CHAPTER 60: THE FOREST’S TEST

Darius’s lungs burned as he sprinted through the forest, the damp air thick with the stench of decay and pine, his boots slipping on roots that seemed to twist beneath him. Aiden’s orbs blazed ahead, their golden light cutting through the suffocating dark, but the shadows fought back, curling like living things around gnarled trees. Tahlia ran beside him, her leaf-streaked hair whipping, her breath sharp and uneven. Kai’s earth magic rumbled, stone barriers rising behind them to slow whatever chased them, while Bran’s sparks flared wildly, dying in the heavy air. Zevran’s metal shields hovered, glinting as they deflected unseen threats. The forest groaned, a low, guttural moan, as footsteps—heavy, deliberate, predatory—thundered closer, shaking the ground. The scream from moments ago clawed at Darius’s mind, its raw, unholy edge a blade in his thoughts. Something was hunting them, and it wasn’t human.

Aiden’s voice cracked over the chaos, his orbs flaring brighter, illuminating twisted branches that clawed at the sky. "Keep moving!" he shouted, sweat beading on his brow as he pushed his light magic to its limit, the golden glow stark against the forest’s void. A shadowy form flickered in the dark, massive, its coal-like eyes blazing through the trees, vanishing before Darius could focus. It reappeared closer, a shapeless mass of writhing darkness, half-humanoid, half-beast, its edges blurring as it lunged. Darius thrust out his hand, wind magic surging in a gust that shoved Tahlia clear of a dark swipe, the energy grazing her arm, her leaves wilting briefly. She gasped, stumbling, but Darius pulled her forward, his heart slamming.

"It’s playing with us!" Kai yelled, stomping to raise a jagged stone wall. The creature’s form flickered, passing through the barrier like smoke, its eyes glinting with hunger. Bran conjured a burst of flame, red and frantic, but the creature vanished again, its roar shaking the canopy. Zevran’s shields spun faster, metal humming as they blocked a second swipe, the impact ringing in the air. Tahlia’s hands moved, vines erupting from the ground, twisting to snare the creature, but it dissolved, reappearing ten feet ahead, its massive form blocking the path.

The forest tightened around them, trees leaning in, their bark glistening with unnatural sheen. The air was a vise, heavy with the scent of old blood and moss, the silence between the creature’s roars deafening. Darius’s wind magic flared, clearing a path through tangled roots, but the creature’s footsteps pounded closer, its presence a weight on their souls. "We can’t outrun it!" Bran panted, his flames faltering, his face pale. Tahlia’s vines lashed out again, wrapping a tree, but the creature’s form flickered, untouched, its eyes burning brighter, closer.

Aiden’s orbs pulsed, their light straining against the dark, revealing the creature’s shifting shape—now a towering figure with claw-like appendages, now a writhing mass of shadow, always those searing eyes. "The edge!" Aiden shouted, pointing to a faint break in the trees. "We’re almost out!" Darius pushed harder, wind swirling to boost their speed, Tahlia’s hand tight in his. Kai raised another stone barrier, the ground trembling, but the creature’s roar shattered it, debris flying. Zevran’s shields darted, deflecting dark energy that grazed Bran’s shoulder, singeing his sleeve.

The forest’s hum grew louder, a low moan vibrating in their bones, as if it fed the creature’s hunger. Darius’s breath hitched, his mind racing—Ignatus’s legacy, the Storm Visionary, felt distant compared to this primal terror. Tahlia’s voice, barely audible, cut through. "It’s not just a monster," she whispered, her eyes wide, leaves trembling. "It’s the forest." Her nature magic pulsed, vines curling protectively, but they wilted under the creature’s gaze, as if it drained her power.

The trees parted, and the group burst onto open ground near the academy, the air lighter but no less heavy with dread. The other students from the storytelling session stood there, faces ashen, eyes wide from the scream and crash they’d heard. "You saw it?" a first-year stammered, clutching a glowing ring. The group nodded, breathless, as the forest’s edge loomed behind them, dark and alive. The creature emerged, larger now, its shadowy form solidifying—ten feet tall, a writhing mass of darkness with limbs like twisted branches, its coal-like eyes blazing with malice. It reared back, a wave of dark energy gathering, ready to strike.

The students froze, their breaths caught, Aiden’s orbs flickering under the weight of the creature’s presence. Darius’s heart pounded, his wind magic surging instinctively, a faint gust swirling around him and Tahlia, who stood rigid, her leaves trembling. Kai’s hands clenched, earth rumbling faintly beneath him, while Bran’s sparks sputtered, and Zevran’s metal shields hummed, poised for defense. The other students from the storytelling session, huddled near the academy’s edge, gasped, their faces pale, eyes wide with terror as the creature’s energy swelled, a black tide ready to crash.

The monster lunged, its dark energy erupting in a torrent of shadowy tendrils, lashing toward the group like a storm of blades. Darius shoved Tahlia behind him, wind flaring to deflect a tendril, but it grazed his arm, cold and searing, numbing his skin. Aiden’s orbs blazed brighter, their golden light straining, while Kai raised a stone barrier, only for it to crack under the assault. The creature’s roar shook the ground, its form growing, limbs elongating, eyes burning hotter, as if feeding on their fear.

Rhys stepped forward, his black cloak snapping in an unseen wind, violet flames igniting in his hands. "Enough!" he bellowed, his voice amplified by magic, echoing like thunder across the open ground. His flames surged, spiraling into a towering tornado of dark fire—crimson, violet, and black swirling with an otherworldly shimmer, spirit magic weaving through the blaze. The tornado roared upward, meeting the creature’s tendrils mid-air, engulfing them in a maelstrom of light and shadow. The monster shrieked, its form buckling, collapsing inward as Rhys’s fire consumed it, the dark energy dissolving into sparks that rained down like ash.

The flames shot skyward, a pillar of dark fire piercing the night, its heat pulsing even from a distance. Rhys laughed, a deep, resonant sound amplified by his magic, carrying over the stunned crowd. "You shouldn’t hate me for this," he said, his voice warm but edged with mischief, his sharp eyes glinting. "It’s tradition—a third-year prank to scare you first-years, to show you what you’ll become." He spread his arms, embers drifting from his fingers, his cloak billowing. "Fire and spirit magic, woven to craft that beast. The scream? A bit of sound magic to set the mood. Hope you don’t hold it against me—this is just a glimpse of the power waiting for you."

The group exhaled, fear melting into disbelief, then tentative relief. Kai ran a hand through his hair, grinning shakily. "You’re an absolute bastard, Rhys," he said, but his tone was light, admiration creeping in. Tahlia’s grip on Darius loosened, her leaves stilling, though her green eyes held a flicker of unease. "That scream... it felt too real," she said, her voice steadying but curious. "How’d you make it sound like that?"

Rhys’s smirk softened, his hands still sparking with violet flames. "Sound magic’s tricky," he explained, his voice calm but engaging, drawing the crowd closer. "It’s not just noise—it’s about tapping into emotion, amplifying fear. I layered it with spirit magic to make it feel alive, like it was coming from the forest itself. The creature was the same—fire for form, spirit for substance, giving it that shifting, almost sentient quality." He conjured a small wisp of dark fire, shaping it into a miniature version of the creature, its coal-like eyes glinting before it dissolved. The students murmured, awestruck, their fear giving way to fascination.

Aiden, his orbs dimming as he relaxed, tilted his head. "The forest helped, didn’t it? It felt... alive, like it was part of the illusion." His voice was thoughtful, his light magic still casting a soft glow over the group.

Rhys nodded, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "The forest has its own magic, old and deep. It amplifies what we do, makes the illusions feel real. That’s why we choose it for this tradition—it’s not just a scare; it’s a test of how you handle the unknown." He paused, scanning the group, his gaze lingering on Darius. "You all did better than most. You didn’t scatter—you stuck together."

Bran, his sparks flaring again, laughed nervously. "Nearly lost it back there, man. How’d you keep that thing from actually hurting us?" His question drew nods from the others, their curiosity outweighing their lingering nerves.

"Control," Rhys said simply, raising a hand. A violet flame coiled around his fingers, shifting into a serpent, then a phoenix, its wings shimmering with spirit magic’s eerie glow. "Fire’s my base, but spirit magic lets me shape it, give it intent. The creature was designed to chase, to scare, not to harm. Every tendril, every move was calculated to push you without breaking you." He let the flame fade, his expression sincere. "It’s about showing you what’s possible—years from now, you’ll wield power like this, maybe more."

Zevran, silent until now, stepped forward, his scar stark in the moonlight. "And the tree?" he asked, his voice low, almost a challenge. "Those symbols, the pull—it felt real. Was that you too?"

Rhys’s smile returned, sly but not mocking. "The tree’s part of the forest’s heart, a natural focus for magic. I used it to anchor the illusion, amplify the dread. Spirit magic can make you feel things—fear, curiosity, that urge to touch. It’s why you felt drawn to it." He glanced at Tahlia, who shivered, her leaves quivering slightly. "Your nature magic probably felt it strongest. The forest doesn’t lie, but it can be... persuaded."

Tahlia frowned, her voice soft but probing. "So it was all fake? The scream, the creature, the tree’s pulse?" Her eyes searched Rhys’s, seeking reassurance.

"All crafted," Rhys confirmed, his tone gentle. "But the forest’s power is real. We just borrow it for the show. You’re not in danger—not tonight." His words eased the group, their shoulders relaxing, the other students from the storytelling session inching closer, their fear replaced by curiosity.

Darius, his wind magic still humming faintly, spoke up, his voice steady but tinged with wonder. "What about the second-years? If this is your tradition, what’s theirs?" His question hung in the air, the group leaning in, eager for more.

Rhys’s grin widened, and he gestured to the sky. "Funny you ask." A soft hum filled the air, and tables—wooden, laden with steaming dishes, glowing drinks, and enchanted pastries—descended from the darkness, carried by shimmering currents of magic. Second-year students appeared, some floating down with air magic, others stepping from the shadows, their faces alight with mischief. The crowd gasped, then laughed, the tension breaking like a wave. "Their tradition," Rhys said, his voice warm, "is to make sure we don’t starve after the scare. Food, drinks, a proper celebration to end the night."

The tables settled on the grass, their surfaces gleaming with plates of roasted meat, fruits that sparkled with enchantments, and goblets of luminous liquid. The second-years mingled, some clapping first-years on the back, others joking about their terrified faces. A second-year girl with braided hair approached Rhys, leaning in to whisper something, her eyes glinting with amusement. Rhys nodded, his smile turning playful, and raised his hands. "One last thing," he called, his voice amplified again, ringing over the crowd.

He cast a spell, his hands weaving intricate patterns, and the sky erupted in a dazzling display. Flames burst upward, weaving into fireworks—phoenixes soaring in crimson, serpents coiling in emerald, stars blooming in violet, gold, and sapphire. Each shape was alive, fluid, their edges shimmering with spirit magic, painting the night with breathtaking beauty. The crowd gasped, faces upturned, the fear of the forest’s chase forgotten in the spectacle. The phoenixes spiraled, their wings trailing sparks, while serpents danced, their scales shifting colors, and stars pulsed, raining embers that faded before touching the ground.

Darius sat on the grass, Tahlia beside him, her shoulder brushing his, her smile soft as she watched the sky. Kai grabbed a glowing drink, toasting Bran, who laughed, his sparks flaring playfully. Aiden’s orbs dimmed, his face relaxed, while Zevran stood apart, a faint nod acknowledging the display. The other students settled around the tables, their voices rising in chatter, laughter, and clinking goblets, the air warm with camaraderie. Plates piled high with food—spiced meats, enchanted fruits that burst with flavor, pastries that glowed faintly—passed between hands, the second-years weaving through, refilling drinks, their magic making the night feel alive.

Darius bit into a shimmering fruit, its taste sharp and sweet, his eyes on the fireworks. A phoenix flared, its wings spanning the sky, and he felt a flicker of awe. The forest’s terror, Ignatus’s legacy, the shifting story—they lingered, but tonight, they were distant. The group’s laughter, Tahlia’s warmth, the dazzling flames above—it was enough. The fireworks peaked, a final starburst of gold and violet, and the crowd cheered, their voices echoing into the night. They ate, drank, and reveled, the academy’s shadow forgotten, their bonds forged stronger in the glow of Rhys’s magic, the forest’s test a memory they’d carry forever.