From the moment I was chosen by the holy relic

The morning sunlight streamed through the tower of Iser, casting a pale golden glow on the stone bricks of the royal avenue.

The entrance to the Thousand Faces Illusion is located in the center of the square at the end of the avenue.

When Eric and Lia arrived, the square was already packed with people, and the noise was deafening, as if all the mages of Ither had flocked there.

A colossal teleportation portal, three zhang tall, stood in the very center of the plaza. Its frame was constructed of ancient runic stones, inscribed with intricate magical patterns that seemed to shimmer with the morning light. Inside, a bottomless vortex occasionally flickered with iridescent light, as if capable of devouring any living being that entered it.

"Wow!" Leah gasped, her eyes wide. "It's even more spectacular than I imagined."

Eric stood beside her, looking around.

The square was filled with all sorts of contestants: young mages wrapped in elaborate robes, with magic scrolls floating around them; swordsmen in light armor, carrying heavy weapons on their shoulders, their eyes gleaming; and even a few elves and dwarves mixed in with the crowd, discussing tactics with each other.

The fame of the Thousand-Faced Illusion has clearly transcended the borders of the Kingdom of Iser.

The area was surrounded by onlookers, who craned their necks and discussed the matter animatedly.

"I heard that everyone who went in on the first day got trapped in the mirror maze!"

"Really? My cousin's friend's younger brother was just arrested yesterday. I wonder how he is now."

"Who knows if those rumors are true or false? But one thing is certain: the first person to go in is at the greatest risk, and only the most skilled dare to compete for that time."

Eric frowned slightly as he listened to the surrounding chatter.

They had already found out that the Thousand Faces Illusionary Realm was a domain woven from illusions, with rules that were not fixed and would differ each time it opened. Those who entered on the first day were either extremely confident experts or clueless, impatient rookies.

"Luckily we didn't rush in," Lia muttered softly. "Last night I heard that the first mage to go in didn't even last five minutes before being teleported out..."

Eric glanced at the crowd around him and whispered, "Who do you think will go in today?"

Leah thought for a moment, then stroked her chin and analyzed, "Those who went in yesterday are either still inside or were teleported out. Today's teams will probably have learned from the first day's information and are a little better prepared, but they still want to enter as soon as possible."

Just then, a deep voice rang out: "Attention all participants! Those who registered today, please enter the portal in order, and do not push or shove!"

They looked in the direction of the sound and saw several royal knights clad in silver armor standing on either side of the portal, holding long spears and maintaining order with an air of authority.

Their armor was engraved with the emblem of the Kingdom of Iser, and their chests were inlaid with magic crystals, clearly indicating that they were not ordinary knights, but elite guards directly under the royal command.

Eric looked at the solemn knight and thought: Iser is indeed a country where magic reigns supreme; even the knights are equipped with magical gear.

He turned around and saw Leah staring intently at the crowd, a smile of excitement playing on her lips.

"Eric, let's go!" she said excitedly, grabbing his arm and heading towards the portal.

The two slowly walked towards the huge portal, and the surrounding noise suddenly became clearer.

"Look, those two idiots are actually going in!"

"Haha, a swordsman and a healing mage? Can this combination last an hour?"

"They probably won't even last five minutes, will they? A swordsman and a mage with no offensive capabilities—are they here to die?"

Eric frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. Among them were excited shouts and undisguised mockery. He hadn't been unprepared for such reactions; after all, Iser was a land where magic reigned supreme, where mages were considered powerful, while knights were often seen as a second-rate profession.

He knew, of course, that these people weren't targeting him personally, but rather expressing their disdain for the profession of knight.

Leah, however, seemed completely unconcerned. She waved to those around her and said with a grin, "Thanks for your attention! Don't be envious of us later!"

These words only fueled the sarcasm and ridicule from the crowd.

Eric felt a slight sense of relief; it seemed that Leah truly considered him someone she could trust.

He hadn't known Leah for very long, only spending a few days together. But he already had a certain understanding of Leah's personality. She was shy and reserved in front of strangers, but exceptionally cheerful and even a little mischievous in front of familiar people.

He remembered that when they first met, Leah always carefully avoided his gaze, speaking in a voice as soft as a feather, or simply hiding behind someone else and letting that person speak for her.

Yet now, she was able to stand in this vast square, facing hundreds of onlookers, waving and laughing, even responding to the mocking voices with a touch of sarcasm.

What does this tell us?

This shows that their relationship has grown closer.

These past few days, they've been strolling through the market together. Leah was enthusiastically selecting magical artifacts at the magic stalls, while Eric helplessly followed behind her, being pulled along by her to analyze the principles of various spells. These conversations and companionship subtly changed the distance between the two of them.

If Leah were still wary of him and only saw him as a stranger on her journey, she would never have done such a thing in front of everyone.

Her smile no longer held the restraint of their first meeting, but instead carried an undisguised trust and reliance.

Eric felt a strange mix of emotions, a warmth and a sense of relief. He glanced at her helplessly, his lips twitching slightly.

"Are you really going to provoke them?" he asked in a low voice, his tone tinged with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Leah shrugged nonchalantly, her smile still bright, and said indifferently, "It doesn't matter what they think of us anyway."

Eric laughed and said, "Then let's give them a good look."

The two walked to a registration desk in front of the portal, where an administrator dressed in a dark purple robe was sitting. On the desk was a thick magic book, the pages of which shimmered with a faint magical glow.

"Name?" the administrator asked without looking up.

Eric Bright.

"Leah Loseran".

The administrator turned the pages of the book, waved his hand, and two silver badges on the table rose into the air and floated there.

"These are your entry numbers," he said calmly. "If you want to withdraw, the badge will help you teleport out, which also means you've failed the challenge."

Eric took the badge and examined it carefully.

The badge is hexagonal, with a phoenix spreading its wings engraved in the center, surrounded by swirling magical runes. His number is "54580", and Leah's number is "54581".

Leah pinned the badge to her collar and said with a smile, "This is quite exquisite."

"Hmm," Eric said in a deep voice, "Hopefully we won't need it."

Then the two took a deep breath and, under the gazes of the crowd—some in amazement, some disdain, and some anticipation—stepped toward the enormous teleportation portal.

As they stepped into the distorted vortex of light and shadow, the surrounding noise seemed to be shut out.

Eric's eyes were suddenly brightened, and a blinding white light filled his vision. His body seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, and all his senses disappeared at that moment.

total darkness.

He lost consciousness.