Shocked, but somehow relieved is how Bartant felt as soon as he was able to discover who the mysterious young warrior was. A known face, a friend and a powerful warrior, Vestri. He was very happy to see him, so he came close to greet him, but Vestri looked worried. He was fearful and reckless so something serious was going on.

"How did you get up here so quickly, the bridge was broken and ..." - Bartant started to talk when he was suddenly interrupted.

"I just flew over" - replied Vestri, and continued - "But that is not important right now, we need to finish this, for the sake of all those that were left behind"

Bartant could not think straight. When did he learn how to fly? Who did he leave behind? How strongly did he become? What did he do to obtain that power? But he was right, this was not the time nor the place to theorize, they had to finish the test before the next dawn. Vestri slowly walked towards the Sky Council without looking behind and Bartant closely followed up with him.

Having crossed through the main gate there was only astonishment to be found on their faces. Being inside the temple was like entering the very core of the sun. It didn't matter where they looked at, only perfection was to be seen. Beautiful crystal white floors, which shined as if the moon was part of them, golden furniture perfectly carved as if the very same gods would have done it, the ceiling was covered in a gigantic painting as if it was the very sky itself. The temperature was not warm nor cold, the air was sweet and fresh, the light was bright but did not hurt the eye. It seemed as if the pass of time did not occur in that place, it felt eternal, timeless, perfect. This could not be the right place to finish the trial. How could there be a challenge inside this world? It felt as if the rest of the world had disappeared.

They kept walking through the Hall until they reach the end of the entrance room. At the very end of the room, a two-way stairway led to two different upper paths, while a smaller stairway pointed to a lower path. Situations like these usually made Bartant uncomfortable. What if he chooses the wrong one? Would he have to track back and make a new choice? Would he have no second chance? His dream could only be achieved if he surpasses this obstacle.

“We should split, at least one of us might be lucky enough” - said Vestri

“There are three doors and only two of us” - said Bartant

“And that is exactly why we will leave both doors open so that the third remains closed” - said Vestri

“I am not following” - replied Bartant

“You sure have little faith in Kyazi and Kyrem” - said Vestri.

“You said they were left behind” - said Bartant raising a bit his tone and showing some anger.

“I didn’t say they were dead. Let us not waste any more time. I’m going through the upper left door. See you later” - said Vestri who jumped to the door without looking back.

Bartant, filled with a bit of resentment, chose the lower door. He picked a torch that was hanged at the side of the door, opened the door, and ventured to the darkness that lied in front. The path seemed to only descent. He walked and walked for hours and the same darkness surrounded him. There was no light at the end of the tunnel, there was nothing on the horizon to be seen. Emptiness and loneliness, Bartant felt sad, as he could not fathom how much darkness could be at that place. And he kept walking and walking. He started to feel tired. Was there an end to the path he chose? Was he walking in circles? Where was he headed? Perhaps he made the wrong choice.

Suddenly, a small flame appeared close to him. The flame got bigger and bigger until it stops growing and another one flame appeared next to it. Two more flames quickly appeared and all of them circled Bartant at every cardinal point. They started to dance in a circle around him. Faster. Faster. He was no longer able to distinguish them. He started hearing voices.

“You are not allowed here”

“Begone”

“We do not like you”

“Leave us”

“Traitor”

“Leave”

“ENOUGH” - shouted Bartant - “Reveal yourself”

The flames stopped moving. A light illuminated the whole place and Bartant realized he was in a catacomb and the flames had now a distinct shape but he did not recognize them, they turned into spirits.

“We are the souls killed by your father which were not accepted into Mortunides. This is your fault, and we will exact our revenge to find peace” - said one of the spirits.

“I am not my father, and he was the most honorable Dragon I knew. I will not allow you to speak ill of him” - shouted Bartant angrily.

“Then you have no choice but to fight us” - said the same spirit.

And the battle was begun. Bartant quickly took his knife and jumped towards one of the spirits. The spirit was slow and did not dodge him. He passed through it and split it in half. The spirit laughed and merged his two halves back in one. Bartant did not despair, he knew this was not going to be easy, but luckily he had fought spirits before, during his early training and knew exactly what was needed.

“You will not defeat us Dragon” - laughed one of the spirits.

“You are a disgrace to your race” - said another.

“The forest, the sea and the mountain” - said Bartant and started focusing - “the fox, the lion, and the wolf. By the powers bestowed upon me, I call to thee, warrior of hope and life, grant this humble servant your eternal wisdom. Geminus Spatha: Vita Gladium”

The wind howled and two gust of wind appeared at Bartant's hands, The gust gained strength and became two small tornadoes. The tornados spun each time closer and smaller until they completely dissipated. Bartant was now holding two green swords. He quickly dashed towards a spirit and cut it with an X slash. The spirit laughed and tried to merge back, but it couldn't. The other spirits looked at it terrified. He turned around and attacked another spirit. And another. And the last one.

“We will not forgive this” - said a different voice.

Suddenly a new spirit appeared and Bartant quickly slashed it. More and more spirits kept appearing and he kept slashing and cutting them. He was getting tired, he could feel his legs starting to burn with all the jumping and diving. Why would they stop? How many people did his father kill? Was he really not how he remembered him? He remembered with joy how his father would always laugh, even at the darkest hour, he could not be the person the spirits were depicting, and he remembered something his father said prior to his demise.

“Violence does not solve everything, my child. Sometimes love is stronger than the sword”

Bartant stuck the sword on the ground and sat in a Buddha position. He closed his eyes and spoke from his heart:

“Let us stop this nonsense. I have no quarrel with you, and I truly hope you all find the peace you are seeking.”

One by one the spirits disappeared all except for one.

“They might be condescending towards the kindness you have shown. But I do not forget” - said a deep strong voice - “Pick your swords weakling”.

Bartant opened his eyes only to realize that the spirit in front of him was one he knew, Sir Friexas, his father assassin and best friend.

“Why …. Why did you betray my father? …. Your best friend” - said Bartant, full of tears.

“He was evil, and so are you. I must cut the root of all evil” - replied Friexas.

Friexas violently jumped towards Bartant, and when he was about to pick the swords, a voice resounded in his heart:

No, do not.

It was his father's voice, even in death, even after being killed by his best friend, he would still protect him. Bartant was moved by how honorable his father was and was willing to respect his wish and he did not move. Friexas stabbed him into his arm and he shouted in pain. Freixas was angry.

“Defend yourself you monster” - he said.

But Bartant stood proudly and did not move. Friexas stabbed him again, in the other arm.

“Pick your sword your evil” - he shouted.

“My father does not want me to hurt you and I will not. He is the most honorable person I know of and I will respect his wish even if that means that I will draw my last breath without defending myself” - said Bartant proudly

“Foolishness” - said Friexas angry and stabbed him in his leg.

Bartant cried in pain but did not move and Friexas stabbed him in the other leg. He fell to his knees, bleeding without an end. But he did not falter. He stood up and waited for the last stab that will end his life.

“Why are you doing this. Are you trying to prove you deserve mercy?” - asked Friexas.

“I do not seek anything. It is the will of my father to forgive and protect you” - said Bartant.

Bartant could see a tear dropping from his eyes. He felt his sadness.

“You may not understand it now, but you will. I did not take joy in killing him, but I had too. I do not forgive him, but I will spare you, for now” - said Friexas while he disappeared into the distance.

And as soon as he disappeared, Bartant started to float covered in magical warm snowflakes. Everything went white with beige and pale blue tones. He was floating in a perfect place, he felt like at the entrance of the Sky Council, but on a higher place, it felt sacred to him.

“You have surpassed the challenges and have shown mercy to your enemies. You have controlled your anger and spared the life of your worst enemy. You have been truly showed that you have what it takes to be a Dragon” - said a calm voice - “But you must now prove your strength young one”

A platform appeared and Bartant was gently placed on it. He stood there, watching the immensity of the universe he was transported to, it was imposing and respectable at the same time. The world started to shake gently and a rupture appeared outside of the platform. Out of the rupture, three angels with masks came out of it. The three masks were almost identical, pale white with a space for the eyes and mouth which were completely dark. One of the angels had a tear under the eye and a bow as a weapon. Another angel had a forty-five-degree scar crossing through the eyes and a spear as a weapon. The last angel had a serpent in the forehead and a two-handed sword as the weapon. Bartant knew what was coming, he would have to fight those three angels, the question was whether he would have to fight all three at the same time or one after the other. He sensed they were powerful.

“Spatium Pluviam Petra” - shouted the Angel with the tear.

A thousand meteorites started to fall down on the platform at a tremendous speed. Bartant was weak, tired and injured from his previous fight, but that would not stop him. He started to jump, dash, dive and climb all the meteorites.

“Hatam Russum Coelum” - shouted the Angel with the scar.

The sky turned red like blood and now a thousand spears were raining on Bartant who now had to dodge both meteorites and spears.

“Vehementi Anguis Fami” - shouted the last Angel.

Bartant could see that the floor of the platform was filled with giant vicious snakes that tried to bite him every time he came close to the floor.

He was trapped. He knew he had to defeat them but also be able to survive all these attacks that seemed endless. He knew he only had one shot, and he was not going to waste it, it was time for him to use all his power in this fight. He quickly jumped to the highest meteorite he could climb and quickly placed him in a straight line to the Angels.

Ventus Fortis

He started dashing at full speed towards. A spear came from the left, but he was expecting it.

Tantum Spatha: Atrium

And the gigantic sword deflected the strong spear. A second spear came from the right, he had no time to switch the sword, so he had to try the same thing he did with Famine, he knew he had to stop all movement to work, but it was all or nothing, it was his only change.

Adiamanto

The spear crashed into his hardened skin and fell to the platform. It worked. Bartant got excited and was close to the Angels. One of the Angels raised his sword and one snake started sidewinding the sword and jumped towards him. Bartant had only one option, he had to cut the snake's head. He quickly switched his sword grip and cast:

Tantum Spatha: Iaculum

And the snake’s head was destroyed by the flying sword. He did it. He was right there in front of the Angels, he only had to … he was fainting. His ankle was aching, he turned his head only to see that a snake had bitten him from behind. He felt more tired than before and his dashed had stopped. He was falling. He had one shot and he lost it. Was this the end? What a sad ending for his promising future. He closed his eyes with resignation but with a smile on his face, and he let him fall towards the snakes on the platform. It was the end, but he did his best.

“Wake up my child. I beg you … save me” - said a voice inside his head

Bartant opened widely his eyes. It was the most important voice in his life, it was his mother’s voice. Was she alive? Filled with hope and a burning desired, his body started to shake and power flowing through his veins:

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH” - he screamed with all his strength.

His body was changing, he felt two itching marks on his back. The itching transformed into an extreme pain. A red and black sphere covered him, and then sphere exploded. He had ascended into a Glakis and felt stronger than before. He stretched his arms and he could feel something else, he finally had his wings, and he was able to flap them. He quickly did a 180-degree flip and re-focused his course to the angels and flew at full speed. It was not the end he had to save his mother.

“I will put everything I have into a single attack. This is for you, mother” - he shouted - “Celeris Pugnus”

And with all his might, he flew towards the three Angels with his fist raised.