Chapter 25: The Trio Chord
Kelvin stood before the Tower of Convergence once more, surrounded by Lyra and Darius.
The three of them wore tailored combat robes that were reinforced with beast-hide and arcane threads that shined subtly with latent enchantments.
On Kelvin’s back, Xerion stirred within his mental space and said, be awake, aware, and alert.
"You are unusually quiet," Darius noted, and asked Kelvin. "Are you nervous?"
Kelvin shook his head with his eyes fixed on the runes circling the arched gateway. "No, I am focused."
Lyra’s staff touched softly against the marble floor. "He knows that this won’t be like any training that we have had. They are testing our ability to react to unpredictable conditions, like the wild rifts that opened in the west last cycle."
Kelvin, Lyra, and Darius stood shoulder to shoulder on the transport circle. Around them was glyphs which was pulsed with soft blue energy, converging into a bright nexus at their feet.
The gate burst open. Master Caelum stood on the other side and was armored in a ceremonial combat gear, a spectral blade holstered at his hip.
Master Caelum’s voice cut through the silence.
"This is not an illusion. This Rift Simulation uses a stabilized pocket of fractured space, anchored within the Sanctum’s own ley-lines. You will be transported to a Rift-like environment. Magic, beasts, and danger are real. But the moment your life force drops beyond the limit, you will be forcibly ejected. Understand?"
The three friends nodded.