The morning in Aetherlight was serene, with the sun rising over the horizon, casting a golden glow across the city. Visitors and locals alike marveled at the beauty of the sunrise, but for Mixarnt, the morning brought no peace. He hadn't slept at all, his mind consumed by thoughts of Moon. Her sudden coldness toward him, her sharp departure from the tavern, and the heavy feeling in his chest—it was all too much. For the first time, Mixarnt felt the weight of something he couldn't quite understand: a broken heart.
"Maybe I shouldn't bother her from now on..." Mixarnt muttered to himself, a sad smile on his face. He hated this unfamiliar feeling, the ache of being disliked by someone he cared about. Moon had always been kind, caring, and composed, but yesterday, she had been distant and cold, especially toward him. It hurt more than he expected.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, an announcement echoed throughout Aetherlight, snapping him back to reality. "Participants of the Aether Knight Exam, within 10 minutes, those who do not arrive at the colosseum will be instantly disqualified."
Mixarnt's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten about the trial. Without wasting another second, he threw on his clothes, barely taking the time to fix his appearance, and leaped out of the window of his room in the adventurers' guild. "Enigma Enhancement—100%!" he declared, black lightning crackling around his body as he vanished in an instant.
In a flash, Mixarnt arrived at the colosseum, the first participant to make it. He dispelled the enhancement, feeling the strain on his body. It wasn't as severe as usual since he had only used the 100% enhancement for a few seconds, but it was enough to remind him of the toll it took. He began stretching, trying to shake off the lingering discomfort, but his usual grin was absent. His mind was still clouded by the events of the previous night, and he didn't even realize how emotionally disturbed he was. Using the 100% enhancement without a second thought was a clear sign that he wasn't himself.
As other participants began to arrive, he stood quietly, his usual energetic demeanor replaced by an uncharacteristic silence. He kept replaying his interactions with Moon in his head, wondering what he had done wrong and why she had been so upset. The weight of his emotions was heavy, and Mixarnt felt truly vulnerable.
The Aether Knight Trial was about to begin, but his heart wasn't in it. He had always faced challenges with confidence and a smile, but today, he felt lost. The thought of Moon's cold expression lingered in his mind, and no amount of stretching or preparation could shake it off.
As the colosseum filled with participants, Mixarnt took a deep breath, trying to focus. He knew he had to push through, but the ache in his chest was a constant reminder of the emotional storm brewing inside him. For now, all he could do was hope that the trial would distract him from the pain—at least for a little while.
The 4th Trial of the Aether Knight Exam began with General Kay, in her female form, addressing the participants. "Greetings, participants. I'll be your moderator for today. The theme of the 4th Trial is called Battlefield Simulation (Strategy & Leadership). For now, I want you to form five groups," she announced.
The participants quickly began grouping up, but Mixarnt stood alone, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a cold, distant attitude. None of the other participants approached him, but Liva, a noble mage who had been bullied by her peers, noticed him. Remembering how Mixarnt had helped Rosalind during the 2nd Trial and his reputation for aiding others, she decided to approach him. "M-Mixarnt! Let's form a group!" she said, her voice trembling but determined.
Mixarnt barely glanced at her, his tone flat and uninterested. "Yeah, sure, whatever."
Liva was taken aback. She was relieved he agreed, but something was clearly off. Mixarnt's usual grin was gone, replaced by a look of sadness, annoyance, and irritation. He seemed completely out of character, and it worried her.
"Haha, lost your chance huh?" Rise teased Razen who is beside him, she was about to approach Mixarnt but they saw Liva approached him first.
"Tsk. Shut up." Razen said turning away, followed by Rise
As the groups formed, Kay instructed everyone to choose a number from 1 to 5. Before Liva could even suggest a strategy, Mixarnt shouted, "Two!" without consulting her.
"M-Mixarnt! You can't just decide that on your own!" Liva protested, her eyes pleading. She didn't understand what was wrong with him, but his behavior was making her anxious.
Just then, General Althea arrived with Rosalind and five of her knights. "Hey, Mixarnt! We'll be your team. You can use my squad however you want," Althea said proudly. Rosalind smiled, happy to have another chance to work with Mixarnt.
The other teams chose their numbers, and the generals assigned to each team were revealed:
Team 1: General Xacion
Team 2: General Althea
Team 3: General Gawain
Team 4: General Gerald
Team 5: General Borris
Kay explained the rules: "The generals and their knights are at your disposal. Your goal is to acquire the flag of another team. The team with no flags at the end of the trial will be eliminated. The trial will last for five hours. This is to assess leadership, tactical awareness, and the ability to stay composed under high-stakes conditions. If all team maintain their flags at the end of the trial, then all of you pass."
With that, Kay activated the terrain shift, transporting everyone to different parts of the Eternal Forest, a mystical woodland home to the elves. Kay continued, "This place is called the Eternal Forest, the home of the elves. As you know, they hate humans. However, our kingdom has a peace treaty with them, and they've agreed to assist in this trial by acting as the wild card. This means they can attack you and take your flag away. That's all. Let the exam begin."