Archons - (trial) Volume 1 - Reflective shard

Luna

Luna POV

That brother of mine... how did things come to this? He's arrogant, avoided by everyone, he refuses to go to school, stays locked up in his room for days, and when anyone tries to help, he shuts them out completely. He won't even admit that he needs help, not even to me. I feel like I've been watching him disappear, piece by piece. Graduation is in six months, but he's so far behind, it's as if he's already given up.

He talks about being strong all the time, acting like nothing can touch him. But the truth? He's weak. Not just physically—but in the ways that matter too. It's like he's trapped in his own mind, too stubborn or scared to reach out for a hand when it's right there.

I couldn't sit still any longer. Pushing back my chair, I walked over to the window and looked out at the night sky. The moon hung low and full, its light spilling across the room in a soft glow. For a moment, it was like time stood still, and all the worries of the day melted away. There was something peaceful about the way the moon bathed everything in silver, turning even the sharpest shadows into something softer, more forgiving.

It reminded me of our mother. She had always loved nights like this, when the moon was so bright it felt like it was watching over us. I wish she were still here... we lost her far too soon. Sometimes, when I'm alone like this, I wonder what she would say, how she would handle my brother. She always knew what to do.

Ironic, isn't it? My name, Luna, literally means the moon, but I feel like I'm stuck in its shadow—trying to shine, but never quite managing it.

I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me. Complaining wouldn't change anything, no matter how much I wanted to vent my frustrations. As much as I wanted my brother to pull himself together, I couldn't be the one to fix him. Not when my own life was already teetering on the edge of chaos. In a few weeks, everything would change. We'd be receiving our first catalysts—the reflective shards that would open the door to becoming Archons. That's when the real test would begin.

Adulthood. Hardship. Responsibility.

The reflective shard is more than just a symbol; it's the key to unlocking a person's dormant potential. But there's a catch. To unlock that power, you have to survive the Echo Trial. And it's not just any trial—it's a battle within your own mind, a test that could break you in ways you didn't even know were possible. Some don't survive it at all. And yet, it's mandatory for everyone. No one escapes it.

I turned back to my desk and sat down, staring at the thick textbook in front of me. Guide to Becoming an Archon. Every student was given one, a manual of sorts to help prepare us for the trial. But no amount of reading could truly prepare someone for what was to come.

"If you're reading this book, your first trial is likely approaching. For some, it may be your last. For others, it will mark the beginning of a new journey."

Archons hadn't always existed. They first appeared two hundred years ago, after the Numinous came—beasts that brought chaos to our world. Entire cities were wiped out. And while the Archons gave us hope, it was never enough to push the Numinous back. The beasts still roam the outskirts, controlling the lands beyond our borders. Some say there's a vast ocean out there, the Salvation Ocean, but no one's ever seen it. At least, not anyone who's lived to tell about it. The few images we have from surveillance drones show a coastline dominated by darkness, by creatures so massive they defy comprehension.

"The first trial will likely shock many of you. It is a manifestation of your mind, triggered by the reflective shard. The shard will most likely be given to you in the form of an elixir to make it easier to consume. Though little is known about the shard's origins, it is undeniably a source of immense power. Upon consumption, the shard delves deep into your subconscious, drawing out your greatest fears, your insecurities, and using them to test you. The trial itself can last up to five weeks in the real world, though time within your mind will move differently. For every week that passes in the trial, only a fraction of that time passes in reality. Failure in the trial often results in the destruction of the mind, leading to death. Some survivors exist, but they are mere shells of the people they once were. Many consider their existence a fate worse than death."