Caught in the depths of darkness at the outskirts of the trials, David plotted his next moves with a mix of determination and cunning. The shadows cloaked him, but within their embrace, he felt the spark of strategy igniting his resolve.

  In the absence of even the faintest glimmer of light, he tread carefully, every step measured and deliberate. A whirlpool of questions tugged at him: Why had he been branded a rulebreaker? And who exactly was this enigmatic elder that Leon had mentioned?

  Like a lock without a key, trapped within confines of his own making, David's mind raced. He was in desperate need of answers, and he vowed to get them.

  Somehow, he would have to separate Leon from his trusty goons, and cornering him after the trial had ended was another reasonable course of action, but something didn't sit right with David planning these things. No matter how he explored himself, the oddity remained. Something was amiss with Leon's group, but David was unable to put his finger on it.

  David had heard outrageous remarks from the dark-haired boy that wouldn't be easy to ignore. There must be a way to validate the statement. But how could David ensure the truth if he had no apparent way of telling time in the underground cave? There was no clock conveniently displayed anywhere, and reading the time of the sun's position was an absurdity in its own right.

  Once again, fear enveloped David as he decided on his course of action. He controlled his own mind and felt it best to surprise the followers of Leon first, reduce their numbers, and then crush Leon with all the might David could bring to bear.

  His track continued, enveloped by cold shadows, but soon, this monotony was interrupted. David sighed in relief at the first sighting of light. Even though he wanted to rush out into the radiant shine of torches and leave this dreary place behind, David reminded himself that emerging back into the main cavern with Leon and his group of trusty half-wits about was not the correct choice.

  With this in mind, he approached the corridor full of light at a slow and measured pace, his ears reacting to the faintest crack of torches, the shattering sounds of battle, and even the soft thuds of leather-clad boots.

  Emerging into the main caverns, he lost precious seconds shielding his eyes from the blinding rays of the torchlight. His heart hammered in his chest as fuzzy images snapped back into focus.

  No immediate dangers surrounded David. He fully entered the main caverns with a final caress of the trusted steel by his side. With the fear dispelled, he confidently approached the closest group of youths.

  " Hello there, " David began, but his words were cut short by the guttural growl of three figures charging him.

  He drew his sword and leveled it overhead as his dance began. Rotating in full force, David swung the sword from low to high as he stepped into the first enemy's path. Both halves of the youth parted before David.

  From an overhead stance into a ground-cleaving strike, the voice in his head had no need to intervene, as the next assailant's eyes turned stormy gray with lifelessness.

  Any sane person would have run away as the sole survivor. Still, the last one, spurred on by the death of his comrades or some other sinister thought, engaged David mechanically moments before the enemy's head fell free of his shoulders.

  While David studied the corpses, he noticed something appeared to be wholly wrong. The nagging feeling in the back of his mind supported this claim. Even in death, an odd aura rolled of the three corpses in waves. Wide open mouths and drool leaking from the corners of their lips confirmed David's suspicion.

  A circle filled with magical runes appeared on the victims' chests, and as suddenly as it had appeared, it soon shattered like glass. David watched all this with a somber countenance. The multiple oddities came together in David's mind and aroused his instincts.

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  He had just embarked on the journey of magic and knew very little, but his previous overtures with fiction made him rule out everything except a scant few possibilities. Slavery, contracts, or mind control sprung to mind.

  David’s disdain knew no bounds; he found all three equally reprehensible. With unwavering conviction, he declared that anyone who indulged in such vile and repulsive acts deserved nothing less than eternal suffering. In his heart, he wished a fate of relentless torment upon those who resorted to such abhorrent behaviors.

  His thoughts became further consumed by the unspeakable acts David wished upon anyone who dared muck about such things.

  While he wouldn't dare describe himself as good, David knew he was gray, a very light gray, not only by skin but morally as well. Disillusioned with himself, David understood what he was capable of, even though violence was always the last option, and while he felt regret for actions such as the one he was about to commit, he would not hold himself back when his reverse scale was touched.

  " Who dares!? " David's voice echoed off the cavern walls, reaching every crevice.

  As if someone had touched his reverse scale, a calm enveloped David.

  " Kill now? " The insidious voice whispered once more to him.

  The voice appeared conveniently at a time of emotional turmoil as David grappled with his inner workings. To all who watched closely, it would be clear that the voice had guileful intent. On the other hand, David was too occupied to give the reason more profound thought.

  On a fundamental level, David knew agreeing was, without the shadow of a doubt, the worst case, but he wished he could. He could feel savage promises at the edge of his awareness, and one final push might send him over the edge.

  With a vice-like grip of his faculties, David struck down the ugly beast's head that was about to expose its fangs. Averted was the crisis, but who knew if David would be strong enough next time to not succumb to the scheme?

  " No fun, " The voice spoke sadly into his head. " Want to play too. "

  Ignoring the last words, he embarked on this dangerous path, promising violence. Everyone, including Leon, must have heard his earlier outburst, and David prepared for the worst.

  Under intense pressure, David's resolve hardened as he began a brutal dance. He slaughtered every group he encountered as hesitant approaches and tentative interactions disappeared.

  Like a catterpillar that had emerged from its cocoon, David's mind ran free of doubt as he carved a path through bodies that barred his path.

  Everything had to die. With macabre art on full display, David painted the cavern walls with fresh crimson murals, and droplets of fluid show cased their horrible beauty.

  Leon remained a mystery. Many youths had fallen to the superior length and heft of David's steel, but the dark-haired oddity remained elusive.

  David's mind sparked to life as he approached the shadowy cavern wall, his eyes scanning for a source of light. With a sudden burst of determination, he lunged for the torch nestled within its stone embrace. Yanking it free with a swift motion, the wooden stick came loose, trembling in his grip as he prepared to illuminate the darkness ahead.

  As David ventured deeper into the shadowy depths of the cave he once admired for its enchanting beauty, time lost all significance. Armed with a flickering light to pierce the darkness, he boldly embraced the mysteries that awaited him, driven by an insatiable greed that demanded justice.

  After a grueling journey through the maze of twisting tunnels, he stepped into a breathtaking expanse that stretched before him. Gone were the ordinary stone walls; instead, the space sparkled with white crystal, intricately inlaid with meticulous craftsmanship that caught the light and danced like stars all around him.

  These crystals refracted the light of his torch perfectly, and the grand expanse became illuminated in their soft white glow.

  Before David stepped into the fray, a chilling tableau unfolded before him. A grim procession of bodies loomed large, stacked precariously atop one another—each form male, their skin a ghostly gray, and their hair a striking silver. The scene was disturbing, whispering tales of lost lives and forgotten stories.

  Amid the ring of death, a dark mop of hair stood out. With howls of laughter, the figure rocked back and forth. As if hypnotized, the figure babbled words repeatedly.

  " Kill one every time the hunger sets in she said. I'll do a good job, elder, I promise. Hihi-hii, nothing stands in my way! "

  A piercing scream pierced the air, echoing off the walls in an unrelenting rhythm. It swelled into a thunderous crescendo so intense that even David instinctively covered his ears, overwhelmed by the sound that seemed to surge around him.

  " Haha, David is no match for meeeeee. " Leons said in a whisper.

  At the sight, David's feelings and the promises he had made deflated. While coals still simmered underneath his guise, the fire threatening to churn his belly had been dimmed under the pitiful sight.

  " David will never know, " Leon cackled with glee. " Brahan will never know. Only me and my elder will. How could they suspect me of smuggling in an Orb of Mind meld and an Orb to prevent the trials end? "

  Without anyone to vent his anger on, David even released the coals as he only felt pity towards the boy.

  Regardless of his plight, David was a Novice at magic, but he still needed to finish the trial. By self-admission, Leon had revealed he had a trinket that prevented just that.

  David stepped cautiously toward the haunting circle of death, every instinct urging him to tread lightly among the youthful remains scattered across the ground. His heart heavy with regret, he summoned his sword, the blade gleaming ominously in the dim light. With a swift flick of his wrist, dark locks of hair fell away, joining the tragic remnants on the floor.

  Suddenly, from deep within Leon's robes, a crackling sound pierced the stillness, and as sounds of shattering glass spread, a magical circle appeared and broke upon the dead remains. An overwhelming sensation of weightlessness washed over David, lifting him from the grim reality before him.

  In an instant, the déjà vu he had become acquainted with over the last few days gripped him once more, spiriting him away from the ghastly scene and into the unknown depths of his memory.