Selection Test Concludes

Arjun stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest as the wiry student sneered at him. "Well, well, well," the student repeated, spitting on the ground. "If it isn't the outsider. Thinking you're something special, huh? Scoring top marks in the test. You don't belong here."

Arjun felt a surge of anger but kept his composure. "I'm here to prove myself, just like everyone else," he said evenly, gripping his wand tightly.

The student's eyes narrowed. "Prove yourself? Let's see you prove yourself against me."

Before Arjun could react, the student raised his wand and cast the wind force spell. A gust of wind hurtled toward Arjun, and he barely had time to brace himself. The force of the spell knocked him off his feet, sending him sprawling to the ground. Pain shot through his side where the spell had grazed him, but he forced himself to stand.

"Is that all you've got?" the student taunted, a smug grin spreading across his face.

Anger flared in Arjun, and he pointed his wand at the boy. Without thinking, he imagined a powerful blast of wind hitting his opponent. To his astonishment, a fierce gust of wind erupted from his wand, much stronger than he intended. The student's eyes widened in surprise as the wind hurled him backward, slamming him against the wall. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Arjun stared at his wand in shock, his heart racing. How had he managed to summon such a powerful spell? Pushing aside his confusion, he rushed to the boy's side and pressed the emergency button on the cave wall. Within moments, two teachers arrived, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity.

"What happened here?" one of them demanded, looking between the unconscious student and Arjun.

Arjun took a deep breath. "He attacked me, and I... I reacted. I didn't mean to hurt him like this."

The teachers exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. "We'll take him to the infirmary," one said finally. "You continue with the test."

Arjun watched as they carefully lifted the boy and carried him away. He felt a pang of guilt but reminded himself that he had acted in self-defense. With a deep breath, he turned and continued his journey through the dungeon, more determined than ever.

Navigating the remaining obstacles, Arjun finally reached the central chamber. The shadow gems glittered in their alcoves, and he quickly grabbed one, feeling its cool, smooth surface in his hand. With renewed energy, he made his way to the dungeon exit.

Outside, a crowd had gathered, their eyes anxiously scanning the entrance. One by one, students emerged, clutching their shadow gems. Krishna, Bheem, Duryodhana, and others stood together, their faces etched with worry as they waited for Arjun.

When the count reached twenty-nine, an uneasy silence fell over the crowd. Everyone held their breath, fearing the worst. Then, just when the tension became unbearable, Arjun stepped out, holding his shadow gem high.

A cheer erupted from his friends, their relief and joy evident. "Arjun!" Krishna shouted, rushing forward to embrace him. Bheem, Nakul, Sahdev, and Yudhisthir quickly joined, their faces beaming with pride.

Arjun's heart swelled with emotion. Despite the mixed reactions from the crowd—some cheering, others resentful—he felt a sense of belonging among his friends. They believed in him, and that was enough.

The students were soon called back to the grand hall, where Guru Drona awaited them. The hall buzzed with excitement and chatter as the thirty successful students gathered, their expressions a mix of pride and exhaustion.

"Congratulations to all who have passed the mystery test," Guru Drona began, his voice carrying through the hall. "You have shown skill, determination, and courage in the face of adversity. From tomorrow, your training will begin. A list of required items will be provided to you once you leave this hall. Ensure you gather everything before classes commence."

The students nodded, absorbing his words. Arjun felt a surge of excitement and anticipation. His journey was just beginning.

Just when everyone was leaving, guru Drona went to Arjun, "Arjun, come to my office after this," Guru Drona added, his eyes locking onto Arjun's. A ripple of whispers spread through the hall as Arjun's friends exchanged puzzled glances.

As the assembly was dismissed, students filed out, collecting their lists from a table near the entrance. Arjun's friends gave him encouraging nods and pats on the back before heading out.

"Good luck, Arjun," Krishna said, his eyes twinkling with confidence. "We'll wait for you outside."

Arjun nodded, taking a deep breath as he approached Guru Drona's office. He knocked on the door and entered when bidden. The room was lined with shelves of ancient scrolls and artifacts, exuding an aura of wisdom and power.

"Sit down, Arjun," Guru Drona said, gesturing to a chair opposite his desk. Arjun complied, felt a mix of curiosity and nervousness.