Adrian's POV
The door slammed shut behind me as I bolted up the stairwell, the sound reverberating through the steel walls. The elevator had failed after the latest surge, and I couldn't afford to waste time waiting for a repair. I needed to get to Valeria.
The emergency lights flickered, casting erratic shadows along the staircase. My breath came in short, sharp bursts, each step feeling heavier as the oppressive energy of the Trial thickened around me. Whatever was happening in the penthouse, I knew it wasn't good. I had felt it from the moment the anomaly began—a dark ripple in the air that clawed at the edges of my mind.
When I finally reached the top floor, the atmosphere hit me like a physical blow. The air was dense, humming with a power that made my skin crawl. The door to Valeria's suite stood ajar, its hinges warped as though something had forced its way through.
I stepped inside cautiously, my hand instinctively gripping the hilt of the dagger Valeria had entrusted to me weeks ago. It wasn't much against the forces we were facing, but it was better than nothing.
The suite was unrecognizable. The sleek, modern furniture lay in ruins, shards of glass and splintered wood littering the floor. The air crackled with residual energy, the scent of ozone sharp and biting.
And then I saw her.
Valeria stood in the center of the room, her back to me. Her silver hair glowed faintly in the dim light, cascading over her shoulders like a halo. Her posture was rigid, her hands clenched at her sides.
"Valeria?" I called out, my voice hesitant.
She didn't respond.
I took a cautious step closer, the sound of broken glass crunching beneath my boots. That's when I saw it—the figure standing across from her.
It was the same shadowy entity I had encountered before, but now its presence was even more suffocating. The air around it seemed to warp and distort, as though reality itself struggled to contain its existence. Its gaze—or what I assumed was its gaze—was fixed on Valeria, its shifting form pulsating with an unnatural rhythm.
"You shouldn't be here, mortal," it said without turning to me. Its voice was a deep, resonant growl, vibrating through my chest like the echo of thunder.
I ignored the warning, stepping closer. "What have you done to her?"
The entity tilted its head, a motion that felt almost mocking. "She is facing the truth she has long denied. Do not interfere, or you will doom her to failure."
Valeria's shoulders tensed, and for a moment, I thought she would turn to me. But she remained still, as though frozen in place.
"She doesn't need you," the entity continued, its tone colder now. "This is her burden to bear."
I gritted my teeth, anger flaring in my chest. "If you think I'm going to stand by and let her face this alone, you don't know me."
The figure's laugh was low and guttural, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Foolish loyalty. It will be your undoing."
Ignoring the growing unease in my gut, I crossed the distance between us, reaching out to touch Valeria's shoulder. The moment my hand made contact, a surge of energy shot through me like a lightning strike, throwing me backward.
I hit the wall hard, the impact knocking the wind out of me. The dagger slipped from my grasp, clattering to the floor.
"Adrian!"
Her voice cut through the haze of pain, sharp and clear. When I looked up, she had turned to face me. Her eyes glowed with an intensity that was both mesmerizing and terrifying, the silver irises swirling with an otherworldly light.
"Stay back," she warned, her voice trembling. "I can't control it."
"What's happening to you?" I managed to choke out, my body still reeling from the shock.
"The Trial is forcing me to confront my past," she said, her hands trembling as she clenched them into fists. "But it's not just my memories—it's the power inside me. It's waking up, and I don't know if I can contain it."
The entity stepped forward, its presence looming over her like a dark shadow. "Containment is not the answer," it said. "You must embrace what you are, Valeria. Only then can you move forward."
She shook her head, her expression one of anguish. "You don't understand. If I let it out, it will consume everything."
"That is the price of power," the entity replied. "You cannot suppress it forever. The longer you resist, the more it will destroy you."
I forced myself to my feet, the dagger back in my hand. "If you're so intent on pushing her to the edge, why don't you face me instead?"
The entity turned to me, its form rippling with what I could only describe as disdain. "You are insignificant, mortal. A speck of dust in the grand design."
"Maybe," I said, raising the dagger. "But even a speck can make an impact."
I lunged at the figure, the blade aimed for its center. The moment the dagger made contact, a burst of light erupted between us, blinding and searing. The force of it threw me backward again, but this time I managed to stay on my feet.
The entity staggered, its form flickering. For a moment, it seemed almost... weakened.
"You dare challenge me?" it hissed, its voice filled with rage.
"You're damn right I do," I shot back, gripping the dagger tightly.
Valeria stepped between us, her hands raised. "Enough!" she shouted, her voice echoing with a power that seemed to shake the very foundation of the room.
The entity froze, its attention snapping back to her.
"This is my Trial," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging within her. "I'll face it on my own terms."
The entity regarded her for a long moment before retreating slightly, its form shifting and fading into the shadows.
"The choice remains yours," it said before disappearing entirely.
The room fell silent, the oppressive energy lifting slightly. I turned to Valeria, who looked as though she were about to collapse.
"Are you okay?" I asked, stepping closer.
She nodded weakly, her silver eyes dimming. "I'm fine. But this isn't over."
"Then we'll face it" I said firmly, reaching for her hand.
She hesitated for a moment before taking it, her grip stronger than I expected.
"No," she said quietly. "This part... I have to do alone."