Two days passed in the blink of an eye — yet Luna Lume felt like an entirely different city.
A few meters from the entrance of the dreaded Orb Valley Forest stood a colossal metallic, glowing structure: a monumental stage surrounded by flags of the four kingdoms, armed guards, and hundreds — perhaps thousands — of aspiring youths, spectators, soldiers, and official representatives.
The city pulsed.
As if it had a new heart.
Tocre adjusted his coat, observing the stage with a serious expression.
Angelo, beside him, gaped like a child at a fair for the first time.
— Wow… look at this! — he exclaimed, wide-eyed. — They built a stage bigger than the entire marketplace!
Tocre remained silent, arms crossed.
— This isn't a stage.
— It's a warning.
In the center of the crowd, flags fluttered, soldiers organized makeshift lines, and murmurs rippled about the start of the exams.
Then, the music stopped, the microphone hissed, and the audience turned its attention to the figure stepping forward.
AUSTER FILE — Governor of Luna Lume
The man ascending the stage had completely white hair, tied back neatly.
His face was lined with age, but his eyes shone with firmness and wisdom.
Grasping the microphone, his voice sounded deep, filled with presence:
— Young ones… — he began, sweeping the crowd with his gaze. — Here you are.
From different nations.
From different kingdoms.
From places many of us have never even heard of — and yet, you came.
The crowd fell silent, captivated by his natural authority.
— This demonstrates something simple… yet valuable.
You are committed to Valthifall.
To the future of our kingdoms.
To the balance that so many try to destroy.
Tense murmurs spread. Everyone knew what he meant. Everyone felt the shadow growing.
— The forces of evil have always lurked — Auster continued. — They have never abandoned us.
But neither have we abandoned the fight.
Behind him, the Orb Valley Forest seemed to breathe — alive, dark, ancient.
— You are the next generation — the governor said. — Stronger.
Faster.
More aware.
And above all… more human.
A brief applause ran through the crowd.
Seconds later, Auster raised his hand.
— There is something many of you do not yet know about these exams.
They will be divided into phases.
And each phase… will remain secret.
The audience murmured, uneasy.
— However — he sighed — the first phase could not be hidden. Some sources leaked information.
Comments and whispers spread like wind through the gathering.
Auster pointed behind the stage:
— Behind me lies the Orb Valley Forest.
The most feared of all.
The most unpredictable.
The most alive.
The wind blew through the trees, as if in response.
— For thirty days — he said — you will live inside it.
You will survive inside it.
You will grow inside it.
And you will hone skills in ways you cannot yet imagine.
A shiver ran through everyone present.
— That is all I have to say for now.
Enjoy the celebration before the war.
And in the end, you will hear the words of the officer in charge of the Watch Fleet…
He gestured to the side.
— Ciricko Gaelux.
A robust man with eyes sharp as a freshly forged blade gave a brief military salute.
The crowd erupted in applause.
And thus, the celebration began.
Lights lit up, music started, and young people from different regions mingled.
Angelo and Tocre moved through the crowd, overhearing conversations about expectations, fears, techniques, powers, rivals, rumors of the Aeternis organization… and about how no one really knew what to expect from the Forest.
It was then that a soft hand touched Angelo's shoulder.
He turned.
A girl stood there, smiling, her eyes bright and curious.
— Hi… — she said. — You're Angelo, right?
Tocre immediately went on alert — not hostile, but watchful.
Angelo blinked a few times.
— Uh… yes, I am. And you are…?
The girl tucked her long brown hair behind her ear, and something in her gaze made Angelo's heart race.
Even as he tried to stay calm, he had no idea what awaited him here in Luna Lume — the chaos, the challenges, and the mystery that would change everything.
— Hi… — she said. — You're Angelo, right?
Tocre immediately went on alert .
Angelo blinked a few times.
— Uh… yes, I am. And you are…?
The girl tucked her hair behind her ear.
— Lana. Aura Lana de Amenophilos. 13 years old, almost 14.
And she smiled.
A calm smile… but hiding something else.
Something Angelo couldn't tell if it was curiosity… or danger.
The party continued around them — colorful, loud, alive — but nothing compared to the presence of the girl in front of them.
She brushed back her bluish bangs, took a deep breath, and without warning, blurted out:
— Hi! You're the Orsons, right? The prodigy cousins? I've heard of you and, wow… you're REALLY famous! I studied everything about you, because if we want to survive the Forest — and I mean SURVIVE — we need to form groups now, before going in. It's way more efficient, statistical, mathematical, and—
— …wow. — Angelo blinked several times. — You talk… a lot, don't you?
Tocre crossed his arms, serious as always.
— Confirmed.
The girl stopped abruptly. Her eyes widened.
— Oh! Sorry! I talk too much when I get nervous! It doesn't happen often, but I promise… I can talk less! I just thought that—
Angelo raised a hand, signaling a pause.
— Look… good to know we're famous. But if you talk like that in the forest? The probability of us dying increases by… ninety percent, I'd say.
— Agreed. — Tocre added. — We don't like people who talk too much.
Her expression fell immediately.
— Oh… really? Okay… sorry. I'll try — I will try — to keep up with your pace. I just thought we could form a team. Three is a more stable number than two, statistically speaking, and—
Angelo sighed and scratched the back of his neck.
— Look, I'm not sure we want anyone else on the team. It's always been me and Tocre. Like Yin and Yang, water and fire, perfect balance. Works fine on our own.
She pressed her hands to her chest, almost pleading.
— But three is better! Two is vulnerable! Two can't handle watch rotations! Two can't deal with simultaneous attacks! Two—
— What's wrong with being two? — Ângelo interrupted. — We're men!
The girl beamed triumphantly.
— Exactly! You need a woman!
Tocre raised an eyebrow.
— We'll need a woman in a few years… to marry and have kids. Not to go into a cursed forest full of carnivorous monsters.
The silence that followed was so intense even the wind seemed to stop.
— N-No! That's not what I meant! — Lana waved her hands, desperate. — You understood exactly what I meant!
Angelo couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Tocre let slip an almost-smile.
— Relax, Lana. — Angelo said, giving her a friendly tap on the shoulder. — We were just teasing. You're cool. Where are you from, anyway?
She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure.
— Amenophilos. That's where I'm from.
Tocre responded immediately, without hesitation.
— Region located east of Valthifall. Advanced technology. High literacy rates. Known for inventors, military analysts, and the beautiful desert domes.
Lana gasped, shocked.
— Information from there is well-guarded. How… how do you know all that?
— I study. — he replied simply.
Angelo raised his eyebrows, impressed.
— So… she passes the test?
Tocre nodded.
— She does. A team of three is strategically acceptable. And she's got energy. We just need… a bit of filtering.
Lana's eyes sparkled.
— So I'm in the team?!
— You are. — Tocre confirmed.
— But do you have supplies? — Angelo asked, pointing to her backpack.
Lana lifted her pack proudly.
— Of course! Tools, maps, rations, rope, light capsules, two mini listening drones, and a portable solar panel. We'll survive, right?
Angelo and Tocre exchanged a glance.
— …she'll be useful. — Tocre murmured.
— Very useful. — Angelo added.
Through the crowd, the three moved together, as laughter, chatter, and lights mixed with the scent of wind coming from the Orb Valley Forest.
Minutes later, the music gradually faded, as if the air itself sensed that something serious was about to begin.
The young people, who moments ago had been laughing, began forming small groups — some naturally, others forced by the panic of being alone.
— Look! — someone murmured. — The Orsons' group is already formed…
It was true.
Angelo, Tocre, and Aura Lana were already seen as a unit — a solid trio radiating energy and presence.
Other youths looked around urgently.
— We need to form groups! Quickly! Before this starts for real!
But before the youths could organize…
The stage shook as the microphone powered on.
Sirico Gaelux stepped up.
26 years old. Tall stature. Serious expression. Overwhelming presence.
When he spoke… his voice cut through the air like a blade.
— Very well, young ones. — he began firmly. — The Orb Valley Forest… is no joke.
The audience fell silent.
— It is one of the most dangerous and feared forests in all the kingdoms.
Not an exaggeration. Not a theater. The purest reality.
Some youths swallowed hard.
— This forest has been used for generations by the Academy of Magic and Military Sciences to shape you.
To break the weak. And forge the strong.
It's always been that way.
Angelo and Tocre remained steady.
Lana took a deep breath, this time silently.
In the crowd, a young boy trembled, as if the ground had disappeared beneath his feet.
Rangnar Cal, 15, held his head in both hands, terrified.
— No, no, no… I can't… I wasn't made for this… — he muttered.
A firm hand pressed on his shoulder.
— Calm down, buddy. — a strong voice said.
Rangnar turned and saw Kall, a 15-year-old boy, tall, confident posture, hair tied back, honest expression.
— You've come this far… do you think I'll let you quit now?
Rangnar tried to pull away.
— You don't understand! I… I'll die in there!
Kall held him by the shoulders, firm but not harsh.
— Look around, Rangnar. No one is born ready. Only a few are lucky from the cradle. And us? We have to fight for our place.
Rangnar breathed fast, almost panicked.
— You'll go in that forest. You'll crawl, fight, scream, fall, and get back up. And you'll come out as a champion.
— My name is Kall. And that's how I am.
Rangnar finally went quiet.
For the first time, he stopped retreating.
On the stage, Gaelux raised his voice even higher.
— You've had your moment of fun. You've celebrated, socialized. Now it's over.
Instantly, waiters, attendants, and staff cleared tables, chairs, and decorations — as if the celebration had never existed.
The darkness of the forest behind the stage seemed to grow.
Gaelux looked up at the sky, nostalgic for a moment.
— Ten years ago… I stood exactly where you are.
— That experience defined my life. And it will define yours as well.
Then he extended his arm toward the forest.
— Go. Go into the Orb Valley Forest.
— Don't give up on your dreams. Don't look back.
The crowd held its breath.
— Because, from this moment on… you are entering a new world.
The silence that followed was so profound it seemed to swallow even the wind.