(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don't hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

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The light faded, and Selene found herself standing on uneven ground. The air was thick, damp, and cool. A soft mist drifted through the trees. She glanced around briefly — tall trunks, dense foliage, scattered boulders. Forest terrain again, but this one darker than most, the light filtering weakly through the canopy.

She adjusted her footing, feeling the soft soil under her boots. Her hand brushed against her pocket, where the sigil stone pulsed faintly with a dim glow. The number 1 etched on its surface flickered softly before she tucked it away again.

Her breathing steadied as she moved. The ground was wet, yet she left almost no trace. Every few meters, she paused, eyes scanning, ears tuned for movement.

The trial had only just begun, but she knew the early minutes decided everything. Those who moved carelessly would either be ambushed or exposed when the first compression began.

After several minutes of quiet progress, she caught it — faint rustling ahead, not far. The sound of someone stepping over wet leaves, trying to move quietly, but not quietly enough. She crouched slightly, hiding behind a thick tree root.

A figure emerged between the trees — female, older by two or three years, carrying herself with confidence. Her black hair was tied back neatly, likely among the more experienced acolytes.

The girl was walking carefully, scanning the surroundings, a faint glow from her hand suggesting she'd already located a shrine nearby.

Selene followed at a distance, keeping to the shadows. After a few minutes, the other girl stopped. Through the mist, Selene saw it — the faint blue glow of an active altar. A shrine.

The girl circled it, studying the runes, before taking out her sigil stone. She seemed cautious, glancing around before placing it on the altar. The light brightened slightly as the point counter began ticking.

Selene stayed hidden, observing. She could rush in now, but there was no need; the point would be hers. Besides, it paid to be vigilant. Her breathing stayed even. Patience mattered more than haste.

A few minutes passed.

The shrine glowed steadily, its pulse syncing with the rhythm of the girl's breathing. The forest stayed quiet, save for the soft hum of the altar.

Selene finally stepped out.

The sound was subtle, just a branch shifting — but the other girl spun immediately, eyes narrowing. Her mana flared slightly, controlled and calm.

"Thought I had a feeling someone was watching, I wasn't completely sure," she said, her tone level but firm.

Selene said nothing. She approached slowly, her gaze fixed on the girl, not the altar.

"Don't bother," the girl continued.

"It's occupied now. Go find another shrine." She said.

Selene stopped a few steps away; she almost had the urge to chuckle.

"You don't really believe I'd do that, do you?" Selene said with a raised brow, her voice placid.

The girl's expression tightened. "Is that a threat?"

Selene didn't answer. She took one more step forward.

The girl sighed softly. "Then I guess it's a challenge."

She pulled her sigil stone off the altar, tucking it into her side pocket. The glow around the shrine dimmed slightly, signalling inactivity. Her stance lowered.

Selene mirrored her.

Neither spoke again. The first movement came fast; the older girl struck forward, aiming a sharp kick toward Selene's midsection. Selene shifted sideways, catching the leg with her arm and redirecting the force past her.

The girl recovered quickly, rotating into a backhand strike. Selene ducked; the strike brushed her hair as it passed just above her. She countered with a palm thrust to the shoulder. The hit made her opponent take a step back.

The girl's eyes narrowed.

They circled each other slowly.

The girl lunged again, this time lower, feinting right before striking left. Selene shifted back, reading the rhythm.

The girl was faster but predictable, relying too much on direct movement. Selene waited for the pattern to repeat, then stepped in.

A parry, then a twist. The girl's balance broke. Selene used her momentum, guiding her down. She didn't hit the ground hard, but the shock froze her for a second.

Selene stepped back, keeping a distance.

The girl exhaled slowly, getting up again.

A faint smile flickered across the girl's face.

Her mana surged— not a spell, just reinforcement. She darted forward, faster now. Selene caught her wrist mid-strike, turning it outward, but the girl twisted free and kicked, grazing Selene's shoulder.

Selene retreated one step, unbothered. Her stance reset instantly. The girl pressed again, landing another strike — shallow but forceful. Selene blocked it, felt the vibration travel up her arm, and used the motion to pivot. Her elbow brushed the girl's ribs, drawing a short gasp.

They separated again, the girl breathing heavier now.

The next exchange was clean. The girl swung high; Selene deflected, stepped in close, and struck once, directly to the solar plexus.

The air left the girl's lungs instantly. She staggered, eyes wide, struggling to breathe. Selene followed through with a kick directly on her forehead, pushing her back against a tree trunk. The impact rattled the bark.

The girl slumped to her knees, one hand pressed to her head, the other raised weakly. "Alright… I yield," she muttered.

Selene stayed where she was, watching for a moment

She crouched slightly, extending her hand.

"Your sigil." She said simply

The girl hesitated; this would be her 2nd time failing, but even she could tell it was pointless to keep fighting, coupled with the fact that she could tell Selene was holding back, she handed it over.

Selene placed both stones together. A faint shimmer, and the light merged.

When she looked up again, the girl was already fading out, her form breaking into fragments of light before vanishing entirely.

Selene slipped her stone back into her pocket and returned to the shrine. The altar was still active, waiting. She placed her sigil stone on it once more. The light brightened, then steadied.

She sat down again, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The forest had gone quiet.

Minutes passed. The counter rose steadily — three, then four, then five. Each minute felt longer than the last, but she didn't move. Her eyes stayed fixed on the fog.

Eventually, she stood and took her stone back. The shrine dimmed behind her, its glow returning to idle. She looked up briefly — the faint shimmer of the boundary's outer edge visible through gaps in the canopy. Compression would begin soon.

She adjusted her uniform and started walking east, light steps carrying her deeper into the forest.

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