The oppressive voice echoed through the infinite shelves of the Astral Archives, its weight bearing down on Aran, Lyssa, and Edward as if the very air had turned against them. A cold, ancient energy permeated the space, crawling across Aran's skin, and making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Who dares to disturb the knowledge of the infinite?" the voice repeated, deeper this time, carrying with it a wave of power that seemed to pulse through the air.
Edward stepped forward, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear. "We come seeking knowledge," he called out, his voice steady but laced with caution. "We mean no harm. We seek to stop the Void."
The air grew thick with silence, as if the very walls of the Archives were listening, weighing the sincerity of Edward's words. Aran's eyes scanned the vast expanse before them, but there was no sign of where the voice had come from.
Suddenly, the shadows in front of them coalesced, swirling together like smoke caught in a vortex. From the darkness, a figure emerged, tall and imposing, draped in flowing robes that shimmered like liquid starlight. Its face was hidden beneath a deep hood, and its hands, long and bony, seemed to float just above the floor. Its presence was ancient, as if it had been watching over these archives for millennia.
"I am the Watcher," the figure spoke, its voice now clear but no less ominous. "Guardian of the Astral Archives. None may enter without the permission of the stars themselves."
Aran could feel the power radiating from the Watcher, an ancient magic that seemed to vibrate with the very fabric of the universe. He stepped forward, careful not to make any sudden movements. "We didn't come here to steal or desecrate your knowledge. We need help, knowledge to stop the Void from spreading across the realms."
The Watcher turned its hooded head toward Aran, its faceless visage seeming to peer into his soul. "The Void is not so easily thwarted, mortal. It is a force that has existed since the beginning of time, long before the stars were born. You seek to confront an enemy that transcends all reality."
Lyssa's eyes narrowed, her hand hovering near her sword. "Then why guard knowledge if you won't let anyone use it? What's the point of protecting it if the worlds are swallowed by the Void?"
The Watcher's robes seemed to ripple with dark energy, but its tone remained calm. "The knowledge here is not to be used lightly. It is dangerous, more dangerous than the Void itself if misused. There are things in these archives that should never be known."
Aran felt a pang of doubt creep into his mind, but he couldn't afford to let it linger. They had come too far, and too much was at stake. He glanced at Edward, who seemed as mesmerized as ever by the presence of the Watcher. But Edward was right—this was their best shot at finding a way to fight the Void.
"We're willing to take the risk," Aran said, his voice resolute. "We don't have a choice. If the Void continues to spread, it will consume everything. Realms will collapse, lives will be lost. We can't just stand by and do nothing."
The Watcher remained silent for what felt like an eternity. Finally, it extended one of its bony hands toward Aran. "Very well. If you seek the knowledge to confront the Void, you must prove yourselves worthy. The Astral Archives do not give their secrets freely."
Edward stepped forward, his voice almost breathless. "What must we do?"
The Watcher's hand moved slowly, as if reaching through the very fabric of space. From the air, a small orb appeared in its palm, glowing with a soft, pulsing light. "This is the **Orb of Truth**, a relic that contains the essence of cosmic knowledge. But it is not so easily wielded. To hold it is to face the deepest truths of the universe—and of yourselves."
Lyssa frowned, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by 'facing the truth?'"
The Watcher's voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "To confront the Void, you must first confront the void within. The Orb will reveal the deepest parts of your soul—your fears, your doubts, your regrets. Only those who are pure of purpose may unlock the knowledge it holds. Fail, and you will be consumed by your own darkness."
Aran exchanged a glance with Lyssa and Edward. They had faced countless dangers together, but this was different. The Watcher wasn't talking about a physical battle. This was a test of their very souls.
"I'll go first," Aran said before anyone else could speak. His voice was steady, but inside, his heart pounded. He didn't know what the Orb would reveal about him, but if this was the only way to stop the Void, he had no choice.
The Watcher floated closer, extending the Orb toward Aran. As he reached out to take it, a cold chill shot through his body, and the moment his fingers touched the glowing surface, the world around him shifted.
---
Aran found himself standing in the middle of an endless void, the darkness around him stretching out infinitely in every direction. He was alone, completely and utterly alone. His heart raced as a voice—his own voice—echoed in the darkness.
"You're not strong enough."
The words cut through him like a blade. He turned, trying to find the source, but there was nothing. Just the empty void.
"You think you can stop the Void? You couldn't even save your own people."
Images flashed before him, moments from his past—failures, losses, mistakes he had tried to forget. He saw the faces of those he had lost, heard their voices accusing him, blaming him for not being strong enough, not being fast enough.
"You can't save anyone."
Aran's chest tightened, the weight of his own doubts crushing him from within. He wanted to scream, to fight back, but the darkness seemed to suffocate him, pulling him down into the depths of his own fear.
But then, something stirred inside him. A spark of light, small but bright. It was the truth he had been avoiding, the truth he had tried to bury. **It wasn't about strength or power. It was about purpose.**
"I may have failed before," Aran said, his voice echoing through the void. "But I'm not running anymore. I'm here, and I'll fight with everything I have."
The darkness trembled, and the weight began to lift. The spark of light inside him grew brighter, pushing back against the void.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the vision ended. Aran found himself back in the Archives, the Orb of Truth glowing softly in his hand.
The Watcher nodded slowly. "You have passed."
Aran exhaled a shaky breath, his body trembling from the experience. But he had done it. He had faced his inner darkness—and won.
Now, it was Edward and Lyssa's turn.