---
With the Eye of the Abyss in his possession, Lian's resolve grew even sharper. His trial in the undercity had forced him to face his darkest fears, but now he understood his own strength. Yet the victory was fleeting. Aeris was still lost to the shadows, and the relic's hold on her would not break easily. Time was running out.
He climbed through the narrow, jagged passageways of the undercity, his feet sure on the uneven stone as if the shadows themselves now guided him. The journey back felt quicker than the descent, and within hours, Lian emerged into the world above, the dim light of a clouded sky greeting him like an old friend.
Waiting at the entrance was Khoren, his expression grim.
"You survived," Khoren said, relief coloring his voice, though his eyes remained wary. "But the Eye comes with a burden."
Lian glanced down at the relic, still pulsing with a strange, subtle energy beneath his cloak. "I'm ready for whatever comes," he said, his voice steady.
Khoren nodded, though doubt lingered in his gaze. "I hope so. The Eye has saved kingdoms, but it has also destroyed them. It's not just a weapon—it's a test. Aeris is in more danger than you realize."
Lian frowned. "You told me the Eye would break the relic's control over her. Was that a lie?"
"No," Khoren said, shaking his head. "But you must wield the Eye correctly. If you rush in blind, without knowing its full power, you'll lose Aeris forever—and you might lose yourself."
Lian's grip on the Eye tightened. He had already passed the trial of shadows. He had faced his past and conquered his fears. What more could there be?
Khoren seemed to sense his doubt. "The Eye of the Abyss doesn't just show you darkness, Lian. It connects you to it. Aeris is tied to the shadows now, and so are you. To free her, you must be willing to walk deeper into the darkness than ever before."
Lian's heart clenched at Khoren's words. He had come so far, and yet the hardest part of his journey still lay ahead. But he couldn't hesitate now. Not when Aeris was at stake.
"What do I have to do?" Lian asked, his voice firm.
Khoren studied him for a moment before gesturing to a path that led into the forest beyond. "There's a place, deep in the heart of the darkwoods. A shrine, ancient and forgotten, where the veil between this world and the abyss is thinnest. That's where you'll find Aeris. And that's where the final battle will take place."
Lian nodded, determination setting his jaw. "Then that's where I'm going."
But before he could take a step, Khoren grabbed his arm. "One more thing," he said, his voice low. "The shadows have been growing restless. It's as if they know what's coming. You won't be alone on this path, Lian. The darkness will try to stop you—try to break you. Be prepared for anything."
Lian met Khoren's gaze, his heart steady. "I'm ready."
---
The darkwoods were as eerie as the name suggested. Tall, ancient trees loomed overhead, their twisted branches blotting out the sky. The air was thick with mist, and the ground beneath Lian's feet was damp and uneven, as though the forest itself was alive and shifting beneath him. Every step felt like a descent deeper into some forgotten realm, where the natural laws of the world no longer applied.
The further Lian traveled, the heavier the air grew, as though the forest was pressing down on him, testing his resolve. Strange whispers filled the air, ghostly and unintelligible, as if the shadows were speaking to him, but not in words he could understand.
Lian's hand strayed to the Eye, which pulsed softly beneath his cloak. Its presence was a constant reminder of the power he now wielded, but also of the danger it posed.
He continued walking, the path ahead growing darker, more twisted. The whispers grew louder, more insistent. And then, without warning, the shadows came alive.
Figures emerged from the mist—tall, dark silhouettes with glowing eyes. They moved with an unnatural fluidity, their forms shifting and distorting as they approached. Lian's heart pounded in his chest, but he drew his sword without hesitation.
The figures circled him, their eyes burning like cold fire. They didn't attack, not yet. But Lian could feel their intent, the way they hungered for something—his fear, his doubt, perhaps his very soul.
The whispers intensified, and for a moment, Lian thought he could hear words in the chaos.
*Join us. Become one with the darkness. The light cannot save you now.*
Lian's grip on his sword tightened. "I won't let the shadows take me," he said through gritted teeth.
But the figures continued to circle, their movements slow and deliberate, as if they were toying with him.
*You are already one of us,* the voices whispered. *The Eye has chosen you. There is no escape.*
Lian's heart raced, but he refused to give in to the fear. He had come too far to let the shadows break him now.
With a fierce cry, he lunged at the nearest figure, his sword cutting through the air. But the blade passed through the shadow like smoke, harmless and ineffective. The figure reformed a few feet away, unharmed.
The whispers turned to mocking laughter.
Lian cursed under his breath. Fighting the shadows with steel wouldn't work. Khoren had warned him of this. The shadows could only be fought with truth, with willpower. But this felt different from the trial in the undercity. These shadows weren't born from his past—they were something else, something darker.
He had to think. The Eye of the Abyss pulsed beneath his cloak, its energy thrumming through him like a second heartbeat. He could feel its power, but he didn't fully understand how to wield it.
The shadows closed in, their eyes glowing brighter.
*Join us,* they whispered. *Or die.*
Lian closed his eyes, focusing on the Eye's energy. He reached for it, drawing it out, letting it fill him. The power surged through his veins, cold and relentless, but it was under his control. For now.
When he opened his eyes again, the shadows had stopped their advance, their glowing eyes fixed on the relic in his hand.
"You want the Eye," Lian said, his voice low. "But it's not yours to take."
The shadows hissed in response, their forms flickering like dying flames.
With a deep breath, Lian held the Eye up before him, its light piercing through the mist. The shadows recoiled at the sight of it, their whispers turning to screams. The light from the Eye grew brighter, stronger, until it filled the entire forest with its glow.
The shadows writhed and twisted, their forms dissolving into the mist. One by one, they disappeared, their screams echoing in the distance.
And then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, they were gone.
Lian lowered the Eye, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The forest was quiet once more, but the weight of what had just happened hung heavy in the air.
The darkness had tested him again. And he had passed.
For now.
---
TO BE CONTINUED