Land Of The Beginning

The Wayfinder's Test was infamous. Out of one hundred twenty-nine participants, only a fraction would make it through. Among them was Arpheus—a frail, unassuming E-rank with little to no chance in the eyes of anyone watching. He was the type of participant people forgot existed until his name was called.

And today, he was about to face the first test.

Sir Denarlus, the towering examiner, stepped forward, his armor gleaming under the sun. His booming voice sliced through the chatter of the nervous participants like a whip.

"Everyone!" he barked, instantly silencing the crowd. "Listen carefully. I will now explain the first test."

Murmurs flickered across the sea of participants, but Denarlus's sharp glare shut them down.

"You will be paired off into groups of two. Your pair will also be your opponent."

The ripple of unease spread like wildfire. Participants exchanged wary glances, sizing each other up.

"Defeat," Denarlus continued coldly, "means failure. You will have a maximum of fifteen minutes to overcome your opponent. If neither of you triumphs within that time frame, both of you will fail."

Arpheus's chest tightened as the implications sank in. A fight? I can't even throw a proper punch!

Denarlus gave them a moment to process his words before adding, "The test begins when I say the word: 'Begin.' Use your time wisely."

The announcement of pairs came next, and with every name, Arpheus's heart sank deeper. He felt like a leaf caught in a storm, waiting for the inevitable crash.

"Arpheus."

His head shot up at the sound of his name.

"Your opponent will be... Gand."

Arpheus froze. It felt like the world stopped spinning for a moment. No. Anyone but him.

Gand wasn't just a bully. He was the bully—a B-rank prodigy who lived to humiliate weaker opponents. For years, Gand had mocked and tormented Arpheus, and now fate had placed them in a fight.

The crowd around him buzzed with murmurs, some sympathetic, most dismissive.

"Poor guy," someone whispered. "He doesn't stand a chance."

"He'll probably get knocked out in the first thirty seconds," another said with a snicker.

Arpheus clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms.

I just have to last fifteen minutes. That's it. Just fifteen.

The air grew heavier as Denarlus raised his hand.

"Begin!"

The word was like a thunderclap. Gand moved instantly, closing the gap between them in the blink of an eye. His sword glinted menacingly as it sliced through the air.

Whoosh!

Arpheus barely ducked in time, the blade missing his head by inches. His heart slammed against his ribs as he stumbled backward.

"You're as pathetic as ever," Gand sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "Still running away?"

Arpheus's jaw tightened. His shoulder burned from the nick the blade had left on his sleeve, but he forced himself to focus.

The next swing came faster, a diagonal slash aimed at his chest. Arpheus jumped back, but he wasn't quick enough.

Shhhk!

The blade bit into his shoulder, and blood sprayed from the wound.

"AGH!" Arpheus cried out, clutching his arm as searing pain spread through his body.

Gand didn't even pause to gloat. His attacks kept coming—relentless, brutal, and efficient. Arpheus dodged and stumbled, barely keeping himself alive.

"Fight back, worm!" Gand roared, his voice echoing across the arena.

Arpheus's breaths came in short, ragged gasps. He was already drenched in sweat, his legs shaking from the effort of dodging.

He's too fast.

Another strike. This time Gand switched it up, feinting high before sweeping low with a kick.

Thwack!

Arpheus's legs gave out as Gand's boot connected with his side, sending him sprawling to the ground. His vision blurred as he hit the dirt hard, the back of his head slamming against the ground.

Get up. Move!

He rolled to the side just as Gand's sword came down where his chest had been a second ago. The impact sent a cloud of dust into the air.

"You're pathetic," Gand spat, towering over him. "Why are you even here? You'll never amount to anything."

Arpheus's hands dug into the dirt as he forced himself to his feet. His shoulder throbbed, and his head spun, but he refused to stay down.

"You talk too much," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

"What was that?" Gand said, stepping closer.

"I said... you talk too much!" Arpheus yelled, launching himself at Gand with a wild swing.

The punch connected. Not hard, but it was enough to surprise Gand. The smirk dropped from his face as he stumbled back a step.

"You little—"

Arpheus didn't wait for him to recover. He threw another punch, this one aimed at Gand's ribs. It landed, but the impact barely fazed the B-rank.

Gand snarled, his temper flaring. He grabbed Arpheus by the collar and drove a knee into his stomach.

"Ugh!"

Arpheus doubled over, coughing violently as the air was knocked from his lungs.

"You're going to regret that," Gand growled.

The fight dragged on, a brutal, one-sided spectacle. Gand's strength and skill were overwhelming, but Arpheus refused to give in.

For every hit he took, he found a way to dodge the next. For every insult Gand threw, he pushed himself harder.

And then it happened.

As Gand raised his sword for a downward strike, Arpheus saw an opening—a small, fleeting chance.

He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blade, and grabbed Gand's arm.

With every ounce of strength he had left, Arpheus yanked Gand forward, using the larger man's momentum against him.

Thud!

Gand hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

Arpheus didn't hesitate. He pounced, pinning Gand down with a wild, desperate energy.

"This... ends... now!" he shouted, his fist crashing into Gand's face.

CRACK!

Blood sprayed from Gand's nose, but Arpheus didn't stop.

"I may be weak..."

Thud! Another punch.

"...but I never give up!"

Gand struggled beneath him, but Arpheus's grip was ironclad.

"I'll show you..."

Thwack!

"...that I can be strong!"

Finally, Gand stopped moving. His head lolled to the side, unconscious.

Arpheus sat back, his chest heaving as he stared at his fallen opponent.

"I won," he whispered, disbelief coloring his voice.

The words echoed in his mind, growing louder with each repetition.

"I won."

He let out a shaky laugh, tears streaming down his bloodied face.

"I WON!"

But his victory was cut short.

"Time's up," Denarlus announced, his voice sharp.

Reia and Arpheus sat on a stone bench near the dining hall, the hum of other participants around them fading into background noise. The adrenaline of their earlier battles hadn't quite left, and the weight of what was still to come lingered in the air between them.

"So," Arpheus began, his voice light but a bit shaky, "you passed too?"

"Of course I did." Reia leaned back casually, her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a smug grin. "And I did it with ease."

Arpheus blinked at her confidence. His lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "I see."

For a moment, they both fell silent. Arpheus stared at the dirt beneath his boots, kicking at a loose pebble, while Reia adjusted her gloves like she had nothing better to do.

Then he couldn't hold it in any longer. "How did you pass?"

Reia's grin widened. "I defeated Gand."

"What?" Arpheus choked, nearly coughing as the words hit him like a slap. His head jerked up, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Yes," she said nonchalantly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"But…" Arpheus stammered, his brain trying to catch up. "He's B-ranked. That's—he's—how did you—"

"I know," Reia interrupted, waving a hand as if dismissing his concerns. "But I defeated him."

Arpheus narrowed his eyes, tilting his head slightly. "How?"

"I don't know. Maybe it was luck," she said with a shrug, though the glint in her eyes suggested otherwise.

Arpheus rubbed the back of his neck, trying to process her casual demeanor. Luck? Really? That guy nearly tore my arm off. What's her deal?

Reia suddenly hopped to her feet, stretching her arms above her head. "Anyway, let's go get some lunch. I'm starving."

"Okay," Arpheus mumbled, still trying to wrap his head around what he'd just heard.

The dining hall buzzed with chatter, plates clinking and boots scuffing against the worn stone floor. Arpheus and Reia grabbed trays of food—simple but hearty: bread, soup, and some questionable-looking meat. They sat at a corner table, away from the larger, rowdier groups.

As they ate, Arpheus couldn't help but poke at the mystery. "What was your fight like?"

Reia paused mid-bite, a smirk creeping onto her face. She leaned forward, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial tone. "It was kind of difficult, but I managed to pass."

"How?" Arpheus pressed, setting his spoon down.

"I defeated Dan, even though he was stronger than me," she said, her smirk growing.

Arpheus frowned. "Okay, but how? What did you do?"

Reia leaned back, looking far too pleased with herself. "I used a bit of trickery."

"Trickery?" His eyebrows shot up.

"Yup," she said, popping the "p" for emphasis. "I used my superior intelligence to outwit him."

Arpheus stared at her, trying to gauge if she was joking or if she genuinely believed she'd outsmarted someone who could crush her with one hand. "That's amazing."

"I know," Reia replied, tossing her hair over her shoulder with a dramatic flair.

Arpheus chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I wish I could be as strong as you."

Reia's expression softened slightly, her tone losing its teasing edge. "You will be." She paused, looking at him like she was trying to drill the belief into his soul. "I know you will."

"But right now, I'm just a weakling," Arpheus muttered, his voice barely audible. "An E-rank nobody."

"You'll be stronger," Reia said firmly, her confidence unwavering. "You've already got the grit for it. The rest will come."

Arpheus looked at her, something warm flickering in his chest. "Thank you," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Reia grinned back, and they finished their meal in companionable silence.