I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling as I read the message.

  "What do you know? A dungeon really did appear."

  "W-What? How do you know we’re in a dungeon?" Clarence asks, scrambling out of the bed to pull his boots on.

  "Lucky guess. It’s a field-type. That means the boss comes to us. We should be able to leave with relative ease as long as we get out early. Come on."

  Within moments we reach the front door of the inn. We spill into the street and are immediately swept up in the tide of adventurers flowing out from the city’s center. Brindle, if nothing else, is efficient in its panic.

  The outskirts are worse. Flatland stretches on for miles, as do adventurers that wish to claim this dungeon's reward as their own.

  But nobody is paying attention to one another. They’re looking at the four figures approaching from the East, with the rising sun at their backs. Each step is measured, synchronized, like they’ve practiced this entrance for centuries on end.

  The first is a man with shoulders so broad that he reminds me of Gabriel. He holds a large shield in front of him. A slab of white metal that deflects the rising sun and almost blinds me with just a glance. This shield is etched with runes that pulse in rhythm with his stride. When this man stops, he slams his shield into the ground. I recognize the spell immediately. If I had to guess then this man is an innate geomancer, just like myself. The impact is seismic, and nearly causes me to lose my footing. The earth splits, and a pillar launches him and his companions skyward, until they’re perched atop a stage of stone.

  The next to move seems to be the figure of a woman. She stumbles forward with the grace of a drunk, and stops just short of falling off the stage. Something tells me that she could survive the drop with relative ease if she desired to though. She draws a large, white longbow, nocks an arrow, and fires straight into the clouds above. For a moment, nothing happens. Then the sky detonates. Beams of light chase each other, carving clean through the clouds before vanishing. A second later, the beams return as an afterimage, painting the sky in streaks of light that slowly disappear once more.

  The third is also a woman, with hair like a princess. It’s thick, long, layered, and the color of fresh snow. She’s small, and the staff she wields is far too big for her body. I don’t believe she is capable of lifting it, but the air around her is thick with mana; I can feel it filling the air with each breath. She taps her staff once, and the air itself begins to glow, then explodes into a barrage of white-hot sparks that rain through the air before falling on the gathered adventurers. None of it burns, but the idea is unsettling. If she had cast that spell on, or near someone, then the damage dealt would likely be devastating.

  The last is a man with a sword. He steps forward, sunlight catching on the blade’s surface until it’s less of a weapon, and more of a wound in reality. He swings it in a slow, deliberate arc. Light bends and warps around the blade, then flares outward. This attack is so bright that it eats away at all other light. For a moment, I’m blinded. No, not blinded, I’m seeing the afterimage of that attack as it carves a path for hundreds of feet before dissipating into the air. The sun doesn’t feel as bright after witnessing his attack.

  As beautiful as all their attacks were, this was nothing more than a show of strength. Those four wished to let all those present know who is in charge here.

  The man with the sword sheaths his blade, and holds an arm high into the sky. The crowd hushes instantly. I recognize his voice as that of a natural born leader. Just as there are those in this world who instinctively follow orders, there are those that instinctively give them, and lead those followers. That is who this man is. I’m certain of it.

  "We of the Radiant Axis are actively seeking out those who choose to stand on the side of justice. Those who would see the world rid of heretics, and dark magicians! We will welcome any we deem worthy into our ranks to help us in our holy inquisition in the name of our Matron, our Goddess, Eloria, the Lightbringer! Very soon, ten thousand sinners will descend upon these lands, seeking to harm us, and we need your help in erasing them from existence once and for all!"

  I’ve been through enough dungeons to recognize the boss of the dungeon when I see them, but… I can’t make anything out with Eyes of Clarity. The four figures are just too far away it seems.

  "Typically only our Matron would be able to decide who can participate in a holy inquisition, but fear not, my siblings and I are all Saints of Eloria, the Lightbringer. Because you are unable to hear her call, we will bestow her grace upon you in her stead! But first, a series of tests is in order," he pauses, allowing his words a chance to infect the crowd. "Without further ado, Elen, please tell the recruits about their first trial!"

  Their leader steps aside, and one with the bow, Elen, takes his place at the edge of the stone platform.

  She raises her bow, draws back with no arrow, and fires into the horizon. The shot is so fast I almost miss it, but when it lands, the world changes. A wall of light erupts from the ground, stretching left and right as far as I can see. It’s not a simple barrier; the energy in it twists, and writhes before straightening itself out, and standing tall.

  Elen’s voice is sharp, and clear. "Listen up! This is a difficult trial, and if you decide to turn away now, you could very well be preserving your own life. This wall is made up of divine energy. If you’re unable to pass it within the time limit, then I will be putting you down, and we will move on to the next trial. Cover yourself in a similar element, brute force your way through, try to dig under it, I don’t care. Do anything you like, but if you wish to flee, then now is the time to do so!"

  A few small groups turn away, and make their leave. I watch them go, measuring the odds. Most stay. The ones with nothing to lose always do.

  I glance at Terra, who’s watching the Saints with a look that’s half reverence, and half calculation. Clarence is less subtle though, he’s trembling, but whether it’s from fear or excitement, I can’t tell.

  Sen lands on my shoulder and lets out a worried chirp.

  To be honest, I’m worried too but I don’t voice my concerns just yet. Instead, I watch the adventurers around me.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The crowd begins to surge forward, curiosity and ambition overpowering caution. The wall is closer than I initially thought it to be, and people are already testing it, throwing rocks, attacking it with spells, daring their companions to touch it first.

  One adventurer surrounds her body in a layer of water that courses around her at high speeds. It’s so loud that I can hear it from at least a hundred feet away. She strides up and slams her palm against the barrier. A cutting sound can be heard, as if she’s damaged the barrier, but a moment later she’s thrown backwards. I can tell that she’s bleeding, but she merely gets up, grins, and tries again.

  I see others trying to brute force it like they were instructed. They envelop themselves in wards and shields, or simply run at it, hoping momentum will do what planning cannot. Most, if not all, fail.

  I watch a man encase himself in a sphere of earth and roll at the barrier. He manages to get about halfway through before the barrier shatters both the sphere and him, leaving a smear of blood and dust. The crowd simply roars in approval.

  Above, the Saints observe, seemingly uninterested in what’s going on below.

  Elen squats at the edge of the platform with her hands in her face, and her elbows on her knees. Her bow lay across her lap, and she watches the carnage below with a bored patience, as if this is an everyday sight for her.

  I do see a few adventurers actually breach the barrier. Mainly they’re cleric’s from the Radiant Vanguard, or just those with light magic. A few strong pyromancers get through also.

  Sen chirps once more and flaps his arms.

  I shake my head. "A barrier has vertical reach. Nothing gets over, or under. Only through. I guess it would be possible for us to go around, but wouldn’t that be considered cheating? That Elen looks pretty carefree, but she said she’d put down anyone they deem not worthy, and I’m prone to believe her."

  Terra still says nothing. He’s just watching those Saints still.

  "Honestly, this is pointless. We’re leaving,” I say.

  "Sounds good to me! Did you see the magic those people used to introduce themselves? This is way out of our league!" Clarence shouts, and is already beginning to walk away.

  Sen lets out an emphatic chirp, obviously in agreement with this plan.

  I pivot, ready to follow after Clarence, but Terra does not move. He’s just standing there, his gaze locked on the wall now as if it’s the only thing that matters.

  "Terra?"

  He doesn’t respond. He doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he steps forward, melting into the throng of adventurers around us.

  "Hey!" I shout, but he doesn’t look back. He’s walking faster now, a purposeful stride that leaves Clarence and me scrambling to catch up.

  "What the fuck," I mutter, and break into a sprint. It seems Sen isn’t ready for this, because he falls off my shoulder. I turn and see him land in Clarence’s arms though.

  The closer I get, the more obvious the carnage. Dozens of bodies lie smoking near the barrier, adventurers that were unable to pass. Most of the crowd is simply pressing against the wall, pushing and shoving in futile hope that brute force will allow them to get through, but all it’s doing is killing more of them.

  What did that seer say about this dungeon to get these people to throw their lives away over it? Many people are crazy for power, but this was on an entirely different level.

  I finally catch up to Terra, and that’s when I see him reach the barrier. He’s pressing his hand flat against it.

  I wince, expecting the sizzle and pop of burning flesh, but instead there’s a strange resonance. A hum almost, and I reach out for him.

  "Terra, we can’t do this. We need to leave. Now." My voice is strained, but he’s not listening. He just stands there, palm flat against the light, eyes turned up toward the Saints up above.

  The Radiant Axis is barely paying attention. They’re talking amongst themselves, arms crossed, expressions ranging from boredom to faint contempt. Elen glances down at us for a second, but just as quickly looks away.

  Clarence is beside me now, trying to brute force his way through. Encasing his body in fire until all you can see is red. Sen even tries to help him, whipping up a gale to push Clarence through, but Clarence simply hits the wall, and crumples. His flames are snuffed out in an instant, and he lets out a pained groan.

  I think about enveloping my hand in necromancy, but the chances it would get past such a powerful barrier is basically zero. I do have geomancy that I could try and brute force my way through with, but I’d probably just end up losing an arm… I do have something else at my disposal though.

  I encase my hand in a shell of aetheric needles, hundreds of them. Each is miniscule, and covers every millimeter of my forearm. It works, I feel my fingers breach the barrier, but the needles are quickly beginning to dissolve, and I pull my arm back.

  I don’t have nearly enough mana for such a method to work…

  Above us, Elen sighs theatrically. "Are the adventurers of this day and age so bereft of Eloria’s holy light? What a shame the world has come to in just a few years!" Her voice is full of disgust, and the crowd around us begins to boo her upon being insulted. "This trial is coming to a close. I thank those of you who were brave enough to participate, despite the odds."

  She holds a finger in the air, and three beams of light shoot out in rapid succession, each one bursting above the field and painting a glowing numeral in the sky.

  10. Then 9. Then 8.

  A countdown.

  I lunge for Terra, grabbing his arm, but he’s anchored to the spot. "Terra, we need to leave! Grab Clarence and run as far as you can, I’ll figure something ou-"

  "It’s okay," he says, voice so quiet I almost miss it. "She can’t fail us if there is no barrier."

  Terra reels his arm back, and then thrusts forward. His fingers pierce the barrier, and then a crack appears. Slowly he drags his hand to the side, and the crack grows. It races across the barrier and creates a web of wounds throughout it. Light begins to pour from the open fractures, and I squint.

  Like a window shattering, it’s slow at first, and then it all happens at once. The barrier shatters and caves in on itself.

  The crowd is silent for a heartbeat, then surges forward, tripping over themselves in their eagerness to get through. I’m pulled along by the crowd, barely able to keep Clarence and Sen in sight.

  Above, I can see that the Saints are no longer bored. Each and every one of them are watching Terra now.

  The number 1 in the air fades away as Elen clears her throat.

  "Well," she says, her voice unsteady for the first time, "it seems that your bravery has been rewarded! Everyone present has passed the first trial, I congratulate you!"

  The crowd erupts into cheers, but I don’t join. I’m too busy staring at Terra, who’s too busy to look my way. Instead, he keeps his gaze skyward.

  Clarence manages to reach me through the crowd of people. "Did you see that? He just… He broke a barrier! Is that normal?"

  I bite my lip, and furrow my brow as I look away. I’m unable to reply. A hundred lives, and this is the second time something like this has happened.

  This is the second time Terra has disobeyed me.