After finishing my preparations, I left the estate. The air outside felt slightly unfamiliar after spending so much time locked in a cycle of training and routine. I put on a hooded cloak, hiding my face. Drawing unnecessary attention right now would only cause trouble. The fewer people who remembered me, the better.
I didn't take much with me. A few potions in case something went wrong, a small amount of gold — small by my standards, but quite a sum for an ordinary person. A map, mainly for the return trip. And a sword. Unfortunately, not an artifact — just a first-rank weapon.
Honestly, that was a bit irritating. Good swords were rare in this world, especially ones that truly suited their wielder. Of course, with my family's resources, I could obtain a decent weapon soon enough. But… that wouldn't feel right. It would be better to wait. To find the right materials and forge a sword perfectly suited for me. Maybe not immediately, maybe it would take time — but it would be worth it.
With those thoughts in mind, I headed to the station.
I boarded a magical train. Teleportation gates or anything similar didn't exist in this world. The reason was simple — spatial-type materials were so rare that obtaining them was considered nearly impossible. Because of that, even the idea of teleportation remained more of a theory… or something only gods could achieve.
The train moved quickly. The journey took only about four hours, and during that time, I managed to relax a little, watching the scenery pass by outside the window. Fields, forests, occasional settlements — everything blurred together, but I didn't focus on the details.
The city of Sarvenis welcomed me with a lively atmosphere. It was beautiful, well-structured, with distinct architecture. But I had no intention of staying.
I didn't have time for rest or sightseeing.
The mage's legacy… there was no way the trial would be easy.
I immediately hired a carriage to Liswood.
While riding in the carriage, I decided not to waste time and began meditating. It wasn't nearly as effective as after training, when my body was warmed up and my channels were open, but it was still better than nothing.
The journey passed without incident.
After arriving, I paid the driver and asked him to wait for me. He looked at me with slight doubt but didn't say anything.
Knowing the waterfall was somewhere near the village, I assumed I'd find it quickly. But after walking around the area, I realized I had underestimated the terrain. The forest was dense, and landmarks were unclear.
I returned to the carriage and warned the driver again that I might be gone for a while, promising extra payment. Realizing he was dealing with a noble, he immediately agreed, barely hiding his satisfaction.
Then I set off again.
I searched within roughly a one-kilometer radius. Time passed, and frustration slowly built up. Just as I was about to give up, I finally heard the sound of water.
The waterfall.
Once I found it, I moved forward without hesitation. Behind the rushing water was a hidden cave — exactly where I needed to go.
Without a second thought, I stepped inside.
And almost immediately, I heard a voice.
Old. Raspy. Yet clear.
Directly inside my head.
"Well, well, well… a child with potential for magic."
I wasn't particularly surprised. If anything, this just confirmed everything was going according to the familiar scenario. Still, I put on a surprised expression.
"Who are you? Show yourself!"
My voice was steady. No fear, but no arrogance either.
There was no response.
The old man fell silent.
I didn't wait and simply continued forward. The path seemed endless. The cave twisted and stretched on without end.
Minutes turned into hours.
Or maybe time itself had lost meaning here.
An hour? Two?
Maybe more.
My legs grew heavy. With each step, it became harder to move. My breathing grew uneven, my body slowly refusing to obey.
I began to consider stopping.
"Annoying old man…" I thought.
I vaguely remembered a similar trial from a novel I had read. There was also a test of endurance… though it involved a rope. That one was about sword techniques.
This was different.
And finally, after what felt like an eternity — around three hours of continuous walking — the voice spoke again.
"Well… you meet the minimum requirement."
I stopped, breathing heavily.
"A trial?" I asked, feigning surprise, though I already knew.
"Old man, if there's a trial… then there's a reward for passing it, right?"
A brief pause.
"Yes. But first, you must pass it."
I smirked inwardly.
"Then start."
"You will face three trials," the voice continued. "Each will test you. Your ability to adapt. Your perseverance. And your ability to think outside the box."
I straightened up.
"I'm ready."
"You may quit at any time," the old man added. "But then you will leave with nothing."
"I won't quit."
A short silence.
"Then… let us begin."
At that moment, the world around me went dark.