As dawn broke over the city, Sam's excitement grew with each passing minute. He spent the day in quiet contemplation, mentally preparing himself for the challenges that lay ahead. Hours dragged by until, finally, the sun moved past its peak, casting short shadows across the cobblestone streets. On that afternoon, Sam made his excuses to Lyra, claiming he needed some time alone to gather his thoughts. Though Lyra looked at him suspiciously, she trusted his judgment and allowed him to go. With a sense of urgency, Sam navigated through the winding alleys until he reached the designated meeting point outside the imposing tower. Standing there, Sam's heart raced as he scanned the area, half-expecting Kaelyn to emerge from the shadows. Suddenly, a figure emerged from a nearby alleyway—it was Kaelyn. Despite anticipating her arrival, Sam was still taken aback by her sudden appearance. Kaelyn's expression was unreadable as she approached him, her movements calculated and precise. "Are you r

The tenth trial thrust Sam into a harrowing battle within his own mind. It was a relentless onslaught of illusions aimed at exploiting his deepest fears and doubts. As he stood amidst the shifting illusions of his mundane past life, Sam felt the suffocating weight of routine and monotony bearing down on him.Flashbacks flooded his mind with endless days spent in a soul-crushing job, the hollow emptiness of unfulfilled dreams, and the relentless march of time eroding his spirit. The illusions distorted reality, blurring the line between past and present, until Sam felt trapped in a suffocating cycle of despair.“Sam! I’m here!”But amidst the overwhelming deluge of memories, Kaelyn's voice broke through the haze like a lifeline. Her voice echoed in his mind, a beacon of clarity amidst the nightmare. With renewed determination, Sam summoned his inner strength and blasted his energy outward, dispelling the illusions.Sam felt a surge of empowerment. He refused to succumb to the shadows o

Sam was able to dodge such a clear attack easily. The boulders rolled past him and crashed into each other behind his back.“Annoying,” Ba’ar finally spoke again. “So, the daemon didn’t simply grant you access. You actually passed the high trials.”“Oh, there you are,” Sam said. “Yeah, so what if I passed the trials? You think you are the only one who can pass?”“Shut up!”More minions appeared, and while Ba'ar's minions swarmed around him, Sam ceased summoning his shadow copies, realizing the chaos was causing more confusion to him than aid.Instead, he focused on defense, dodging their attacks while attempting to pinpoint Ba'ar's elusive presence amidst the onslaught.Dodging left and right, Sam evaded strikes from Ba'ar's minions, his senses honed to detect even the faintest trace of Ba'ar's energy signature. Amidst the cacophony of battle, Sam utilized calculated energy blasts to probe the shifting illusions, seeking the true source of his adversary's power.Sam's strategy bore fr

Sam turned towards the sound, seeing the daemon guide materialize nearby as the familiar glowing orb. "Impressive, huh?" Sam's tone was casual, but a hint of pride tinged his words.The daemon guide glowed responsively. "Indeed, very impressive, Sam. You've not only defeated Ba'ar but also managed to become an archmage through multiple pathways. It's been ages since someone achieved such a feat."Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, well, I had some help," he said, glancing towards Kaelyn, approaching him, eyeing Ba’ar with contempt.The daemon guide chuckled. "Ah yes, Kaelyn. A valuable companion, no doubt about it."Then Sam's expression brightened because he remembered something. "Ah! Where's my reward? I went through all those trials!""But Sam, I already granted you a pass in the twelfth trial, did I not? And let you replenish your energy for the second time in the ley line vortex."Sam's shoulders sagged slightly, realizing the daemon's point. "Yeah, I guess you did. So you won't g

After their meal, Sam cautiously broached the topic of his recent encounter with the archmage. He spoke in circles, carefully avoiding the heart of the matter, but Lyra's good mood quickly shifted when he mentioned seeking help beyond the treasure."What do you mean, Sam?" Lyra's eyes bore into his.Sam sighed heavily, realizing there was no way to evade the truth any longer. He explained about the assassin attack, revealing that it was Kaelyn from the Moonflower Tribe, sent by Ba'ar to kill him. To his surprise, Kaelyn had ended up joining forces with him, and together they defeated Ba'ar, allowing Sam to reclaim the stolen spells."You sought help from someone who tried to kill you? Instead of coming to me?" Lyra's voice rose, drawing the attention of everyone in the tavern."Please, Lyra, calm down," Sam pleaded, attempting to temper her rising anger. He elaborated on Kaelyn's coerced involvement by Ba'ar. "I didn't know the true story of Kaelyn until now. She promised to explain e