Veil of Sparks

The first light of dawn crept into the Celestial Spire's atrium, turning the glass walls and stone floors a soft gold. The air felt heavy, full of tension and quiet whispers as recruits gathered in small groups. Some leaned against the walls, others checked their weapons, and a few sat on benches, staring off as if trying to steady their nerves.

Kael stood apart from the rest, his back against one of the glowing conduits that lined the walls. The soft hum of Thread energy pulsed beneath his palm, the vibration oddly calming. But no matter how hard he tried to focus on it, his stomach stayed knotted.

The Celestial Confrontation was all anyone could talk about. It was the final trial—the one that would determine who had what it took to join the Academy. Kael's hand drifted to the dagger at his side, its worn leather hilt a familiar comfort. It wasn't much, but it had kept him alive so far.

His gaze moved across the atrium, taking in the faces around him. Most recruits looked serious, their expressions tight. Some whispered strategies to one another, while others stayed silent, clutching glowing weapons or adjusting polished armor. Kael felt out of place among them, with his simple gear and restless thoughts.

"Big day, Sparky."

Kael turned to see Ren approaching, his spear balanced lazily across his shoulders.

"You're still calling me that?" Kael muttered, though his lips twitched into a small smile.

"Of course," Ren said, grinning. "It suits you. So, ready to charge into the unknown and maybe die a little?"

"Not helping," Kael replied, shaking his head.

Ren leaned against the conduit beside him, his amber eyes scanning the atrium. "Relax. You've made it this far, haven't you? That's more than most of these guys."

Kael hesitated, watching a nearby group of recruits who looked like they belonged in one of the city's elite houses. Their gear gleamed, their movements confident. "Do you think we even stand a chance?"

Ren shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. But worrying about it now won't change anything. The trick is keeping your head in the game."

Kael nodded, but his chest still felt tight.

A sharp chime rang out, echoing through the atrium. The soft buzz of conversation stopped instantly as everyone turned to look at the glowing screens that appeared above the room.

Final Trial: Celestial Confrontation

Recruits will be assigned to teams and transported to the simulation field. Objectives will be provided upon arrival.

The words lingered in the air like a weight pressing down on Kael's chest.

He'd heard stories about the Celestial Confrontation, both in the game and from others. It was designed to test everything—teamwork, combat skills, quick thinking. Recruits would face waves of Umbral creatures and shifting objectives, all while the battlefield itself threw in unpredictable challenges.

In the game, it had been a nightmare. Here, it felt like something worse.

Names began to echo through the atrium as instructors assigned recruits to teams. The room became a flurry of movement—recruits grabbing weapons, whispering hurried goodbyes, or forming tense groups by the glowing portals that had appeared along the walls.

Kael's name came sooner than he expected.

"Participant 217: Kael Throne. Team 4."

His stomach sank as he moved toward the group gathering near a portal. His eyes widened slightly as he saw who was waiting for him at the center.

Evan Cross.

The Academy's golden boy stood tall in polished armor, the insignia of the Celestial Spire etched into his chest plate. His emerald-green eyes scanned the team as they approached, calm and commanding. It was like he carried the weight of the trial with ease, while everyone else seemed ready to buckle under it.

Kael's fingers twitched around the hilt of his dagger. Of course, Evan was leading the team. He always took the lead—it was just who he was. The perfect hero. The chosen one.

Evan's gaze landed on Kael briefly, his expression unreadable, before he turned to address the group.

"All right," Evan said, his voice steady and firm. "This trial is about teamwork. Stick to the plan, trust your teammates, and stay focused. We're only as strong as our weakest link."

Kael felt a flicker of irritation at the words but kept it to himself.

The portal behind Evan flared to life, its swirling light casting sharp shadows across the atrium.

"Let's move," Evan said, turning toward the glowing doorway.

One by one, the recruits stepped into the portal, their forms dissolving into the light. Kael hesitated, his pulse quickening as he stared at the shifting glow.

"Don't freeze up now, Sparky."

Kael turned to see Ren standing nearby, his spear resting against his shoulder and a faint smirk on his face.

"You've got this," Ren said, his voice lighter than usual. "Just don't do anything stupid, okay?"

Kael managed a weak smile. "No promises."

With a deep breath, he stepped into the portal.

The world beyond the portal was chaos.

Kael stumbled as his feet hit solid ground, the sudden shift in his surroundings disorienting him. The simulation field stretched out before him, vast and surreal.

Jagged cliffs rose in the distance, their edges glowing faintly with Thread energy. A dense, shadowy forest loomed to the east, its gnarled trees twisting unnaturally toward the sky. The ground beneath Kael's boots was rough and uneven, a mix of cracked stone and glowing conduits that pulsed faintly with life.

Above, the sky churned with black and purple clouds, lightning flashing intermittently across their surface. Each burst of light illuminated the battlefield in sharp, fleeting glimpses, revealing the eerie outlines of distant figures moving in the shadows.

Kael's chest tightened as he took it all in. The air felt thick, charged with energy that made his Spark crackle faintly in response.

"Focus," Evan's voice cut through the tension, sharp and clear.

Kael turned to see the rest of the team gathered near a cluster of rocks, their weapons drawn. Evan stood at the center, his sword glowing faintly with golden light as he scanned the battlefield.

A glowing map panel floated in front of him, its surface flickering with moving markers.

"First objective is up," Evan said. "We're defending the Conduit Nexus. We hold the line no matter what."

Kael's stomach twisted as a faint hum echoed across the field.

The horizon darkened, shadows shifting and twisting as the first wave of Umbral creatures emerged. Their forms were jagged and unnatural, their glowing red eyes fixed on the Nexus like predators stalking prey.

The trial had begun.