The sanctuary's air felt heavier as Eryx emerged from the Abyss, the weight of what he had just experienced still pressing down on him. His chest heaved, and his legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but he remained standing, the taste of victory lingering in his mouth. The darkness inside him had not been vanquished—it was part of him now, but he had learned to live with it, to control it.
Lorian's eyes followed Eryx's every move as he approached. There was a mixture of relief and uncertainty in his gaze, as if he could sense the profound change in the young boy standing before him. "I wasn't sure you'd make it out," he admitted, his voice low.
Eryx wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded. "Neither was I."
"You look different," Lorian said, his tone sharper than before. "Something about you feels... heavier."
Eryx took a deep breath, feeling the power simmering beneath his skin, more tangible now than ever before. "I feel different. That shadow—it wasn't just a test. It was me, Lorian. It was the part of me I've been afraid to face, the part that's afraid of this power."
Lorian remained silent for a moment, studying him. "Every person who walks this path has their demons to face. You were bound to confront yours sooner or later."
Eryx nodded, though deep down, he knew it wasn't over. The sanctuary's trials might be testing him, but the real battle was still far ahead. "I thought I could push the fear away. Control the power without letting it take control of me. But... I realize now that I have to live with it."
"Power always comes at a price," Lorian said, his voice quieter now. "The question is how much you're willing to pay."
Eryx let those words sink in, feeling the gravity of them. He had already come so far, but every step seemed to carry him deeper into something more dangerous, more unpredictable. Could he even trust himself with this power?
As if reading his thoughts, Lorian placed a hand on Eryx's shoulder. "Remember, you're not alone. This path may be yours to walk, but I'm still here to help you carry the burden."
Eryx gave a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Lorian. I needed to hear that."
Lorian gestured ahead, toward the exit of the chamber. "Come. There's still much of the sanctuary left to uncover. You've passed the Abyss, but there are more trials ahead, and they'll be no easier than this one."
The two of them walked in silence for a while, the tension between them fading into something more comfortable. Eryx's mind, however, was far from calm. The trial of the Abyss had left him shaken, but more than that, it had left him with questions.
Why had the sanctuary been built with such trials? What was its true purpose? Was it to strengthen those who entered it—or to break them?
They passed through several more corridors, each one more foreboding than the last. The ancient walls were lined with inscriptions Eryx couldn't read, and faint symbols glowed on the stone floors, remnants of a long-lost era. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the air became, as if the sanctuary itself was testing their resolve with every step.
"Where are we headed now?" Eryx asked, his voice sounding louder than usual in the echoing silence.
"To the heart of the sanctuary," Lorian replied, his tone cautious. "There's something there, something we need to find."
Before Eryx could ask what, the ground beneath them trembled. The tremor was faint at first, but it quickly grew stronger, and the walls around them began to crack and shift. Dust and debris fell from above, and the tunnel itself seemed to groan in protest.
Eryx's heart raced. "What's happening?"
Lorian's expression darkened. "The sanctuary is reacting to your presence. It knows you're getting closer."
"Closer to what?"
Lorian didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed Eryx by the arm and pulled him forward, urging him to move faster. The tunnel continued to rumble, the walls creaking and groaning as if they might collapse at any moment. Eryx felt the pressure mounting, an unseen force pushing against him, as if trying to force him to turn back.
But he didn't stop.
The tremors grew more violent, and the ground beneath them began to split. Eryx could feel the sanctuary's power pulsing around him, a force that was both ancient and alive. It was as if the very structure of the sanctuary was resisting him, trying to keep him away from whatever lay ahead.
Then, without warning, the tunnel opened into another vast chamber, larger than any they had seen before. The floor was made of smooth, polished stone, and at the center of the room stood a towering obelisk, its surface covered in glowing, ethereal runes. The air around the obelisk shimmered with energy, and Eryx could feel the raw, untapped power radiating from it.
Lorian stopped just inside the entrance, his eyes fixed on the obelisk. "We've found it."
Eryx took a step forward, his gaze locked on the strange structure. "What is that?"
"It's the core of the sanctuary," Lorian replied, his voice hushed with awe. "This is what the sanctuary was built to protect."
Eryx's heart pounded in his chest as he approached the obelisk. The closer he got, the stronger the pull became, until he was standing directly in front of it, the energy from the runes washing over him like a wave.
The power here was different. It wasn't like the chaotic energy he had felt during the trials. This was something ancient, something... pure.
"What do we do now?" Eryx asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Lorian stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Now, we unlock the truth."