"The Realm of Brilliant"

"I understand, Mr. Thorsson," Elwin looked at Sok, his gaze becoming firm, "I will be prepared. No matter what, I will not let the summoned entity control me. I will strengthen my will, improve my magic, I want to become an excellent summoner, I want the summoned entity to approve of me."

Sok's voice echoed in the quiet of the cell, "Elwin, if you manage to escape from this place, I hope you will head south to find a land known as the 'Domain of Brilliance'. The magic there is strong and mysterious, especially the multicolored lake known as 'Leanna's Tears'. It is named after the weeping goddess Leanna, symbolizing endless joys and sorrows, and the lake thus sparkles with brilliant lights."

Upon hearing this, Elwin nodded seriously, took a deep breath and said, "I will remember, Mr. Thorsson. Domain of Brilliance, Leanna's Tears... I will engrave these names in my heart."

Sok continued, "And, there is a tribe called the 'Cloud Canopy Tribe' by the lake. They are experts in cloud magic, able to conceal the sky and hide their traces. They use the mist as a medium to cast all kinds of peculiar magics."

Sok continued, "A small island in the center of the lake is known as 'Echo Island', named for its peculiar echo. There lives a female magician called 'Selena', I hope you can find her, perhaps she can offer you help." Upon saying this, a hint of regret and longing appeared on Sok's face.

Elwin listened quietly, then he softly said, "I will find her, Mr. Thorsson." Elwin winked playfully, and said with a mischievous smile, "So, this lady named Selena, should I call her my master's wife?" His tone was full of playful teasing, the smile on his face brought a hint of relief to the tense atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, Sok was taken aback for a moment, and then burst into laughter, he said, "It seems you've begun to learn to amuse people, you little rascal." His eyes were full of indulgence and gratification, as if he had seen Elwin slowly grow from a naive boy to a sensible young man.

Elwin laughed heartily, clutching his stomach, and said with a relaxed smile, "Mr. Thorsson, you see, this is what you've taught me. You said, no matter how much pressure life brings you, we all need to face it with a smile, so that we can move forward." Sok paused upon hearing Elwin's words, then he smiled and nodded, his eyes full of admiration for Elwin.

Sok looked at Elwin closely, then slowly said, "You are a brave child, Elwin. I believe you can do it. No matter what difficulties you encounter, believe in yourself, you have the strength to overcome everything."

Elwin looked at Sok, nodded firmly, and softly replied, "Thank you, Mr. Thorsson. I'll remember, I have the ability to face all difficulties."

"I will!" Elwin declared firmly, his eyes flashing with deep conviction. At that moment, he turned to Sok, and after a moment of silence, Elwin gathered the courage to say, "Mr. Thorsson, I hope you can hang on, I will come back to rescue you!"

The moment his words fell, the cell seemed to freeze, the only sound was the crackling of the torch on the wall. Sok widened his eyes, staring at him in disbelief, and then a comforting smile spread across his face.

From that moment on, their relationship was no longer just cellmates, but master and apprentice, and even family. That morning, they no longer feared the challenges to come, because they knew, no matter what difficulties they faced, they were not alone, they had each other.

As the sun rose, Sok and Elwin looked at the arena outside the cell with determined eyes. A new day, a new adventure, a new hope lay before them, and they were ready to face it with courage and wisdom, because they were family, master and apprentice, and comrades in arms.

When the prison cell door creaked open, Elwin and Sok both looked up. A soldier, clad in exquisite armor and followed by two equally well-armed soldiers, stood in the doorway. He appeared like a beast of iron armor, exuding an oppressive air. The evidently high-ranking soldier fixed his sharp gaze on Elwin, speaking in a deep voice, "Come with me, lad."

Under the dim light of the prison cell, Elwin slowly rose to his feet, his posture straight and firm. His eyes met Sok's in the corner, a silent understanding and unspoken emotions passing between them. Elwin's eyes sparkled with determination and resolve, seeming to light the path in the darkness. There was also a hint of reluctance and concern for the older man in his deep gaze.

Sok watched Elwin with kind eyes, his gaze filled with deep tenderness and blessings, as if silently telling him that he would always be there, waiting for him to return safely. He watched Elwin's retreating figure as if to permanently imprint his image in his heart.

Elwin took a deep breath and then slowly turned around. His eyes were steady, without a hint of hesitation. He walked resolutely toward the cell door, each step filled with resolve and courage.

The soldiers followed closely behind Elwin, their steps firm and steady, the clashing of their armor and the footfalls of their boots intertwining.

The narrow prison cell door was gradually covered by the iron door, Sok's gaze followed Elwin's figure as though he were a star unwilling to leave the sky. His heart was full of nostalgia and worry, but he knew that this could be the final farewell between him and Elwin. Elwin's image shone in his heart, like a blue gem sparkling in the sunlight, full of radiant light and steadfast strength.

As Elwin left, the prison cell door banged shut, the sound echoing in the empty cell, like a warning in the darkness, taking away all sound and heat. Silence once again enveloped the space, the only sound being Sok's breathing and the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Sok sat quietly in his place, motionless, his gaze falling on the now closed door, as if hoping to see Elwin's figure through the hard door. His eyes were deep and distant, as if he was looking at a world far away. His heart was filled with mixed feelings, worry for Elwin, fear of the unknown, and anticipation of the final victory.

Elwin was guided by the soldiers along the stone corridor until they finally arrived at a large door. This door looked ancient and heavy, engraved with intricate patterns, symbolizing ancient power and ceremony. Elwin took a deep breath, preparing to face everything that was to come.

The door slowly opened under the pull of the bronze door handle, emitting a low creaking sound, as if it was an undisturbed ancient world. As the door opened, the scene inside the room gradually appeared in Elwin's sight.

In the center of the room sat a person in black armor, wearing a terrifying mask. The expression on the mask was ferocious, like the wrathful countenance of a god descended, she was Raven Darkholme, the female leader of the Twin Towers Fortress.

Beside her stood a man in a white robe. This was Lian, Raven Darkholme's trusted assistant in the Twin Towers Fortress. His robe was spotless and pure, forming a stark contrast with the person clad in black armor. His eyes revealed cunning and ruthlessness, making people dare not look directly.

Lian, dressed in a white robe, looked at Elwin with cunning eyes, revealing a sneaky smile, "Lad, it's not too late to back out now. Once we're in the arena, it's a matter of life and death." His voice was prolonged and mocking, like a snake winding through the grass.

Elwin straightened his back, even though his body could not hide a slight trembling, his eyes were extremely firm. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, "I do not regret, and please believe me, I am not a spy from the enemy country." Elwin's voice was steady and resolute, after finishing these words, the fear in his eyes also disappeared, leaving only determination for the upcoming challenge.

Raven Darkholme, clad in black armor and wearing a terrifying mask, suddenly tossed a square box towards Elwin, "Elwin, take your things, good luck." Her voice was deep and stern.

Elwin caught the box, feeling a tangible coldness.

Raven Darkholme didn't say anything more, she stood up and walked toward the door, with Lian following. Their figures cast long shadows under the light.

"Hope you survive." Raven Darkholme's voice suddenly came from ahead. She did not turn back, only paused for a moment when she reached the door, her words seemed to be carried away by the wind, leaving a faint trace in the air. After that, they both stepped out the door, leaving Elwin alone in the room, clutching the box in his hand.