“Congratulations, Blood Soldier N 06 08499, for passing the tenth level of the Initial Stage Mystery Trial…”

  “You have cleared the Trial perfectly.”

  “Time taken to create the Prototype of the Mystery: 1 hour, 17 minutes, 14 seconds.”

  “Tries taken to complete the Prototype: 7.”

  “Estimated strength of the Protype: 79% of the original Mystery.”

  “Records broken: One.”

  “Perfect clearance of Trials: Ten.”

  “Blood Soldier N 06 08499, you have been rewarded with 700 Blood Coins, and 2 Low Grade Arcana Medals.”

  “Do you wish to continue with the Trials, or do you wish to leave the Trial Space?”

  “Reminder: You have completed all the Initial Stage Trials. If you wish to challenge Trials of a higher difficulty, you must exit the Initial Stage Trial Space and get the permission to challenge the Intermediate Stage Trials, before you can continue with the Trials.”

  … Continue challenging the Trials? Laying on the ground, Alnea stared at the blood red panel in a daze. How long had he been in the Trial Space? Ten hours? Although the last three levels had taken over an hour to complete, the earlier levels had been a little easier, taking around only fifty minutes or so. When added together, their sum should be a little less than—

  No. That was just the time he spent comprehending the Mysteries and creating their Prototypes. How could he forget the time spent resting and recovering his Spirit Power in between the Trials? Or the time he spent chatting with Yuri…

  It could not be helped. Comprehending Mysteries for over ten hours straight… No matter how much he enjoyed the feeling of uncovering the secrets of Mysteries, there was a limit to how much he could digest in a day. Despite spending most of the time in between the Trials meditating, and tempering his Heart, keeping it calm and Serene, he was still not able to get rid of the mental fatigue accumulated from comprehending and experimenting with all those Mysteries.

  At least he had Yuri to chat with. How did Cecilia handle her fatigue? She did not quit the Trials after completing the first few levels, did she? Probably not. She may be lagging behind him and Yuri on the path of Scholars and Arcanists, but she had never lacked in terms of will. Whether it was to keep progressing forward despite all her weakness and shortcomings, or to stand firm in the face of adversaries, she had kept up with them on every step of the way.

  Still, she must be tired to her limits. Fortunately, they had chosen to challenge the Trials at the same time. Had he asked her to wait for him to complete the Trials first… In any case, she should be famished. As was he. That was another way he could tell the time. By how hungry he was. If his stomach began grumbling, then it meant that it was time for them to get their dinner.

  Though, more than dinner, Alnea wished to get some sleep. A good and long sleep. Unfortunately, sleeping was one thing that he had to refrain from. At least for a couple of months. With the month of Inkah drawing closer, it was not a good time for him to dream. Especially since he could already feel signs of his Cursed Fate acting up from time to time.

  Besides, the Initial Stage Mystery Trials had already taken up most of his day. And if the rest of the Trials of the Arcanist Hall were going to be just as time consuming, then he was going to lose nine days’ worth of training. Not to mention the missions he would have to give up because of the Trials. He had not even Forged his Spirit yet. How could he even think of sleeping?

  “…what is the Alnea we know like?”

  …Subduing all the restless thoughts into the depths of his Heart, Alnea pushed himself off the ground, and chose to exit the Trial Space.

  “Please place your Blood Card on the space provided below to collect your rewards.”

  “All rewards have been distributed.”

  “You can remove your Blood Card.”

  “The Trial Space’s exit has been opened for you.”

  “If you do not leave in 10 second, you will be evicted from the Trial Space.”

  “10.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “9.”

  “8…”

  Suppressing the reckless urge surging within his Heart, Alnea picked up his pace, and stepped into the pillar of red light just as the panel completed its countdown, avoiding the fate of being evicted from the Trial Space once again. Although he himself had never experienced eviction, he had heard about its aftermath from Vestia. Being thrown down the stairs, public announcement by the staff of the Blood Hall, deduction of Trial Points and blood coins…

  Experiencing the thrill of facing the unknown was not worth facing the trouble that would follow. Especially since he already knew what the ‘unknown’ was. When exactly did he become so reckless? No, he could not even be called as reckless anymore. Seeking thrill despite knowing the consequences, just to enjoy the exhilaration that came with it…

  His Heart… It really did have some problems. And here he thought that he was already walking on his path to a Clear Heart. Thankfully, he learned about it before it could cause any major problems. Had he let the problem grow, then he might have led their entire team into a crisis. Unknowingly, of course. Still, as their leader, as their Captain, it was his responsibility to make sure that he did not put their lives at risk, even by mistake.

  Responsibility… Maybe that was it. The key to his growth, and the shackles to his Heart. As long as—

  “You finally came out,” Cecilia said, breaking Alnea away from his thought, bringing him back to reality, while also pulling him away from the doors, bringing him to where Yuri was waiting for them. “I thought that you were going to take another hour or two.”

  “…Although I take my time challenging the Trials, I am not so slow either,” Alnea said with a wry smile on his face, while taking a quick glance around himself. The queue near the entrance of the Trial Space had disappeared at some point. Understandably so. Who would waltz into a Trial that could take hours, potentially a whole day if they challenge multiple levels, at night?

  Still, despite no one vying to enter the Trial Space, the floor itself was not empty. Other than the three of them, there were still around ten or so people, loitering around, probably waiting for their companions to complete their Trials. It was just that, unlike the three of them, those people did not look too haggard. Some of them even looked a bit energetic, as if they were ready to go to the Arena in a while.

  “…So, we are the only ones who challenged all ten levels of the Mystery Trials at once?”

  “I was wondering why that vixen was looking at me with pity when she learned that we were going to challenge Mystery Trials today,” Cecilia said, gnashing her teeth in anger. “She must be laughing at us right now.”

  “Who told us to not inquire about the Trials beforehand?” Yuri said, shrugging her shoulders helplessly. “Though I have a feeling that you would have asked us to challenge all ten levels in a day anyway.”

  “…We need to complete these Trials as soon as possible so that we can focus on other tasks. Besides, where else can we get the opportunity to experiment with Mysteries to our Heart’s wish?”

  “Artificial Mysteries.”

  “That does not change their essence,” Alnea said, shaking his head. “Other than the fact that they are slightly flawed, they work almost the same as the Mysteries of the Origin Sea. Even if Supreme Wanderers can create Artificial Mysteries, they should not have the ability to let us experiment with them as we wish.”

  “Since the creators of the Lost City can create something like the Trial Space, then there is no reason why the Origin, or even the Supreme clan cannot create something similar,” Yuri said, as if defending against his words, but then paused, and let out a short sigh. “You are right in a sense though. The Trials of the city are indeed unique. Other Trials aside, just the experience of the Mystery Trials alone should be enough to push forward my progress on the path of Arcanists by at least a couple of years.”

  “…Your Trial went well then?” Alnea said with a smile, only for Yuri return his smile with an amused grin.

  “Why are you asking when you already know the answer?”

  “Can you not just go along with me? I am trying to make things look more formal, you know? Think about the people eavesdropping on us.”

  “So, you do know that we are being watched.”

  “Isn’t that obvious? I may be tired, but I am not sleeping.”

  “…Seriously. These pesky flies are so annoying. They have been staring at me ever since I got out of the Trial.”

  “…How long have you been out here then?”

  “About an hour or so.”

  “An hour? You were the first one to complete the Trials?”

  “…What do you take me for? Not only did I complete the Trials before either of you, but I also broke three records.”

  “…To be honest, that is far better than what I expected.”

  “But I always believed in you, Cecilia.”

  “Hey! That’s cheating. I believe in her too.”

  “But you just said something else.”

  “That’s because…”

  “Go on. I also want to hear what is it that makes you doubt me.”

  “…Because I am hungry! Come on, let’s go to canteen already. I am famished.”

  “I am famished too… Hey, don’t change the topic!”

  “Look, how sick and thin Forne has become. It is not even resisting my hug. Are you trying to starve it to death?”

  “She does look like she has lost some weight…”

  “…You are kidding, right?”

  “What?”

  “…Do you really think that it has lost some weight?”

  “She. Not it. She.”

  “It’s the same thing.”

  “…Do you want to go to the canteen or not?”

  “…You are right. Poor Forne. Come, let’s quickly take her to the canteen.”

  “…I do not like the way you are looking at her…”

  “Do you want to starve her?”

  “Fine. But this is not over.”