Nothing is going my way!
Lucius seethed with anger, frustrated by the realization that the unknown man was accompanying him again. This confirmed his suspicion that the Shade Crystal was the real motive behind the man's actions and why he would risk himself when the mountain was known to be dangerous.
They were never friends and you don't just risk your life for a person you just met. He was dumb not to have seen this during his first attempt.
'Useless!' he berated himself as they stood before the mountain. 'This is the Ethersphere's fault. I failed my first trial because I had no aspect to defend myself! They're so fucking…' His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as another earthquake shook the ground, causing him to fall face-first onto the floor, groaning in pain and frustration.
Then a loud whip followed on his back, causing him to yelp in pain and the enforcers derided, "Such a weakling! He will not endure even a minute, haha! Rise up!" he yelled at Lucius.
Lucius breathed heavily as he managed to get up despite the pain coursing through his body. Just for this trial alone, he had been whipped a plenty of times, leaving him battered and bruised.
'I must win this time! No matter what! If I don't kill a Zyronox, I'll lose my mind.'
As they entered the mountain, the door slammed shut behind them, and then the lamps along the corridor flickered to life, like a path light.
Just like the last time.
Lucius surveyed the scene, his forehead creased in thought. Beyond the quest for the crystal, something else felt deeply wrong about this place. Unable to contain his growing unease, he voiced his thoughts aloud, "What really happened to the others who were sent here?"
The unknown guy shrugged, his restlessness also obvious. "All I know is that others have been sent hither before, and none have ever returned. There is manifestly something ill in this place," he said, glancing around warily at the shadowed corners of the cavern that the lamps failed to illuminate.
Lucius felt a surge of anger the moment he heard the man's voice, and he turned to him with an irritated expression. "Why did you bother to come here with me? I don't even know you. Why would you risk your life for someone you just met?"
The unknown man looked taken aback by the question. "Is it not a bit late for such matters? Should we not first seek to understand what is happening here? Let us strive to escape this place alive, if such a thing is possible."
Lucius clenched his teeth in frustration and looked away, his eyes fixing on the stairs ahead. "Well, I have to ascend those stairs. I don't need you with me."
The unknown guy frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. "And why should thou ascend thither? What if it be a trap or something worse?" he questioned, the doubt clear in his voice.
Lucius sighed and said, "That's why I'm going alone. If you're scared, then stay down here and wait for me."
The unknown man shook his head firmly. "Nay, I shall come with thee. I cannot remain here alone; it is too frightening."
Lucius knew the guy was going to force it since he had an ulterior motive. How could he have been so naive to think a stranger genuinely cared about him? Stupid!
He followed the path lights toward the stairs, beginning the ascent with the unknown man trailing behind.
He began to wonder, 'Is this guy even human? Is that possible? Could I fight him if it came down to it? I don't have any real combat skills for defense—Alistair and his bastard friends refused to teach me. They'd probably handle this easily, while I keep getting beaten down, and whipped!!'
He sighs, shaking his head, and murmuring, "This is so fucking unfair…"
Suddenly, a forceful gust of wind struck him, nearly knocking him off balance, and pushing him dangerously close to the edge of the stairs. He gasped, his heart racing as he caught a glimpse of the sheer drop beneath him, his grip on the railing tightening instinctively.
The chasm below seemed to yawn open, ready to swallow him whole.
"Ho, watch out!" his companion shouted, eyes wide with shock. "Art thou truly so lacking in stamina?"
'Why does this keep happening?'
Lucius blinked, still reeling from the near fall, and looked at his companion in bewilderment. "Don't tell me you didn't feel that," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Feel what?" the other man replied, genuinely confused.
Lucius frowned, his gaze scanning their surroundings.
"Weird," he muttered, sensing something really wrong but still unable to pinpoint what it was.
They finally arrived at the door, and Lucius let out a shaky breath to prepare himself for any altercation. He cannot be fooled twice or else he would be the fool of the century.
'Ascending is the only option, Lucius,' he thought, determination hardening within him. 'I must kill a zyronox! I must succeed this trials, leave here and kill one of those monsters! If I don't kill a zyronox, I will lose my mind!'
"What dost thou wait for?" his companion whispered urgently, his eyes darting around as if expecting an ambush. "Thou didst bring us here. We should see this matter to its end."
"I'm not forcing you anywhere with me," Lucius told him as he looked at him. "What if there's a dragon in there ready to maul us to death, huh? You should really stay out here."
The man shook his head, his expression firm despite the fear in his eyes. "Thou knowest not what lies within either. This is precisely the situation where 'two heads are better than one' doth apply. Thou needest me."
Lucius scoffed, shaking his head. 'I don't needest you, 'you son of a bitch!'
He opened the door, and there the crystal stood, hovering above the altar, its fiery light casting a warm glow in the chamber.
The unknown man beside Lucius gasped, his eyes widening in awe and disbelief. "I recognize this! I can scarce believe it—'tis real! I have only read of it in legends…"
Lucius didn't bother to ask what it was.
"'Tis the Shade Crystal," the man explained, his voice tinged with awe. "It is a mystical gemstone known to shimmer with an inner shadow. It seems Lord Sorrowshade hath kept it hidden for himself."
Lucius walked to the side, away from the unknown guy to avoid getting stabbed in the back as he tried to think of what to do.
The unknown guy continued talking, "The tales speak of the Shade Crystal as one that saps the light and hope from those near it, leaving them in ceaseless gloom. If we take it, we might be able to free the people from its influence. Since we are here, we ought to act. Thou shouldst take the crystal."
Lucius let out a deep breath and glared at the unknown guy. "Why don't you take the crystal instead? Or is there a reason why you can't take the crystal?"