As the sun rose slowly behind the majestic towers of the Luxon Academy, the city's white marbles began to be bathed in a golden glow. However, for Hyoga, this light was not a herald of peace, but a harbinger of the approaching exam. The weight of the mysterious dream—or warning—he had seen that night still pressed heavily on his chest. "The exam is not just about magical power." These words echoed in his mind like the strike of a hammer.
Hyoga stood up and washed his face with cold water. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he saw that the boyish curiosity in his eyes had been replaced by the grim seriousness of a hunter trying to survive the wilds of Oakhaven. There were three sharp knocks on his door.
"Hey, Hyoga! Are you awake? Today, we start conquering the world!"
It was Ryusui. When Hyoga opened the door, he saw Ryusui standing there in his silk cape and academy uniform, looking more like he was headed to a royal ball than a battle. Ryusui tossed a glowing apple into the air, caught it, and smirked. "You look pale as a ghost, my friend. Don't worry, with the 'King of Greed' by your side, failure isn't an option."
"I'm not afraid, Ryusui," Hyoga said, trying to steady his voice. "It's just... I have a strange feeling. I don't think this exam will be conducted just on paper or with crystal balls."
Ryusui wiped the arrogant grin from his face for a moment and stepped closer. His voice was lower this time. "Your instincts might not be wrong. Luxon always keeps a 'surprise' to weed out the weak. But remember; whatever comes, we are those who want everything. Come on, Naomi is waiting for us below."
The academy's massive main courtyard was filled with hundreds of students trembling with excitement and nerves. When Naomi appeared at the door of the girls' dormitory, she looked more determined than ever in her navy blue academy robes. However, as she approached Hyoga, she whispered, "Hyoga, is this the 'Big Day' everyone is talking about? There is a very heavy magical pressure in the air."
Hyoga squeezed Naomi's hand gently. "No matter what happens, let's stay together."
Just then, a high platform emerged in the center of the courtyard. Master Ethan struck his silver staff on the ground three times. The sound cut through the noise of thousands like a blade. A deathly silence fell over the courtyard. Beside Ethan on the platform appeared an elderly woman whose face was covered in deep scars and whose eyes shone like shards of ice.
"I am Head Instructor Lady Morgana," the woman declared. Her voice echoed magically throughout the courtyard. "Today will be the beginning of dreams for some of you, and for others, the day you are cast out of these gates. Luxon Academy seeks not just those with magical power, but those who can command that power with their will."
Lady Morgana raised her staff. As the sky suddenly darkened, the runes on the courtyard floor began to glow with a purple light. "The name of today's exam is: The Mirror of the Soul. Each of you will enter a reflection of your own inner world. The monsters you face there will not be shaped by the level of your magic, but by the magnitude of your fears and desires."
A murmur rose from the crowd. Naomi huddled closer to Hyoga. "Mirror of the Soul? This looks incredibly difficult and dangerous." Hyoga smiled, "It's okay, Naomi. No matter what happens, I've got your back."
By Morgana's command, the students were divided into groups. Hyoga, Naomi, and Ryusui were in the same group. They passed through a giant crystal gate into a dark corridor. After a few steps, Hyoga suddenly realized he was alone. Naomi and Ryusui had been right beside him, but now they had vanished into the mists.
"Naomi! Ryusui!" Hyoga shouted. But his voice was lost in the void.
Suddenly, the ground slipped from beneath his feet, and Hyoga found himself back in that familiar, infinite space. But this time, the arena was not empty. He found himself in a place resembling a burnt-out village. Across from him, he saw the lifeless body of Emily. He knew it was an illusion, but the pain was so real it made his throat tighten.
A figure emerged from the flames. It was Hyoga's exact double, but its eyes were pitch black.
"You want power, don't you?" said the Dark Hyoga. "To protect others, or to never be that helpless child again? Don't lie to yourself. You are afraid. You fear everyone abandoning you, and your loved ones dying in your arms."
Hyoga stepped back. "This is just a test. You aren't real!"
"Pain is real!" roared the dark reflection, forming a massive ice sword in his hand and lunging at Hyoga.
Hyoga rolled to the side with the reflexes he had learned from Noah. He pressed his palms to the ground, trying to feel the magic within the earth. But the magic wouldn't flow. The fear inside him was clogging the energy in his veins.
"The exam is not just about magical power..." He remembered the words of the figure in his dream. "This is a war of will."
Hyoga closed his eyes. He listened to the attacker's footsteps. In that moment, Ryusui's voice echoed in his mind: "I want everything!" Hyoga smiled. Instead of rejecting the fear, he accepted it. "Yes, I am afraid," he whispered. "But this fear won't weaken me. This fear will be my fuel to never lose again!"
Suddenly, a pure, white light exploded from Hyoga's body. This light blinded the dark reflection. Hyoga gathered the magical power at his fingertips and, instead of forming an ice spear, he shaped the energy directly with his will. "Begone!"
The Dark Hyoga shattered into a cloud of dust under the intensity of the light.
Meanwhile, Naomi was caught in a different illusion. She found herself facing her mother, Lola. Lola's face lacked its usual loving expression; she looked on with disappointment. "You cannot be my daughter," Lola was saying. "You aren't strong enough. You are destined to remain in Hyoga's shadow."
Naomi's eyes welled with tears. This was her greatest fear—being a burden to those she loved. But then she touched the necklace her mother had given her. She knew her mother's true love. "No," Naomi said, standing tall. "I am no one's shadow. I am Naomi. And I will shine with my own light!"
Naomi's staff glowed with a golden light, and the dark forest around her instantly transformed into a garden of flowers. The illusion was broken.
Ryusui, on the other hand, found himself in a massive treasure room. All the world's magic books, the rarest staves, and limitless gold were before him. A dark voice whispered to him, "You can have it all. But in exchange, you must sacrifice your friends. You must be the strongest, alone."
Ryusui burst out laughing. "You don't know me at all," he said mockingly. "I am the 'King of Greed.' I don't just want this junk; I want powerful friends like Hyoga and Naomi too. I want both power and companionship! Sacrificing one for the other isn't greed; it's just a trade. I don't trade—I take it all!"
Ryusui's will was so dominant that the illusion surrendered and dissolved against his arrogant yet unbreakable logic.
When they opened their eyes, all three were standing in front of the crystal gate in the courtyard. They were breathless but standing. Looking around, they saw many students lying unconscious or giving up in tears.
Head Instructor Morgana approached them with heavy steps. Her gaze lingered especially on Hyoga. "Interesting," she said. "I haven't seen someone accept the darkness within them so quickly in a long time. Welcome to Luxon Magic Academy, children."
Hyoga, Ryusui, and Naomi smiled and began telling each other about the difficult moments they had faced during the exam.