The Astral Peaks loomed in the distance, their jagged silhouettes cutting into the horizon. The closer Riku and Erynn got, the colder the air became, and the winds carried with them a faint, otherworldly hum. It wasn't just the chill that made Riku uneasy—it was the subtle pressure in the air, like the mountains themselves were watching.
"Why do I feel like we're being sized up?" Riku muttered, adjusting his cloak. The kitten on his shoulder seemed unbothered, purring contentedly.
Erynn glanced at him. "You're not imagining it. The Peaks are alive with celestial magic. They sense intruders and test their intentions. If we're not careful, the mountains could reject us entirely."
"Reject us? How does that work?" Riku asked, though he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
Erynn didn't reply directly. Instead, she nodded toward a narrow path winding up the base of the mountain. "We'll start there. Stay close, and whatever happens, don't lose focus."
The ascent was grueling. The trail was steep and uneven, lined with sharp rocks and frost-covered roots. Riku's breath came in short gasps as the thin air made every step harder. Erynn led the way, her staff glowing faintly to light their path. The kitten had wisely moved to the safety of Riku's satchel, its head poking out to watch their progress.
Hours passed in tense silence, the only sounds their labored breathing and the crunch of snow underfoot. Riku's muscles burned, but the mark on his chest throbbed with a dull heat, urging him onward.
Then the whispers began.
At first, Riku thought it was the wind. But the voices grew clearer, their tones sharp and accusatory.
You are unworthy.
You will fail.
Turn back before it's too late.
"Do you hear that?" Riku asked, glancing at Erynn.
She nodded, her expression grim. "The Peaks are testing you. Don't let them get into your head."
Easier said than done. The whispers grew louder with each step, filling his mind with doubts and fears. He saw flashes of the Shadow Star's red eyes, felt its icy grip tightening around his heart.
They reached a plateau, where the trail widened into a clearing surrounded by jagged cliffs. In the center of the space stood a stone altar, its surface etched with glowing runes. The air here was heavy with magic, making Riku's skin prickle.
"This is the first trial," Erynn said, stopping just short of the altar. "The Peaks will test your resolve. Step forward, and the path will reveal itself."
Riku hesitated. "What kind of test are we talking about?"
"I don't know," Erynn admitted. "Each trial is different, shaped by the person who faces it."
"Great," Riku muttered. "No pressure."
He approached the altar, his heart pounding. The moment he set foot within the circle of runes, a blinding light engulfed him. He shielded his eyes, and when he opened them, the clearing was gone.
He was back in the village—but it wasn't the same. The houses were ruins, their walls scorched and crumbling. The streets were littered with debris, and the air was thick with the stench of smoke.
Riku turned, his chest tightening. "Erynn? Anyone?"
No response. The silence was deafening.
Then he saw them—shadow beasts, dozens of them, stalking through the ruins. Their red eyes glowed with hunger, and their bodies writhed with dark mist. In their midst stood a towering figure cloaked in darkness.
The Shadow Star.
"This is your future," the figure said, its voice echoing in Riku's mind. "This is what your power will bring."
"No," Riku said, his voice trembling. "I'd never let this happen."
The Shadow Star laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "You cannot fight what you are, Riku. The darkness within you will consume everything you love."
Riku clenched his fists. "You're wrong. I can control it."
"Prove it," the Shadow Star said, raising a hand. The shadow beasts lunged.
The fight was chaos. Riku dodged and weaved, summoning tendrils of dark energy to strike back at the beasts. Each attack sapped his strength, but he pressed on, refusing to give in.
One by one, the beasts fell, their forms dissolving into mist. But the Shadow Star remained, watching him with those unblinking red eyes.
"You fight well," it said. "But you cannot win."
Riku ignored the taunt, focusing all his energy into a single, massive attack. The tendrils coiled around him, surging toward the Shadow Star with blinding speed.
The figure raised a hand, and the attack dissipated like smoke. "You see? Your power is mine to command. You are nothing without me."
Riku fell to his knees, his energy spent. The shadow beasts began to reform, their eyes glowing brighter.
"Do you surrender?" the Shadow Star asked.
Riku closed his eyes, the mark on his chest burning like fire. The whispers were deafening, drowning out his thoughts.
But then, through the noise, he heard another voice. Faint, but steady.
You are more than this.
It was Erynn's voice—or was it his own? The words resonated within him, cutting through the darkness. He opened his eyes, and for the first time, he saw something beyond the shadows: a faint, golden light.
"I'm not giving up," Riku said, his voice steady. "I'll find a way to control this. You don't own me."
The light grew brighter, pushing back the shadows. The Shadow Star recoiled, its form flickering.
"You are not ready," it hissed, retreating into the mist. "But soon, you will see."
The vision dissolved, and Riku found himself back on the plateau. He was on his knees, his chest heaving, but the oppressive weight of the whispers was gone.
Erynn rushed to his side. "Riku! Are you okay?"
"I think so," he said, though he felt like he'd been through a war. "What happened?"
"You passed the trial," she said, helping him to his feet. "The Peaks accepted you."
Riku looked at the altar, where the runes now glowed with a warm, golden light. For the first time since his arrival in this world, he felt a glimmer of hope.
But he knew the journey was far from over.