The air in the Wastes grew colder as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the jagged landscape. Kale sat near the fire, his body aching from the day's training, but his mind was clear. He had learned a lot about his body over the last few days. He was starting to feel the flow of his power, like a current running just beneath his skin, always ready to surge. But even with all this newfound strength, there was still something missing.
Rheon's voice broke through his thoughts. "Get up, kid."
Kale looked up, his face still pale from exhaustion. "What now? I can barely move."
Rheon's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "You've been training your body, but it's time to start testing your mind. You can't just rely on strength alone. It's time for the first trial."
Kale blinked in confusion. "Trial?"
Rheon gave a small, humorless smile. "Stat Forging is about more than just physical power. It's about mental fortitude. The strongest of the strong don't only break their bodies—they break their minds too. The trial will test that."
Before Kale could respond, Rheon walked toward a nearby cliff face and clapped his hands. A small tremor rippled through the ground, and the air seemed to vibrate. Slowly, a massive stone door emerged from the cliffside, etched with strange, glowing symbols. Kale stared in awe.
"What the hell is that?" he whispered.
"That," Rheon said with a smirk, "is your first trial."
The stone door creaked open, revealing a dark, winding tunnel. "Inside, you'll face your greatest fears, your deepest doubts. It's not about how strong you are physically—it's about how well you can endure when your mind is pushed to its limits. If you make it through, you'll prove you're ready for what's next. If you fail…" He didn't finish, but the unspoken warning hung heavily in the air.
Kale felt a shiver run down his spine. He didn't know what to expect from the trial, but something deep inside told him that it would be unlike anything he had ever faced. But he couldn't back down—not now, not when he was so close to something greater.
"Let's go," Kale said, rising to his feet with a determined look in his eyes.
Rheon didn't say anything as they walked toward the entrance. As they entered the tunnel, the air grew colder still, the shadows deepening with every step. Kale's breath fogged in front of him, and the silence felt oppressive, as if something was watching them from the dark corners of the cave.
"You'll be fine," Rheon said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Just focus on the present. Don't let the past or future cloud your mind. Only the here and now matters."
Kale nodded, though his heart was pounding. They walked deeper into the tunnel, the walls narrowing until it felt as if the passage was closing in on them. The path turned sharply, and soon they came upon a vast cavern. At the center of the cavern stood a single pedestal, atop which rested a small, glowing crystal.
"What is this?" Kale asked, his voice echoing in the empty space.
Rheon's eyes darkened. "This is where the trial begins. Touch the crystal, and your mind will be tested."
Kale took a step forward, but something in his gut twisted. The crystal was calling to him, but he didn't know why it felt wrong. As if it were beckoning him into something he couldn't escape.
"Go ahead," Rheon urged, watching him closely.
Taking a deep breath, Kale stepped forward and placed his hand on the crystal. The moment his skin touched it, the world around him shattered.
Everything went black.
Kale gasped, struggling to breathe as a flood of memories surged into his mind. At first, it was a blur—images flashing too quickly for him to make sense of. But then, as if someone had flipped a switch, everything became clear.
He was back in his childhood home. The smell of his mother's cooking filled the air, and the sound of his father's voice echoed from the kitchen.
But there was something wrong.
His father wasn't there. His mother, sitting at the table, her face pale and drawn, looked at him with vacant eyes. Her once warm gaze was now cold, hollow.
"Mom?" Kale whispered, his voice trembling.
She didn't respond. Instead, her hand twitched, and she reached for a knife on the table. Kale's heart raced as he realized what was happening. His mother was going to…
"No!" he shouted, trying to move toward her, but his legs wouldn't obey. He felt like he was trapped in a nightmare.
Suddenly, the scene shifted. He was no longer in his childhood home. He was standing in a crowded street, watching his younger self being pushed and shoved by bullies. The mocking laughter of his tormentors echoed in his ears. He could feel the sting of their words, their cruelty, tearing through him.
"You're nothing!" one of them yelled. "Just a weak, worthless freak!"
The words cut deep. Kale wanted to fight back, to stand up for himself, but he couldn't. His younger self cowered in the corner, his eyes filled with tears.
"You're weak," the bully spat, pushing him to the ground. "You'll always be weak."
Kale closed his eyes, trying to block out the voices, but they kept coming, the memories swirling around him, choking him.
Then, another shift.
He was standing alone in the dark, the weight of loneliness pressing down on him like a physical force. No one cared about him. His family, his friends—they were all gone, lost to time and circumstances.
"You're not worthy of love," a voice whispered, cold and cruel. "You'll always be alone."
Kale fell to his knees, clutching his head as the voices grew louder, more insistent. His doubts, his fears—they were all coming to life, mocking him, tearing him apart.
He couldn't take it anymore.
"I am not weak!" Kale screamed, his voice breaking. "I'm not worthless!"
The world around him froze. The darkness receded, the voices silenced. And in that moment, he realized something.
These were his fears. His insecurities. His weaknesses. But they didn't define him. They didn't control him.
With a trembling hand, Kale stood up, wiping the tears from his eyes. "I won't let you control me," he whispered, more to himself than anything else.
The darkness began to dissolve, the memories fading into the ether. Slowly, the world returned to normal.
Kale opened his eyes, and he was back in the cavern, the crystal still glowing softly beneath his hand. His heart pounded in his chest, and his body was drenched in sweat, but he was no longer afraid.
Rheon's voice echoed from behind him. "You made it through. Not bad, kid."
Kale turned, still shaky, but with a newfound resolve in his eyes. "I won't be controlled by my past anymore."
Rheon nodded. "Good. Now, let's move on. The real trials have only just begun."
And with that, they left the cavern, the first trial behind them, but the road ahead still uncertain.