Chapter 53: The Trials of Advancement
Cycle Advancement Examination – One Week Later
The Soul Academy's central arena, an immense circular coliseum laced with soul-metal etchings, buzzed with silent tension. Rows of elevated seats hovered in concentric rings above the field, filled with instructors, senior students, and observing officials from the Academy's authority.
For the First Years, this was the crucible—Cycle Advancement Week. Success meant ascension into the 2nd Year. Failure meant stagnation… or removal.
Karen Lockwood stood in a private preparation chamber, tightening the black bindings around her wrists. Her violet eyes glowed with restrained force. Her aura coiled within her, heavy yet sharpened. The Proto Domain, Shadow Bloom, pulsed gently beneath her skin, dormant but ready.
Marie and Leslie sat nearby, silent but focused. The twins wore matching black training robes etched with faint soul circuits. Marie tapped her foot nervously while Leslie methodically read through their evaluation parameters.
Jim stood across from them, stretching his arms. "So, one theory test, one resonance test, and one real combat test. Classic."
Karen exhaled. "We've done harder things in the last six months."
A soft knock. Joshua entered, clipboard in hand, face unreadable.
"Your names are confirmed. You're scheduled for the morning group. You'll be observed by multiple departments, including external committee representatives. Don't hold back."
Marie tilted her head. "External?"
Joshua nodded. "Soul Tribunal observers. Even someone from the Veil is rumored to be watching. No pressure."
Leslie's eyes narrowed. "That's unusual."
"Unusual, but not your concern. Focus on your advancement. Make it clean." He looked at Karen directly. "Especially you."
Karen didn't flinch. "I'll try."
---
Hours Later – Theory Assessment Chamber
The group sat in high-backed soulwood chairs, golden glyphs spinning in the air before them. Instructors lined the chamber's edges, monitoring concentration levels and interference responses.
Questions ranged from soul network harmonics to Proto Domain feedback theory. Karen's pen flew across her scroll like a blade—clean, efficient, precise. She didn't have time to second-guess.
Marie leaned forward in deep concentration, while Leslie's slate glowed as she mapped a soul circuit with mathematical elegance. Jim, to his credit, brute-forced through metaphysical logic problems with grit, if not grace.
---
Later – Resonance Stabilization Test
The room pulsed with regulated soul energy as each student stepped into a glowing ring and projected their stabilized soul field. Monitors recorded field balance, amplitude control, and spirit compression efficiency.
Karen's Proto Domain emerged with a quiet intensity—a dark bloom with violet veins spinning slowly around her core. Instructors exchanged glances.
Leslie's field shimmered like reflective glass, exact and contained. Marie's soul had a melodic flow, soft but expansive. Jim's was raw and pressurized, a blunt-force resonance.
Each one passed—with varying levels of note-taking and murmuring from the evaluators.
---
Final Trial – Combat Assessment Grounds
It was a rotation-style match. Three consecutive matches per candidate, all against automated soul-drones or selected sparring partners.
Karen faced her final opponent—a tall, whip-fast sparring automaton with reactive aura blades. The moment the bell chimed, she moved.
No hesitation. No theatrics. The Shadow Bloom erupted around her like a velvet storm. The Abyss Scythe materialized mid-air and shot into her hand.
A single slash.
The automaton shattered.
Silence. Then notes being scribbled in frantic succession.
Jim took down his opponents with sheer force. Marie danced around hers with dazzling footwork and ranged soul arcs. Leslie disabled her drones with near surgical timing and overload reversals.
---
That Evening – Post-Evaluation Announcements
In the Assembly Hall, banners of ascending students flashed across the soul-screen as instructors filed results.
Karen Lockwood.
Jim Orlu.
Leslie and Marie Hart.
Status: Promoted to 2nd Year.
Joshua stood at the edge of the hall, arms folded, pride hidden behind calm eyes. Karen met his gaze for a second. He gave a single nod.
Moments later, a new name blinked across the upper tier list.
Cassandra Ikemba – Promoted to 3rd Year.
---
That night, the group sat beneath the lantern-lit dome of their residential wing, exhausted but satisfied.
"We actually made it," Marie said softly.
Leslie smiled faintly. "Second Year... finally."
Karen leaned back against the cold stone wall. "Feels like the beginning. Not the end."
Jim nodded. "Well said. Tomorrow, we go again."
---
Far above them, in a spire office near the heart of the Academy, Cassandra stood with her arms crossed, watching the soul charts update.
She turned as Dean Elandra Vale entered behind her.
"She's stabilized the 6th," the Dean said, her voice thoughtful. "The Shadow Bloom... it's growing."
Cassandra gave a simple reply.
"She'll need it. The Second Year isn't forgiving."
And beyond that—
Neither is the world.