shouted excitedly. "There's a huge village over there—and behind it, a forest that looks endless!"
Keelin smiled widely. "Yeah… this is perfect."
At that moment, the Director descended among the students. A wave of aether radiated from him, making everyone instinctively feel how insignificant they were.
"The exam begins now," he declared coldly. "Go. Explore your destinies."
The moment he finished speaking, the students scattered like a flood.
Janero dashed toward the rocky plains.
Leora headed for the lake region.
Keelin leapt forward, adrenaline surging through him.
"It's time… time to grow stronger!"
As Keelin ran off to begin his personal journey toward the Third Level, one of the supervisors hurried to the Director and whispered something into his ear.
The Director's expression changed.
A mysterious smile formed on his lips as he gazed toward the distant horizon where the students had vanished.
"What a coincidence…" he muttered softly.
"What brought the Five Philosophers to this place at this exact time…?"