I was standing in an open, grassy plain, but it wasn't the peaceful field I had woken up in earlier. This place felt different. I wasn't alone. Around me, hundreds—no, thousands—of other candidates were gathered, standing in small groups or scattered throughout the open area, most of them looking just as confused as I was. The sky was a dull grey, casting an eerie light over the scene. But what struck me immediately was the eerie calm. No one seemed panicked, no one seemed disoriented. They were all just... waiting.

Before I could gather my thoughts, a large, imposing figure appeared in front of us all, suddenly materializing from thin air. Its form was cloaked, its face hidden in shadow. A voice boomed from nowhere. "Welcome to the First Trial," it announced, its tone commanding and cold. "Your task is simple—find and collect three keys. These keys are scattered across this world. The first three to collect them will pass to the next stage. But beware—the maze is ever-changing, and many have failed before you."The figure flicked its hand, and suddenly, a series of notifications popped up in front of each of us. A window appeared, giving each of us four magical abilities to choose from. The options were:

Wind Blade

Speed

Cloning

Levitation

I stared at the window, my mind racing. These abilities were supposed to help us, right? But how was I supposed to choose? The others around me didn't hesitate. They quickly picked their abilities, some muttering to themselves about which one would give them an advantage.

But I wasn't like them. I took my time. Why rush? I thought. There was no countdown, no ticking clock. It wasn't like the system would suddenly decide to penalize me for being cautious, right? No time limit—that detail stood out like a neon sign. I scanned the four abilities again: Wind Blade, Speed, Cloning, and Levitation. My logical mind ran through the possibilities. Wind Blade might be useful if combat was involved, but... what if the trial was more about navigation or survival? Speed was tempting—faster would always be better, right? Cloning could throw people off, but did I need that? And Levitation—well, that was the safe choice, I guessed. But none of them felt right.

Then I noticed something the others didn't seem to. They were so quick to choose their abilities, almost frantic, like they were rushing into a battle they hadn't fully understood. But the more I watched, the more I realized that I didn't need to pick one just yet. There was no rush.

A soft voice pulled me from my thoughts. "You haven't chosen yet?"

I turned to see a girl standing beside me, her bright red hair standing out against the grey landscape. Her eyes were sharp, and curious, as if she were sizing me up. "Uh, no," I replied, glancing at the ability window once more. "I'm just thinking about it."

She raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a smirk. "You're not picking because you don't like any of the choices?"I shook my head, trying to sound casual. "No, just... waiting for the right moment, I guess."

Her expression shifted into one of mild surprise. "Huh. You're not the type to just rush into things, huh?""Not usually," I said, keeping my tone light. "I prefer to understand the situation first."

"That's a smart way to go about it," she said, a hint of admiration in her voice. "I'm Kiya Ashbourne, by the way.""Subra Fitz," I replied, nodding politely.

She glanced at the options on the window again, her eyes lighting up with interest. "I chose Explosion Manipulation. I can create and control explosions at will. Seems like a good way to clear obstacles... or make an entrance," she added with a small laugh.

Explosion Manipulation. I filed that away, keeping my expression neutral. "Sounds useful.""But you," she continued, her voice tinged with curiosity. "You haven't picked yet. What's the hold-up? Don't you think it's better to choose something now, rather than be left behind?"I smiled, shifting the conversation. "It's just... I don't think choosing now is necessary. I've got time."Kiya stared at me, puzzled for a moment, then shrugged. "Fair enough. You seem to know what you're doing.""Maybe," I said, giving her a small, enigmatic smile. "Maybe I just like being thorough."

Kiya seemed satisfied with that and shifted her attention back to the surrounding area. "It's strange, though. Everyone's so... calm, right? Almost like we've all been through something like this before."I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I watched the other candidates. Some of them were still deliberating, while others had already chosen and were walking through the gates, their abilities sparking to life as they moved.

I glanced around, studying my fellow candidates more carefully. Some were already walking through the gates without a second thought, while others hesitated like me, but it was clear they weren't taking the time to analyze the situation the way I was.

One person in particular caught my eye. A tall, wiry man with quick, darting movements, his eyes scanning the sky above. He was muttering something to himself when suddenly—whoosh—he blurred into motion, sprinting toward the gates with unbelievable speed. It was like the wind itself had been bent to his will, propelling him forward in a blur, his feet barely touching the ground. I could feel the air parting around him. It wasn't just speed; it was something more. He seemed to have moved faster than anyone I had ever seen.

Nearby, a woman stood with her hand raised. A flicker of light burned at her fingertips, and in an instant, it erupted into a searing, twisting flame. With a flick of her wrist, she launched the flame like a spear, sending it streaking through the air toward the gates. The flame curled and crackled, moving with a life of its own. There was no question—it was control over fire, but it felt different from just ordinary fire magic. The way it moved, the way she wielded it, was nothing short of beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

Another man off to the side seemed unnervingly calm, his expression unreadable. He raised his hand, and the air around him shimmered. Then, he simply... disappeared. One moment he was there, and the next, he was gone, reappearing a few yards away, almost like he'd slipped through some crack in space. It wasn't teleportation in the usual sense; it was more like he stepped out of sight and reappeared effortlessly.

I wasn't sure how, but I knew. These people weren't all getting the same abilities. They each had options tailored to them, but I also realized that their abilities might not be the right ones for the task at hand. How long would it take for them to realize that they didn't know what the trial was going to throw at them? I wasn't going to rush into it.

Just as Kiya was about to respond, a massive figure appeared next to us. The air seemed to hum as he materialized, his large frame casting a shadow over us both. He was easily a foot taller than anyone else around, and his muscles bulged beneath a dark, tight-fitting shirt. His jaw was clenched, and his face was stern, but there was a quiet power to him.

He looked down at us both. "Name's Arnold Maybach," he said, his voice a low rumble, like thunder. "I chose Divine Body."Kiya and I exchanged glances, both raising our eyebrows in unison. Divine Body? That sounded... impressive.