Chapter 19: Chapter 19 – A Team of Uncertainties (2)

Eternia stepped into the designated area for her group.

And that was when she saw him.

For a brief moment—

Her mind went blank.

"...What?"

Standing in front of her was the most beautiful "girl" she had ever seen.

Long, soft hair flowed gently down to the shoulders.

Delicate features.

Clear, pale skin.

Eyes that shimmered like polished gemstones.

The figure stood there with an almost shy posture, hands lightly clasped together.

Eternia blinked once.

Twice.

"...Wait."

Something felt off.

The figure stepped forward slightly and gave a small, polite bow.

"Um... hello..."

The voice was soft.

Gentle.

And—

Male.

Eternia froze.

"...Huh?"

"I’m Leon," he said quietly.

Eternia stared.

"...Leon?"

He nodded, a little nervously.

"Yes..."

There was a brief pause.

Then Eternia slowly processed it.

"...You’re a guy?"

Leon tilted his head slightly, confused.

"...Yes?"

Eternia turned her head slightly.

Then looked back.

Then turned again.

"...What."

Her brain struggled to reconcile what she was seeing.

"...This guy is... prettier than most girls."

Even Eternia herself—now undeniably beautiful—felt a strange sense of defeat.

"...This is ridiculous."

Leon shifted slightly under her gaze.

"...Is something wrong?"

Eternia shook her head quickly.

"No."

Pause.

"...Nothing."

She crossed her arms, regaining composure (still blushing).

"...Focus."

Appearance didn’t matter.

Strength did.

Still...

She couldn’t ignore one detail.

Leon looked... fragile.

His posture was light.

His build slender.

Not physically imposing at all.

But then—

Her gaze dropped slightly.

And she saw it.

The weapon.

A massive sword.

Nearly as tall as he was.

Resting casually against his shoulder.

Eternia blinked again.

"...What."

The size alone made it absurd.

There was no way someone with that frame should be able to wield it effectively.

Yet Leon held it with ease.

"...Okay."

Eternia narrowed her eyes slightly.

"...He’s definitely not normal."

Before she could question him further—

Another voice cut in.

"Tch. So you’re my team."

Eternia turned.

A third figure approached them slowly.

His presence was completely different.

Sharp.

Controlled.

Distant.

He wore light armor layered with multiple belts and pouches.

Daggers were strapped at his sides.

And more importantly—

Scrolls.

Dozens of them.

Attached across his outfit in organized rows.

Each one marked with faint runic symbols.

Eternia’s eyes sharpened.

"...Rune scrolls."

The boy stopped a few steps away.

His expression neutral.

Cold.

"Kael Dren."

He introduced himself briefly.

No bow.

No smile.

Just a statement.

Eternia studied him carefully.

"...Outer family."

Not main bloodline.

But not insignificant either.

His equipment alone suggested preparation.

Experience.

Pragmatism.

He wasn’t here to impress anyone.

He was here to survive.

And win.

Eternia nodded slightly.

"Eternia."

Kael’s gaze lingered on her for a moment.

"...You’re the one from the labyrinth."

It wasn’t a question.

Eternia didn’t answer.

Kael didn’t press.

He simply shifted his attention to Leon briefly.

"...And you."

Leon smiled nervously.

"H-hello..."

Kael looked unimpressed.

"...Right."

Eternia exhaled quietly.

Her team.

A beautiful, shy boy wielding an oversized sword.

And a distant, heavily equipped rune user. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"...This is going to be complicated."

Her thoughts sharpened.

Rune magic.

She glanced again at the scrolls attached to Kael’s outfit.

Runes were specialized magic constructs.

Unlike normal spells, which required casting time and mana manipulation, rune spells were pre-inscribed into objects.

Scrolls.

Weapons.

Armor.

Once activated, they released their stored effect instantly.

Which made them incredibly useful.

Instant attacks.

Instant defense.

Instant utility.

But also expensive.

And limited.

Each rune could only be used once unless recharged.

Still—

In battle, that instant activation could mean the difference between life and death.

Eternia crossed her arms slowly.

"...At least one of them is practical."

Then her gaze shifted to Leon again.

"...And the other is a mystery."

She clenched her fist slightly.

"...And I need to win."

Not just pass.

Win.

Godfrey’s words echoed again.

’You’ll wish you were never born.’

Her jaw tightened.

"...I don’t have the luxury of a weak team."

She glanced between them again.

Leon.

Kael.

Her teammates.

Her obstacles.

Or her support.

She didn’t know yet.

But she would soon.

On the outside—

Eternia’s expression remained calm.

Cold.

Unreadable.

But inside—

Her thoughts were racing.

"...What kind of team is this?!"

"...Can I actually win with them?"

"...Why does the pretty one have a giant sword?!"

"...And why does the other one look like he’s ready to assassinate someone?!"

Her eye twitched slightly.

"...This is bad."

Very bad.

And yet—

The trial was about to begin.

And there was no turning back.

Eternia stood there, silent and composed.

A perfect image of calm confidence.

While inside—

She was completely panicking