Without another word, the man leaped with an agility uncommon of a man with his build. In the blink of an eye, he ascended, disappearing from view completely.
His voice echoed from far above, "Ascend the mountain, and don't die, little Reapers"
Esther clenched her jaw, pressure mounting around her figure, causing her chains to ripple and the edge of her skirt and jacket to billow slightly. Julian frowned at her agitated state and stepped forward to put a palm on her shoulder.
"Calm down, we need to maintain a clear state of mind for this trial"
It was a bad idea, to say the least, light putting a lid over a ticking time bomb. She snapped, slapping his hand away.
"Calm? That dwarf just taunted us!"
Alex and Ramiro glanced at each other, keeping quiet but sharing a thought, 'More like he was just messing with you for insulting him first'
Esther slammed a fist into a palm, her expression angered and ruthless, "I'm going to rip him limb from limb"
Crouching down slightly, she pressed one palm against the soft earth. Bright lilac energy gathered around her, condensing into a bright purple halo and a single purple horn several inches long.
With a mighty shout that shook the valley, she leapt up into the air dozens of meters, reaching a bright blue crystal that jut out from the mountain face. Landing gingerly on the smooth surface, she shook her shoulders, knocking off a few bright purple flames that clung to her clothes.
The heat was bearable, bolstering her confidence. Crouching down again, she jumped dozens of meters with all her might.
Right as she was about to reach a protruding rock face, the purple flames that clung to the mountain walls jumped out towards her, smothering her from head to toe. A searing heat enveloped her entire being, causing her to lose footing and fall down.
Screaming with pure, unfiltered rage, Esther scattered the flames and twisted during her fall, landing at the bottom of the valley where she had started. Tumbling a few feet to extinguish any remaining flames, Esther found herself with her group once again.
Julian cleared his throat, "Ahem, as I was saying, we shouldn't be so hasty"
He turned his attention to a nearby wisp of flame, his expression as cold as ice, "These flames burn endlessly, and it gets hotter the higher that we go"
The young man then held out his palm towards the flame. A thin stream of icy cold wind was blown from his palm at the small flame. A layer of ice quickly formed around the wisp, but was unable to get close enough, unable to even diminish its heat.
"As expected," he muttered, barely audible to the others.
Vikir walked over and crouched down next to Julian, stretching out a scaled hand towards the flame. It clung to his hand like hot glue, burning away at it.
He shook his hand, flinging the flames away, "it burns softly down here, but from the looks of it, it'll be much more dangerous the higher we climb"
They all looked at Esther, confirming this, for she was covered head to toe in shallow burns and soot.
Alexandrine nodded, "it's all within expectations. After all, these flames are created by the infamous Violet Soul Banner"
Julian raised an eyebrow, "how do you know the name of the Sage's weapon?"
The noble girl lifted her hand, conjuring up a thick book from thin air. It was as big as her torso, and its thickness surpassed a grown man's fist.
"Book of Relics. It is one of the oldest books in our Harbinger's collection. Only I bothered to read it"
"Enough posturing," Esther muttered, glancing at her burns in annoyance, "Tell us it's properties"
Alexandrine sighed, but gave in nonetheless, "It's a magic relic crafted and wielded by Njord, a Spirit Type Awakener like Julian. His elemental affinity gives him the ability to summon purple flames with an unknown property, while his transformative affinity makes his body incredibly tough"
She gestured to the flames burning all around them, casting the entire valley in a warm purple glow, "Their official name is Karma Fire, able to burn forever, and at whatever temperature he wishes… There's also few known ways to get rid of it, none of which we are capable of"
"Then it's a trial of endurance and will," Vikir muttered.
Ramiro scowled, "I'm naturally disadvantaged in this trial, my physical body isn't as strong. Tsk, couldn't we have been dropped at the top of the mountain instead?"
Alexandrine rolled her green eyes, "Then they would have had us descend the mountain and climb back up. Don't worry, these flames burn at different temperatures for everyone, someone as physically feeble as you won't burn too much"
"You bastard!"
The noble girl ignored the livid young man, who was barely able to contain his anger. Meanwhile, the young man in pajamas yawned.
Ivan rubbed his eyes, "Isn't this place called the Valley of Enlightenment? Why the hell are we ascending the mountain," he yawned again, which looked almost exaggerated if one didn't know of his condition and ability, "Should've just stayed home…"
Calypso waved her hand, conjuring a white magic circle on the ground. Out burst a white dragon the size of a bus. She climbed onto the beast, grasping onto its scales for support.
Right as the dragon beat its mighty wings however, the surrounding crystals glimmered with a blinding light, obscuring their vision. A roar pierced through the haze, and when their vision returned, Calypso was on the ground, unharmed but without a ride.
Nina tried to create solid steps with her ability, and a similar reaction occurred. Then Alexandrine tried as well, summoning a flying carpet that disappeared in similar fashion. Witnessing this scene, they all reached the same conclusion.
"Flight is banned in this area"
Esther sighed. Her skin returned to its original state, with all burns and dirt removed. She shook her body slightly, causing her Sky Mending Chains to extend.
"Everyone hold on, looks like we have to climb"