I — The Anchor That Was Not Red
The first two trials were simple.
For her.
Mana endurance.
Connection to the forest.
Core control.
Sarya passed through them as one walks through mist.
No expression.
No celebration.
But the third trial…
Was different.
The removal of the Anchor.
Just as Leli had done.
The circle was drawn.
The Rubros positioned themselves.
Aurelius watched in silence.
— Connect.
Sarya closed her eyes.
She felt it.
Root.
Leaf.
Soil.
Autumn.
She pulled.
The Anchor tore free from her chest like ripping out a sun.
But the light…
It was not red.
It was orange.
Intense.
Almost golden.
Like burning autumn leaves.
BOOOOOOM.
The ground cracked.
Trees trembled.
Elves were thrown backward.
Some were injured.
The wave of mana devastated the perimeter.
The six Rubros moved instantly.
— Contain it!
They pressed against the surge with their own Anchors.
The orange mana vibrated as if it had will.
Valen’s eyes widened.
Stolen story; please report.
— What is that…
Aurelius narrowed his gaze.
It was not just power.
It was density.
It was instinct.
It was predatory.
When the light faded…
Sarya stood there.
Calm.
The Anchor floating in her hand.
Orange.
Silence consumed the clearing.
---
Valen felt something he hated to admit.
Anger.
Jealousy.
And yet…
Admiration.
— Damn it…
He clenched his fist.
— I will defeat you, Sarya.
— You will submit… through respect.
But he never won.
And everyone knew.
The elves whispered:
— Is he going to lose again?
Ten public defeats.
Quick.
Clean.
There were many more beyond sight.
And with each loss…
Valen became more obsessed with surpassing her.
Aurelius began favoring Sarya.
Not because he disliked his son.
But because Valen was not ready.
The Rubra Hunt was not a tournament.
It was survival.
---
II — The Messenger of the South
Days later.
A human arrived at Whispering Village.
Tailer Aspenwolf.
Sent by order of the Director.
He carried a sealed letter.
— The Academy of Delos is open to all.
— Not only humans.
— By imperial decree.
Kyros demanded the seals of the Patriarchs.
Flora.
Helena.
Kotan.
All agreed.
Only Aurelius remained.
— They seek advantage by sending elves to the capital? — one Rubro asked.
Tailer answered calmly:
— With the seal of the Black Sun, capturing a Southerner becomes a state crime.
— Automatic war between the Empire and the South.
Aurelius read the contract.
Three clauses.
1. No citizen of the South may ever be treated as merchandise.
2. Weekly detailed reports on all Southerners in Delos.
3. The four seasonal leaders shall hold official authority and seats in decisive events.
The Emperor’s signature beneath.
Aurelius almost smiled.
— Kyros… you demanding idiot.
Eyes and ears in the capital.
Interesting.
---
Sarya watched from a distance.
Uncomfortable.
A human.
Tailer approached.
— What do you think of Delos?
— Do not come too close, human.
He smiled faintly.
— You could join the Forest Echoes.
— I am not interested. Excuse me.
He tilted his head.
— You will enter the Rubra Hunt soon, won’t you?
No answer.
— Advice.
— You make too much noise with your steps.
— Channel mana into your feet.
— Connect to the forest.
He vanished.
Appeared behind her.
Whispered in her ear.
She reacted by instinct.
Dagger at his throat.
He vanished again.
— Astro-physical leap.
— A wolf never makes noise.
He waved.
— Until Delos, young one of Autumn.
Gone.
No presence.
No sound.
Sarya stood still.
— How did he do that…
---
III — The Dead Zone
Aurelius decided.
— You will go.
The Rubra Hunt.
A sealed territory.
Creatures born from mana fractures.
Plagues.
Among them…
The Spider of Nime.
Gigantic.
Rapid regeneration.
Lethal venom.
Aurelius nearly killed it years ago.
Nearly died from poison.
He sealed the perimeter.
Valen ignored orders.
He went first.
He slaughtered dozens of creatures.
Then met Nime.
And understood his mistake.
The spider moved like a shadow.
Vanished.
Reappeared.
Valen was wounded.
Venom spread through his veins.
He dropped to one knee.
The spider advanced.
Silence.
Something cut through the air.
Sarya.
She applied what Tailer taught her.
Mana in her feet.
No sound.
Her spear shattered.
Her daggers melted under acid.
She did not retreat.
She dodged.
Calculated.
Waited for regeneration to trigger.
Then—
One-inch punch.
Direct impact at the core of the carapace.
The internal structure cracked.
She struck again.
Internal rupture.
The spider recoiled.
She leaped.
Gripped its fangs.
Twisted her body.
Ripped the head off.
Green blood rained over her.
Valen stared from the ground.
— You…
She walked past him.
Said nothing.
Covered in green blood.
---
IV — The Seventh Rubra
At Whispering Village.
She threw the spider’s head onto the ground.
Elves stepped back.
Fear.
Admiration.
— Mercy…
— Worthy.
— Beautiful… even stained with monster blood.
Aurelius exploded at Valen.
— What did I tell you?!
Valen remained silent.
Jealousy burning.
— I was supposed to be the strongest…
Aurelius turned to Sarya.
— You possess the potential of a Rubra.
He removed the spider’s eye.
Forged a necklace from it.
Placed it around her neck.
— I already have my six Rubros.
— You will not be official.
— But you will have the honor.
He raised his voice.
— Seventh Rubra!
Autumn leaves rained into the air.
Honor of combat.
The first after the six.
She would not be bound to follow him for life.
But from that day forward…
She would fight as a Rubra.
Beside them.
---
V — The Book
At the peak of Mount Nidrel.
Before the graves.
Sarya sat.
Reading.
A small human book.
“Code of Warriors.”
Parts illegible.
But one phrase clear:
Loyalty is an indispensable principle.
Loyalty to family.
To hierarchy.
To one’s continent.
She turned the page.
A sound.
She looked up.
Tailer stood there.
No presence.
— I noticed you used what I taught you.
He tossed something.
She caught it.
Another book.
He was already gone.
— I still have much to learn…
The human had not disturbed a single leaf.
The wind blew softly.
And atop Mount Nidrel…
The Seventh Rubra read.
While Autumn watched.
End of Chapter 8.
