M arrived with a chills in the air, but Li's energy was anything but cold. She before the sun, roaming around the room as she prepared for her big day. Zora, watg her from the er of his eye, couldn't help but smile. "You've packed your water, right? And a snack?" he asked, already slipping into a protective tone. "Papa, stop w! I've got everything," Li replied, tying her boots. She looked at him with a grin. "Now e on! I don't want to be te!"
---
The guild was alive with activity when they arrived, a mix of aspiring adventurers and seasoned veterans crowding the space. The guildmaster, a burly man with a booming voice, stepped forward to address the gathered hopefuls.
"Wele to your trials!" he began. "Today, you'll face three challenges: an obstacle race, a dummy fight, and finally, a mini-dungeon. These trials are desigo test your strength, skill, and wit. Succeed, and you'll earn the right to bee an adventurer. Fail, and you always try again...if you survive, that is." The gathered urmured nervously, but Li's excitement never wavered. "Good luck," Zora said quietly as she lined up with the others. "And stay safe." Li gri him. "I'll be fine, Papa. Just watch!"
---
The Obstacle Race
The first trial was an obstacle course in the guild's training grounds. It had tall walls to climb, deep pits to jump over, ropes to swing on, and even some traps scattered along the way. The goal was simple but tough: reach the finish line as fast as possible.
When the signal went off, Li sprinted forward. She climbed the first wall quickly, pulling herself up with determination. There was a long rope to swing across a wide pit, and she hesitated for a moment, but then she grabbed the rope tightly and jumped. She swung across, nding a bit unsteady but safe. The narrow beam came . Halfway across, she wobbled, her arms filing, but she mao bance herself and keep going. Zora watched quietly from the sidelines, his fingers crossed, his heart ounding a bit. Then Li crawled under a set of low, spiked bars and made it to the end, she stood up and wiped the sweat off her face, smiling proudly. She wasn't the fastest, but she didn't o be. She fihe course without giving up, and that was what mattered.
The Dummy Fight
The sed trial took p a arena. The partits had to fight a moving dummy that acted like a real oppo. They could choose any on from the sele: wooden swords, spears, bows, and others. Li picked up a wooden sword. She tested its weight in her hand, gripping it tightly. She was nervous, but she didn't let it show. When the dummy activated, it dashed toward her suddenly, and she gasped. Quickly, she dodged to the side, just barely avoiding the attack. She swung her sword, hitting the dummy's arm. It didn't stop, though, moving faster and ing at her from different angles. Li stayed calm, remembering Zora's advice about staying focused. She ducked under a swing and jabbed at its side. Then, in a clever move, she used her foot to trip the dummy. It stumbled, givihe opening to deliver a final strike to its head. The dummy stopped moving, signaling her win. Li stood there, panting and holding the sword tightly. She goward the stands, smiling and giving Zora a thumbs up, while Zora just couldn't seem to stop being worried.
The Mini-Dungeon
The final trial was the hardest of all: the mini-dungeon. Each partit had to go in alone and face whatever was i was dark, quiet, and full of challenges.
When it was Li's turn, she took a deep breath and stepped ihe first thing she saw uzzle on a stoable. There were colored stones and matg symbols carved into the wall. She studied them for a moment, thinking hard. Li hesitated for a split sed, doubting if she could solve the puzzle. But then Zora's voice echoed in her mind: 'Trust your instincts.' She took a deep breath and focused, her fideurning. Then she began moving the stones one by one, pg ea the right spot. When she finished, a small door opened, and she moved to the room.
This part had traps everywhere. She saw pressure ptes on the floor and noticed small holes in the walls where arrows might shoot out. Li moved slowly, testing the floor with her foot before stepping. She crouched low, dug under swinging bdes that passed right over her head. At one point, she almost stepped on a pressure pte but caught herself just in time. Her heart was rag, but she kept moving forward.
The st challenge was a fight. A small, meical creature crawled out of a dark er. Its metal cws ged as it moved toward her. Li raised her wooden sword, ready. The creature lunged, but she sidestepped and hit it on its side. It turned quickly, f her to dodge again. She swung her sword at its legs, trying to knock it off bance, but it jumped back. Finally, Li spotted a glowing part on its chest. She figured it must be its ot. Waiting for the right moment, she let the creature charge at her again. This time, she dodged at the st sed and swung her sword with all her strength, hitting the glowing spot dead-on. The creature froze, sparks flying from its chest, before falling to the ground.
When she came out of the dungeon, she was covered in dust, her hair a mess, and her face red from the effort. But she was smiling wide, proud of herself. Zora hurried over, a mix of relief and pride on his face, gave her a light pat on the back. "You did great," he said with a rexed tone, as his worries finally cooling down a bit. Li smiled at him, feeling more fident than ever. "I made it through all the trials, Papa! I'm oep closer to my dream!". Zora nodded. "You did well."
---
As the day came to an end, the partits gathered back at the guild to await their results. The guildmaster stepped forward once again, a scroll in hand. "The verdicts will be annouomorrow m," he said. "Until the well and prepare for what's to e." Li turo Zora, her eyes shining. "Do you think I did enough, Papa?" Zora smiled softly. "We'll find out tomorrow. But no matter what happens, I'm proud of you..."
