The tension in the underground chamber was palpable. Ethan stood still, feeling the weight of Aeris Solara's gaze on him. Her golden eyes seemed to pierce through him, reading every thought, every fear. There was something unnerving about the way she looked at him—calm, measured, as if she already knew more about him than he knew about himself.
"So," Aeris said, her voice smooth but edged with a challenge, "before we begin, let me ask you: What do you know of magic, Ethan Valory?"
Ethan glanced at Magnus, who remained silent, standing a few paces behind him. "Not much," Ethan admitted, his voice shaky. "I mean, I've only been here for… a few days? Weeks? I don't even know how time works here. I didn't exactly grow up learning how to cast spells."
Aeris's lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Magic isn't something you learn from books or instructions. It's something you understand through experience. Power like yours can be dangerous, uncontrolled. Today, we'll see if you have the strength to wield it."
Ethan swallowed, his throat dry. "And if I don't?"
"Then you'll burn," Aeris said simply, turning away from him. She walked toward the center of the chamber, her cloak trailing behind her, and gestured for Ethan to follow.
Magnus stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Don't be afraid, Ethan. This is part of your journey. Aeris is testing you, yes, but she also wants you to succeed. Remember, magic responds to will. Trust in yourself."
Ethan nodded, though doubt gnawed at him. The raw power he'd felt back in the tower—the surge that had saved him from that dark entity—was terrifying. It had come out of nowhere, wild and uncontrollable. What if it happened again? What if he hurt someone? What if he failed?
He followed Aeris to the center of the chamber, where a large, circular platform rose from the floor, carved with intricate runes and glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. Aeris waved her hand over the runes, and the platform hummed in response, rising a few inches into the air, its edges gleaming with faint embers.
"Step forward," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.
Ethan took a deep breath and stepped onto the platform. The moment his foot touched the stone, the air around him changed—thickened, crackled with energy. It was as if the room itself was alive, waiting for something.
Aeris raised her hands, and the blue orbs of light floating around the chamber flickered. In an instant, they transformed, turning a deep, fiery red, casting long shadows across the walls. Ethan's pulse quickened. Something was happening, and he wasn't sure he was ready for it.
"The first trial is fire," Aeris said, her voice echoing through the chamber. "Magic of flame is primal—untamed. To wield it, you must control both your fear and your desire. Flame can consume, but it can also create. It all depends on you."
Ethan's eyes widened. "Wait, trial? I thought we were just—"
Before he could finish, the ground beneath him rumbled. The platform glowed brighter, and suddenly, flames erupted around its edges, circling him in a tight ring. The heat was immediate, intense. Ethan stumbled back, but there was nowhere to go—the fire surrounded him on all sides, flickering hungrily.
Panic shot through him, and he instinctively raised his hands, trying to shield himself from the heat. "Aeris! Magnus! What the hell is this?"
Aeris stood just outside the ring of fire, her arms crossed. "This is your trial, Ethan. The flames won't harm you unless you let them. Magic is as much about controlling your emotions as it is about controlling power. Focus. Feel the fire, don't fear it."
Her words barely registered as Ethan's heart pounded in his chest. The flames crackled, licking at the air just inches from his skin. His instincts screamed at him to run, but there was no escape. He was trapped.
"Calm your mind," Magnus's voice came from somewhere beyond the flames. "Trust your power. It's within you, Ethan. Let it flow."
Ethan squeezed his eyes shut, trying to drown out the roar of the flames. His thoughts were a jumble of fear and doubt. *I can't do this. I'm not ready. I don't belong here. What if I fail?*
The flames surged higher, as if feeding on his fear. Sweat poured down his face, and his hands trembled. His breathing became shallow, erratic.
Then, something inside him shifted.
A memory surfaced—faint, but strong. The crash. The portal. That moment when he'd first stepped into this world, feeling lost and powerless. But even then, something had saved him. That same force—whatever it was—had risen within him and protected him.
*You are more than you think you are.*
The words weren't his own. They echoed in his mind, like a whisper from the very depths of his soul.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. The flames still danced around him, but now, they seemed different—less threatening. He could feel them—really feel them. The heat, the energy, the life they held. It wasn't just destruction. There was something beautiful about it, something alive.
His breath steadied. His hands stopped shaking.
"Good," Aeris's voice came, calm and steady. "Now, control it."
Ethan focused, reaching deep within himself, searching for that same power he'd felt before. The magic was there, waiting, just beneath the surface. He could feel it, like a heartbeat, pulsing in time with his own.
He raised his hand, and the flames responded.
At first, it was subtle—a flicker, a slight change in the way the fire moved. But then, as he focused harder, the flames began to bend to his will, swirling around him in a graceful, controlled arc. They no longer felt like a threat. They were a part of him.
He breathed out slowly, and the flames receded, shrinking back toward the edges of the platform. They flickered for a moment longer before extinguishing completely, leaving only faint embers behind.
Ethan stood in the center of the platform, his chest heaving, sweat dripping from his brow. But he felt different—lighter, stronger. He had done it. He had controlled the fire.
Aeris stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "Not bad," she said, though there was a hint of approval in her tone. "But fire is only one element. There are others, each with its own will, its own challenge. You've passed this trial, but the road ahead is long."
Ethan nodded, still catching his breath. "What's next?"
Aeris's eyes gleamed. "Next comes water. But for now, you rest."
Magnus approached, a smile tugging at his lips. "You did well, Ethan. I knew you had it in you."
Ethan gave a tired grin. "Barely. I thought I was going to burn alive."
"The flames respond to fear," Magnus said. "The more you fear them, the more dangerous they become. You overcame that. It's a good sign."
Aeris turned away, her cloak swaying behind her as she walked toward the exit. "Tomorrow, we'll see how well you fare against the next trial. But for now, gather your strength. You'll need it."
Ethan watched her go, then looked at Magnus. "She's intense."
Magnus chuckled softly. "She has her reasons. Aeris's power is great, but it comes at a cost. She'll tell you in time, if you earn her trust."
Ethan's curiosity piqued, but exhaustion quickly overtook him. His limbs felt heavy, and his mind buzzed with everything that had just happened.
"Come," Magnus said, placing a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "You've earned some rest. Tomorrow will be another test, but tonight, you sleep."
As they made their way out of the chamber, Ethan couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. The flames had been terrifying, but he had survived. He had controlled them.
But there were still so many questions. The Dark Sovereign, the Celestials, the power within him—none of it made sense yet. And Aeris… there was something about her that felt like a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but for the first time since arriving in Valantria, Ethan felt a flicker of hope.
Whatever trials awaited him, he would face them head-on.