Caelum led them through the woods until they reached a secret glade. A ring of stones lay arranged in such a pattern that it seemed almost to hum with ancient power. The air was so thick with an otherworldly energy that Aiden could see the hairs on his arms rise as they approached.
"This is where the first trial begins," Caelum said, gesturing to Aiden to step forward. "The trial of courage.".
Aiden took a breath, stepping into the centre of the stone circle. In the moment that he did, a shock wave shot through the air, and everything around him blurred and seemed to shift. The forest went, replaced by miles of barren landscape under pitch-black skies.
He was alone.
Aiden's heart thumped in his chest as he looked around, his mind reeling. Where was Lyra? Where was Caelum? He gripped the blade and took one step forward.
A low growl echoed from the shadows and Aiden spun around. He saw a pair of glowing red eyes staring him in the face. From the darkness emerged a creature unlike any he had ever seen: his body twisted and malformed; dark, bristling fur covered his body and his jaws were lined with sharp, glistening teeth.
Aiden held the blade tightly, his body quivering with fear. The creature snarled at him, his eyes filled with malice as he advanced on Aiden, and he could feel the weight of his own fear pressing down on him, sapping his strength.
"The Shrine reveals itself only to those who are worthy."
These were the words which kept whirling in his head as well and took a sharp breath pushing himself to settle down for stability. He would not be a slave of fear since he was a wielder, and he has to care for Eldoria and save its land from Shadow King.
With a battle cry, Aiden jumped at the creature, his blade in hand, and a light defying brilliance burst out of it. The creature leaped forward, but Aiden ran into him, slicing through the darkness as if he never knew he was powerful. The creature growled one final time, guttural, before dissipating into shadows that swallowed the creature whole and disappeared into the night.
The darkness receded, and Aiden was once again in the clearing. Lyra and Caelum stood beside him with eyes that watched him proudly.
"You have passed the trial of courage," said Caelum respectfully. "Few people can stand before their fears as boldly as you did.".
Aiden felt a shot of pride, but that was only the beginning. The journey was still long and the trials far from done.