The gates of the Aries citadel yawned open with a grinding roar, revealing a grand hall scorched by battle but still standing proud. Pillars cracked but unbroken lined the path, their surfaces etched with war stories—of conquest, honor, betrayal, and endurance. Torches lit one by one as they passed, responding to their presence like a system recognizing that they had proven themselves.
"Trial Three complete," Verena exhaled, her shoulders sagging as she trudged forward. "If the next one involves paperwork and quarterly reviews, I might actually cry tears of joy."
"That… was impressive," Vivienne said softly, catching up beside her. "You were leading us. Really leading."
"Ugh. Don't make it sound sentimental. I'm still trying to process the fact that ghost soldiers were trying to disembowel me."
