Adrian wiped a sleeve across his forehead. He knew he couldn't afford to rest much longer. I need a way out of here.

  The boy's fingers curled reflexively, blue flames flickering to life before he clenched his hand into a fist, smothering them. Fire wouldn’t help him now. He needed someone more suitable to the task at hand.

  Gradually, a soft green glow pulsed in his palm. The warmth was different from his own flames, gentler, fluid rather than raw heat. The shape flickered, then solidified, and with a burst of verdant light, a familiar form coalesced before him.

  Mimi trilled softly, the spirit fox pressed herself against Adrian’s side, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold, oppressive air that clung to his skin. She nudged his arm with her nose, her touch lingering, as if sensing the exhaustion weighing on him.

  Adrian exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. “Don't worry, I’m fine,” he muttered, though the hoarseness in his voice betrayed the lie. Mimi let out a soft chuff, her ears twitching, unconvinced.

  He managed a weary smile, resting a hand briefly on her fiery fur. “But we need to get out of here. Can you help me find a way?”

  Mimi’s ears flicked forward, her tail curling as she turned toward the darkness ahead. She climbed down Adrian's body and went ahead, then paused, glancing over her shoulder. Adrian steadied himself with a breath, pushing past the weariness dragging at his limbs, then forced himself to follow.

  The cavern still reeked of burnt stone and dust, thick enough to coat his throat with each breath. His heartbeat still thundered in his ears, though it steadied slightly with Mimi’s presence at his side.

  Yet, when Mimi suddenly stopped. Adrian tensed, looking around for any sign of movement. Then, she looked up, toward a distant glow shimmering faintly at the edge of the cavern. That's light. Could be a way out… or a trap.

  He glanced down at Mimi as if to look for reassurance. The fox simply flicked her tail and continued forward. Well, it's not as if I have many options. He swallowed, steeling himself, and followed her toward the light.

  The closer they got, the brighter it became, shifting from a dull glow into something clearer, more defined. The cavern walls narrowed, forming a natural passageway. The ground sloped slightly upward, the damp air thinning as he moved.

  Adrian's chest tightened with anticipation. Then, without warning, he stepped through the light. The boy blinked against the sudden change in atmosphere. And soon, his boots scuffed against smooth marble rather than jagged rock.

  Once his eyes adjusted to the brighter light, Adrian saw that he was in what appeared to be an ancient library. The space before him stretched vast and ruined, endless shelves towering into shadowed heights.

  The ceiling had partially collapsed in places, allowing streams of dim light to filter in through the broken stone, though Adrian wasn't sure where the light came from exactly. Magic perhaps, but the source of it is unclear.

  He stepped forward hesitantly, trailing along a nearby shelf. The wood crumbled beneath his touch, brittle with time. Most of the books had long since rotted away, their pages reduced to nothing but dust. It's unfortunate that this much knowledge has been lost.

  He had hoped to find something that could tell him where he was. But it seemed this place had been abandoned for centuries. Still, he moved forward searching for anything that might still be readable. He ran his fingers along the scattered debris, pausing when something caught his eye.

  There was a single piece of parchment, resting atop a cracked stone pedestal. Unlike the others, this one was intact. Someone wanted me to find this, there's no other good explanation why a random piece of pristine paper would survive in a place like this.

  Adrian picked it up, carefully unfolding the brittle sheet. His eyes narrowed as he read the words scrawled across it.

  To the one who has made it this far, congratulations.

  Historically, those who make it this far would only consist of the top 1% of any given cohort. So if you're reading this message, you can already count yourselves as one of the best mages in the kingdom.

  I imagine by now, you have suspicions, and allow me to confirm them. I was never an initiate. I am an instructor at the Imperial War Mage Academy. When you finish reading this note, a pathway will open. It will lead you to the final challenge.

  If you are truly worthy, you will succeed.

  -Darius Venn

  Adrian lowered the parchment slightly, his heartbeat steady but hard against his ribs. I had my suspicions, but to think that this was all an elaborate exercise is… impressive.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Before long, the parchment dissipated into wisps of mana, vanishing before Adrian's eyes. At the same time, a deep, rumbling shift echoed through the library. Adrian turned sharply, looking onto a section of the wall which slowly grinded open, revealing a darkened passage.

  “Final challenge, huh?” he muttered. Mimi trilled beside him, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. Adrian exhaled, rolling his shoulders. He had come too far to stop now. Without hesitation, he stepped forward into the unknown.

  He strode toward the opening and passed through, finding himself in a pristine circular chamber supported by towering white marble pillars. Unlike the library, this place remained untouched by time. The polished floor reflected the glow of enchanted sconces along the walls. He turned slowly, scanning his surroundings. What am I supposed to do here? Nothing stands out. No weapons, no runes, no hidden mechanisms.

  Mimi trilled as she tapped Adrian’s cheek with a paw before leaping gracefully to the floor. Her fiery tail flicked behind her as she padded toward the center of the chamber. Her nose twitched, sifting through the unseen currents of energy in the air. Adrian followed her gaze, his breath hitching as he spotted a small, folded parchment resting atop a lone pedestal. Again?

  His pulse quickened as he approached, the weight of the chamber pressing down on his shoulders. The silence stretched as he reached out to unfold the parchment.

  This is your final trial.

  I have dedicated my life to this kingdom, ensuring its survival through the power of war mages. To that end, my legacy must endure. Your last test is to face me.

  The moment his eyes reached the last word, the parchment crumbled to dust, disintegrating between his fingertips. A golden radiance erupted from the floor, intricate runes bursting to life across the chamber’s marble surface. The air thickened, growing heavy with arcane energy, pressing against his skin like an unseen force. A deep tremor rolled through the ground, sending tiny fractures snaking through the pristine stone beneath his feet.

  Adrian’s heart pounded as he scanned the room. The stillness shattered as mana coalesced before him, raw and unrelenting. From the swirling mass of power, a figure took form.

  An imposing mage clad in flowing blue robes, his face hidden behind a featureless mask. He did not move, yet his presence filled the chamber, an overwhelming force pressing into Adrian’s very being. Wisps of pure energy flickered around him, distorting the space like a mirage, a manifestation of magic so refined it hovered on the edge of reality.

  Adrian’s fingers twitched as realization struck. This isn’t just an illusion. This is an advanced mage construct… Illusion magic fused with conjuration. Whoever designed this wove the two seamlessly.

  His throat tightened as he steadied his stance. Adrian exhaled, tension curling through his muscles. Fine. let’s see what you’ve got.

  The chamber pulsed with energy, the runes beneath Adrian’s feet flaring brighter as the ghostly mage raised a hand. Adrian flicked a glance at Mimi and whispered, "Hide." The spirit fox hesitated for only a heartbeat before vanishing, her emerald glow winking out like a snuffed candle.

  A flicker of motion was all the warning Adrian had before a jagged spear of azure lightning shot toward him, searing through the air with an ear-splitting crack. Adrian twisted, barely avoiding the blast as it scorched the marble where he had stood. Heat licked at his skin, static crawling through his hair. Fast. I can’t afford to stand still.

  He retaliated instantly, fingers flicking outward as blue flames erupted from his palm, spiraling toward his opponent. Yet the ghostly figure didn’t move. Instead, a translucent barrier shimmered into existence, the fire crashing against it harmlessly before dissipating in a swirl of embers.

  Adrian narrowed his eyes. That wasn’t a normal shield spell. It didn’t just block my attack, it absorbed it.

  Darius Venn lifted his hand again, fingers curling in a slow, deliberate motion. From the air itself, jagged shards of ice coalesced, suspended for a fraction of a second before launching toward Adrian in a deadly barrage. He flung himself sideways, rolling across the polished floor as the spikes shattered against the stone, sending a cold mist swirling around him. If direct attacks won’t work, I’ll have to change my approach.

  Raising both hands, Adrian willed the flames into existence once more, but this time, they didn’t form a simple stream of fire. Instead, the bluish flames took shape, swirling into the form of a great serpent, its sinuous body undulating as it coiled around him.

  The serpent struck first, lunging forward with a hiss, its blazing maw snapping shut where the ghostly mage had stood. But the figure flickered, vanishing in an instant before reappearing several paces away, hands raised in intricate gestures. The air thickened, charged with an unseen force, and then—

  A wall of solid wind slammed into Adrian’s chest, lifting him off his feet and sending him tumbling across the chamber. His back hit a pillar with a force that rattled his bones, but he gritted his teeth and rolled to his feet, barely dodging a second arc of lightning that split the stone behind him. He’s adapting to everything I throw at him.

  Adrian exhaled sharply, adjusting his stance. Time to test something.

  He thrust his hand forward, but instead of a direct flame, he conjured a sphere of fire and hurled it at the ground between them. The explosion sent ripples of heat surging outward, momentarily obscuring Darius in a wave of flickering embers.

  At the same time, Adrian dove into the smoke, flames curling around his fingers as he reached into the conjured fire and pulled forth a sword wreathed in living blue flame. The moment his fingers closed around the hilt, the fire solidified, burning bright as he surged forward.

  The ghostly mage raised a hand to channel swirling mana, clear evidence of a massive spell. But at the same time, Adrian swung.

  The burning blade met the swirling mass of energy, and for an instant, the two forces clashed. Sparks erupted where fire met pure magic, and then Adrian twisted, redirecting the momentum into a sweeping arc. The mage blurred, barely shifting away in time, but Adrian pressed forward, striking again. Each blow sent tremors through the chamber, blue fire clashing against ephemeral barriers.

  Yet, amidst Adrian's barrage of strikes, Darius managed to push him away with a powerful gust of wind. The ancient mage then clapped his hands together, causing a massive wave of force to erupt outward, sending Adrian skidding backward.

  His grip tightened around the flaming sword as the ghostly mage started channeling another spell. They locked eyes, unspoken understanding passing between them.

  Neither had gained the upper hand. Not yet.