The chilling ice hit softly against me as a 7-foot ice wolf jumped upon me from the deep ice. Its hidden attack was enough to take anyone down, but to me, all its hiding comrades were as clear as can be. The presence of my power left my control as the ice itself turned against the beast that had come to trust the ice it lived upon.
A huge spike of ice burst out from the ground, easily killing the wolf, while other spikes killed the hidden ones. The once beautiful white ice turned dark red. Yet, Marlene and I paid no heed to it as we kept trudging forward. This wasn't the first beast we had encountered, and it wouldn't be the last.
"I didn't know you were so proficient in the magic of ice," Marlene whispered into my ears, her cold breath giving me a small tingle as I responded back.
"Well, there's still a lot more for you to find out about me."
I didn't get any reply as I kept running. It had been about 15 minutes since our arrival here, and I had faced off against a lot of beasts. Their collected presence was a sign that something untold rested in the path the arrow was leading towards.
Soon, just as I had taken a step, another beast, a bear with white fur and red eyes, burst forth from the ground. Its height towered over me, while the power of Origin level 7 emanated from within it. The temperature itself lowered from its howl, and spinning icicles started to attack me from all sides.
I remained unfazed at the attack as several barriers of ice surrounded me, taking the hit. Several spikes rose from the ground to impale the bear, but it was met with a steady blow as the bear's defense was higher. I wasn't unfazed by it, as before the bear could strike again, hundreds of spikes rained from the sky. Their tips added with a touch of the destruction element, and just like that, no defense stood in the path of my attack, turning the bear into a porcupine.
Its eyes were still filled with disbelief as its life was snuffed away. Without another word, I moved again, the arrow in my hand getting brighter and brighter.
"I am now starting to worry about the battle for the title," Marlene spoke in a tired voice, the representation of my power surely rocking her will in the fight that all eleven of us, the holders of the rings, would have to face. Though it's ten now since that elf guy is screwed.
'Well, not like the seats are going to remain the same from here on out...'
Musing about the shake-up that would soon fill the academy, I moved forth as my made-up arrow now started to shine the brightest. I stopped as the arrow started to spin. It lasted a few seconds, after which it pointed down, signifying that we had reached our destination.
"Looks like we are here," I spoke, letting down Marlene, who had a light blush on her face, something which I have come to enjoy.
"What now?" she asked, and just as she did, the arrow burst out with light, shining in our eyes. Marlene's eyes slowly closed, and she fainted. I quickly caught her body as I looked at the peaceful sleeping face of Marlene.
"Well, that worked better than I thought," I muttered. From here on out, I would have to implement the strategies that I have set up. With a smile, I waved my hand, causing the ice to move away, revealing a trapdoor on the ground. Pulling it up, a narrow staircase led to the ground.
"Yup, let's begin."
...
Third Person POV:
"Um... argh..."
A low moan left Marlene's mouth as she opened her eyes, her vision unfocused for a moment before regaining clarity. Just as she did, she heard a similar moan from her side, causing her to turn and see Austin sitting up from the ground with a confused expression.
"What happened?" he asked, lightly holding his head.
"No idea," Marlene replied, feeling a throbbing pain in her own head. She stood up straight and looked upwards, her breath taken away by the twinkling ceiling. It illuminated with a blurry light, while sprawling icicles filled the sky, creating an array of sparkling colors that painted the ceiling. Overall, the ceiling was breathtaking yet dangerous.
"Beautiful..." a soft voice escaped Marlene's lips.
"Well, I'm thankful you enjoy the view," a voice sounded out, causing both Marlene and Austin to focus on it. Austin moved closer to Marlene, supporting her weakened body. Looking around, they found themselves trapped in a blocked-off room with ice covering every part.
"Where are we?" Austin asked, his voice filled with confusion.
"You are in my trial," the voice replied.
"Trial? We didn't come here for that. We came to-"
"To get rid of this women's curse. I have gotten the story from the old fellow, but you see, I am not that generous," the voice spoke, cutting off Austin and bringing a frown to Marlene's face.
"What is this? What's going on?" Marlene asked, her tone becoming frigid.
"Well, you see, the old guy who sent you here is a friend of mine, and the wisps of myself here have the power to lift that curse. But I'd rather do it in a fun way, and along the way, you might gather some rewards."
Hearing the words, both Austin and Marlene turned silent. Austin asked hesitantly, "Are you perhaps a..."
"Dragon? Yes, I am. This is just one of the small trials I left for fun," the voice answered, bringing absolute silence to the two of them. Marlene came to understand that this wasn't the time to be messing around. Changing her stance, she spoke with a respectful voice.
"Then, what should I do to gain your help?"
Marlene, by no means a gullible woman, had experienced the powers of dragons back in the realm, and her trust in Austin was sky-high. Plus, the ability to take down both her and Austin without them being able to fight back indicated that the person in question was of great power. Hence, Marlene had nothing to lose by being respectful.
"You see, I built this trial to test the limits of emotions, trust, and love. It's something that has fascinated me for a long time. The trial shall be taken individually by the two of you, where you will go through the deepest of feelings..."
The dragon's voice carried an air of authority, resonating with a subtle charm. "To gain my assistance, you must prove your worthiness and devotion. There is a trial that lies ahead—a test of your loyalty and love."
Marlene's gaze locked with Austin's, her expression a mixture of determination and intrigue. She was prepared to do whatever it took to break free from the curse that bound her, unaware of Austin's true intentions. He looked at her with a light smile and spoke.
"Let's see what we can do."
Hearing his words, Marlene smiled as her answer was voiced out.
"We shall take the trial."
"Good. You shall take the trial individually, where both your desires will be tested to the limit. First, you, child. I hope you won't falter."
As the dragon finished speaking, a sparkling crystal appeared in front of Marlene, accompanied by the dragon's words.
"This is the Crystal of Desires, a powerful artifact capable of taking you into an illusion. You must navigate through a maze of illusions and face your deepest desires."
Just as the dragon's words faded, Marlene turned to look at Austin, who nodded his head, indicating for her to take the first turn. Understanding his stance, she touched the crystal, soon falling asleep. Austin caught her body, a sly smile appearing on his face as he whispered to her.
"Go on, live through hundreds of those illusions where your love is always mine."
His whispers were enough to make Marlene's confidence waver, had she heard them.
