### Chapter 29: The Knight’s Heart

### Chapter 29: The Knight's Heart

The arena fell silent as everyone awaited Aster's response. Becoming the squire of a 5-star knight was an incredible honor and a rare opportunity. Aster looked up at the knight with wide eyes, his heart racing with excitement.

"Yes, sir!" Aster replied, his voice full of determination. "I will do my best!"

The crowd erupted into applause once more, and Lady Valtoria's eyes gleamed with triumph. Her son had secured a position that would elevate their family's status even further, and she couldn't have been more pleased.

As Aster stood proudly beside the knight, Little Lu and Hendrix exchanged glances. Though the day had brought mixed feelings for them both, they knew that they would face whatever came next together, as friends.

The atmosphere in the arena was electric. The Baron of Lunar City, pleased beyond words with the events that had unfolded, stood up from his seat and raised a goblet of wine high above his head. His voice boomed across the crowd, carrying with it the authority and pride of a leader who had just seen his city shine.

"To the Knights of the Academy and the great honor bestowed upon my son!" he declared, his voice full of warmth. "Today, we celebrate! Free wine for everyone, from the House of Cole. Let this day be remembered as a day of joy, honor, and pride for our city!"

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. The people of Lunar City, already energized by the spectacle of the tournament, now found themselves in a jubilant mood. The promise of free wine was more than enough to lift their spirits even higher, and the cheers turned into shouts of joy. For a moment, the fears and tensions of the recent past were forgotten, replaced by the simple pleasure of celebration.

As the noise of the crowd began to subside, another knight stepped forward to the center of the stage. He was a burly figure, towering over the others, and he carried with him a large statue that looked impossibly heavy, even for a man of his size. The statue was a formidable sight—carved in the shape of a knight with intricate runes inscribed all over its surface. The runes glowed faintly, hinting at the power contained within.

With great effort, the knight placed the statue in the center of the stage. As soon as the statue was secured, an assistant came forward and carefully placed a shimmering spirit stone into the eye socket of the statue. The moment the spirit stone was in place, the runes on the statue flared to life, and a powerful aura descended upon the entire arena.

The crowd watched in awe as the statue activated, feeling the weight of the aura pressing down on them. For many in the crowd, this was the first time they had ever seen a spirit stone, let alone one used in such a powerful artifact. In a third-grade city like Lunar City, such a sight was a rare treat, and the audience couldn't help but feel a mix of reverence and excitement.

The burly knight turned to face the crowd and spoke in a booming voice that carried across the entire arena. "This statue," he announced, "is known as the Knight's Heart. It is a test of will, courage, and determination. Those who can approach the statue and place their hand upon it without collapsing in fear or passing out will have proven themselves to possess the heart of a knight—an unbreakable will that does not waver even in the face of death."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "A true knight never backs down, even when death is certain. This test is for all who wish to join the Knights Academy, regardless of age. However, only the first 100 to pass the test will be accepted. The rest will have to try again another day."

The announcement sent ripples of excitement and anxiety through the crowd. The Knights Academy was an ancient and prestigious institution, as old as the first clans from the ancient era. It was not something that just anyone could join—only those with the strongest wills and greatest talents could hope to gain entry. The challenge ahead was daunting, but the reward was worth any risk.

The knight overseeing the event gestured to the statue. "Let the test begin!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the formation around the statue was activated. The stage surrounding the statue became its territory, and those who dared to step foot within were immediately under its influence. The aura emanating from the Knight's Heart was overwhelming—tyrannical and suffocating, pressing down on everyone who entered the formation.

Without hesitation, people began to rush forward, eager to prove themselves. But the moment they stepped onto the stage, many found themselves buckling under the weight of the aura. Some collapsed immediately, fainting as soon as they felt the pressure. Others hesitated, only to fall moments later as the fear and anxiety overwhelmed them.

But the crowd, driven by the promise of glory and a place in the Knights Academy, pressed on, stepping over those who had fallen without a second glance. The people of Lunar City, who had been tempered by the recent battle, fared better than most. Among them was an adventurer dressed in black—a man who, unbeknownst to all, was no longer who he seemed. This man, now possessed by the priest of Regon, walked among them, hiding in plain sight.

As they pushed forward, they encountered the first layer of the statue's influence: primal fear. It was an ancient, instinctual terror that clawed at their hearts, making them doubt themselves with every step. But those who could overcome their fear pressed on, determined to reach the statue.

A few thousand people made it past this first stage, but the true test was still ahead. As they drew closer to the statue, they entered the second layer—a place where they were forced to confront the specter of death itself. Each step forward brought a new vision of their own demise, more gruesome and horrifying than the last. Blood, pain, and darkness surrounded them, and many could not take the strain.

More and more people fell, some collapsing in fear, others falling to their knees and weeping in despair. Some were trapped in vivid illusions, unable to distinguish reality from the horrors their minds conjured. A few even died on the spot, their consciousness wiped out by the terror that gripped them. The crowd watching from the safety of the stands could only watch in horror as these tragic scenes played out before them.

But not everyone faltered. Among the survivors were those who had been hardened by the trials of life—those who had faced death before and had come out the other side stronger. They pushed through the fear, their wills unshaken, and drew ever closer to the statue.

In this group was the adventurer in black—the priest of Regon in disguise. He moved steadily through the layers of fear and death, unfazed by the horrors that confronted him. His heart did not waver, but not because he had developed the Knight's Heart. No, his will was driven by a darker force—a force that the statue could not comprehend.

As the numbers dwindled, only a few hundred people remained, all of them determined to reach the statue. The pressure intensified, and the pace of the competition increased. Those who had made it this far were the best and strongest in the city, their determination unyielding.

The final layer, the closest circle around the statue, was the most challenging of all. Here, the aura was so thick that it felt like a physical force, pressing down on those who dared to approach. In addition to facing their greatest fears, the contestants had to push through a force field, one that required both mental and physical strength to overcome.

As they entered this final stage, the burly knight overseeing the event laughed heartily. "Will without means is death!" he declared, and with that, he increased the pressure even further. The force field became a wall of resistance, and many were instantly knocked back, blasted away by the overwhelming power of the Knight's Heart.

But a few still pressed on. Among them were the most talented young people of the city, along with some of the older, more experienced warriors. As they fought through the pressure, some of them broke through the mental barriers that had been holding them back and developed the Knight's Heart—a state of being that allowed them to walk forward with ease.

The adventurer in black continued to move forward, though he did not develop the Knight's Heart. His motivation was different, his goals darker. But he had the strength to make it through, and he did so without hesitation.

As the competition neared its end, the final hundred spots were quickly filling up. The pressure on the remaining contestants was immense, and the struggle became fiercer. Some, desperate to secure their place, rushed forward, only to be crushed by the weight of the aura and sent flying off the stage.

The knight overseeing the event, seeing the desperation in the crowd, raised the pressure to its maximum level. The aura became suffocating, the visions of death more vivid and terrifying than ever before. The force field became a barrier that seemed impossible to breach.

But still, a few made it through. They were the strongest, the most determined, the ones whose wills could not be broken. Each one had a name, a story, and a place in the city they called home.

The first to make it through was a young woman named Elenor, a healer from a prominent family in the city. Her affinity was for water, and she had used her calm, serene nature to overcome the horrors of the statue. She was followed by Jarin, a blacksmith's son with a strong affinity for fire, who had proven his mettle with both strength and determination.

Another was Torin, a former soldier who had fought in the recent battle to defend the city. His experiences on the battlefield had hardened him, and he pushed through the final layer with sheer grit. His affinity was for earth, and his solid, unyielding nature had served him well.

Among the younger participants, there was Alira, a merchant's daughter with an affinity for air. She was light on her feet, both physically and mentally, and had breezed through the challenges with a clear mind and a strong will.

Then there was the adventurer in black, whose true identity was known to no one. The priest of Regon moved silently through the final layer, his dark presence unnoticed by those around him. He was the last to secure a place among the chosen hundred.

Finally, the pressure around the statue disappeared. The Knight's Heart returned to its dormant state,

and the knight overseeing the event signaled the end of the competition.

The hundred who had passed the test were exhausted, but their faces shone with pride and relief. They had done it—they had proven themselves worthy of joining the Knights Academy. They had the heart of a knight.

The crowd, seeing the end of the grueling trial, erupted into applause. The knights who had already secured their places in the academy raised their heads with pride, while the other powers in the city nodded in approval. The Knights Academy was not something anyone could join—it was reserved for the best, and these hundred had proven themselves to be just that.

But for those who had failed, there was only disappointment. They had come so far, only to fall at the final hurdle. Some were dejected, their dreams shattered. Others, more resilient, vowed to return and try again.

As the day came to a close, the chosen hundred gathered together, exchanging relieved smiles and words of encouragement. They had survived the test, and they would now face the challenges ahead as members of the Knights Academy.

**** End of chapter 29*****