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Before Lian lay the undercity, some sort of endless, ancient stone maze with its halls forgotten. The air was thick with dust, and the flickering light of his torch cut through shadows clinging to walls. Every step echoed ominously in the cavernous space, as if the darkness itself watched and waited. There was no time to lose. The more time she spent in the relic's thrall, the further she'd be consumed by the shadows. And as Lian recollected, Khoren had spoken the words that echoed across his mind now: *The shadows will test you, just as they tested Aeris.* But Lian was resolute. He was to save her at all costs. The map Khoren had given him was dog-eared, yellowed, and faded-the symbols of its maker barely legible anymore. Still, it was all Lian had to go by in order to guide himself through the labyrinth undercity. Somewhere deep inside this forsaken place lay the Eye of the Abyss, the key to breaking the relic's hold on Aeris. As he pressed on, the shadows thickened, nigh palpable. They shifted and writhed at the edges of his vision-something alive, something hungry. He could feel the weight of the darkness leaning on him, its hot breath in his ear, whispering to him to turn back, to give up. But he wouldn't. Not while there was yet a chance to save her. Hours passed, perhaps days; time had little meaning deep within the undercity. Lian tumbled down passageways beyond count and through rooms larger than the last, each one more foreboding. The only sounds were the soft crackle of his torch and the quiet rhythmic cadence of his feet. But beneath the surface, he could feel the presence of something… watching him. Finally, what felt like an eternity for him, Lian came to face a great stone door with carvings across it-the symbol of the Eye of the Abyss right at its center, glowing with pale blue light. Lian's heart raced as he looked at it. This was it. He stepped forward, his hand extending to touch the door. The instant his fingers touched the surface, the air around him began to churn and swirl. Shadows surged, wrapping around him in serpentlike coils. The chill dropped, heavy as a suffocating pressure of darkness crowding in. And then, a voice. "You seek the Eye of the Abyss, but you do not understand its price." It was a voice, cold, without body or origin, seeming to echo through the chamber like some sort of ghostly whisper. Lian's hand tightened around his sword. "I know the price," he replied calmly. "And I'm willing to pay it." Before him, the shadows writhed and seemed to congeal into some indistinct outline of something tall and looming; the face obscured by the darkness, the eyes ablaze with a faint light-a piercing radiance in the gloom. Are thou?" the figure asked mockingly. "The shadows have taken in Aeris, and soon they shall take in you, too. You cannot fight what's already inside you. Lian's heart clenched, and he could feel the shadows tugging at him, their whispers louder, more insistent. They promised power, freedom from pain, release from the burden of his quest. All he had to do was give in, let the darkness consume him, and everything would be so much easier. But Lian shook his head, the set of his jaw almost palpable in its determination. "No. I won't fall like Aeris. I'll save her, no matter what." The figure laughed, a low, sinusoidal voice that seemed to ooze with malice. "We shall see. Suddenly, with the ferocity of a tempest, the shadows lunged at Lian. Stunned, he reeled backward, his sword flying from his grasp as the darkness enveloped him, dragging him to the earth. He struggled, but the more he struggled, the more fiercely the shadows squeezed him, choking him, sapping his strength. The voice was unstoppable, a chant in his head. *Why fight? Why struggle? You cannot win. You are already lost.* For a moment, Lian's spirit began to break. The darkness closed in, compacting into a weight that pressed down upon him. But then, deep within his psyche, there came a flicker of light-a memory of Aeris, standing beside him, laughing, full of life and hope. And in that instant, Lian knew he couldn't give up. Not now. Not ever. With a wild cry, he shoved back against the dark-hard-and his will burned brighter than the shadows. Light in his mind turned stronger, driving the dark away bit by bit. Pressure started to let up, and with the shadows drawing back, Lian heaved for breath. The figure before him hissed in frustration, its form flickering like a dying flame. "You think you can resist the abyss? Fool. The shadows are part of you now." Lian pushed himself to his feet, his breath ragged but his resolution unshaken. "Perhaps," he said, his voice hoarse. "But I will not let them control me. With a confident stride, he did reach his hand out to the door and lay it on. In a pale blue flash, a heavy rumble sounded, and the massive stone door began to open. Beyond the door lay a great chamber bathed in an ethereal light. In the middle of the room, on a pedestal of stone, lay the Eye of the Abyss: a small, crystalline orb that shimmered with an otherworldly light. Lian took the step forward, his heart racing in his chest. This was it: the key to saving Aeris. But as he reached for the Eye, the voice returned, colder than ever. "Take it, and the shadows will claim you, just as they claimed her." Lian hesitated, his hand hovering over the orb. The shadows swirled around him, whispering, tempting him to give in. In his heart, though, he knew better. This wasn't for power. This wasn't for himself. It was for Aeris. Squaring his breath, Lian wrapped his hand over the Eye of the Abyss. A blinding radiance filled the chamber, and the darkness shrieked in rage as it was ripped asunder, piece by piece. Lian stood firm, his heart unshaken, as the shadows were cast from the chamber until none were left, save for the figure of the youth, standing amidst their banishment, holding the Eye in his hand. --- TO BE CONTINUED