The grand hall of the academy was unusually quiet.
Moments earlier, Headmaster Aldaric had revealed the truth behind the legendary rings and the ancient trials connected to them. The weight of that revelation still lingered in the air.
Only a few people remained inside the hall now.
Iren stood near the center, his expression calm but distant.
Beside him were his teammates — Kael, Riven, Sylven, and Lyra.
No other students knew about the rings. To the rest of the academy, tonight had simply been another meeting.
But for these five…
Everything had changed.
The torches on the stone walls flickered softly.
Fwoosh… fwoosh…
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Riven suddenly crossed his arms and looked at Iren with a small grin.
"Next time," he said casually, "you should bring your team with you."
Iren blinked.
"…What?"
Riven shrugged.
"If those bodyguards appear again, we'll fight them together."
Sylven nodded immediately.
"Yeah. Five against one of those things sounds a lot safer."
Kael placed his spear against the ground with a dull sound.
Thud.
"Trials or not," he said calmly, "we're a team."
Lyra didn't say anything, but her eyes were fixed on Iren.
She was waiting for his answer.
For a brief moment, Iren looked at each of them.
Then he slowly shook his head.
"No."
The single word echoed faintly across the silent hall.
Riven raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
Sylven frowned in confusion.
"Why not?"
Even Kael's expression hardened slightly.
Before Iren could answer, another voice spoke from behind them.
"Because he cannot."
Everyone turned.
Headmaster Aldaric stood near the doorway.
His footsteps echoed as he walked toward them.
Tap… tap… tap…
The sound of his boots against the stone floor filled the quiet hall.
He stopped a few steps away from the group.
"These trials," Aldaric said calmly, "are not battles meant for teams."
Riven frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Aldaric's gaze shifted briefly to Iren before he continued.
"Each bodyguard represents a trial of the soul."
"The Fire Bodyguard tests rage."
"The Water Bodyguard tests grief."
"The Earth Bodyguard tests resolve."
"The Wind Bodyguard tests freedom."
"The Thunder Bodyguard tests conviction."
His voice was steady and clear.
"These trials are not meant to measure strength… but the heart of the one who bears the rings."
Sylven's eyes widened slightly.
"So… only Iren can fight them?"
Aldaric nodded once.
"Yes."
"If anyone else interferes… the trial loses its meaning."
Riven scratched the back of his head.
"Still sounds pretty unfair."
Kael looked toward Iren.
"What do you think?"
The hall fell silent again.
Iren lowered his gaze slightly.
Then he spoke.
"…He's right."
Everyone turned to him.
Iren continued quietly.
"When I fought Ignivar… none of the previous ring bearers had teammates helping them."
His hand clenched slowly.
"They faced those guardians alone."
His voice grew firmer.
"So I should do the same."
Riven opened his mouth to argue… but stopped.
Sylven slowly lowered his head.
Lyra's expression softened slightly.
Iren looked at them again.
"This trial isn't something you guys should carry."
Kael crossed his arms.
"…But we want to."
Iren gave a small smile.
"I know."
His voice remained calm.
"But this time… I have to walk forward alone."
The words settled heavily in the air.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then Riven let out a long sigh.
"…Man."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"I thought we were going to punch ancient monsters together."
Sylven looked embarrassed.
"Yeah… we misunderstood."
He bowed his head slightly toward Iren.
"Sorry about that."
Kael stepped forward next.
"I apologize as well."
Lyra remained silent for a moment.
Then she finally spoke.
"Iren."
He looked at her.
Her silver eyes met his calmly.
"…Just don't die."
Iren chuckled softly.
"I wasn't planning to."
Aldaric watched the group quietly.
A faint smile appeared on the old headmaster's face.
These students truly trusted each other.
Finally, Aldaric turned toward the large doors of the hall.
"It is late."
"You should all return to your dorms."
One by one, the students began walking toward the exit.
Riven stretched his arms lazily.
"Well then… I guess we'll just watch you beat ancient monsters from the sidelines."
Sylven sighed.
"That doesn't sound relaxing at all."
Kael lifted his spear from the ground.
"We'll train harder."
Riven glanced back at Iren.
"Yeah."
"So when your trials are over…"
A confident grin appeared on his face.
"We'll still be strong enough to fight beside you."
Iren nodded.
"…Thanks."
The massive doors slowly creaked open.
Grooooooan…
Cold night air drifted into the hall.
One by one, the team stepped outside.
Soon the hall grew quiet again.
Only Iren and Aldaric remained.
The torches flickered gently.
Fwoosh…
Aldaric looked at Iren.
"You understand the burden now."
Iren stared toward the open doorway where his teammates had disappeared.
"…Yeah."
His voice was quiet.
"But it's not a burden."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's a path."
And he would walk it.
Even if he had to walk it alone.
Aldaric gave a slow nod before leaving the hall as well.
Tap… tap… tap…
The heavy doors began to close.
Thud.
---
Outside the hall…
The stone corridor was dimly lit by moonlight streaming through the tall windows.
Riven, Sylven, and Kael continued walking down the corridor while talking quietly among themselves.
But one person had stopped.
Lyra.
She stood near the doorway.
Her silver hair swayed slightly in the night breeze.
Her gaze remained fixed on the large doors of the hall.
Behind those doors…
Iren was still inside.
For a brief moment, her eyes grew distant.
A faint flicker of unease crossed her expression.
Almost like a shadow of something she could not fully see.
Her foresight remained silent tonight.
But her instincts whispered something different.
Something dangerous.
Lyra quietly clenched her hand.
"…Don't disappear on us."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Then she turned and began walking down the corridor.
Her footsteps were soft.
Tap… tap…
And soon…
The hallway returned to silence.
---