Eryx's legs trembled as they left the chamber, the weight of his victory over the shadow lingering like a dark cloud. His body was spent, but his mind raced with questions. What had that creature been? A manifestation of his doubts? A test of his will? Whatever it was, it had nearly overwhelmed him. The power he wielded—raw, divine—still felt as though it was slipping through his fingers.
Lorian walked beside him in silence, his eyes scanning the dimly lit tunnel ahead. The narrow passageway wound deeper into the sanctuary, the air growing colder and the stone walls closing in around them. Eryx's thoughts turned inward, replaying the voice that had spoken to him during the trial. It had felt so... familiar.
As they continued down the winding path, Eryx finally broke the silence. "What was that thing, Lorian? That shadow... it knew me. It spoke as if it understood my power."
Lorian glanced at him but kept walking. "The sanctuary's trials aren't straightforward. The beings you encounter are drawn from the very essence of the old gods, shaped by their memories, their regrets, and their fears. That shadow may have been a reflection of your own doubts... or something more."
Eryx frowned. "Something more?"
Lorian stopped, turning to face him. "These trials aren't just tests of strength, Eryx. They're designed to confront the things inside you that could tear you apart. You're wrestling with powers older than this world, powers that once belonged to gods. If you're not careful, they'll consume you."
Eryx's stomach churned at the thought. He knew Lorian was right—every time he used his power, it felt as if he was walking a tightrope, barely maintaining his balance. One misstep, and he could fall into a darkness from which he might never return.
They continued on, the tunnel eventually widening into another vast chamber. This one was different, though. Unlike the previous room, which had been filled with light and runes, this chamber was dark, the only illumination coming from a series of faintly glowing crystals embedded in the walls. The floor sloped downward, leading to a deep pit at the center of the room.
"The Abyss," Lorian muttered, his voice grim.
Eryx shivered, his eyes drawn to the pit. It was black, so dark that it seemed to devour the light from the crystals around it. Something about the void called to him, tugging at his mind, beckoning him closer. He could feel the power radiating from it, a power so ancient and vast that it made his skin crawl.
"Is this... another trial?" Eryx asked, his voice barely audible.
Lorian nodded. "Yes. The Abyss is one of the oldest trials in the sanctuary. Many who enter never return."
Eryx's heart pounded in his chest. "And what exactly am I supposed to do?"
Lorian's eyes were somber as he spoke. "The Abyss reflects what you fear most. It shows you the darkness within yourself, the part of you that you've kept hidden, even from yourself. To survive, you must face it and conquer it."
Eryx took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He approached the edge of the pit, peering down into the void. The pull of the Abyss was stronger now, tugging at him like invisible hands. He could feel the darkness reaching for him, whispering promises of power, of answers to questions he hadn't dared ask.
"I have to go down there," he said, more to himself than to Lorian.
"Yes," Lorian replied quietly. "But you must go alone."
Eryx turned to face him, fear flashing in his eyes. "You're not coming with me?"
Lorian shook his head. "This trial is yours alone, Eryx. I cannot help you. No one can. Whatever you face down there will be yours to conquer or surrender to."
Eryx swallowed hard, his throat dry. The thought of entering that pit, of facing whatever lurked within it, filled him with a dread unlike anything he had ever known. But he also knew that he had no choice. If he wanted to continue, if he wanted to survive and control the power within him, he had to descend into the Abyss.
Without another word, Eryx took a step forward, then another, until he was standing at the very edge of the pit. The darkness below seemed to pulse, alive with ancient energy. He glanced back at Lorian one last time. The older warrior's face was stern, but there was something else in his eyes—something that looked almost like pride.
"Good luck, Eryx," Lorian said softly.
Eryx nodded, then steeled himself and jumped.
For a moment, there was only silence. The air rushed past him as he fell, the light from the crystals fading above him. The deeper he went, the colder it became, until it felt as though he was being swallowed by the very fabric of the world itself.
Then, the darkness took him.
Eryx hit the ground with a jarring thud, his breath knocked from his lungs. He scrambled to his feet, gasping for air, his eyes darting around the pitch-black void. But there was nothing. No light, no sound, just endless darkness pressing in from all sides.
And then, from the shadows, came a voice.
"You cannot hide from what you are, Eryx."
It was his own voice.
And in the darkness, something moved.