The Orb of Truth pulsed in Aran's hand, glowing with an ethereal light that seemed to flicker in time with his heartbeat. His body still trembled from the ordeal he had just endured, but he stood taller now, the weight of his past lifting ever so slightly.
The Watcher turned its hooded gaze toward Edward, its hollow voice reverberating through the Astral Archives. "You are next."
Edward's eyes were locked on the Orb, his face a mixture of awe and apprehension. He was a man of knowledge, a scholar who had spent his life in pursuit of truth. Yet here, before the Watcher, he realized that truth was far more than just facts and data. It was something far more personal, something that could strip away the layers of pretense he had built around himself.
"I'm ready," Edward said, though his voice betrayed a slight tremble.
Aran handed him the Orb, and the moment Edward's fingers touched the surface, the glow intensified. The world around them dissolved into darkness once more, and Edward was pulled into the depths of his own mind, his own soul.
---
He found himself in a vast library, rows upon rows of bookshelves stretching out endlessly in every direction. It was a place that should have brought him comfort, a familiar setting that mirrored his own private study. But something was wrong. The books were covered in dust, their pages yellowed and brittle. The air smelled of decay, and the soft hum of energy that usually filled a library was absent.
As Edward walked through the aisles, he felt a gnawing unease building inside him. He reached out to a nearby book, but as soon as his fingers brushed the spine, it crumbled to dust. Panic flared in his chest, and he pulled his hand back as if burned.
"You've built your life on knowledge," a voice whispered from the shadows, its tone eerily familiar. "But knowledge without purpose is nothing. It crumbles, just like this."
Edward turned sharply, searching for the source of the voice. It was his own voice, yet it sounded twisted, warped by some unseen force.
"You think you can stop the Void? You think all your learning has prepared you for this?" The voice mocked him, echoing through the vast, empty library. "But knowledge is useless without action. You hide behind your books because you're afraid. Afraid to fail. Afraid to act."
"No," Edward whispered, shaking his head. "That's not true. I've acted. I've—"
The voice cut him off with a cold laugh. "You've done nothing. You've watched the world from the safety of your study, content to let others fight while you bury yourself in theories and ancient texts. You know what needs to be done, but you refuse to do it."
The shelves around him began to collapse, books disintegrating into ash as the floor beneath him trembled. The darkness grew thicker, pressing in on him from all sides.
Edward's breathing quickened. The accusations stung because there was truth to them. He had always been cautious, always careful not to put himself in harm's way. He had convinced himself that his role was to advise, to guide from the shadows. But deep down, he knew he had been afraid—afraid of failure, afraid of making mistakes that could cost lives.
The darkness pressed closer, suffocating him with its weight.
"No," Edward said again, louder this time. "I've made mistakes. I've been afraid. But I've also learned. I've seen what happens when people act without understanding the consequences. I've seen the damage that reckless power can cause."
The darkness faltered, just for a moment, as if listening.
"I won't let my fear control me anymore," Edward continued, his voice gaining strength. "Knowledge isn't just for hiding behind. It's a tool—a weapon. And now, I'll use it to protect, to fight back."
The crumbling shelves around him stopped their collapse, and the oppressive weight of the darkness began to lift. Edward took a deep breath, his heart steadying. He wasn't just a scholar anymore. He was someone who could act, who would act.
The library dissolved, and Edward found himself back in the Astral Archives, the Orb of Truth still glowing in his hand. His body felt lighter, as if a burden had been lifted from his soul.
The Watcher observed him silently, its hooded figure inscrutable.
"You have passed," it said, its voice softer now, almost approving.
Edward exhaled slowly, handing the Orb back to the Watcher. His hands still trembled, but he felt a new sense of clarity. He had faced his inner fears, and though they hadn't disappeared, he now had the resolve to confront them.
Aran gave him a nod of approval, and Lyssa stepped forward next, her eyes hard and resolute.
---
Lyssa had always been the strongest among them, a warrior through and through. Yet as she reached for the Orb, there was a moment of hesitation. She had faced countless battles, fought enemies that would terrify even the bravest of soldiers. But this was different.
She took the Orb from Edward, her hand steady, but inside, something twisted. She had always prided herself on her strength, her ability to face any foe. But the truth the Watcher spoke of was not a foe she could simply cut down with a sword.
As soon as her fingers closed around the Orb, the world shifted once again.
---
Lyssa stood in the center of a battlefield, the sky above her dark and filled with storm clouds. Lightning cracked across the horizon, illuminating the ground littered with the bodies of fallen warriors. Blood soaked the earth beneath her boots, and the air was thick with the stench of death.
She knew this place. It was the battlefield where she had lost her comrades, her family.
"No matter how strong you are," a voice whispered, "you can't protect them all."
Lyssa clenched her fists, her jaw tight. "I've done everything I could."
The voice laughed, cold and mocking. "And yet they died. Your strength wasn't enough. It never will be."
Lyssa's heart pounded in her chest, the pain of those memories washing over her like a wave. She had always fought to protect those she cared about, but no matter how hard she tried, people still died. She had failed them.
"You can't save everyone, Lyssa," the voice whispered again, this time more insidious. "And the more you try, the more you'll lose."
She sank to her knees, the weight of her failures crushing her. But then, in the distance, she saw a flicker of light. It was faint, but it was there, a beacon in the darkness.
"I know I can't save everyone," Lyssa whispered, her voice raw with emotion. "But that doesn't mean I'll stop trying. I'll keep fighting, for every life I can save, no matter how many times I fail."
The light grew stronger, and the storm above began to calm. Lyssa rose to her feet, her resolve hardening. She wasn't invincible, but she was a fighter. And she would never stop fighting.
---
When Lyssa returned to the Astral Archives, the Orb of Truth still glowing in her hand, there was a new fire in her eyes. She had faced her deepest fears, and she had come out stronger.
The Watcher nodded once more. "You have all passed. Now, you may seek the knowledge you desire."