Jade: The Hybrid Mage
I glanced around, noting the way the other participants seemed to mask their emotions—some with smug confidence, others with tightly controlled nerves.
"Step forward, Jade Ishola," the mage said.
I hesitated for a heartbeat, then moved to stand before him. His eyes, glowing faintly with a bluish hue, locked onto mine.
"You will be shown a story," he continued. "It is not a lesson, nor a guide. It is a fragment of history, one that will inform the challenges you face. Watch closely, listen carefully, and remember—truth is not always what it seems."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.