ALL MY WIVES ARE BEAUTIFUL ELVES



The chamber held its breath as the young Elf struggled to withstand the indigo flames. Her trembling form spoke of the intensity of the heat that consumed her. "It's almost like it's eating me from the inside! What the hell is this?" Her voice quivered, a mixture of determination and distress evident in her tone. Her clenched teeth were a testament to her resolve, a battle she fought against the pain coursing through her.

Kan watched with a mix of empathy and apprehension. He could feel the heat radiating even from his position outside the pit. The girl's struggle was palpable, a poignant reminder of the challenge they all faced.

Her shaking intensified, her knees finally giving way. She collapsed onto the ground, the indigo flames receding as she fell. In moments, the knights on duty rushed forward, their purpose clear. With practiced efficiency, they lifted her gently, guiding her out of the pit. The holographic timer above her head froze at a shocking 1 minute and 01 seconds.

A chorus of astonishment echoed through the chamber. "One minute and one second?" A voice carried the disbelief that hung thick in the air. Speculation followed, questions raised about the nature of the indigo flames and the young Elf's strength.

The collective realization was sobering. "She couldn't even handle the indigo initiate rank," someone mused. "What chance does she have at the higher levels?"

The chamber buzzed with conversation, the initial excitement replaced by a deeper understanding of the trial's difficulty. Kan's thoughts echoed the sentiment, reflecting on the daunting nature of the challenge. He watched as the young Elf, tears staining her face, was led out of the chamber.

His attention shifted back to the participants who remained within the pit. The indigo flames continued to burn, the holographic timers ticking away above each head. The tension was palpable as the students braced themselves for the test that lay ahead.

The heat pressed in on them, an unrelenting force that demanded their endurance. Beads of sweat formed on brows, and expressions ranged from grim determination to furrowed concentration.

In the midst of the struggle, Kan could hear the voices of those in the chamber talking to themselves. For a moment, it did seem like the remaining nine had formed some type of band to withstand the flame.

"This is insane! How can it be so hot without actually burning us?" One student's voice held a mix of disbelief and awe.

"It's like it's testing more than just our bodies. Almost like it's poking our very essence!!" Another participant's words were punctuated by labored breaths.

"Hang in there! We can do this together!" A voice of encouragement, a reminder of their shared challenge.

"It's all in the mind. If you let the heat overpower you mentally, your body will follow suit." Another one chimed in with a voice of reason and resilience.

Kan listened to the conversations as they wafted through the chamber. The heat seemed to amplify the rawness of their emotions, each word a reflection of their struggle and determination. He felt a sense of camaraderie with his classmates although he didn't see how this was going to help in anyway. For all he knew, if they conserved the energy they used in talking and concentrated more on withstanding the said heat from the indigo flame, then they might have a better chance.

Nonetheless, their little gang up he found "cute".

The students themselves failed to realize one important thing and that was that the chamber was a crucible of growth, where strength and resilience were tested. Gender, background, and race faded into insignificance as they all faced the same challenge. The indigo flames served as a great equalizer, reminding them that magic knew no boundaries, it was simply putting them all to shame as one after the other, more bodies dropped.

"It's barely three minutes," Kan who could see the timers stopping on everyone's platform observed.

There were three students left and they didn't look too good either.

As the holographic timers continued their countdown, each second became a victory in itself. The chamber was filled with the sounds of labored breaths, whispered words of encouragement, and the subtle rustling of determination.

As the trial pressed on, a peculiar change occurred when the timers approached the three-minute mark. A distinct buzz resonated throughout the chamber, an eerie anticipation hanging in the air. Suddenly, the indigo flames underwent a transformation, their intensity surging and their movements becoming more erratic.

The flames roared to life, their vibrant glow taking on a new brilliance. It was as though the chamber itself responded to the countdown, amplifying the challenge that lay before the students. The once-steady flames now danced with an almost sentient energy, a force that seemed to possess a life of its own as it took on an even more darker tone and burned fiercer.

Kan's eyes widened as he observed the sudden transformation. The flames, which had been a steady presence, were now a tempestuous force. The whispers of awe and surprise rippled through the chamber, each student caught in the spectacle before them.

"What's happening?" The question hung in the air, spoken with a mixture of wonder and apprehension.

"Did the trial just intensify?" Another voice chimed in, its owner equally bewildered.

As the flames blazed with renewed vigor, a theory emerged among the students.

"It's reached level 2 of indigo initiate, right?"

A voice behind Kan posited. "That would mean those who couldn't last past three minutes are now level one indigo initiates, correct?"

The realization sent a wave of understanding through the chamber. The flames' transformation marked a transition in the trial, a demarcation between different levels of mastery from level 1 to the third. But at the moment, it was at the second level of indigo initiate. The trial was far from static; it was a dynamic challenge that adapted and evolved as time passed.

The next minutes were a mixture of determination and struggle. The flames burned brighter and more intense, each flicker an embodiment of the students' resolve. Yet, the increased intensity proved too much for some. One by one, the last three students succumbed to the heat, their endurance faltering at the exact mark of 3 minutes and 12 seconds.

Their departures were met with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. The challenge was undeniably formidable, and the evolving flames had taken a toll on even the most determined participants.

"Please may the next participants come forward?" The knights in blue best invited.

"I guess I'm up. Don't get the whole point of this shit! But let's get it done with" Kan thought as he walked with another ten into the chamber.