The grand foyer of the Bastion was overwhelming in its vastness. The polished stone floor gleamed under the glow of dozens of suspended crystalline orbs, their light casting shifting patterns across the hundreds of ornate doors that lined the circular walls. Above, a domed ceiling displayed a mosaic of ancient battles, the scenes so vivid they seemed almost alive.

  Kaelen, bolstered by the faint hum of the two blue stones in his hidden pocket, stood apart from the crowd, his mind sharper than ever. Every sound, every movement, seemed amplified, his senses tuned to a degree he was still adjusting to. The edges of conversations drifted toward him, snatches of hushed excitement and nervous whispers weaving through the air like a tapestry of tension.

  Beside him, Renar—or rather, Renik—seemed completely at ease, leaning casually against a marble column. He radiated a cocksure confidence that clashed with the gravity of the moment. Kaelen didn’t miss the subtle glint in his friend’s eyes, the telltale sign of the red and blue stones hidden in Renik’s inner pockets.

  Kaelen’s gaze swept the room until it landed on Jessalyn. With careful eavesdropping he had learned her name at the dinner table. She stood with Talia nearby, their presence drawing the attention of more than a few students. Jess’s sharp green eyes flicked around the room, her expression guarded but curious. Talia, in contrast, exuded a haughty confidence, her arms crossed as she surveyed the crowd like a hawk looking for prey.

  Kaelen took a deep breath, shook off the nerves and approached them, Renik falling in step beside him.

  “Jess,” he said, the name rolling off his tongue as if it belonged there. He offered a faint smile. “Good to see you again.”

  Jess turned, her eyes softening when they met his. He used her nickname and it sent a chill up her spine. It was personal as if he knew her already. “Kael, right? From the moons? What fortune has passed you before me?”

  “Fate, perhaps,” Renik interjected smoothly, bowing with exaggerated flair. “Renar, at your service, ladies.” The shorter stout man had a blunt way of speaking.

  Talia raised an eyebrow. “Charmed, I’m sure.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm, and Kaelen had to fight back a smirk.

  Renik didn’t miss a beat. “I live to serve, truly.”

  Jess chuckled, shaking her head. “Ignore him, Talia. He seems harmless enough.”

  “Seems,” Talia muttered, eyeing Renik warily.

  Kaelen shifted his attention back to Jess. “What do you make of all this?” He gestured toward the hundreds of doors.

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  Jess’s expression grew serious. “It’s... unsettling. They keep hinting at something big, but no one’s saying exactly what.”

  “Whatever it is,” Renik said, his voice low but carrying an edge, “it’s meant to thin the herd. You can feel it in the air.”

  Talia frowned. “That’s a grim way to put it.”

  “It’s a grim place,” Renik shot back, his grin fading slightly.

  Kaelen nodded. “He’s not wrong. Whatever’s coming, it’s not going to be easy. They’ve made that clear.”

  Jess bit her lip, glancing toward the elder who stood silently at the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. “Do you think they’ll really...?” She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

  Kaelen hesitated, he felt as if he knew what she was thinking, then said softly, “I think they’ll do whatever it takes to make sure only the strongest remain.”

  The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words settling over them.

  ---

  As they waited, Kaelen’s attention was drawn to a group nearby. Three students stood together, their presence striking enough to make them stand out even in the crowded foyer.

  The first was a broad-shouldered boy with golden hair that fell in messy waves. His confident grin and easy laughter suggested he was used to being the center of attention. Beside him stood a tall girl with sleek black hair, her piercing blue eyes scanning the room with a calculating sharpness. The third was smaller, a wiry boy with nervous energy, his glasses reflecting the crystalline light as he fidgeted with a coin in his hand.

  “Who are they?” Kaelen asked, nodding toward the trio.

  Jess followed his gaze. “That’s Zorin,” she said, indicating the golden-haired boy. “His family’s practically royalty among the Radiants. And the girl is Amara. She’s... well, let’s just say she doesn’t suffer fools.”

  “And the twitchy one?” Renik asked, tilting his head.

  “Jaren,” Talia supplied. “A Glimmer. Brilliant, from what I hear, but not exactly... composed.”

  “They seem like an odd mix,” Kaelen observed.

  Jess shrugged. “Maybe, but they’re here, just like the rest of us. Guess that means they’re capable.”

  Kaelen filed the names and faces away, a strange feeling settling in his chest. He didn’t know why, but something told him these three would cross his path again.

  ---

  The elder raised his hand, and the room fell silent. His voice carried easily, cutting through the tension.

  “Students,” he began, his tone measured but commanding. “Tonight, you stand at the threshold of greatness. Beyond these doors lies your first test, a trial that will separate the worthy from the unworthy.”

  A ripple of unease passed through the crowd.

  “Each of you will be assigned a door,” the elder continued. “Behind it, you will face challenges designed to test your strength, your intellect, and your resolve. At the end of the trial, you will meet one other student in combat. Only one of you will emerge victorious.”

  Murmurs broke out, some panicked, others disbelieving.

  “Silence,” the elder commanded, his voice booming. “This is the way of the Bastion. Only those who prove themselves may continue. Those who fail...” He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “Will not return.”

  Kaelen felt his stomach twist, the blue stones in his pocket thrumming faintly as if reacting to the tension. He glanced at Jess, who looked pale but resolute.

  “Good luck,” he murmured to her.

  She met his gaze, her green eyes fierce despite her fear. “You too.”

  Renik clapped a hand on Kaelen’s shoulder. “Guess this is where the fun begins.”

  Kaelen didn’t reply, his focus shifting to the elder as he began calling out names.

  One by one, students stepped forward, disappearing behind the ornate doors. The room grew quieter with each departure, the tension almost unbearable.

  When Kaelen’s name was called, he straightened, casting one last glance at Jess. Her lips moved, forming words he couldn’t hear but somehow understood.

  “Survive.”

  Kaelen nodded and stepped forward, the door looming ahead like a portal to another world. He didn’t look back.