Veil of Sparks

Kael's fingers brushed the surface of the relic fragment, and a jolt of energy surged up his arm, making his Spark flare uncontrollably. His vision blurred as the fragment dissolved into light, the glowing energy seeping into his veins.

The sensation was overwhelming—a sharp, electrifying pulse that seemed to resonate with every part of him. Kael gritted his teeth, struggling to stay upright as the fragment's power coursed through his body. His Spark flared again, brighter and more vivid than ever, crackling along his arms and spreading to his fingertips.

For a moment, the chaos around him seemed to fade. The hum of the arena, the pounding of his heart, the shouts of recruits—it all dulled beneath the sharp clarity brought by the fragment's energy.

Kael clenched his fists, feeling a newfound precision in the way his Spark responded.

But the moment of calm was short-lived.

The ground beneath Kael's knees began to crack, the platform trembling as another energy beam struck nearby. He scrambled to his feet, his senses heightened by the fragment's effects.

A loud, metallic roar echoed behind him, and Kael's stomach dropped.

The construct.

He turned just in time to see the hulking machine barreling toward him, its glowing arms raised to strike.

"Shit!" Kael hissed, diving to the side as the construct's arm smashed into the ground where he'd been kneeling moments ago. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the arena, and Kael barely managed to steady himself on a crumbling ledge.

The construct turned its glowing eyes on him, its movements jerky but deliberate.

Kael's grip tightened on his dagger, the faint crackle of his Spark surging to life around the blade. He didn't want to fight this thing—not here, not now—but it didn't look like he had a choice.

The construct lunged again, its massive arm swinging in a wide arc. Kael ducked low, the wind from the strike whipping past his face as he rolled to the side. His Spark flared instinctively, lightning crackling along his fingertips as he slashed at the construct's exposed leg.

The blade struck true, leaving a scorch mark on the metal, but the construct barely flinched. It turned sharply, its glowing arm sweeping toward Kael in a deadly backhand.

Kael threw himself backward, landing hard on the uneven ground. His lungs burned as he scrambled to his feet, his mind racing.

Think. Don't just react—use the terrain.

His eyes darted to a nearby platform, its edge lined with glowing runes that pulsed faintly. In the game, platforms like these had been traps—designed to collapse under pressure and send enemies plummeting into the pits below.

Kael's pulse quickened. If he could lure the construct onto the platform…

He darted toward it, the construct roaring as it gave chase. The ground trembled beneath its massive steps, and Kael could feel the heat of its energy surging behind him.

Reaching the platform, Kael spun on his heel, planting his feet firmly as he raised the dagger. His Spark flared brightly, arcing along the blade in a vivid blue light.

"Come on," he muttered under his breath, his heart pounding.

The construct didn't hesitate. It lunged forward, its massive arm raised to crush him.

At the last second, Kael dove to the side, rolling clear of the platform as the construct's weight came crashing down onto it.

The runes beneath its feet pulsed violently, and the platform shuddered before collapsing in a burst of energy.

The construct let out a distorted roar as it plummeted into the glowing pit below, its light fading as it disappeared into the depths.

Kael lay on the ground, his chest heaving as he stared up at the jagged cliffs above.

"That was too close," he muttered, pushing himself up on shaky arms.

The arena had grown quieter now, the chaos beginning to subside. Kael glanced around, noting the dwindling number of recruits still on their feet. Many had been eliminated, either by the constructs or the relentless environmental hazards.

Kael tightened his grip on the dagger, the faint hum of the relic fragment's power still thrumming in his chest.

"Trial sequence ending," the automated voice announced, echoing through the arena.

Kael exhaled sharply, relief washing over him as the arena's light dimmed. The jagged cliffs and glowing pits began to dissolve, the shifting platforms folding back into the smooth stone floor of the vault chamber.

He sank to his knees, his body aching from the effort.

"Participant 217: Pass," the voice said.

Kael's lips twitched into a faint smile as he stared at the ground. He'd survived.

Three trials down.

As Kael and the remaining recruits were ushered out of the trial vault, the weight of the day began to settle over him. The Festival wasn't over yet—there were more challenges ahead—but for the first time, Kael felt like he might actually have a chance.

The relic fragment's energy pulsed faintly in his chest, a steady reminder of the risk he'd taken and the reward he'd gained.

Kael glanced at the recruits around him, their faces a mix of exhaustion and determination. Most avoided his gaze, too focused on their own struggles, but a few nodded in quiet acknowledgment as he passed.

"Nice work back there."

Kael turned to see Allara, the girl from earlier, falling into step beside him. She looked just as worn out as he felt, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"Thanks," Kael said, his voice hoarse. "You make it through?"

"Barely," she said with a chuckle, flexing her fingers to show faint scorch marks from her own Spark. "That construct almost took my head off."

Kael smirked. "Join the club."

Allara raised an eyebrow. "You took it down, though. That was… impressive."

Kael shrugged, his grip tightening on his dagger. "Just got lucky."

"Sure," she said, grinning. "Let's call it luck."

As they approached the central plaza, Kael's thoughts turned to the next phase of the Festival. He didn't know what awaited him, but he knew one thing for certain:

The stakes were only going to get higher.