"The last Trial," Brekan said, looking back down the hole from which they had just ascended. The wind blew strong, but not with the fury of a storm. The dark gray clouds above hung heavily, yet the rain had ceased, leaving the air charged with the scent of earth and dampness.
Vikona answered, her voice grim: "It is called the Labyrinth of Fear, in which the aspiring witch is faced with her biggest fears. Many have lost their minds in there."
Biggest fear, Brekan thought. He definitely feared losing Sari and failing his quest of slaying the Witch Queen.
While they were walking down towards the palace of the Witch Queen Brekan asked: "What are your biggest fears?"
Vikona suddenly stopped in her tracks. She didn't look at Brekan and crossed her arms over her chest.
Brekan feared he had said something wrong. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to pry."
The witch answered reluctantly: "You're going to see."
Shortly after, they arrived at the border of the forest and stepped out of the last undergrowth. They had a full view of the palace.
Brekan gazed in awe at it, perched atop the cliff. It loomed like a brooding sentinel, overlooking the forest from which he had emerged. Before him lay a small plain with grassy patches and sharp cliff rocks protruding from the ground like ancient teeth.
The palace itself surrounded an aura of age and ruin, a once-majestic structure now dilapidated and damaged. Its architectural style was unique, round and thin, with sweeping curves and graceful arches.
Brekan stood at the edge of the plain, contemplating how to reach the palace. No obvious way up was visible, leaving the towering cliff a daunting obstacle to overcome. The natural cave openings at the foot of the cliff looked like a possible entrance.
She is in there, Brekan thought. The Witch Queen is so close.
The palace called to him, beckoning him to explore its hidden chambers and forgotten corridors and defeat the Witch Queen.
He took a cautious step forward, feeling the softness of the grass underfoot and the sharp rocks that scraped against the soles of his shoes.
Just as Brekan thought, Vikona led him directly towards the caves.
As he approached the foot of the cliff, he looked up at the towering palace above him. The walls and towers danced with the shifting shadows of the clouds, creating an almost mystical allure.
"Look!" Vikona said.
Brekan peered at the entrance of the cave before him. There he saw, resting down on the ground, a young woman.
He ran up to the woman, his heart sinking at the sight before him. She lay there, clad in shredded clothing, her bright red hair matted with dirt and blood. Her body bore the painful marks of numerous cuts and bruises.
Her eyes were wide open, staring into an abyss of shock and terror. She trembled uncontrollably, her body shivering from the turmoil that had befallen her.
Dried tear lines streaked her cheeks. Brekan's heart went out to her, his instincts of compassion and protection taking over.
Kneeling beside her, he spoke in a gentle, reassuring voice, trying to calm her trembling form.
He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Can you hear me?" he asked. "What happened?" But she didn't even seem to hear his voice.
"Another Witch Trial applicant it looks like," said Vikona, looking down on her. "She failed the last Trial."
"Hey, it's okay. You're safe now. I'm here to help," Brekan said, his voice filled with compassion
"It's no use," Vikona said. "Her fear consumed her."
Anger boiled up in Brekan's mind. "So we are just gonna let her die of thirst or cold here?"
"She won't die because of that," Vikona said. "Give it a few moments."
Brekan frowned confused and eyed the girl's body up and down. Suddenly the girl started to wheeze and moan. The shaking stopped and she completely froze.
With terror Brekan watched dark smoke come out of her mouth and eyes.
"When your greatest fears take over," Vikona explained, "they don't just take over your mind. They are also going to claim your body. So you better take a step back and get ready."
Brekan let the body down and did as Vikona suggested. "This is sad."
"It is," Vikona agreed.
As the young woman's terror and fear reached a critical peak, a transformation occurred before Brekan's eyes. The smoke from her trembling form coalesced into a towering, ethereal figure - a monstrous woman made entirely of smoky tendrils.
Brekan quickly realized that this fight would be unlike any he had faced before. The smoky monster's body was intangible, it would make it difficult to land any direct blows. Its insubstantial form wove and shifted, elusive and unpredictable, as if dancing.
Unfazed by the odds stacked against him, Brekan drew upon his energy. He conjured an energy shield, enveloping himself in a protective cocoon.
With a mighty leap, the monster lunged at Brekan, its smoky tendrils reaching out like phantom claws. Brekan evaded the attack, his agile movements allowing him to dodge the ghostly strikes.
He slashed at the tentacles with his energy sword, but it cut right through them. But they were no illusion or harmless smoke. When one of them punched him, it was as solid as steel.
He realized that he could not fight this monstrous embodiment head-on; instead, he had to exploit the vulnerability that lay beneath the smoke facade. Focusing his energy, Brekan formed a pair of energy-infused swords, their edges shimmering with power.
He struck with precision, aiming not for the smoky form but for the core of the monster, where the young woman's human body lay trapped. The smoke writhed and twisted, attempting to obscure the vulnerable core within.
Each strike landed with precision and intent, causing the smoky figure to recoil. But the source of the monster's form kept eluding him.
Brekan kept up the relentless assault, his energy blades piercing through the shifting smoke, aiming for the hidden heart of fear within.
Brekan could hear the faint cries of the young woman's human form buried deep within the smoke monster. It was harrowing.
Brekan's heart ached with empathy, knowing that he had to end her life to liberate the young woman from the grip of her fear.
Summoning all his strength and resolve, Brekan whirled around like a windmill in a Storm and cast away the smoke for a moment to lay bare the body of the young woman. He turned the blades into a spear and pierced through her heart. The movement of the smoke around her stopped and then the form melted away.
For a moment the eyes of the woman became clear and she looked at Brekan with painful relief before sinking down, her eyes closed forever.
Brekan shook his head sadly. If this girl had not betrayed the Sun Kingdom in an attempt to become a witch, none of this would have happened.
"Our fate might be the same," Vikona said. "If we are overcome by fear."
"Let's just go," Brekan said, looking at the cave entrance.
Brekan descended into the palace cave, greeted by an awe-inspiring sight. The entrance alone offered a panoramic view of the vast chamber below, bathed in the soft, warm glow of scattered orange crystals. Their radiance created intricate patterns of light and shadow throughout the cave. Above, the palace's foundation reached down like ancient pillars, connecting its grandeur to the cave's depths. On the ceiling, creeping plants had entwined themselves with the rocks and foundation, even supporting larger rocks suspended in the air.
Most of the cave floor was an intricate labyrinth, with towering overgrown brick walls forming the winding paths that snaked through the chamber.
The labyrinth was encircled by water, giving the illusion that it emerged from a subterranean lake. The water's surface sparkled with reflected light from the glowing crystals, while water plants and large pads of green vegetation added a touch of life to the serene surroundings.
"This is it?" Brekan asked.
"The last Trial of Witches," Vikona answered.
The Inquisitor approached the stone stairs leading down from the entrance, their sturdy construction guiding him towards the stone path with its intricate stone railings. The path served as a gateway into the labyrinth, directly leading to its entrance.
The air inside the cave was crisp and carried a subtle hint of saltiness, a testament to its connection with the nearby ocean behind the palace. The temperature was cool, making him shiver slightly, but it didn't bother him much.
He looked at Vikona in her thin clothes and short top. He was more worried about her, but she didn't seem to care about the cold, although her body was visibly reacting to it.
After walking over the path to the gaping entrance of the Labyrinth, Brekan asked: "What Witch Power would you gain, if you succeeded?"
Vikona answered: "The same as the girl outside. But this time you are the one controlling it, instead of it taking you over."
"Have there been witches that could use all of the Witch Powers?"
"There have been witches who could wield more than one."
That makes it more difficult than I hoped, Brekan thought. At least he learned about all of them and had overcome all of them. Until now.
They slowly entered the labyrinth path. Brekan was not worried about getting lost in it. All this overgrowth had made it easy to just climb onto the walls and if necessary he could also use his wings to fly.
As Brekan delved deeper into the labyrinth, the walls revealed a captivating sight. They were ancient, covered in ivy-like vines, but the leaves bore an irregular pattern, as if nature's paintbrush had scattered them with whimsy. Murals adorned the walls, partially obscured by the overgrown plants, depicting scenes from the forgotten civilization's life.
The murals portrayed a vibrant tapestry of the past. The peoples were seen meditating, others were captured in prayer, their devotion.
Amidst the scenes of spiritual contemplation, the murals depicted instances of technological advancement. The ancient inhabitants were shown harnessing the power of the crystals, utilizing advanced machinery and intricate devices.
As Brekan progresses through the labyrinth, he encountered remnants of another kind - the bones of long-deceased witches. The passage of time was evident in the varying states of decay, with some bones having lain undisturbed for centuries, while others showed more recent signs of death.
The presence of these witches' bones added an macabre layer to the labyrinth.
After turning the next corner Brekan suddenly stood in the middle of Iskanda. Towering buildings with sharp, angular edges reached towards the heavens made out of iridescent materials that shimmered like gemstones in the daylight. Between the majestic spires, giant orange power crystals stood tall, emanating a soft, warm glow.
On the streets, the air hummed with activity as carts drawn by Quiven or the mighty Rhoga-Oxen rolled by.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, statues of the revered heroes stood as silent witnesses.
In the vast expanse of the sky, between the towering buildings, the Augo soared.
Just as Brekan remembered. He was surprised to see this here. And he was sure it wasn't real of course. Or so he thought. One of the citizens bumped into him and shouted: "Please don't just stay in the middle of the road like that!"
Brekan walked to the side of the road, confused and concerned. "How could this be?" he asked.
Vikona joined his side from the crowd. "It's the Trial," she said with a grim look on her face. "It shows us our greatest fear."
"That doesn't look frightening so far," he said looking into the crowd. Most of them looked happy and contempt.
"It's not your greatest fear. It's mine," Vikona whispered.
A man raised his voice at the end of the road: "It's over!" he screamed. "The witch queen is finally dead." The crowd came slowly to a halt and turned their heads towards him. It was an old man and tears ran down his cheeks. He waged a newspaper above him.
At first the crowd started murmur then cheering arose.
Brekan couldn't help but smile. He knew it wasn't true - yet, but he imagined it would be something like that, should he succeed.
He looked down to Vikona who squinted her eyes. Her gaze was frost cold and her face looked much older than before. Her fists were clenched and shook.
"A happy Sun Kingdom," she spat out. "Indeed my greatest fear." The city vanished like it was blown away like leaves in a gust of wind. What was left was a prison cell.
Brekan couldn't tell where it was or when. He saw Vikona standing in it in the middle. She was throwing her hands at the wall, raising them slowly and gestured wildly. "Where are they?!" she screamed. Why isn't it working?! I NEED THEM!"
A male voice whispered: "They are gone. You are powerless now. Nothing more than a scared useless girl. You failed, I won."
The scene changed again. This time it was Vikona in the black forest of the Witch Realm's island. "Where am I?" she asked, cowering on the ground. She was naked and a thin film of slime covered some parts of her skin. "Who am I?" she asked. "Why am I here?"
She cried tears and screamed: "What is going on!?"
The second Vikona vanished and the walls of the labyrinth re-appeared in front of them.
Brekan glanced at Vikona, not daring to ask a question. Her mimicry was still frozen. After what felt like an eternity she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Are you alright?", Brekan asked.
She looked at him, the friendliness slowly returning to her face. "I am. I guess I finally passed a Trial."
"Great, does that mean we can finally-"
"Brekan, help," Sari called out.
Immediately he turned around. He found her crawling over a street in Iskanda, reaching her hand out to him. A trail of blood behind her led to the pool of it right under her belly.
In the background the city was burning. The air was filled with the screams of people.
Brekan ran up to her, throwing himself down to her side. "Sari!" he shouted. "Sari, Sari." Her head sank into his hands.
"You were too late." Life left her eyes and she stopped moving.
Brekan started trembling and whispered: "This is not real, this is only part of the Trial." He averted his gaze from the dead Sari and got up. Now he had a full few of the burning city.
Brekan stood on a high street, his eyes widening with shock and horror as he looked down upon the once-glorious Iskanda, now engulfed in a nightmarish fire. Black flames danced wildly, consuming buildings and structures, casting grotesque shadows across the landscape. The orange crystals that once emitted a warm glow now pulsed with dark, ominous energy, fueling the malevolence that ravaged the city below.
The streets that were once filled with people were now stained with blood and littered with lifeless bodies. The screams of the citizens echoed through the air, their voices choked with fear and despair. Witch Beasts soared in the darkened sky, their twisted forms spewing torrents of searing black fire that cascaded down upon the city, setting it ablaze.
The clouds above hung like a sinister shroud, a mass of blackness seething with turmoil. Though no rain fell, lightning crackled fiercely, illuminating the carnage below with brief, stark flashes.
"It can't be," Brekan said. "None of this has happened. None of this is happening. And none of it is going to happen."
Amidst the chaos, the Brekans gaze was drawn to a figure standing on a nearby building, cloaked in a veil. Despite the destruction surrounding them, the figure exhibited calmness. The silhouette revealed a female form, and even from afar, Brekan could discern a haunting smile upon her face. It sent shivers down his spine, for her presence seemed to exude a dark allure, a sinister satisfaction in the calamity unfolding beneath her.
It's her, he thought. "It's the Witch Queen."
Brekans heart pounded in his chest, torn between the instinct to flee from the malevolent scene and the desire to confront the veiled figure. He felt a surge of determination welling within him, as he knew he couldn't stand idly by while the city he once knew succumbed to this maleficent fate.
Even if this is not the real Witch Queen, he thought. I can still kill her.
Summoning energy, Brekan created a shield around himself, protecting against the dark elements that the female figure wielded. She unleashed torrents of dark fire, icy shadows, and gusts of malevolent wind, each one seeking to break through his defenses. Brekan held strong, channeling his inner strength to withstand the assault.
With a swift motion, the female figure transformed into a menacing wolf, lunging towards Brekan with vicious intent.
He focused his energy, and from his hand emerged a glowing, ethereal sword. "I won't," Brekan said. If Vikona can withstand it, then so could he. I won't let fear control me.
To Brekan's surprise, the female figure transformed again, this time into a black bird, circling him in the air. She rained black fire upon him but Brekan removed his energy. For a moment he felt the black consuming flame, but then it was gone. And with it the theater that had played before his eyes.
But the Trial was still not over. Brekan found himself in the graveyard of heroes. Right in front of the grave of his parents.
"We died for the Sun Kingdom," his father said, "And you just betrayed that?" Brekan clenched his teeth but didn't say anything. It was uncanny just how close it sounded to his real father.
"Brekan," his Mother said with sadness in her voice that pierced his heart. "You became one of them. Those are the ones who killed me."
Brekan closed his eyes. Breathe in deeply, accept it. When he opened them again he looked straight at a labyrinth wall.
"You overcame it," Vikona said.
He didn't move and just listened to the silence. Waiting for the memories and experiences to fade. Finally he rubbed his eyes and face, blowing out all of his air out the lungs and then taking a deep breath again.
At last, it was over. Not only the Trial of Shadows, but all of the Witch Trials. There was only one thing left to do.
Vikona grabbed his arm and said: "To the center of the labyrinth."
"Will she be there?" he asked looking deep into her eyes.
"No," the Witch said. "But we will meet her very soon, up in her palace. Follow me."
He did as she asked.
The middle of the labyrinth was an open garden. The original plants that may have grown here eons ago were long gone and the same vines that claimed everything else down here, had taken possession of this place as well.
Amidst the overgrowth, remnants of a once-grand design emerged. The outer parts of the garden were adorned with reservoirs and pools, their surfaces now obscured by the veil of time. The faint echoes of past fountains lingered in the air.
Among the tangled greenery, broken busts and statues peeked out. The enigmatic spirits of a forgotten civilization, once immortalized in stone, now gazed somberly through the overgrown foliage.
As Brekan walked further, he encountered a multi-layered descent, like a series of natural terraces leading to a focal point. At the core of this ancient garden stood a majestic statue-a representation of a male figure.
While most of the other statues had succumbed to the ravages of time, this one stood resilient, almost as if it possessed an enduring, otherworldly quality. The male figure bears a striking resemblance to the spirits of the ruins in the forest.
"Just who were these people," Brekan asked.
Vikona answered: "I know nothing of them. Maybe they were here long before the Witch Queen."
"On the surface I have never heard about their civilization. And there were never any remains of them found."
"As far as you know," Vikona added.
"What are you implying?"
Sari said: "Maybe someone did, but the Sun Kingdom decided not to let anyone know."
"Why would they?" Anger surfaced in Brekans words. He had to remind himself that he was not on the Sun Kingdoms side in his current role. They were the enemy. At least for Vikona. "You think they hide something from us?" he asked. "That would just be like them."
She shrugged with her shoulders. "As I said. I don't know." She pointed at the statue down in the middle. "We need to go there."
The layers of the garden surrounding the central statue created a sense of reverence, as if each terrace carried a chapter of history leading towards this sacred place.
"Where are we going exactly," Brekan asked. "The Trials are over, are they not?"
"Yes," Vikona answered and walked around the statue.
Brekan followed her and watched as she pressed her finger on a small indentation at the base of the statue. It worked like a button and with a quiet rumble in front of the statue a staircase appeared in the ground. The deeper it got the more it circled around the statue until it disappeared below.
"How do you even know this," Brekan asked. He frowned. "You know a lot in general about everything here and the Trials despite claiming you have never been here. And isn't the Witch Queen supposed to be in the palace above us?"
A tired smile caressed her lips. "Trust me," she said. "It will all make sense very soon. The Witch Queen awaits us."
The Witch made an inviting gesture down the stairs with her hand.
Brekan thought: Should I really trust you though? You are keeping secrets and are a Witch after all. "I do trust you," he said and walked ahead down the stairs.
With each step he took, the air grew warmer, and the atmosphere felt heavy, thick in his throat. A constant hum enveloped him, growing louder the deeper he went, and a rhythmic pulsation, akin to the beating of a heart, echoed in the depths.
Finally, he arrived at a massive sealed door, imposing and foreboding. No handle or keyhole adorned its surface. Chains, wrought with an unknown metal, held it firmly shut. The ends of the chains disappeared into holes above and below the door, securing it in place.
"I don't like this," Brekan said.
"Don't worry," Vikona said with a calm voice. She stepped forward and made a series of intricate hand gestures. The chains withdrew with a resounding clank, relinquishing their hold on the door. With another wave of her hand, the door swung open, revealing a cave bathed in the soft glow of crystals scattered throughout. Amongst them, orange and black crystals dotted the cave, with most of the latter devoid of any energy.
At the heart of the cave, Brekan beheld an extraordinary sight-a giant egg, seemingly suspended in the ground. It radiated an ominous aura, surrounded by crackling black energy, veins weaving across its surface like dark tendrils. The shell itself bore an unsettling resemblance to flesh rather than eggshell.
"What IS this!?" Brekan shouted. Never before had he seen such a thing or even imagined such a thing exist.
Within the egg, movements hinted at life stirring inside. A pulsating rhythm, akin to a heartbeat, reverberated through the cave.
"Our secret weapon," Vikona said with pride. "Far too often did we fail against the Agents. But THIS time it will be different. Just like when the Witch Queen called forth Hemah, we will call forth a force capable and powerful enough to defeat the Sun King and free this realm from his yoke!"
Brekan opened his mouth to retort, but he was too astonished. He just resumed looking at this pulsating mass.
The egg was not only secured by chains, it was also encircled by small pillars, each adorned with glowing runes or arcane symbols.
Vikona held the back of her hand in front of his face. It still showed her avian tattoo.
"The Dark Phoenix," she said.
All that Brekan wanted to do was strike her down. In this very Moment, and the egg with her. He really wanted to. Really, really badly. He couldn't believe that he garnered sympathy for her. Saw her as just a misguided girl, just fighting for what she thought was right.
Brekan had to concentrate all his might to not do it. The Witch Queen, he recalled. She is the important one. It all began with her. And it would end with her. And to get to her he needed Vikona.
"Follow me," she said and led him around the egg. On the other side of the cave was a big milky mirror. "It is finally time."
Brekan felt a rush of excitement, fear and anticipation up his spine.
The Witch touched the glass and looked him in the eyes. "Time to meet the Witch Queen."