The reinforced chamber doors hissed open, the Ether locks releasing with a low, resonant vibration. Kael stepped forward, feeling the sudden freedom. The hours of containment had restrained his Void and Space affinities, but now, untethered, they pulsed beneath his skin like coiled lightning.
Standing at the entrance was a Senior Monitor, draped in indigo robes lined with silver glyphs that shimmered faintly with Ether energy. Her expression was professional, unreadable, but Kael could sense the weight of her gaze.
"Subject Kael Ardyn," she said, her voice calm but firm, echoing slightly off the crystalline walls. "Containment release verified. Your Void and Space resonance has normalized enough to proceed. Any instability will trigger immediate reinforcement."
Kael nodded subtly. "Sounds friendly enough."
She extended a hand, and a holographic panel floated between them, displaying his current Void + Space readings. Every pulse of energy was tracked, every micro-fluctuation logged.
> [Containment Release: Active — Void resonance stabilized at 98%]
Kael flexed his fingers, letting tiny ripples of Void curl along the floor. The monitor's eyes flicked to the display, noting each movement. Automated Ether systems hummed, reinforcing containment protocols in real-time as a precaution, just in case his powers surged unexpectedly.
> [Observation Log #006 — Subject: Void + Space. Containment stable. Passive monitoring continues.]
"Do not attempt to bypass the monitoring systems," the monitor warned. "They will respond instantly."
Kael smirked faintly. "Noted. Don't worry, I'm learning your rules… for now."
With a nod from the Senior Monitor, the chamber doors fully opened. Beyond the reinforced corridor stretched the Arena Chamber, vast and cathedral-like. The floor glowed with hexagonal patterns, and faintly pulsating Ether nodes floated in place, ready to test him.
> [Arena: Ether Simulation — Level 1 Assessment]
The monitor stepped back, voice still calm. "Your containment period is complete. This is your first formal assessment. Objective: stabilize the Ether nodes distributed throughout the chamber. Any uncontrolled output will be logged. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action. Observation by Academy systems is continuous."
Kael's violet eyes flickered as he surveyed the room. Every node, every rune, every sensor was designed to observe, record, and control him if necessary. And hidden somewhere — he knew — were the Watchers, monitoring silently from the shadows.
The first node appeared in a ripple of light, pulsing violently. Kael extended a tendril of Void, coiling around it, and warped the surrounding space to stabilize the energy. A soft chime confirmed success.
> [Node Stabilized — Energy Assimilation: +20 Ether Units]
Node after node appeared, each more chaotic than the last. Kael adapted instinctively, Void and Space dancing in perfect synchronization, bending the rules of the chamber without breaking them.
From a corner of the Arena, a faint shadow flickered — a Watcher, recording every pulse of Ether. Kael sensed it but ignored it. Let them watch.
The final node appeared, immense, pulsing with unstable energy that mirrored the rift he had closed in the crystal forest. The Arena's containment systems flared, warning of potential overload.
Kael exhaled, focusing. Void spiraled outward, enveloping the node in darkness, while Space folded reality inward, compressing the chaotic energy into a stable point. The node glowed solid silver.
> [Final Node Stabilized — Void + Space Integration: 100%]
The Arena lights dimmed, a single chime signaling completion. A floating panel displayed the rankings: Kael's name glowed at the top in violet and silver — a combination never seen before in Academy history.
> [Special Observation Required — Council Notification Pending]
Kael stepped back, letting the glow of his Ether settle around him. He could feel the Watchers still observing, the Senior Monitor's systems still recording, and the Council soon to take notice.
A small smile tugged at his lips. "Containment done. Trial passed. Let's see how far this goes."
Above the Academy, unseen and silent, the Council murmured:
> "The boy survives the chamber… now begins the true test."