The forest felt different now—quieter, almost reverent, as if it acknowledged their survival. The air carried a faint chill, and the faint light of their bracelets flickered like dying embers. Lila leaned against a tree, her breaths ragged. Her arm still throbbed from the wound she'd sustained during the trial, but she didn't complain. She was alive. That was enough.
Kael crouched nearby, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate movements. The rhythmic scrape of metal on stone was the only sound in the clearing. He hadn't said much since they returned from the wasteland, his focus seemingly elsewhere.
"How many of these trials are there?" Lila asked, breaking the silence.
Kael didn't look up. "As many as it takes."
"That's not exactly reassuring," she muttered, crossing her arms.
"It's not supposed to be." His tone was flat, but there was an edge to it that made Lila pause. She studied him, noticing for the first time the weariness in his posture. The trials were taking their toll on him, too, though he tried to hide it.
"We can't keep doing this," she said, her voice softer. "These trials... they're designed to break us."
Kael's hand stilled, his gaze lifting to meet hers. "Then don't let them."
Lila frowned. "That's easy for you to say. You're used to this. You've probably been fighting your whole life. But me? I'm just... I don't even know what I'm doing here."
Kael's expression darkened, and for a moment, Lila thought he might snap at her. But when he spoke, his voice was quiet. "Do you think I chose this? That I wanted to be dragged into this nightmare?"
Lila opened her mouth to respond but closed it when she saw the storm brewing in his eyes. She realized then that she didn't know anything about him—not really. He was a mystery, one she wasn't sure she wanted to unravel.
Before she could say anything, the faint sound of footsteps reached their ears. Kael was on his feet in an instant, his blade drawn. Lila tensed, her gaze darting to the shadows.
"Relax," a familiar voice called out. "It's just me."
Seren stepped into the clearing, his emerald eyes gleaming with amusement. He carried himself with the same casual grace as before, as if the trials were nothing more than a game to him.
"You survived," Seren said, his tone light. "I'm impressed."
Kael didn't lower his blade. "What do you want?"
Seren smirked, his gaze flicking to Lila. "Such hostility. I'm here to help, of course."
"We don't need your help," Kael said, his voice cold.
"Oh, but you do," Seren replied, his smile widening. "The next trial is unlike anything you've faced before. You'll need all the help you can get."
"What kind of trial?" Lila asked, stepping forward despite Kael's warning glare.
"The Trial of Shadows," Seren said, his tone turning serious. "It's not about strength or trust this time. It's about facing the darkness within yourself."
Lila's stomach twisted. "What does that mean?"
Seren's gaze softened, and for the first time, there was no trace of amusement in his expression. "The shadows will show you the parts of yourself you try to hide—the regrets, the fears, the pain. If you're not careful, they'll consume you."
Lila felt a chill run down her spine. "And if we fail?"
"You won't die," Seren said, his voice almost gentle. "But you'll lose something far worse. Your will to fight."
Kael sheathed his blade, his jaw tight. "What do we need to do?"
Seren reached into his coat and pulled out a small, silver pendant. It was shaped like a crescent moon, its surface engraved with intricate runes. "This will guide you through the trial. Keep it close, and don't let the shadows take it from you."
Kael took the pendant, his expression skeptical. "And why are you helping us?"
Seren's smile returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Let's just say I have a vested interest in seeing you succeed."
Lila frowned, her unease growing. Seren was hiding something—she was sure of it. But before she could press him, he stepped back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he'd arrived.
Kael turned the pendant over in his hands, his gaze thoughtful. "We leave at first light."
"Wait," Lila said, her voice trembling. "What if... what if we're not strong enough?"
Kael looked at her, his gray eyes piercing. "Then we fail. But we don't have a choice."
Lila nodded, though her fear remained. The shadows Seren spoke of weren't just external—they were within her, waiting to be unleashed. She wasn't sure if she could face them, but she knew one thing: she wouldn't face them alone.