Endless darkness.
No direction. No sound. No passage of time.
Within that boundless void, a lone figure continued forward—
Step by step.
Unhurried.
Unyielding.
Ivan no longer knew how long he had been walking.
In this place, time had lost all meaning. There was no sun, no moon, no change in the world around him—only an endless, suffocating darkness stretching in all directions, pressing in like a silent abyss.
At first, he had remained calm.
But slowly…
Something began to erode.
His thoughts dulled.
His awareness blurred.
Why… was he here?
What… was he doing?
Who… was he?
The questions surfaced faintly—like distant echoes in a collapsing world—only to fade before they could fully take shape.
Then—
His memories began to slip.
Fragments of his past life…
The world he once lived in…
The moment of his transmigration…
All of it began to scatter, dissolving like mist under an unseen force.
Faces appeared… then faded.
A stern yet familiar figure—
His father.
The weight of authority, the silent expectations, the presence that had always stood like a mountain behind him.
Then another—
His brother.
A figure both distant and close, carrying the blood of the Thornheart family, bound by duty and legacy.
But even those images…
Began to blur.
Their voices grew faint.
Their existence… uncertain.
And only at the very edge of his fading consciousness—
A quieter image surfaced.
A girl.
Amber-green eyes.
A presence that had only recently entered his life.
Olivia.
That image lingered for the briefest moment—
Then it too began to dissolve into the void.
Like everything else.
His steps slowed.
His breathing grew faint.
Even his consciousness… began to sink.
Yet—
He did not stop.
Somewhere, deep within the ruins of his mind—
Something remained.
Not memory.
Not thought.
But something far more fundamental.
Will.
In his previous life, he had been ordinary.
Mediocre.
A life without waves… without brilliance… without meaning.
And when fate had given him another chance—
He had made a decision.
To rise.
To break free from mediocrity.
To stand at the peak of this world.
To see what lay beyond power… beyond limits… beyond existence itself.
He refused—
To live another meaningless life.
That determination…
Though stripped of memory…
Though forgotten in form…
Still remained in essence.
It was carved into his soul.
Even as everything else faded—
That will endured.
Like a dying flame… refusing to go out.
Step by step—
It pushed him forward.
Time passed.
Or perhaps it didn't.
Even that concept had long since lost meaning.
Gradually—
Even that unwavering will began to waver.
Tiny cracks formed.
Fatigue seeped into his very being.
His steps grew heavier.
Slower.
Unstable.
As if at any moment—
He would stop.
And once he stopped—
He would disappear.
Forever swallowed by the endless darkness.
Then—
A light appeared.
Faint.
Distant.
Yet undeniably real.
Ivan's dimmed eyes trembled.
That single thread of light—
Was like a blade, tearing through the void.
In that instant—
Something shattered.
His consciousness surged.
Memories returned like a raging flood.
His name.
His past.
His purpose.
His father.
His brother.
Olivia.
Nova.
Everything—
Came rushing back.
His fading will ignited once more—
Brighter than ever before.
Ivan's eyes snapped open.
Sharp.
Unyielding.
Without hesitation—
He stepped toward the light.
And in the next moment—
The endless darkness shattered.
—
Light returned.
Ivan blinked once.
Then slowly opened his eyes.
The endless darkness had vanished without a trace.
He found himself standing just a short distance from the entrance of the White Ring Saint Academy's structure—no more than a single step forward from where he had first entered.
As if he had never truly moved.
As if that endless journey… had only taken place within his mind.
Ivan exhaled softly, his breathing gradually stabilizing.
That suffocating sense of isolation still lingered faintly in his chest.
His gaze shifted immediately to his side.
Olivia stood there.
Her posture was upright, her breathing steady—but her eyes were unfocused, vacant, as though her consciousness had been sealed away somewhere far beyond reach.
Like a puppet without a soul.
Clearly—
She had yet to awaken.
Ivan watched her for a brief moment, his sharp senses confirming that her life force remained stable, without any sign of disorder.
Only then did he withdraw his attention.
His mind moved inward.
"Nova."
A brief silence—
Then a familiar voice echoed clearly within his consciousness.
"Yes, Master."
The response came instantly.
For the first time since entering the darkness, a faint thread of tension within Ivan quietly loosened.
Though his expression did not change, the subtle tightness in his chest eased.
"What happened?" he asked in a low voice.
Nova responded without delay.
"Upon entry, your consciousness was drawn into a deep mental illusion-like state. Your sensory perception, memory processing, and sense of time were all heavily disrupted."
Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Mental illusion…
That description was far more reasonable.
Nova continued in her usual calm tone,
"I attempted to analyze the condition, but insufficient reference data prevented precise classification."
A brief pause.
"After confirming that your vital signs remained stable and no external lethal threat was detected, I chose to observe."
Ivan remained silent, listening.
"If your consciousness had not returned to normal within one hour, I would have activated an emergency protocol—destroying the surrounding void and forcibly extracting you."
Ivan's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.
That… was indeed something Nova would do.
Cold.
Decisive.
Completely unconcerned with collateral damage.
But—
Reliable.
Ivan gave a faint, almost indiscernible nod.
"Understood."
With that, he lifted his head and finally began to observe his surroundings properly.
The interior of the structure was quiet—almost eerily so.
The walls resembled polished white stone, smooth and flawless, yet faint currents of light moved beneath their surface like flowing veins.
Runes.
Not carved—but alive.
They pulsed softly, giving the entire space a subtle, almost sacred atmosphere.
At the center of the hall stood a simple wooden table and chair.
On the table lay several old books, neatly stacked sheets of parchment, and a feathered quill resting in a small ink bottle.
Nothing extravagant.
Yet nothing ordinary.
Ivan stepped forward.
Each footstep echoed faintly in the silent hall.
Just as he approached the table—
The space ahead of him suddenly distorted.
Like ripples spreading across still water.
A figure gradually emerged.
An old man.
White hair, long beard, dressed in a plain robe without any excessive ornamentation.
He was already seated on the chair—
As though he had always been there.
The moment his gaze fell upon Ivan—
A subtle chill ran down Ivan's spine.
It was not killing intent.
Nor was it pressure.
But a feeling—
As if everything about him had been seen through.
Stripped bare.
Instinctively, Ivan took a small step back.
His muscles tensed, his posture shifting into a guarded stance almost without thought.
At the same time—
Nova's voice quietly sounded in his mind.
"Target detected. Energy fluctuations indicate a significantly higher level than known apprentice-class individuals. A dense energy barrier surrounds the target—strength exceeds previous recorded samples."
Ivan's pupils contracted slightly.
A first-level wizard.
And not an ordinary one.
He suppressed the reaction almost instantly.
The old man watched this entire sequence calmly.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Do not be overly cautious, young wizard seed," he said slowly, his tone gentle, yet carrying a natural authority that could not be ignored.
"I have no intention of harming you."
Ivan paused briefly.
Then, with a respectful nod, he gradually relaxed his stance—though he did not completely drop his guard.
"Understood… Sir."
The old man gave a small nod, seemingly satisfied with Ivan's response.
"I am Kalin," he said, his voice steady. "A First-Level Wizard stationed on this island—responsible for recruitment… and protection of this region."
Ivan showed no visible surprise.
The moment Wizard Kalin had appeared, Nova's assessment had already confirmed his level.
Wizard Kalin's gaze lingered on Ivan for a moment longer before he continued,
"You have just passed the Trial of the Eternal Will."
A faint pause.
"And quite impressively, at that."
"You broke through the illusion in less than half an hour."
Ivan's eyes flickered faintly.
"…Less than half an hour?" he repeated.
To him—
It had felt like an eternity.
Wizard Kelin chuckled softly.
"Time inside the illusion and time outside are rarely the same."
Ivan nodded slowly.
Then asked,
"What is this trial?"
Wizard Kelin did not seem surprised by the question.
Instead, a trace of appreciation appeared in his eyes.
"A curious mind… is always a good start."
He leaned back slightly.
"The Trial of the Eternal Will is a spell personally created by one of the academy's high-ranking wizards."
"This Trial is not meant to test talent… nor affinity."
"It tests only one thing."
He looked directly into Ivan's eyes.
"Will."
"The ability to persist when everything else is stripped away."
"To continue… even when you no longer remember why."
Ivan's gaze deepened.
Wizard Kalin continued calmly,
"The faster one breaks free… the stronger their will. And the further they can go on the path of a wizard."
Ivan absorbed the information quietly.
Then asked,
"And if someone fails?"
Wizard Kelin smiled faintly.
"The illusion lasts up to twelve hours."
"If one cannot break free within that time, they will be expelled automatically."
"No harm done."
"But…"
"They will not be accepted into the academy."
Ivan nodded.
Just then—
A faint, trembling sound broke the silence.
"Ah—!"
Olivia's body suddenly swayed, as if all strength had been drained from her limbs. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed forward.
Ivan's reaction was immediate.
He stepped in without hesitation, catching her before she could fall.
Her breathing was uneven—quick, disordered.
Her fingers trembled slightly as they gripped his sleeve, as though trying to confirm something real.
Fear still lingered in her eyes.
That endless darkness… had clearly left its mark.
"It's over," Ivan said in a low, steady voice.
Not loud.
But firm.
Olivia blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Her unfocused gaze slowly regained clarity.
And when she saw Ivan standing before her—
That faint panic in her eyes softened, replaced by quiet relief.
"…Ivan…"
Her voice was soft, almost fragile.
Ivan didn't respond immediately, only giving a slight nod as he helped her steady herself.
Behind them, wizard Kalin, observed the scene in silence.
Then, he gave a small nod.
"To break free within an hour… quite commendable."
"A rare seed indeed."
His tone was calm, yet carried a subtle note of approval.
Olivia lowered her head slightly upon hearing this, still catching her breath, while Ivan helped her stand upright.
After a few moments, her condition stabilized.
Only then did the two of them step forward together.
Wizard Kalin's gaze fell upon them once more.
"Present your records."
His voice was neither cold nor warm—simply authoritative.
Ivan and Olivia immediately handed over their white sheets with both hands, showing the proper respect expected before a wizard.
Wizard Kalin first examined Olivia's.
His eyes moved calmly across the surface.
A moment later, he gave a slight nod.
"Top-tier third-class aptitude… and solid elemental affinity."
"A good foundation."
"You meet the requirements."
His words were simple, yet carried weight.
Then—
He turned to Ivan's record.
At first, his expression remained unchanged.
But gradually—
A faint trace of surprise flickered across his eyes.
"Fire…"
"Darkness…"
His gaze paused.
"And… space."
For a brief moment, silence lingered.
Then Wizard Kalin lifted his eyes and looked directly at Ivan.
That calm gaze seemed to deepen slightly.
"A rare combination."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"You also qualify."
With a gentle wave of his hand—
The space above the table rippled.
A circular crystal, clear as glass yet filled with faint flowing light, slowly manifested in midair.
"Place a drop of blood upon it," Kalin instructed.
Ivan and Olivia exchanged a brief glance.
Neither hesitated.
They stepped forward and pricked their fingers, letting a drop of blood fall onto the crystal.
The moment the blood touched its surface—
The crystal trembled faintly.
Runes ignited.
One after another.
A soft blue radiance spread outward, illuminating the quiet hall.
The two white sheets rose gently into the air, as if guided by an invisible force.
Then—
They dissolved.
Turning into streams of light that flowed into the crystal.
For a moment, the entire space seemed to hold its breath.
Then—
From within the crystal, two objects slowly emerged.
Badges.
Bronze in color.
Simple in shape—
Yet upon their surface, a white star shimmered, like a lone point of light suspended within an endless galaxy.
They floated silently before Ivan and Olivia.
"These are guest tokens," Wizard Kalin said.
His tone turned slightly more serious.
"With them, the magic formations of this simplified wizard tower will recognize you as authorized entrants."
"If you carry them, the formations will not react."
A brief pause.
Then his gaze sharpened slightly.
"But if you lose them…"
"The magic circles will treat you as intruders."
"And respond accordingly."
Ivan and Olivia both felt a faint chill at those words.
They did not ask what "respond accordingly" meant.
They didn't need to.
Both of them nodded seriously before reaching out and taking the badges.
The moment Ivan's fingers touched his token, a faint warmth spread through his palm—subtle, yet undeniably present.
He closed his hand slightly, storing it carefully.
Wizard Kalin observed them briefly.
Then—
He waved his hand once more.
To the side of the hall, a door silently opened.
Beyond it, a soft light spilled out.
"Beyond that lies the temporary dormitory area."
"You may rest there."
He paused slightly before continuing,
"Originally, ten transport ships were dispatched to gather wizard seeds."
"Only four have returned so far."
"The rest are scheduled to arrive within today… though delays are not uncommon."
His tone remained calm, as if such uncertainty was nothing unusual.
"When all candidates have arrived and records are completed…"
"You will be teleported to the White Ring Saint Academy."
Teleportation.
A method far beyond anything Ivan had personally experienced.
He stored that information silently.
Then both he and Olivia straightened slightly.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Kalin," Ivan said.
Olivia followed immediately, her voice softer but equally respectful.
"Thank you, Lord Kalin."
Wizard Kalin waved his hand lightly, as if dismissing the formality.
"Go."
There was no need for further words.
Ivan and Olivia turned and stepped through the open doorway.
Beyond it—
A long corridor stretched forward.
Soft light illuminated the path.
On both sides, rows of rooms extended neatly into the distance.
The structure was simple—
Yet carried a quiet sense of order, as if everything had been precisely arranged.
Faint magical fluctuations lingered in the air, subtle yet ever-present, like an invisible current flowing through the space.
This was no ordinary lodging.
Ivan paused briefly.
Olivia stood beside him, now fully recovered, though her expression still carried traces of what she had experienced.
The two exchanged a brief glance.
No words were needed.
Then—
They walked forward.
Each choosing a separate room.
As the doors closed behind them—
Silence returned once more.