ã€ŠLumina Nocteã€‹


 1 Edge Dancer

    The razor edge of the cities cut a trembling emerald light across the ink black of planet Nocte. A swift pass by on one of the three dark moons looked down on the green pearl shaped cities on the equator beneath their gaze. Each city tied to the next by a broad highway lit in a long trail of gems on both sides. Cars rushed either way on the highways, commuting the most privileged class to their long shifts and home. One city shone brighter than the rest, like the centerpiece, Aedris, the capital.

    The city of Aedris clung to the edge of survival, its towers bleeding light into the void, the only barrier against the ravenous dark. Kaelen¡¯s flickering crystal, pitched high, defied the abyss. The crystal hummed in his fingers nearly as fast as his courageous bones trembled in rebellion to his iron will. Tears streamed down and froze against his cheeks. Somewhere out there the creatures watched him. Waited for him to drift far enough from the safety of the light.

    Their inky forms slithered around him as he stepped another step further. Their hunger rumbled the solid ground beneath his feet. His peers both jeered and cajoled him. Kaelen glances back past the glares of his challengers to the supporting eyes of his friends. Elyra, Renik and Mila demonstrate their allegiance with held breath and wide excited eyes. Kaelen nods once then sprints forward into the black skidding to a stop on the black sand and dropping his lit crystal.

    As soon as the light leaves his hand the darkness falls on him like a wet blanket. He is still sliding into the dark as his feet churn and propelling him back toward the edge of the city light. There is a pause in time when you find yourself outside the light. Like taking a dive too deep in water and thrashing toward that heavenly gasp of fresh air. In the full black he can see the eyes closing in on you from all sides. He can hear their crumbling claws cutting through the sands and scratching the stone beneath. His heart cracks lightning bolts against his ribcage.

    Growling on all sides of him turns to screeches and roars that drown out the cheers and jeers of his audience. The boys and girls betting against him lock arms at the edge of the city light, forming a wall to block him out. Kaelen doesn¡¯t have time to panic, he slams might into each step and punches forward with each arm swing. A panicked scream cuts through the cords of his throat. Renik breaks through the line of locked arms. He is a fury of punches, kicks and bites.

    Kaelen drops through the opening made through the line sliding on his stomach into the wonderful green Noxflare. The light bathes over him and he hears the creatures of the darkness shriek as they pull up quickly at the dark''s edge. He pants and gulps in lungs full of precious air. The frozen tears on his cheeks melt free and roll down his face, new tears of victory join them on their path.

    "You''re lucky you''ve got Renik here to protect you." Byron knelt down with a sneer on his face. He slipped his hand to the inside pocket of his jacket and touched his crystal.

    Kaelen took his other hand as if to shake it and felt the Noxflare rush through him. He gasped as he felt the greatest rush of power in his life. The scrapes on his knees healed shut and the excess light poured into his own crystal. He watched as the green light burst out from behind the cover of his worn brown leather jacket.

    "Nice doing business with you Byron." Kaelen smiled a genuine smile. For once he wouldn''t go to bed hungry, he would have enough for rent, and he would have enough for parts.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    The rest of the kids began to disperse. "Lemme walk with ya Moosh." Renik grabbed up Kaelen by the arm and pulled him to his feet. "Sum uns gotta watch yer back."

    Renik only stood as tall as Kaelen''s shoulder, but he was built like a bulldog and fought like a badger. Broad jaw, crooked teeth, brown tussled hair and the beginnings of a mustache, made him a face that was not soon forgotten. His reputation made doubly sure.

    Kaelen held out a hand and Renik shook his head. "It''s half yours. I couldn''t have made it back if you weren''t here. They definitely wouldn''t have paid up."

    "Gimme a chip or two. I make out aight, you never got flare." Renik held out his hand cautious waiting for Kaelen to agree.

    Kaelen nodded and thrust his hand into Renik''s. He didn''t need to close his eyes but it helped him to visualize the transfer. A chip was about a fingertip, a shard two fingers and a sphere was a ball about the size of your hand. He concentrated on filling his middle finger to the brim with light and shot it into the back of Renik''s hand.

    Renik snatched his hand back and pulled open his coat to look down into the hidden pocket over his heart. "Dat was a sleeve and you know it."

    "Barely half a shard." Kaelen smirked. "Might keep you from thieving tonight."

    Renik sniffed. "Ain''t gone stop me. It''s about principle."

    "You could stay over if you want. I can get a room with this." Kaelen patted his chest.

    Renik shook his head and curled up his upper lip, "nah. Waste a flare. Jus accept we don''t belong in their world Moosh. Stay out here wit me, I''ll show ya the ropes."

    Kaelen nearly jumped out of his skin when two forgotten brushed past. They were hard to spot. Everyone else wore a leather jacket or coat of some sort with at least some glowing pinstripes. Forgotten had nothing at all. Soot covered, in ragged clothes and bare feet to boot. You couldn''t hear them or see them until they were right up on you. Kaelen stepped far to the side unintentionally.

    They weren''t a threat, it was just a knee jerk reaction to the forgotten, always followed by unbearable guilt. It wasn''t their fault they had nothing left. It was nearly an inevitability of the system. Raising costs same pay. Either you keep climbing the ladder working more and more or you get swallowed. Unless you were a gutter their like Renik but that was a risk in itself.

    The intermediates that Renik robbed would kill him if they caught him. He wouldn''t stand a chance against someone that could push. They could kinetically move anything within about three yards of themselves. They were intermediates so they couldn''t move anything above about ten pounds but that was enough to fling a knife or trip you. Kaelen couldn''t really imagine what all they could do but he knew he didn''t want to find out. He had seen a third dawn enforcer pull a light post down to block a thief from getting away.

    Renik raised an eyebrow at him. "Ain''t gonna bite ya."

    Kaelen considered his friend knowing that Renik must stay somewhere near the forgotten. "What do they eat?"

    "The old foods, stuff from before. They make fires an roast it. Smells good." Renik licked his lips.

    Kaelen tried to imagine eating meats, he imagined it would be bitter and tough. He had grown up on Noxflare like everyone else, it was sweet and invigorating. "Have you eaten their food?"

    "Nah," Renik sniffed and watched as a woman walked past with her hand clutched tight to a gem powered hand light. She waved down a cromed out black car with green neon interior lights and under glow behind the spokes of the tires. A man with a fedora hat jumped out and held the door open for her.

    Renik winked at her as she glanced back at him. She scrambled into the car. The driver glared at them and Renik turned back to walk with Kaelen. "I wanted that light Moosh."

    "I''m sure you did. Maybe she will leave it out for you to borrow later." Kaelen shook his head. "Be careful Moony, I gotta turn in tonight, maybe rent myself a bath."

    "Aight Moosh. I''ll stop at the shop in the morn." Renik walked out from under the street lamp into the dark. The pinstripes on his jacket switched off and he gimmied a nearby door somewhere in the dark.

    Kaelen walked up the steps to the Never Night Inn. A warm bed and a shower would be a whole shard. He bit his lip as he considered. Maybe just a bed.

    (fill in this area with Kaelen facing minor enemies in the slums, winning the bet and heading back to work after collecting his bet. Renik is introduced with his short stout stature and violent ruthless nature as well as a feral temperament.) (Kaelen works in then tinkersmith under Jarleen making artifacts that source Noxflare for various purposes, and fixing broken artifacts.)

 2 Artifact

    There is a pulse in the air calling to Renik in the night. Not a hint of aurora in the sky, a cool breeze coming in from the south. Bass beats mixed with synth rattle the crystal tower just down the street. Partiers spill out into the street giggling like fools. He slips into the shadows created from the marble bases of the towers.

    Aedris is a city of glowing green crystal towers stretching up toward the heavens above. Nine meter tall marble bases ward against opportunistic infiltration specialists such as himself. His eyes drifted with practiced subtlety as he passed parked cars. He dragged his fingertips across the handles of locked apartment doors whistling to himself. He had to follow that pulse, that hidden signal in the vibes of the city, that rhythm that called him forth to his prescribed destiny.

    A hundred thieves were caught to his right and to his left. Some were imprisoned somewhere no one ever saw them again. Others were sent out into the outer dark. He personally had witnessed the best of the best get caught up. Yet in the midst of all this he had never been close. Once he had stolen the glowing necklace off the first lady of Aedris on the Bastion steps while she was being interviewed live on radio top ten without anyone even noticing him passing.

    If you were to ask Renik how he managed to do what he did without a single record with his name written at the top, he wouldn¡¯t be able to articulate his fortune. It was fate or destiny that led his steps. That and very slippery fingers. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t ever run into trouble, he found trouble plenty but only among his peers. He had plenty of bruises and a very square jaw as reward for his distinguished reputation. He won as many of his confrontations as he lost.

    How could he possibly explain the vibe he got when he was in the vibe? He pondered this often as his silent feet hit the sidewalk. Was it his soleless boots, the way he was able to slip from shadow to shadow like a breeze sifting through the leaves of a tree and coming out the other side. Was it his clever eyes spotting instants in time, or his quick hands that caught the gems as they passed naked through the air into a man¡¯s pocket? He considered this as he stuffed said gem into his own pocket carefully.

    The only possible answer was that he was born gifted. A treasure among thieves. One day he would pass on his skills, make an apprentice of some ambitious youth. For the time being he would capitalize on his extraordinary skill.

    The vibe pulled him left suddenly. He followed it like a perfume on the wind. He nearly second guessed it when he found himself standing at the edge of the darkness. He looked over his shoulder, but no one was watching the invisible thief of Grande Ave. He almost wanted someone to notice their missing pocket watch or their extra gem. He waited for someone to cry out patting their pockets.

    Instead, silence swallowed around him at the edge of the green light cast by the city towers and the streetlights. He wished for just a flicker of Aurora to flash overhead and show him a shadow of what lay out in the blackness. His eyes strained against the inky black for the slightest shimmer of movement or a faint reflection of light off a predator''s eyes.

    He cursed himself and spit as no reasonable warning to turn back came. The dark itself should have been warning enough but he was far too hardheaded to accept that as an excuse. So instead, he stepped across the line of green light that divided the living from the prey. If he couldn¡¯t sense how near the trick was, he wouldn¡¯t be half as bold, but something lured him forward, promising it was just within reach.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    His normally silent footfalls were like hammers on anvils out in the dark. His breaths like storm winds through his nostrils. Had anyone ever stepped into the black without holding out a charged crystal? He nearly laughed at the thought but caught himself in time. Still his eyes flashed side to side as if he had been so foolish.

    It is said the blind supplement their lost sense by heightened hearing, smell and touch. Renik proved this as the cold black closed over his flesh. Sounds as small as a scratch or a distant cracking limb carried to his perked ears like sirens. His nostrils flared wide bringing him news of scorched stone and cooking dogs from the forgotten.

    His feet screamed each time he found the sharp edges of a stone. He began to doubt his sense of direction all over again. Did he really know the slow drum beat of destiny? Was he wrong in assuming all had paved a route at his feet? What was it really that led him to Kaelen? Was he reading too much into their mutual prosperity? Surely there were others like them stumbling from happenstance to fortunate happenstance. Yes, he should turn back.

    His foot struck stone. Smooth stone. He swept his foot from left to right. Then stepped again. He stumbled down several equidistant steps. He caught himself with both hands on the walls that surrounded him. He prodded forward with his unshod foot feeling the edge of the step and the one beneath it. He swallowed a boulder and sweat fiery ice. There is no way there could be a place so close out in the dark that no one had found, right?

    He hated and cursed the cord of fate that pulled him downward into a dark pit, yet his feet carried him from step to step. His eyes strained behind him as if he could pick out some slinking form in this utter darkness. He despised his gut for never being wrong before. He disowned the day he was born when he found a door at the bottom of the steps. He pissed a little when it swung open.

    It was enough risk for him. He risked pulling his gem from his breast pocket and held it out to light a long stone hall in dim green light. A quick flash behind him to the steps that his mind had refused to believe were real, then he slammed the door shut. He bit his lip at the sound of the stone on stone.

    What was this place? Etchings on the wall like amateur pictograms. Gem tipped stone obelisks snatched a flicker of light from his own gem and lit up a large circular room. At the center rested an onyx box. This was a grave, an ancient grave.

    Renik pressed in, his silent footfalls as loud as crashing stone on the tiled floor in the empty chamber. He needed to turn back. He needed to retreat to the light of the city. He needed to fall back, he needed to see what was inside the box. He was standing before the smooth stone sarcophagus in a matter of breaths.

    He clutched onto the stone lid and shoved it aside then flashed his eyes around the room at the sound. Assured he was alone he peered inside. There lay a body, a kings¡¯ body. Wrapped in cloth the ancient king clutched tight an artifact. Something like an artifact from Kaelen¡¯s shops yet unlike anything he had ever seen. It was more ancient and more advanced than anything Renik knew existed.

    His fingers twitched as they hovered over the object. It was so small yet so intricate. He snatched his hand back; he had done many deplorable things in his life but never had he robbed a dead man.

    He examined the gaunt features of the dead man¡¯s face. He looked terrified. He looked as if he were screaming into the darkness. He looked locked into his last fearful desperate clutches before death.  Renik tried to imagine what would scare a man this much at death. There wasn¡¯t a creature alive that Renik knew of that could do this to a man. It made his skin crawl. It made his bones quiver. It made his breath shallow.

    He looked again at the artifact. It was built to hold a premium cut gemstone. It had gears so fine and well interlinked he had to wonder if imps were involved in the assembly. It wrapped around the dead king¡¯s hand from finger to finger and stood off the inside of his wrist like vines searching for light. It was made from gold and cut with veins of silver. It was a wonder of artisanship. It was too holy and wondrous to take, so Renik slid it free with the utmost respect.

 3 Manic Meddling

    Kaelen woke up a new man. A full night sleep in a pod tends to put a little pep in your step. Kaelen whistled his way to the Artificer. He unlocked the steel gate and rolled the door up, relocking the gate. Holding his gem to the door he checked over each shoulder before pulsing in the code on the second door.

    Shelves lined the walls in the showroom. Repaired junk displayed in the open for shoppers. Boxes of parts sat on the floor in front of the shelves. A checkout counter was stationed at the center of the room with a polished stone top. On it rested an old light lock box and scanner. The light lox box still had the raised keys that had to be forcefully punched down with a rigid finger. The whole contraption was made of polished brass.

    Glowing pocket watches sat on shelves and portable Noxflare lamps. Repaired radios and ice boxes lined another set of sturdy wooden shelves. A faint hum fills the room and a faint green glow from the various Noxflare powered gadgets.

    Larger items-like a polished Noxflare typewriter and a rusted but functional gramophone sit on a heavy iron bench at the center of the room. Pedal driven sewing machines and basic yard tools are displayed at either side of it.

    Behind the counter is a glass case showcasing delicate, high-value trinkets such as pawned jewelry with tiny glowing green shards embedded in them.

    A set of ornate steel steps spiraled up behind a door behind the counter. Kaelen climbed up the stairs past the second balcony to the third story. The third story was nothing but heaps of broken hardware. He held his gem to the sunroof sensor and pulsed his signal again. Steel plating slid wide open giving him a view of the sky through double plated hardened glass.

    The sky danced with purple, pink and green auroras. The day star belched furious tendrils of plasma through the vast darkness toward Lumina Nocte. The plasma blasts continuously brightened the sky in a flurry of dancing colors. Precious dim light that grew the plants, that fed the animals, that fed the creatures in the outer darkness.

    Kaelen wondered to himself if the creatures of the dark would risk pressing into the light of the city if the animals stopped fleeing out from the farms. The light from the Day Star Aurora flooded down through the glass and lit up the shop. It wasn¡¯t enough light to work, just enough to move around and find things without tripping, saving precious Noxflare.

    Kaelen glanced around the junk room; heaps of clutter piled high in a manner of organization only Kaelen could understand. A pile devoted to broken machinery and rusted gears, cracked casings and shattered crystal housings. Another pile of various metals, brass, steel, iron and copper.

    Wooden crates were stacked in hazardous towers along the walls, some overflowing with motor components others with circuit boards. Broken light fixtures and gas filled tubes were in other crates and random nuts bolts and fasteners in another.

    At the back of the room sits an ancient industrial press Kaelen has yet to get back around to. Next to it a cobbled together Noxflare detector nearly complete.

    Kaelen fills the tip of his finger with a chip of Noxflare and lights a work lamp. He lifts it from the peg on his wall and grabs up a spool of solder before making his way back down the stairs to the second-floor shop.

    The main workbench dominated the center of the room. It¡¯s covered in scorch marks, scrapes, deep gouges and oil stains. Tools hang on peg boards at the far wall-everything from pliers to complex crystal resonance calibrators and arc-welding wands.

    The walls were crammed with shelves and mismatched cabinets holding jars of screws, springs wires and other components. Open drawers reveal tangled nests of insulated cables and copper wiring. Labels are written in Kaelen¡¯s frantic handwriting.

    Kaelen had some time to spare so he sat at his work bench and pulled out his personal project from a wooden crate beneath the bench. He sat the brass sleeve on the table and gathered some wires from a drawer. He worked carefully on the polished network of crystal conduits. He assembled a latticework of translucent quartz spirals and thin copper lines on narrow boards. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    He knew what he wanted the sleeve to do. It would fit over his forearm and a set of strings would tie up to his fingers. He could manipulate some of the switches and valves with the bearing arm while his free arm could dial in the gas filled tubes for finer tuning.

    He hoped the converter could amplify the waves of Noxflare, while breaking down the lower waves to create a more concentrated purer form of light. He could sell the pure crystals for higher profits and pump larger amounts of junk light into cheaper crystals. His foreman¡¯s shop would make more, and the cheaper crystals would help the poorer citizens.

    He mutters to himself as he works dragging the lamp closer and shifting the mounted magnifying glass to better look at his work. His hands move deftly between tools and components. He stops and rubs his burning eyes. He has to crack his neck and back. He looks over the device and bites his cheek.

    ¡°Come on, you stubborn piece of junk, let''s see if you can handle not exploding this time.¡± He grabbed a polished green shard no larger than his thumb and slipped it carefully into its chamber. He fit the sleeve over his forearm and his fingers into the loops.

    With his free hand he flipped a brass switch. The converter hummed as it came to life. Light coursed through the quartz lattice work, growing brighter and brighter. He let out a half sigh, so far, he had succeeded. Then, with a sharp crack, the housing failed again. Sparks showered out from the Noxshard singing his arm and flinging fragments of crystal across the table.

    ¡°Blazes!¡± Kaelen swore. He ripped the sleeve off and despite his frustration managed to set it down on the table carefully before burying his face in his hands. ¡°What am I missing?¡±

    The bell chimed downstairs, and Kaelen walked over to the spiral stairs to head down to the showroom. Renik burst through the door with his ever-present swagger. Tools hung from his belt under his long leather coat. ¡°Kaelen! You¡¯re not gonna believe what I snagged tonight.¡±

    Kaelen frowned at Renik¡¯s smug grin. ¡°If it¡¯s that woman¡¯s lamp, I swear-¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a lamp,¡± Renik interrupted, pulling something from his satchel. Something with a golden shine. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ well, I don¡¯t know what it is really.¡± He said scratching himself. ¡°But it¡¯s ancient, and it¡¯s shiny.¡± His grin was half mad.

    The shiny object was a metallic glove, made from silver, brass, and gold with pearl filled buttons and intricate decorative runes. It was more advanced than anything Kaelen had ever seen. More intricate than anything he had ever heard of.

    Kaelen¡¯s irritation faded and gave way to curiosity. ¡°Where did you find this?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say it wasn¡¯t exactly in the hands of someone who knew what they had,¡± Renik replied with a suspicious wink.

    Kaelen traced over the runes with his fingers and whistled at the fine workmanship of the gears and levers that allowed the fingers to move. He had a hysteric urge come over him as he looked over the device. It was mad really. Like a manic jolt of creative recklessness.

    He looked from the glove to the sleeve he had been working on then slammed into his table as he pounced on his work. He cracked open a radio and stole the gas filled tubes from inside then soldered them with bits of wire to the knuckles on the glove. He finished destroying a lamp he had been working on to remove the variable switch from inside.

    ¡°You are ruining it.¡± Renik complained. Kaelen could¡¯t hear him. He was ripping apart every working and non-working item in the room and attaching random bits from them to the sleeve and glove on his table. Renik felt a sinking in his stomach as he watched a monstrosity come to life. So much for a once in a lifetime score.

    Kaelen wired the glove to the sleeve and attached the finger strings from the sleeve to the metallic tendons on the glove. Then he looked up wild-eyed at Renik for only a moment before placing a new shard into the sleeve and putting the sleeve and newly attached glove on his arm.

    He reached over with his free hand and flipped on a switch. His hand dashed from the sleeve to the tuners on the glove in frantic flurries that Renik couldn¡¯t follow. Light began to glow out from the gaudy contraption and fill the room. It spiraled up pathways on the arm to the fingertips of the glove.

    Kaelen stared mesmerized at the green light leaping from the fingertips as the room filled with blinding light. Then his head snatched side to side as he tried to find something. He found polished shards meant for a jeweled watch and held the crude pair of drained gems in the gloved hand.

    Light flashed so bright both of them had to close their eyes and cover their faces with their arms. A sound like a heavy metal drum hit with a cloth covered mallet pulsed out from the gems and sent a shock wave through the room.

    When the light and the sound faded Kaelen and Renik stared astonished at the two glowing blue gems in the gloved hands. Noxflare only ever glowed green, yet these were filled with brilliant blue light. Neither of them breathed.

 4 Blue

    ¡°The gems are blue!¡± Kaelen sputtered, ¡°The light is blue, right?¡± He held them out closer as if Renik couldn¡¯t already see the bright blue light emanating from them.

    ¡°You are supposed to be the smart one?¡± Renik joked, his half grin faded quickly though. ¡°Seriously though, what did you just do?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Kaelen pulled the gem core from the half-disassembled lamp. He glanced up to Renik then with a deep breath drew in a couple chips worth of the blue light. The room seemed to grow brighter. The hair on his arms and neck stood on end. The dank smell of oil and seared wood filled his nostrils. The soft, pat, pat of Renik¡¯s feet on the hardwood as he drew near tickled Kaelen¡¯s ears.

    Kaelen¡¯s breath whooshed out as he pushed the blue light into the half charged green shard. The green shard as long as his pinky flashed once then turned to a deep blue. The blue light flooded the room sparkling off the walls. The rush of extra sensory perception remained. Kaelen was sure he could hear the hum of the light in the crystals.

    ¡°You have to take a draw off the crystal.¡± Kaelen held the shard out for Renik to take.

    Renik narrowed his eyes then took the crystal. He sucked in a deeper breath than Kaelen had, perhaps a full sleeve. Then his eyes grew wide. He turned and looked at the door downstairs and tucked the blue shard into his inner coat pocket next to his green shard.

    Kaelen followed his gaze down over the balcony just as the front door popped open and Jarleel stepped in. In a flash Kaelen closed his fist over the small remaining blue gems and shoved them in the inner pocket of his leather jacket.

    Jarleel had yet to look up from the front entrance. Renik flashed a glance over his shoulder at the sleeve and glove then a commanding stare into Kaelen¡¯s eyes. Kaelen turned to grab up the new gear and Renik turned back to walk down the spiral stairs throwing both hands out to the sides, ¡°Jarleel.¡± He announced the foreman¡¯s name with vigor and enthusiasm.

    Jarleel snarled as he looked up. ¡°Renik, what are you doing in my shop this early?¡± His tone was filled with nearly as much accusation as his eyes.

    ¡°I brought coffee, but we drank it all waiting for you to get here.¡± Renik mocked.

    ¡°You don¡¯t work here.¡± Jaleel dropped off his street jacket in the closet by the front door and slipped on a cleaner, pressed Master Artisan jacket with flashy buttons and a high collar. He pulled his long shard out of his inner pocket of his street jacket and slipped in into the new coat. Then he proceeded to pin his glowing cufflinks on his black and white jacket. The pinstripes running straight down the back of the jacket lit up. He turned his head to raise a brow at Renik as he finished his sentence.

    Renik grinned wide as he walked down the steps. ¡°Ah, Foreman Jarleel,¡± his overly honorific tone was thicker than butter, ¡°but I¡¯m here more than you are.¡± He said it just to see the angry twitch in Jaleel¡¯s eye.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Should I search you before you leave?¡± Jarleel said through clenched teeth.

    Renik gave him a look of you don¡¯t want to know, ¡°you would only find the stuff I stole for your shop, then how you gonna feign ignorance?¡±

    ¡°Get out of my shop, gutter thief.¡± Jarleel pointed firmly at the door and refused to look in Renik¡¯s direction.

    Kaelen heard the front door shut then walked out to the balcony to look down at the shop floor. ¡°Morning Jarleel.¡±

    Foreman Jarleel straightened the steamed seams of his jacket and slicked back his hair with his palms before looking up at Kaelen.

    Renik walked out onto the streets and sucked in a breath sharp and intentional to draw light from his breast pocket. Green and blue Noxflare flooded in through his chest. The green filled him with life and the energy to move. The blue rocked his senses in a way he had never known.

    Everything seemed more vivid, more pronounced. The auroras in the sky were brighter and more vibrant. The smells of hot meats cooking in carts at the corners made him want to drool. Kids laughing and playing, gamblers rolling dice on the sidewalk, and marketeers¡¯ calls assaulted his ears.

    There was more though Renik had to stand still a moment to take it in. He glanced up the road in both directions as he tried to place this new sensation. He spotted a constable leaning against a lantern post with thin rimmed shimmer glasses on his face. Beater on his hip, likely about three sleeves of Noxflare in his coat and his bow leg stance meant he rode a pulse cruiser.

    The guinee players in the alley rolling dice had rolled two sevens, a pair of fangs and a five in the past three rolls. The man in the orange leather coat was coaxing the younger player into a trap and the big man watching from across the street was planning on rolling the winner, whoever it turned out to be.

    Renik could see the fastest path of escape with each step. He could figure the most likely direction to secure a weapon. He could size up a fight from the swagger of a walker and the glint in his eyes. Envisioning the fight from initiation to conclusion in a flash of imagination. He memorized the flash in the palm of a shop owner as he unlocked his gate.

    Renik stopped walking again. It all came crashing in on him at once. The blue light heightened his senses that was evident but its most potent effect was increased intelligence.

    Kaelen finished cleaning off his worktable, as Jarleel closed up shop below. Kaelen had not only caught up with his work from falling behind in the morning. He had already completed several projects for days ahead. He began to hide some of his completed work in the afternoon. He didn¡¯t want to draw too much attention to his increased productivity, and he might just need some extra time to tinker with his own project the next couple days. It wasn¡¯t that he was more energetic than any other day. It was just that all his work was just so simple.

    When Jarleel closed the front door, Kaelen pulled out his sheet from beneath the bench. He had scribbled notes out on the sheet throughout the day. He glanced over the diagram of the sleeve and the glove. The page was flooded with notes but trying to tie the complex and various trails of thought together became increasingly difficult throughout the day. Whatever he was scratching the surface of, it was years ahead of his own understanding.

    He took out the watch gem chips and pushed more green Noxflare into them from his main crystal. They flashed bright blue as they filled with about a sleeve a piece. He would need larger gems. Jarleel would notice quickly though if he began to snatch up gems from the store. He would need to find a way to get a larger gem, then he would need to work out how this device worked. He would have to employ Renik¡¯s special skills to secure the gem, he chewed his lip, then he would figure out how to make a new color.

 5 Jess and Talia

    Jess sat bolt upright in a tall back pearl and copper chair before a Noxflare rimmed mirror as her mother¡¯s servant Haggath teased out her long red curls. She flinched each time the pick tugged at a rat in her bed hair. Haggath tisk tisked to herself as she slapped red blush on Jessalyn¡¯s cheeks and fluttered about.

    Through the mirror Jess eyed her pillow soft bed piled high with stuffed animals and fluffy bedding. The silk curtains draped from the canopy around the bedframe begging to be drawn closed around her, promising to grant her three more wonderful hours of blissful sleep.

    Her mom buzzed around the room behind her and Haggath listing off demands for Jess and the servant. Jess afforded a break as her mother and the servant set out her dress and jewelry. Jess wandered from the room and looked down from her balcony.

    The spires of the radiant court towers scratched the aurora-tinged sky, jagged green needles filled with all classes bustling with duties. From her balcony Jess could see the entire cityscape below, from the slums to the forgotten zones, to the mid-tier districts bustling with industry. The Bastion rose high in the distance calling near and far to the most ambitious and bold. A beacon of hope and escape.

    ¡°Jessalyn.¡± Her mother cut the air as a whip. ¡°Come try on your dress and stop leaning on that balcony like a common street girl.¡±

    Jess straightened, as she smoothed on her delicate gown. It was a masterpiece of Radiant fashion, woven from silks so fine it shimmered like spun light. The neckline was studded with chips of Noxflare crystals that glimmered faintly. Her mother had commissioned the dress for the Bastion¡¯s opening banquet, a statement of their station. Jess had little say in the matter-appearances mattered more than anything else in court. Her mother assured her that their family stood at the pinnacle of their peers.

    ¡°Apologies, Mother.¡± Jess replied, forcing a polite tone. She turned from the balcony once again wondering how long she had been standing on the balcony this time. She hadn¡¯t even realized she had wandered out there again.

    ¡°I¡¯ve gone to great lengths,¡± Her mother droned on, but Jess was no longer listening. She found it in her best interest to nod and smile when her mother adopted that tone but to not actually listen to the repugnant things her mother could say. It was as if Jess didn¡¯t exist as a person exactly, more a piece on a board.

    The bedroom door sprang open, and a gorgeous brunette spun in with her arms held out wide. She looked dazzling in her form fitting green dress that flare out from her legs and cut off at the knees. Green glowing flare ran from the center of her chest down her stomach and around her hip. Her tall black boots strapped high to her knees with a dozen golden buckles.

    Jess nearly pounced on her friend. ¡°Talia.¡±

    Talia strode into the room brimming with confidence. ¡°Haggatha you look radiant.¡± She raised a brow at the portly maid and purred. Haggatha blushed and shot a glance at Jessalyn¡¯s mother. ¡°Jess, you,¡± she stopped her spin into the room and looked Jess up and down, ¡°look ready to provide your family name with a worthy heir.¡± She raised both brows at Jess and bit back a foolish grin. Both girls pretended not to notice the fuming glare burning from Jess¡¯ furious mother.

    Jess bowed and pulled up on the sides of her long dress in a curtsey. ¡°To the banquet with the both of us to snare a steer worth our legacy.¡± She could hear her mother¡¯s teeth grinding. Nothing could steal the rampant words from the woman¡¯s mouth like the presence of Jess¡¯ lifelong friend.

    Talia held out her elbow and Jess slipped a gloved hand through her arm. They both stole away from the room before Haggatha and mother could recover. ¡°You look like you are headed to your own execution,¡± Talia murmured with a smirk as they turned into the hall. Her amber eyes flicked up to Jess playfully.

    ¡°You look as if you are ready to progenate.¡± Jess shot back with a laugh.

    Talia touched a manicured nail to her lip as if considering a deep thought. ¡°Do you suppose this is the night?¡± She knit her brows together.

    ¡°Do you take nothing serious?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m headed to the Bastion Banquet.¡± Talia rolled her eyes. They both knew she was only showing her face there in loyalty to Jess.

    ¡°Not all of us can shirk responsibilities quite so deftly as you.¡±

    Talia let out a mock gasp, pressing a hand to her chest. ¡°Jessalyn, you are implying I¡¯m irresponsible? I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯ve been incredibly productive today.¡±

    ¡°Yeah how?¡± Jess challenged.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I bought not one but two new crystal pins today and scandalized five merchants with my haggling skills.¡±

    ¡°Impressive,¡± Jess deadpanned. ¡°You are well on your way to being mother.¡±

    Talia leaned forward, her expression softening. ¡°Come on Jess. One day you are going to have to stop letting your mother dictate your every move. The Bastion is your chance to break free, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ve been dreaming of this for years.¡±

    Jess paused, glancing out the window to the glowing city lights below. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡±

    ¡°It never is,¡± Talia said with a shrug, ¡°but that¡¯s why you¡¯ve got me. To make things delightfully complicated.¡±

    Jess shrugged and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Delightfully complicated indeed.¡±

    The two girls exited the manor and descended the ivory steps. At the base of the steps, in the driveway that circled the fountain sat a motor carriage, exhaust burping plumes of glowing Noxflare. Their driver held the door open, and the girls giggled as they climbed inside. They plopped in warm plush seats. Soon the carriage lurched forward.

    They passed estates filled with workers busy tending crops and maintaining the manors. Dims in ragged clothes repaired leaking roofs and cleaned out stables. Soon they were on the rural highway. Here the homes grew closer together but were still large enough to grow a family legacy. These were the homes of the Glints. They had far fewer servants and were more reluctant to call the lower classes Dimmers. Jess watched out the window and wondered how it would feel to be so close to either climbing up the ladder or falling down toward the forgotten.

    They climbed the ramp onto the interstate and rose high above the stacked apartments and dark alleyways of the Dims. Very little Noxflare illuminated the streets down there. Plenty of places for the dark pleasures of the lesser classes. The inner-city gloom loomed on and on like a sea below them and the girls had to turn from the depressing sight to a hand of cards to pass the time.

    When Aedris rose up past the gloom the Bastion stood highest of all. Towering glowing crystal towers spiraling toward the Aurora setting in the horizon. Soon the green glow will pierce the blackness of night, a shining sword defying the strangling night.

    The Bastion¡¯s gates loomed ahead, a masterpiece of crystalline architecture glowing faintly with Noxflare light. Students gathered in clusters, their laughter and conversations echoing through the open courtyard. Jess climbed from the motorcar at the edge of the crowd and some of her peers fawned over her.

    Talia smirked and pinched the back of Jessalyn¡¯s arm. ¡°Your worshipers are here.¡± She winked. ¡°Do you think he will be here?¡± Her eyes scanned the students.

    ¡°Who?¡± Jess asked, nodding humbly to the flattery of the girls they passed.

    Talia nodded toward a commotion at the far end of the courtyard. A group of young Radiants parted like water for a tall figure to stride through. His every step was purposeful, his presence commanding.

    ¡°Draevin Solvar.¡± Talia said, her tone dripping with disdain. ¡°The councilor¡¯s golden boy.¡±

    Jess groaned and followed her gaze, her stomach tightening. Draevin was everything she had been taught to admire-confident, poised, and impeccably dressed. But there was an edge to him, a coldness in his golden eyes that set her on edge.

    Draevin stopped near the center of the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as if assessing them. When his eyes landed on Jess, he smiled a slow, deliberate curve of his lips that felt more like a challenge than a greeting.

    He crossed his Noxflare lined gloves behind his back and clacked his white polished leather shoes as he strutted toward them. His broad chest pried the buttons of his overcoat testing their limits. His dark hair slicked back smooth without a single hair out of place.

    ¡°Jessalyn Vale,¡± he said, his voice smooth and cultured. ¡°I was hoping we would cross paths.¡±

    Talia bristled beside her, but Jess kept her expression neutral. ¡°Draevin Solvar.¡± She repeated his full name back with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you knew who I was.¡±

    He pulled his gloved hands from behind his back and tugged his overcoat down brushing off unseen lint. ¡°Oh, I make a point to know everyone worth noting,¡± Draevin replied, his smile widening. ¡°And you, Jessalyn, are worth quite a bit.¡± His eyes roved over her then flashed back up to her face.

    Jess resisted the urge to roll her eyes. ¡°Flattery won¡¯t get you anywhere with me.¡±

    Draevin chuckled, the sound low and rich. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not trying to flatter you. I¡¯m simply stating a fact. The Vale family has always been a cornerstone of Radiant society. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll live up to the legacy.¡±

    Talia stepped forward her amber eyes blazing. ¡°Jess doesn¡¯t need your approval, Solvar. Why don¡¯t you go find someone else to harass?¡±

    Draevin¡¯s eyes flicked to Talia expression cool. ¡°Ah, Talia, didn¡¯t see you were there.¡± His eyes lock with hers for a long moment then he smiles. ¡°Always so fiery. It¡¯s almost endearing.¡±

    Before Talia could retort, a loud chime rang through the courtyard, signaling the start of the opening ceremony. Draevin inclined his head toward Jess, his smile unwavering.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you inside, Jessalyn. And don¡¯t worry-I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be seeing a lot of each other this year.

    As he walked away Jess exhaled slowly, tension she hadn¡¯t realised she had been holding draining away from her shoulders.

    Talia muttered under her breath, ¡°I hate that guy.¡±

    Jess glared at his back for a long while. She would have to keep an eye out for him, the pit of her stomach warned her so.

 6 Red Stone

    Kaelen sat hunched over his workbench, the pale glow of the Noxflare crystals bathing his face in a sickly green hue. The room was a symphony of disarray, with wires dangling from exposed machinery and piles of discarded tools heaped in precarious mounds. The sharp, metallic scent of soldering iron lingered in the air, mingling with the faint ozone tang of overworked crystals. Sleep was a distant memory, and his aching muscles screamed for rest, but Kaelen ignored them.

    Before him sat the red crystal¡ªa marvel of his ingenuity and the culmination of weeks of relentless experimentation. It pulsed faintly, casting flickering shadows across the walls like the dying embers of a fire. He¡¯d done it: created a second color beyond the standard green and blue. Its effects were undeniable, filling him with raw, primal strength when he held it. And yet, the discovery left him hollow.

    ¡°Three,¡± Kaelen muttered under his breath, his voice hoarse from disuse. ¡°Only three at a time. Why three?¡±

    The green crystal in his pocket buzzed faintly against his thigh, a subtle reminder of its constant presence. He pulled it out and placed it next to the blue and red stones. The three crystals together emitted an otherworldly glow, a symphony of color and light that seemed to mock his frustration.

    The device¡ªthe glove and sleeve Renik had brought him weeks ago¡ªlay beside the stones, its wires frayed and sparking faintly. Kaelen had dismantled and reassembled it countless times, each iteration leading to new breakthroughs but no definitive answers. Blue had come first, granting a surge of mental acuity unlike anything he¡¯d experienced. Then red, pure physical power. But the system wouldn¡¯t allow him to carry more than three stones simultaneously, and one of them always had to be green.

    He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. ¡°There has to be more. I know there¡¯s more.¡±

    The door creaked open, and Kaelen¡¯s head snapped up. Renik strolled in, his usual swagger amplified by the faint glow of the blue crystal hanging from a leather cord around his neck tucked under his shirt. His sharp eyes took in the chaotic room with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

    ¡°By the Daystar, you look like hell,¡± Renik said, leaning casually against the doorframe. He pulled a flask from his jacket and took a swig. ¡°Been keeping the night watch company again, I see.¡±

    Kaelen grunted, gesturing toward the crystals on the bench. ¡°Where the hell have you been?¡±

    Renik grinned, slipping the flask back into his pocket. ¡°Here, there, everywhere. Let¡¯s just say the blue stone¡¯s been... educational. Picked up a few tricks I think you¡¯ll appreciate.¡±

    Kaelen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Criminal tricks, no doubt.¡±

    ¡°Is there any other kind worth learning?¡± Renik shot back, his grin widening.

    Kaelen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°You could at least pretend to take this seriously.¡±

    ¡°I take it very seriously,¡± Renik said, striding over to the workbench. His eyes landed on the red crystal, and his expression shifted, a rare look of genuine curiosity crossing his face. ¡°So, what¡¯s this? Another color?¡±

    Kaelen nodded, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Red. Amplifies physical strength. But there¡¯s a catch.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there always?¡± Renik said, picking up the crystal.

    ¡°I can¡¯t carry more than three stones at once,¡± Kaelen explained, pulling the green and blue crystals from his pocket. He laid them on the bench beside the red, the three stones glowing softly. ¡°And one of them always has to be green. The system won¡¯t let me carry more than that.¡±

    Renik whistled low, turning the red crystal over in his hand. ¡°That¡¯s... limiting.¡±

    Kaelen nodded; his gaze fixed on the crystals. ¡°I think it¡¯s a failsafe. Whoever built this system didn¡¯t want anyone getting too powerful.¡±

    Renik¡¯s grin returned. ¡°Sounds like a challenge to me.¡±

    Kaelen hesitated, then slid the red crystal toward Renik. ¡°Take it. I need to focus on the blue stones.¡±

    Renik raised an eyebrow. ¡°You sure? Red sounds more your style.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got the green stone to keep me going,¡± Kaelen said. ¡°And the blue stone¡¯s intelligence boost is more useful for what I¡¯m trying to do. Besides, you¡¯re better suited for raw strength.¡±

    Renik chuckled, slipping the red crystal into his pouch. As it settled against his chest, his posture changed¡ªhis muscles tensed, his movements more deliberate and controlled. He flexed his fingers, a look of awe crossing his face.

    ¡°Damn,¡± he muttered. ¡°Feels like I could take on a Dreg squad and win.¡±

    Kaelen smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. That kind of power comes with a cost.¡±

    ¡°Everything worth having does,¡± Renik said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. He glanced at the device on the bench, then back at Kaelen. ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡±

    Kaelen leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the table. ¡°We need more resources. More Noxflare, more ancient tech. And there¡¯s only one place that has both.¡±

    Renik¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°The Bastion.¡±

    Kaelen nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the key to everything. If I can get in, I¡¯ll have access to the best resources and the brightest minds. But I¡¯ll need a fake identity to get past their screening.¡±

    Renik¡¯s grin returned, sly and confident. ¡°Lucky for you, fake identities are my specialty.¡±

    ¡°This is no joke Renik. I want to pose as a Radiant from one of the moons,¡± Kaelen said. ¡°Their colonies are considered lesser, so it won¡¯t raise too many eyebrows if I don¡¯t act like the rest of the upper class.¡±

    Renik tapped his chin, his grin widening. ¡°A moonie, huh? I can work with that. Give me a day or two to put it together.¡±

    ¡°Make it convincing,¡± Kaelen said. ¡°I can¡¯t even imagine what the Bastion would do if they were to discover I am a fraud.¡± His mind immediately went to the horrors the forgotten must go through so close to the black. It sent an evil shiver up his spine.

    ¡°Relax,¡± Renik said, clapping him on the shoulder. ¡°When have I ever let you down?¡±

    Kaelen gave him a pointed look.

    ¡°Okay, don¡¯t answer that,¡± Renik said, laughing. He turned to leave, then paused in the doorway. ¡°You sure about this, Kaelen? The Bastion¡¯s no joke. If they catch you...¡±

    ¡°I have to risk it, what we have here is too important to let out now. Keep it secret until we can figure out what to do with it.¡± Kaelen said, his voice steady. ¡°But if we¡¯re going to change anything, we have to take risks. The Bastion is just the first step.¡±

    Renik nodded, a rare moment of seriousness crossing his face. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll get it done. You just focus on those blue stones, genius. We¡¯re gonna need all the brainpower we can get.¡±

    As the door closed behind Renik, Kaelen turned back to his workbench. The glow of the crystals reflected in his eyes, their light a promise of power and possibility.

    The Bastion was a gamble, but it was a gamble he was willing to take. All his life he has been trapped in the prison he was born in. This could change everything. This could turn Lumina Nocte on its head. Where else could the forgotten and the Dimmers rise above their desperation. Something had to change. The revolution had to start with him and this new discovery but first he needed to discover the limits of this new gift.

 7 Hasty Preperations

    Kaelen sat cross-legged on the floor of his workshop, his breathing steady but shallow as he focused on the faint glow of the green crystal in his palm. The air around him was thick with the subtle hum of Noxflare energy, a silent rhythm that pulsed through his veins and whispered possibilities he could barely comprehend. He¡¯d spent days honing himself for this moment, but the weight of the task ahead pressed heavily on his shoulders.

    The Bastion wasn¡¯t just a school; it was a proving ground for the best and brightest in Lumina Nocte. Every Radiant who walked its halls carried the burden of expectation, and every Glimmer who managed to scrape their way inside did so with sheer brilliance and cunning. To fool them would require nothing short of perfection.

    ¡°Focus,¡± Kaelen muttered, staring at the crystal. ¡°You don¡¯t have time for doubt.¡±

    The green stone vibrated softly, its glow intensifying as Kaelen willed its energy to flow through him. The goal was simple in theory: manipulate the Noxflare to create the faintest pull on the tools scattered around him. Telekinesis. The Radiants used it so casually, as if it were second nature, while the Dimmers and Forgotten could only look on with envy.

    For Kaelen, it was an uphill battle. The power was there¡ªhe could feel it¡ªbut shaping it, channeling it, was like trying to sculpt water with his bare hands.

    He stretched out a hand toward a wrench lying a few feet away. The glow of the green crystal spread down his arm, shimmering faintly in the dim light of the room. He gritted his teeth, pouring his will into the motion. The wrench trembled, then jerked violently, skidding across the floor before clattering against the wall.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± Kaelen hissed, letting the crystal''s glow fade. His muscles ached, the exertion more taxing than he¡¯d expected. He¡¯d read that the Noxflare fed on the user¡¯s physical and mental energy, and now he understood why even Radiants struggled to maintain prolonged use.

    But Kaelen wasn¡¯t a Radiant. He needed to be something else. Something never seen. Once he entered the halls of the Bastion he needed to stand out beyond the Radiant children. Beyond their visions of what should be and would be.

    His gaze shifted to the two blue crystals sitting on the workbench. The green alone wasn¡¯t enough. He needed the clarity, the sharpness, that only the blue stones could provide. Rising to his feet, Kaelen crossed the room and picked them up, one in each hand. Their cool, pulsing energy seeped into him almost immediately, sharpening the edges of his thoughts like a whetstone to a blade. Colors seemed brighter, sounds clearer. The world slowed, and his mind raced to fill the gaps.

    He turned back to the wrench and dropped into a crouch, the green crystal glowing faintly in his pocket. The energy it emitted felt different now¡ªmore precise, more malleable. He stretched out his hand again, this time with a quiet confidence that hadn¡¯t been there moments before.

    The wrench rose smoothly into the air, hovering inches above the ground. Kaelen exhaled slowly, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

    ¡°Finally,¡± he murmured.

    He spent hours like this, pushing himself further with each attempt. The wrench was followed by a screwdriver, then a handful of bolts, until finally, Kaelen had the tools spinning in a slow, synchronized orbit around him. Sweat dripped down his temple, but he barely noticed, his mind too consumed by the thrill of mastery.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    By the time he stopped, the workshop was a mess, but Kaelen felt an unfamiliar sense of accomplishment. He wasn¡¯t just imitating the Radiants now¡ªhe was surpassing them. He couldn¡¯t fall short of their expectations; every instinct told him to surpass everything the rumors told him of the Bastion. The Bastion wouldn¡¯t just be a place to hide in plain sight; it could be the key to everything.

    ---

    That night, Kaelen sat hunched over a stack of stolen books and borrowed notes, his mind still alight with the residual clarity of the blue crystals. Renik had outdone himself, delivering a trove of materials detailing the customs, habits, and mannerisms of the Glimmers and Radiants. Kaelen flipped through the pages with feverish determination, absorbing every scrap of information.

    The Glimmers, he learned, occupied a strange liminal space within society. They weren¡¯t Radiants, but their intelligence and resourcefulness earned them a grudging respect. They dressed well, carried themselves with quiet confidence, and spoke with an eloquence that masked their desperation to climb higher. Kaelen would have to embody that same desperation¡ªjust enough to sell the act, but not so much as to attract suspicion.

    Then there were the Radiants. Arrogant, aloof, and utterly convinced of their superiority, they walked through life as if the world existed solely for their benefit. Kaelen studied their speech patterns, their mannerisms, their subtle gestures of disdain. It was a world he¡¯d never been part of, but one he was determined to infiltrate.

    He stood and crossed the room to a cracked mirror propped against the wall. His reflection stared back at him, disheveled and weary, a far cry from the polished image he¡¯d need to project.

    ¡°A moonie exchange student,¡± he muttered, rolling the phrase around in his mouth. The colonies on the moons were considered backwaters by the Radiants, their residents barely a step above the Glimmers. It was the perfect cover¡ªunassuming, yet just credible enough to grant him entry.

    Kaelen ran a hand through his hair, taming it into something more presentable. He straightened his posture, mimicking the casual confidence he¡¯d seen in the Radiants during his rare glimpses of them.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need better clothes,¡± he muttered. ¡°Something modest, but not too modest. A moonie wouldn¡¯t dress like a Forgotten, but they wouldn¡¯t wear spiresilk either.¡±

    He turned back to his notes, scribbling down ideas and details. The dialect, the etiquette, the unspoken rules of social hierarchy¡ªit was all there, a puzzle waiting to be assembled. By the time Kaelen looked up, the faint light of dawn was creeping through the cracks in the workshop walls. His eyes burned with exhaustion, but his mind was alight with possibility.

    ---

    Over the next few days, Kaelen refined his disguise, practicing his speech and mannerisms until they felt like second nature. He worked tirelessly to perfect his use of the green crystal, training himself to manipulate the Noxflare with a precision that bordered on unnatural. The blue stones amplified his efforts, pushing his mind to new heights of clarity and focus.

    By the time Renik returned with a bundle of clothes and a fake identity card, Kaelen was a different man. His movements were smoother, his speech more refined. He¡¯d even picked up a faint accent, a subtle touch that would sell the illusion of his origins.

    Renik whistled low, looking Kaelen up and down. ¡°Damn, you clean up nice. Almost didn¡¯t recognize you.¡±

    Kaelen smirked, adjusting the collar of his new jacket. ¡°Let¡¯s hope the Bastion feels the same way.¡±

    ¡°You sure you¡¯re ready for this?¡± Renik asked, his tone uncharacteristically serious.

    Kaelen nodded; his gaze steely. ¡°More than ready. This is the only way forward.¡±

    As he slipped the green crystal into his pocket and slung the bag of blue stones over his shoulder, Kaelen felt a strange mix of fear and exhilaration. The Bastion was a gamble, but it was one he was willing to take.

    He was no longer the boy born into the shadows of the Forgotten. He was a moonie exchange student, a Glimmer on the rise, a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. And he was ready to change everything.

 8 The Bastions Secret

    The air inside the Bastion¡¯s grand hall buzzed with anticipation, the tension so thick Jessalyn could almost taste it. Radiant students filed into the room, their brilliant attire catching the light of the sprawling Noxflare chandeliers overhead. Despite the splendor of the scene, Jess couldn¡¯t help but feel a shiver of unease as she joined the throng.

    At the heart of the room stood a raised dais, where an older Radiant, adorned in ceremonial robes embroidered with Noxflare thread, waited. Behind him loomed a massive crystalline sculpture of the Bastion¡¯s sigil¡ªa radiant crown encircled by three interlocking moons. Its symbolism was unmistakable: unity, power, and ascension.

    Jess glanced at Talia, who stood at her side, her amber eyes scanning the room with a mix of curiosity and amusement. ¡°Any guesses on the grand secret they¡¯re about to unveil?¡± Talia murmured, her voice low enough to avoid the sharp ears of the upper-echelon Radiants.

    ¡°Not a clue,¡± Jess replied, her hands smoothing the fabric of her dress¡ªa nervous habit she couldn¡¯t quite suppress. She¡¯d spent her life preparing for the Bastion, yet something about the way her mother had refused to answer questions about the orientation made her stomach churn.

    The hall quieted as the Radiant elder stepped forward, his presence commanding without effort. His eyes, sharp and gleaming, swept over the assembled students.

    ¡°Welcome, initiates,¡± he began, his voice resonating through the space like the toll of a bell. ¡°You stand at the threshold of greatness, chosen from among the best to forge a path that will shape the future of Lumina Nocte.¡±

    Jess straightened, the weight of his words pressing down on her. This was it¡ªthe moment she¡¯d dreamed of, worked for, sacrificed for.

    ¡°But,¡± the elder continued, his tone darkening, ¡°greatness is not given freely. It must be earned.¡±

    A murmur rippled through the crowd, uncertainty flickering in the faces around Jess. Even Talia, usually unflappable, tilted her head in curiosity.

    ¡°The Bastion operates on a principle as old as time itself,¡± the elder said. ¡°Survival of the fittest. Only those who prove themselves worthy may ascend to the ranks of true Radiance. This is why, over the next month, you will undergo the Trials of Crowns.¡±

    Jess¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Trial of Crowns? She¡¯d heard whispers of a grueling initiation, but nothing concrete. Her mother had been maddeningly vague when Jess pressed her for details. So it would be a series of trials for rankings, she mused.

    ¡°The trials,¡± the elder explained, ¡°will test your resolve, intelligence, and strength. It will push you to your limits and beyond. Failure is not merely an option¡ªit is a certainty for many of you. Only those who succeed will earn their crown and the right to remain at the Bastion.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    A chill ran down Jess¡¯s spine. Remain?

    Talia raised a brow, leaning closer to Jess. ¡°They¡¯re serious about this, aren¡¯t they?¡± she whispered, her usual playful tone replaced with genuine concern. ¡°I have always wondered what happened to the other students. I imagine they are shipped off to the three moons.¡±

    ¡°More than I thought,¡± Jess replied, her voice barely audible. ¡°That¡¯s what I figured, or banishment to the fringe towns on the other side of Lumina Nocte. I heard some are made into the forgotten.¡±

    Jess shook her head, ¡°No way, they wouldn¡¯t do that to a Radiant.¡±

    ¡°Even though we were born Radiant it isn¡¯t official until we graduate. Until then we are just glimmers really.¡± Talia smirked and winked.

    The elder gestured, and a series of shimmering screens descended from the ceiling, each one displaying scenes of previous trials. Jess¡¯s stomach turned as she watched students racing through labyrinthine corridors, fending off mechanical constructs that looked far too deadly to be mere training tools. Others solved intricate puzzles under the pressure of ticking clocks, while some faced each other in combat arenas.

    ¡°This is the path to your crown,¡± the elder said, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. ¡°Failure of the first trial is death. Survival will mean glory. You are the children of previous Radiants so you are paired against Glimmers on your first trial. The path to the crown is through them. If you live through the maze you will meet your opponent at the end of the maze. Kill the glimmer and pass the first trial. ¡±

    A silence fell over the room as the elder allowed his words to sink in. Jess felt the weight of every eye around her, the tension thick enough to choke on. He couldn¡¯t possibly have meant they should kill them. Jess felt her throat closing up. She looked around at the hundred students. A hundred more would be introduced tomorrow and they would have to kill them? What if the Glimmer won? They would seriously allow half the students to be killed the first day of school? She thought back bitterly at the martial training her mother had drown her in since she could walk. It was all really for this and her mother had never even hinted at the true danger here.

    ¡°The trial begins tomorrow at dawn,¡± the elder announced. ¡°Rest well, for tonight may be the last peace you know for some time.¡±

    ---

    After the Orientation

    Jess sat on the edge of her bed in the radiant dormitory, staring at the ornate crown emblem embroidered on the blanket. The Trial of Crowns. No one had said a word about this, not even her mother. Was it a test of character, or simply a cruel tradition designed to weed out the weak?

    Talia paced the room, her boots clicking against the marble floor. ¡°Well, this is an interesting twist,¡± she said, breaking the silence. ¡°I thought we¡¯d be easing into things, maybe a few lectures and some pretentious banquets before the real work started.¡±

    Jess shook her head. ¡°You saw the screens. This isn¡¯t just a test¡ªit¡¯s a culling.¡±

    Talia stopped, her expression softening. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve got this. You¡¯re smarter and stronger than half the people in that hall.¡±

    ¡°And the other half?¡± Jess asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

    Talia smirked. ¡°They¡¯re probably more scared than you are.¡±

    Jess let out a shaky laugh, though it did little to ease her nerves. ¡°You really think we¡¯ll get through this?¡±

    Talia sat beside her, her expression uncharacteristically serious. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But if we don¡¯t, we¡¯re going down spitting and biting.¡±

    Jess nodded, her resolve hardening. Whatever the Trial of Crowns entailed, she wouldn¡¯t let it break her. She had to set her eyes on the goal. She would not allow anything to get between her and the prize. She was born for this, she had trained for this even if she thought her mother was just training her for the enforcers. It made sense now that she thought about it. When she had first mentioned enlisting her mother had looked down her nose at the idea. It had confused Jess but her mother hadn¡¯t been training her to fight rebels, she was meant to survive this test and return a Hierarchy prodigy.

    ¡°Be careful tomorrow Talia.¡± Jess pulled out of her thoughts and grabbed her friend¡¯s hand.

    ¡°You know me, I¡¯m a Nightclaw in a dress.¡± She winked and spun allowing her green dress to flurry around her. She put on a fierce face but her slim features, wavy brown hair, and amber eyes made her seem meek.

    ¡°Well Nightclaw I better see you come out that back door tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Or what, you¡¯ll kill me?¡± Talia shot back but neither found it funny.

 9 The Banquet

    The grand dining hall of the Bastion was a spectacle Kaelen had never imagined, even in his wildest dreams. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, adorned with glowing crystalline chandeliers that cast prismatic light across the room. Tables lined with fine silverware and plates of decadent food stretched endlessly, buzzing with the chatter of students dressed in their finest.

    Kaelen adjusted the collar of his jacket, his fingers brushing against the green crystal concealed in his pocket. He felt out of place, even with Renik¡¯s meticulous planning. The room was a sea of Radiant elegance, their laughter tinkling like glass, their postures exuding effortless confidence. But Kaelen forced himself to relax. He wasn¡¯t Kaelen anymore. He was Kael of the Moons, a promising exchange student with a story so airtight even the Radiants wouldn¡¯t question it.

    His gaze swept the room, noting the intricate social dances unfolding around him. Clusters of students jostled for position, their smiles razor-sharp. The Glimmers clung to the edges of conversations, trying to insert themselves without being too obvious, while the Radiants lorded over them with an air of practiced superiority.

    Kaelen wasn¡¯t sure where he belonged in this hierarchy, but he wasn¡¯t here to belong. He was here to infiltrate.

    ¡°Kael, right?¡± A voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned to see a tall, dark-haired Radiant with piercing amber eyes. The boy¡¯s smile was sharp, too charming to be entirely genuine. ¡°You must be new. Draevin Solvar.¡±

    Kaelen extended a hand, his grip firm. ¡°Kael. From the Moons.¡±

    ¡°Ah, the mysterious moon colonies,¡± Draevin said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to visit. Though I hear the air up there isn¡¯t quite... pure.¡± Draevin was a well dressed brawny man with forearms the size of Kaelen¡¯s calves. Kaelen couldn¡¯t help but notice the haughtiness of the man and the way he puffed out his chest. The signals were clear.  Mmm Draevin big man, Kaelen stay out of way or be crushed. Kaelen imagined the man beating his chest with his fists.

    Kaelen¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°It builds character.¡±

    Draevin smirked, clearly amused by the retort. ¡°Well, Kael, enjoy the banquet. It¡¯s a tradition as old as the Bastion itself. A chance to mingle before the real fun begins.¡± A glimmer of pure joy passed across his eyes as he said it.

    Before Kaelen could ask what he meant, Draevin had already moved on, leaving Kaelen to wonder at his cryptic words. The way he had spoken to Kaelen gave him the chills.

    He found an empty seat near the center of the room, surrounded by a mix of Radiants and Glimmers. Across the table, his gaze landed on a girl who seemed almost out of place in this glittering assembly.

    She wasn¡¯t like the others.

    Her dark hair framed a face that was more striking than pretty, her sharp green eyes scanning the room with a mix of wariness and curiosity. She wore a simple yet elegant dress that somehow made her stand out more than the ostentatious outfits of the Radiants. Her lips were painted a deep red and traced with a faint line. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    When their eyes met, the world around Kaelen seemed to blur.

    Jessalyn.

    He didn¡¯t know her name, but it felt as if he¡¯d known her forever. Something deep within him stirred, an emotion so sudden and overwhelming it nearly took his breath away.

    Jess blinked, caught off guard by the intensity of his gaze. For a moment, she forgot the room, forgot Talia¡¯s chatter beside her, forgot everything but the boy across the table.

    He wasn¡¯t like the others.

    His sharp features carried a ruggedness that spoke of struggle and resilience, his dark eyes holding a depth she couldn¡¯t quite place. He looked at her as if she were the only person in the room, and the weight of that gaze sent a flush to her cheeks.

    Talia nudged her with an elbow, breaking the spell. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±

    Jess shook her head, tearing her gaze away. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Before either of them could say more, a loud, familiar voice broke through the din.

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a cozy little gathering?¡±

    Kaelen¡¯s heart sank as Renik slid into the empty seat beside him, grinning like a cat that had just cornered a mouse. He was dressed impeccably¡ªtoo impeccably, Kaelen thought, the sharp lines of his suit a stark contrast to his usual crass demeanor. He had dressed sarcastically flamboyant. A high collar black jacket with tails and Noxflare embroidery between the gold buttons. Black pointed boots shined to mirrors and a set of silver rings in his ears.

    ¡°Renik,¡± Kaelen hissed under his breath. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Renik leaned in, his grin widening. ¡°Same thing as you, mate. Couldn¡¯t let you have all the fun.¡±

    Kaelen clenched his jaw, glancing around to make sure no one had overheard. ¡°You created a fake identity?¡±

    ¡°Relax,¡± Renik said, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m Renar, son of a lesser Glimmer noble from the eastern provinces. Nobody cares about the details.¡±

    Kaelen pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game, Renik.¡±

    ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t,¡± Renik said, grabbing a roll from the table and taking a bite. ¡°It¡¯s an adventure.¡±

    Across the table, Talia narrowed her eyes at Renik. ¡°And who are you supposed to be?¡± Her lip curled up on its own as she looked him over.

    Renik flashed her a roguish smile. ¡°Renar. A pleasure to meet you, love.¡±

    Talia¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡±

    Jess bit back a laugh as Renik shrugged, unbothered.

    Kaelen, meanwhile, couldn¡¯t help but steal another glance at Jess. She was watching him now, her lips curving into a small, curious smile. He felt his heart race, the connection between them like a thread pulling tighter with every second.

    Before he could think of something to say, the elder from earlier appeared at the head of the room, raising his hands for silence.

    ¡°Welcome, students, to the Bastion,¡± he said, his voice resonating through the hall. ¡°Tonight, we celebrate your arrival. Tomorrow, we test your worth.¡±

    A murmur swept through the room, the tension palpable.

    ¡°As you dine, reflect on the privilege of being here,¡± the elder continued. ¡°Only the brightest, the strongest, and the most cunning will earn the right to stay. To those who succeed, glory awaits. To those who fail...¡± He paused, his gaze sweeping the room. ¡°Remember, not all who enter the Bastion leave it.¡±

    Kaelen felt a chill run down his spine, his earlier confidence wavering. What did that mean? He didn¡¯t like the ominous tone the old man¡¯s voice took on at the end of the sentence.

    Jess glanced at Talia, her unease mirrored in her friend¡¯s expression.

    Renik, however, looked utterly unbothered, popping a grape into his mouth as if they were discussing the weather. He scratched himself rather crudely when he spotted Talia glaring at him. He winked and snatched up an apple from the table.

    As the elder¡¯s words sank in, Kaelen¡¯s gaze found Jess¡¯s again, and for a brief moment, the fear melted away. He was mesmerized at once and it seemed as if she had stopped breathing when her eyes met his again.

    A loud crunch broke his hypnotism and he turned to look at his friend. How would he ever be able to keep his cover with Renik right there. There was no way Renik could pretend to be of the Radiant ilk. Yet a part of him was glad to see a friend.

    ¡°You''re gonna need these.¡± Renik held out a small handful of gems about as large as grapes. ¡°Snatched em for ya from the luggage room fore I came in here.¡±

    The corner of Kaelen¡¯s mouth crept up on its own. Whatever lay ahead, he realized, he wasn¡¯t alone.

 10 The Doors

    The grand foyer of the Bastion was overwhelming in its vastness. The polished stone floor gleamed under the glow of dozens of suspended crystalline orbs, their light casting shifting patterns across the hundreds of ornate doors that lined the circular walls. Above, a domed ceiling displayed a mosaic of ancient battles, the scenes so vivid they seemed almost alive.

    Kaelen, bolstered by the faint hum of the two blue stones in his hidden pocket, stood apart from the crowd, his mind sharper than ever. Every sound, every movement, seemed amplified, his senses tuned to a degree he was still adjusting to. The edges of conversations drifted toward him, snatches of hushed excitement and nervous whispers weaving through the air like a tapestry of tension.

    Beside him, Renar¡ªor rather, Renik¡ªseemed completely at ease, leaning casually against a marble column. He radiated a cocksure confidence that clashed with the gravity of the moment. Kaelen didn¡¯t miss the subtle glint in his friend¡¯s eyes, the telltale sign of the red and blue stones hidden in Renik¡¯s inner pockets.

    Kaelen¡¯s gaze swept the room until it landed on Jessalyn. With careful eavesdropping he had learned her name at the dinner table. She stood with Talia nearby, their presence drawing the attention of more than a few students. Jess¡¯s sharp green eyes flicked around the room, her expression guarded but curious. Talia, in contrast, exuded a haughty confidence, her arms crossed as she surveyed the crowd like a hawk looking for prey.

    Kaelen took a deep breath, shook off the nerves and approached them, Renik falling in step beside him.

    ¡°Jess,¡± he said, the name rolling off his tongue as if it belonged there. He offered a faint smile. ¡°Good to see you again.¡±

    Jess turned, her eyes softening when they met his. He used her nickname and it sent a chill up her spine. It was personal as if he knew her already. ¡°Kael, right? From the moons? What fortune has passed you before me?¡±

    ¡°Fate, perhaps,¡± Renik interjected smoothly, bowing with exaggerated flair. ¡°Renar, at your service, ladies.¡± The shorter stout man had a blunt way of speaking.

    Talia raised an eyebrow. ¡°Charmed, I¡¯m sure.¡± Her tone dripped with sarcasm, and Kaelen had to fight back a smirk.

    Renik didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°I live to serve, truly.¡±

    Jess chuckled, shaking her head. ¡°Ignore him, Talia. He seems harmless enough.¡±

    ¡°Seems,¡± Talia muttered, eyeing Renik warily.

    Kaelen shifted his attention back to Jess. ¡°What do you make of all this?¡± He gestured toward the hundreds of doors.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Jess¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°It¡¯s... unsettling. They keep hinting at something big, but no one¡¯s saying exactly what.¡±

    ¡°Whatever it is,¡± Renik said, his voice low but carrying an edge, ¡°it¡¯s meant to thin the herd. You can feel it in the air.¡±

    Talia frowned. ¡°That¡¯s a grim way to put it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a grim place,¡± Renik shot back, his grin fading slightly.

    Kaelen nodded. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong. Whatever¡¯s coming, it¡¯s not going to be easy. They¡¯ve made that clear.¡±

    Jess bit her lip, glancing toward the elder who stood silently at the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll really...?¡± She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

    Kaelen hesitated, he felt as if he knew what she was thinking, then said softly, ¡°I think they¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make sure only the strongest remain.¡±

    The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words settling over them.

    ---

    As they waited, Kaelen¡¯s attention was drawn to a group nearby. Three students stood together, their presence striking enough to make them stand out even in the crowded foyer.

    The first was a broad-shouldered boy with golden hair that fell in messy waves. His confident grin and easy laughter suggested he was used to being the center of attention. Beside him stood a tall girl with sleek black hair, her piercing blue eyes scanning the room with a calculating sharpness. The third was smaller, a wiry boy with nervous energy, his glasses reflecting the crystalline light as he fidgeted with a coin in his hand.

    ¡°Who are they?¡± Kaelen asked, nodding toward the trio.

    Jess followed his gaze. ¡°That¡¯s Zorin,¡± she said, indicating the golden-haired boy. ¡°His family¡¯s practically royalty among the Radiants. And the girl is Amara. She¡¯s... well, let¡¯s just say she doesn¡¯t suffer fools.¡±

    ¡°And the twitchy one?¡± Renik asked, tilting his head.

    ¡°Jaren,¡± Talia supplied. ¡°A Glimmer. Brilliant, from what I hear, but not exactly... composed.¡±

    ¡°They seem like an odd mix,¡± Kaelen observed.

    Jess shrugged. ¡°Maybe, but they¡¯re here, just like the rest of us. Guess that means they¡¯re capable.¡±

    Kaelen filed the names and faces away, a strange feeling settling in his chest. He didn¡¯t know why, but something told him these three would cross his path again.

    ---

    The elder raised his hand, and the room fell silent. His voice carried easily, cutting through the tension.

    ¡°Students,¡± he began, his tone measured but commanding. ¡°Tonight, you stand at the threshold of greatness. Beyond these doors lies your first test, a trial that will separate the worthy from the unworthy.¡±

    A ripple of unease passed through the crowd.

    ¡°Each of you will be assigned a door,¡± the elder continued. ¡°Behind it, you will face challenges designed to test your strength, your intellect, and your resolve. At the end of the trial, you will meet one other student in combat. Only one of you will emerge victorious.¡±

    Murmurs broke out, some panicked, others disbelieving.

    ¡°Silence,¡± the elder commanded, his voice booming. ¡°This is the way of the Bastion. Only those who prove themselves may continue. Those who fail...¡± He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. ¡°Will not return.¡±

    Kaelen felt his stomach twist, the blue stones in his pocket thrumming faintly as if reacting to the tension. He glanced at Jess, who looked pale but resolute.

    ¡°Good luck,¡± he murmured to her.

    She met his gaze, her green eyes fierce despite her fear. ¡°You too.¡±

    Renik clapped a hand on Kaelen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Guess this is where the fun begins.¡±

    Kaelen didn¡¯t reply, his focus shifting to the elder as he began calling out names.

    One by one, students stepped forward, disappearing behind the ornate doors. The room grew quieter with each departure, the tension almost unbearable.

    When Kaelen¡¯s name was called, he straightened, casting one last glance at Jess. Her lips moved, forming words he couldn¡¯t hear but somehow understood.

    ¡°Survive.¡±

    Kaelen nodded and stepped forward, the door looming ahead like a portal to another world. He didn¡¯t look back.

 11 Into the Labyrinth

    The door clicked shut behind Kaelen, plunging him into darkness. He stood still, his breaths shallow as his eyes adjusted. A faint green glow began to pulse from his pocket, casting eerie shadows along the jagged walls of the maze. The blue stones added a sharp clarity to his senses, heightening the low hum of the Noxflare energy coursing through him.

    Jess¡¯s face filled his thoughts, her emerald eyes burning brighter in his mind than the glow of his crystals. He clenched his fists, willing himself to focus. Survive. Her whispered word replayed in his mind like a mantra.

    A sudden grinding noise jolted him back to the present. The walls shifted, stone grinding against stone as the path behind him sealed shut. The air grew heavy, and the sound of distant, guttural growls reached his ears. He tightened his grip on the hilt of the dagger tucked into his belt.

    This isn¡¯t just a test¡ªit¡¯s a game of survival, he thought grimly, stepping forward into the unknown.

    ---

    Jess leaned against the cool stone wall, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. She¡¯d barely evaded the swinging blade that had emerged from the ceiling a moment ago, its edge slicing through the air with lethal precision.

    The maze was relentless, its traps designed to test not just her physical endurance but her mental acuity. She glanced at her wrist, where a faint shimmer of Noxflare from her bracelet had shielded her in the nick of time.

    Kael, she thought, his name a balm to the fear gnawing at her resolve. Her mind drifted back to the banquet, to the way his eyes had met hers, as if they¡¯d known each other for a lifetime. She shook her head, forcing herself to concentrate. What was overtaking her? When in all her years had she been the girl to swoon over a boy at first glance. But he was a man. His dark eyes were burning embers to her heart and soul. The way each of his glances pierced right into her¡­

    ¡°Focus Jessalyn this isn¡¯t a tea party,¡± she whispered, pressing onward. ¡°Danger¡¯s calling and you are daydreaming?¡± She chided herself.

    The corridor widened into a chamber, its floor tiled with alternating black and white squares. A faint hum filled the air, and she froze, analyzing the pattern. A puzzle. Of course.

    Taking a deep breath, she stepped cautiously onto a white tile. Nothing happened. Then she moved to a black one. A sharp hiss erupted from the walls, and she dove backward as a burst of flame scorched the tile she¡¯d touched.

    ¡°Wonderful,¡± she muttered. ¡°A chessboard of death.¡±

    She looked over her battlefield. The white stones gathered in clusters and large clusters of black tiles blocked the best paths forward. It required planning. As she watched one of the white stones flipped over and became a black tile. She also had to be quick. Her agility and quick wits would get her through this. She took and deep breath and rocked up on her toes. She just had to keep her focus.

    Despite the fear swirling in her chest, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Kael was facing similar horrors. She clenched her fists and leaped forward, the thought of seeing him again driving her more urgently to finish this he had to be¡­ Don¡¯t finish that thought. She jumped across a group of black tiles and her heal grazed a black tile. She dropped down into a crouch as a blade swung out from a slot in the wall.

    ---

    Renik strolled through the maze with an almost casual air, his steps deliberate but unhurried. The red crystal in his pocket pulsed warmly, fueling his body with bursts of strength that made each obstacle seem like a minor inconvenience.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    He whistled softly as he navigated a narrow corridor lined with dart holes. When the inevitable click echoed through the air, he dropped to the ground, rolling out of the way with the ease of someone who had long since stopped fearing danger.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s rude,¡± he muttered, brushing himself off.

    Ahead, the corridor opened into a room filled with shifting platforms suspended over a bubbling pit of liquid that glowed a sickly green.

    ¡°Acid,¡± Renik mused, tapping his chin. ¡°Because why not?¡±

    He sized up the platforms, their movements erratic and unpredictable. A grin spread across his face. ¡°Alright, you want me to play hopscotch? Let¡¯s play.¡±

    With a burst of speed, he launched himself onto the nearest platform. It wobbled under his weight, but he crouched low, balancing easily. This isn¡¯t much different than fleeing from an enforcer he chuckled, only now I can leap higher and feel like I could run up a wall.

    As he leapt to the next platform, his thoughts drifted to Kaelen. Hope he¡¯s not taking this too seriously, Renik thought with a smirk. Stress will kill you faster than the traps will. Kaelen should have kept a red stone.

    And then there was Talia. Her icy glares at the banquet had been a source of endless amusement. He couldn¡¯t wait to see her face when he made it out of this maze alive.

    ---

    Talia stood at the edge of a dark chasm, her sharp eyes scanning the narrow stone ledges that crisscrossed the abyss. The air here was damp and cold, and the faint sound of water dripping echoed ominously.

    Her breath was steady, her mind calculating the angles and distances. Unlike some of the others, she didn¡¯t rely on raw power. Her strength was in her precision and intellect.

    ¡°Balance and focus,¡± she murmured, stepping onto the first ledge.

    The stone wobbled beneath her foot, but she adjusted, her movements fluid and deliberate. As she crossed, her thoughts wandered to the other students. Many of them would fail, she knew.

    Her lips pressed into a thin line as she thought of Renar. He was infuriating, but there was a cleverness beneath his swagger that she couldn¡¯t ignore. And Kael... there was something about him, a quiet intensity that set him apart.

    Talia reached the other side and paused to catch her breath. She glanced at the bracelet on her wrist, its faint glow a reminder of her own worth. No one will take this from me, she vowed, pushing forward.

    ---

    Kaelen rounded a corner and froze. The path ahead was blocked by a massive, lumbering creature, its hulking form illuminated by the faint glow of crystals embedded in the walls. Its skin was mottled and rough, its eyes gleaming with malice.

    Wonderful, Kaelen thought, gripping his dagger tightly.

    The blue stones in his pocket pulsed, sharpening his focus. He crouched low, analyzing the creature¡¯s movements. It didn¡¯t seem to have noticed him yet, its attention fixed on a pile of bones in the corner.

    Slow, but strong. Avoid a direct fight, he decided.

    Kaelen reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, round device¡ªa distraction tool he¡¯d crafted during his preparations, in case they discovered him early on and he needed a quick escape. He activated it and tossed it to the far side of the chamber.

    The device emitted a shrill whistle, and the creature turned, lurching toward the sound. It raged and stomped the offending device. Kaelen darted past it, his heart pounding as he slipped through a narrow opening in the wall.

    Once he was clear, he allowed himself a brief moment to breathe. His thoughts immediately returned to Jess, the memory of her voice grounding him. Why was she flashing into every thought?

    ¡°What spell have you put on me Jess?¡± He whispered, pushing forward.

    ---

 12 The Closing Doors

    Kaelen pressed his back against the cool stone wall, his breath steady but measured as he clutched the green crystal in his hand. The faint hum of its energy vibrated in his palm, blending with the distant murmurs of the maze. He crouched near a glowing stream of Noxflare, the liquid light flowing with an almost hypnotic grace.

    Amazing, he thought. How much would a handful of this water go for in the Dimmer District? He didn¡¯t move for several moments just marveling at the grand quantity of the miraculous water hoarded at the Bastion. Their currency, their vitality just flowed here on the ground. He wished he had a dozen stones to charge.

    He reached down, filling the green crystal until it pulsed brightly, its glow washing over his tense features. With a practiced motion, he focused on the transformation within, pulling the refined energy into his pocketed blue stones. A sharp clarity swept through his mind as the stones hummed to life, sharpening his thoughts and calculations.

    He couldn''t stop thinking about Jess¡ªher intense gaze, the quiet strength behind her words, and the fleeting connection they had shared in the banquet hall. Is she safe? he wondered, even as his mind raced ahead to the next potential trap.

    <hr>

    Renar grunted as he heaved himself over a crumbled stone wall, the faint light of his red crystal casting a fiery glow around him. He landed with a heavy thud, shaking dust from his boots as he surveyed the narrow corridor ahead.

    "Would it kill these guys to put in a shortcut?" he muttered, his voice echoing faintly.

    Spotting a glowing pool of Noxflare ahead, Renar¡¯s eyes lit up. His greedy heart considered how he could gather more but he was unprepared for this. He knelt by the edge and cupped the shimmering liquid in his hands, gulping it down. A rush of heat spread through his body, and he grinned as the red crystal in his inner pocket flared brighter, feeding off the transformed energy from his recharged green stone.

    With his growing strength, the walls seemed narrower, the challenges smaller. But even as he reveled in his newfound power, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Kael better not get himself killed before I can mock him for all this.

    <hr>

    Jess crouched low, her heart pounding as she studied the room ahead. The walls were covered in intricate glyphs, shifting and shimmering in a chaotic dance of light. She clutched her green crystal, its energy nearly spent after the last trial. She wiped the sweat from her brow. She would need the vitality from the stone for the next tests. Her heart slowed as she imagined what horror might lie ahead. It better not be him. She wouldn¡¯t be able to do it and whoever did kill him, if they did, she knew she would tear their eyes from their skull and rip the heart from their chest.

    The soft sound of running water drew her attention to a glowing stream nearby. She moved quickly but carefully, refilling her crystal with the radiant liquid. The light intensified, and she felt a wave of reassurance as the crystal hummed in her palm.

    As she refocused the energy, transforming it into something sharper, her thoughts drifted to Kaelen. Why can¡¯t I get him out of my head? she thought, her cheeks flushing even as she forced herself to concentrate. I have to survive. I have to find him again.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    <hr>

    Talia moved like a shadow, her footsteps silent as she navigated the maze. She stopped by a small fountain of Noxflare, its glowing waters casting eerie patterns on the walls. She knelt and filled her green crystal, watching its light grow brighter as it drank deeply.

    Once charged, she leaned against the wall, taking a moment to study her surroundings. Her mind flickered back to Jess and the others from the foyer. This maze is thinning us out, she thought grimly. Who will make it through?

    <hr>

    Kaelen wiped sweat from his brow as he entered a larger chamber. The air was thick with tension, and he could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The doors ahead opened, revealing a figure he recognized: Jaren, shifted nervously, chewing on his cheek. His eyes searched Kealen. Recognition filled his eyes and an eager violent glint flashed across them. Jaren smirked, twirling a short blade in his hand. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s just you and me, Moonie. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re really made of.¡± Jaren didn¡¯t hesitate, he knew what Kaelen was, a pawn to be swept off the board. An easy win to bolster his ego.

    <hr>

    Jess stepped into a wide, circular room, her hand instinctively going to her green crystal. Across from her, the door opened to reveal someone she¡¯d seen in the foyer: Lirae, the sharp-eyed Glimmer who had observed everyone with quiet disdain.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re the one they paired me with,¡± Lirae said, her voice cool and calculated. ¡°This should be... interesting.¡±

    <hr>

    Renar grinned as he entered a cavernous space, his bulk filling the doorway. On the other side, the door creaked open, and a hulking Radiant named Zorin stepped through. He was a giant with golden curly hair down to his shoulders and a dimple chin.

    Renar couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°They paired me with a girl.¡± He taunted.

    Zorin stomped his foot and snorted like he was blowing smoke. ¡°Your taunts amuse me Jester, perhaps I can learn to juggle with your parts.¡± Zorin cracked his neck to each side and gripped his expensive shirt by the collar. With a quick tug he ripped the expensive fabric in two and tossed it aside. He was a tanned giant who looked like a statue of a god.

    ¡°Well, this is gonna be fun,¡± Renar said, cracking his knuckles. The red flare felt as if it were scorching through his veins. He breathed deep and felt a flash of rage then smiled manically.

    Zorin snorted. ¡°We¡¯ll see how fun it is when I crush you.¡±

    <hr>

    Talia¡¯s opponent was a lithe, agile Glimmer named Kaida, who stepped lightly into the room like a predator stalking its prey.

    Kaida tilted her head, her expression unreadable. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but you won¡¯t make it out of here alive.¡±

    Talia remained silent, her eyes narrowing as she assessed Kaida¡¯s stance and movements. Talia was like a snake waiting to strike.

    <hr>

    Each of them stood in their respective rooms, facing their opponents. The maze had tested their bodies and minds, but this would test their resolve.

    Kaelen felt the blue stones hum in his pocket, feeding him strategies and calculations. He steadied his breathing, his mind clear as he faced Jaren.

    Jess clutched her crystal tightly, drawing strength from the thought of Kaelen. I have to survive. For him.

    Renar¡¯s grin widened as he prepared to charge. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can keep up.¡±

    Talia¡¯s dagger gleamed in the dim light as she stepped into a defensive stance.

    The doors behind them sealed shut, leaving each of them alone with their opponent. The next test had begun.