Inside the mountain, a series of lamps cast a dim, flickering light along a path that seemed to ascend indefinitely, giving the impression of a trail meant to be followed.
Lucius couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that crept over him as he stood there with his unknown friend. As they ventured further, they came across a wooden staircase, with a rope-like railing, both of which led upward, leading to an unknown destination.
Lucius swallowed nervously and turned to his companion, the unease clear in his voice.
"Is this how it always is? What happened to the others who were sent here?" he asked, his eyes darting around as if expecting someone or something to emerge from the darkness.
His companion 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.
There were large portions of the cavern cloaked in darkness, save for the path they illuminated. It was as if the light was intentionally guiding them somewhere.
Lucius observed the scene carefully, noting the lack of any signs of struggle or decay.
"There are no signs of life—or death. No bones, no stench, nothing to suggest what might have happened to those who came before us," Lucius mused, his eyes following the line of lamps upward. "But the lamps' light makes it clear that these stairs are leading somewhere. That must be where we need to go."
The unknown guy frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. "And why should we ascend thither? What if it be a trap or something worse?" he questioned, the doubt clear in his voice.
Lucius met his gaze, his voice steady. "Think about it. There's a reason these lamps lead up, and there's a reason Lord Sorrowshade comes here from time to time. He wouldn't go through all this trouble if there wasn't something important up there," he said, pointing toward the darkness above.
Lucius ascended the stairs within the mountain's cavern with caution, his eyes darting to the areas swallowed by darkness. He couldn't shake the underlying sense of restlessness that gnawed at him, yet he pressed onward, step by careful step.
As he climbed, he had no special abilities, no supernatural powers to aid him. He felt as vulnerable as a chick without its mother.
*How am I gonna fight Lord Sorrowshade without an aspect? How can I stand against him with nothing but my wits?*
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?"
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 amiss but unable to pinpoint what it was.
They continued along the path lit by the lamps, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet cavern. The journey seemed endless, but eventually, they reached a door, closed and imposing.
Lucius paused in front of the door, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He braced himself for whatever might be lurking on the other side. It couldn't be a dragon… right? Or perhaps something even more dangerous.
In a place like this, where reality often defied logic, nothing seemed too far-fetched.
'I have to ascend,' he thought, the determination hardening within him. 'No one said this would be easy.' There was no turning back now.
"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."
Lucius glanced at him, trying to mask his own anxiety. The man's nervousness was contagious, and Lucius was starting to regret allowing him to come along.
He was supposed to be focused on the trials ahead, not babysitting a fearful stranger. How is he gonna protect himself and look after him to?
Taking a deep breath, he responded, "We don't know what's behind this door. It could be dangerous. Stay out here, and I'll handle whatever's inside."
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 scrutinized him, noting his pale complexion and shaky demeanor. He didn't look particularly strong or capable, but then again, Lucius himself had arrived in the Ethersphere looking similarly unremarkable like everyone else. Maybe there was a hidden strength behind the stature.
Lucius exhaled slowly, steeling himself as he pushed the heavy door open. The hinges creaked, and the door swung inward to reveal a vast chamber. In the center of the room stood an ornate altar, upon which hovered a fiery crystal, casting a warm glow throughout the space.
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…"
"What in the world is it?" Lucius demanded, his patience thinning. He looked at the man, whose face was still lit with shock and fascination.
"'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 frowned, his curiosity piqued. He turned his gaze back to the crystal, intrigued by its beauty.
The idea of a gemstone that could absorb light and create darkness seemed almost fantastical, yet here it was, hovering before him.
It shimmers with an inner shadow?
"Wait a minute, are you saying it absorbs light, and creates shadows? Could it be what is keeping the people here trapped in a cycle of despair?" He asked, his eyes shimmering in realization of the situation. "I see what it does. It seems to draw in the light of those around it, trapping them in a state of darkness and sadness."
The unknown guy looked at Lucius in amusement. "Verily, thou art most sharp. 'Tis impressive how swiftly thou hast discerned the truth. Indeed, thou art correct. 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."
Thou? Thou? Thou means 'me', right?
Lucius looked at his companion with a mix of confusion and nervousness. "Why don't you take it instead? What if I touch it and end up getting burned or worse?"
The unknown man looked at him with a hint of impatience.
"Seest thou any signs of burning or damage in this place?" he countered. "Moreover, thou art the one who journeyed so far. Clearly, there must be a reason for thy coming."
Lucius considered this, acknowledging the validity of the man's argument. With a nod, he turned his attention back to the crystal.
Gathering his will, he stepped toward the altar and reached out for the gemstone. As he grasped it, the fiery light from the crystal reflected in his golden eyes, casting a dramatic glow across his face.
As he stared at it, he was surprised to see nothing happening.
Things don't just happen easily.
Just as he began to think he might have succeeded, a sudden, searing pain erupted in his chest.
Arkh…
He gasped in shock as something sharp seemed to pierce into his chest from behind.
The world around him spun out of control, and before he could react further, he vanished from the room, the crystal slipping from his grasp and falling to the floor.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in the void.
[You have failed your first trial, Aspirant.]