The dawn brought no comfort. The forest seemed to grow darker with every step Lila and Kael took, the air heavier with an unspoken tension. The silver pendant Seren had given them swung from Kael's hand, its faint glow the only light in the oppressive gloom. The Trial of Shadows loomed ahead, and with every step, Lila's unease grew.
"This place feels... wrong," Lila muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael nodded, his gray eyes scanning their surroundings. "That's the point. The trial isn't supposed to feel safe."
Lila bit her lip, suppressing the urge to snap at him. She was tired of his bluntness, but deep down, she knew he was right. The trials were meant to test them in every way possible, and this one would be no different.
The path narrowed as they walked, the trees closing in like silent sentinels. The air grew colder, and with it came a strange, whispering sound. It was faint at first, like the rustle of leaves, but it grew louder with every step.
"Do you hear that?" Lila asked, stopping in her tracks.
Kael turned to her, his expression grim. "Ignore it."
"I can't," she said, her voice trembling. "It's like... it's calling to me."
Kael's jaw tightened. "That's the trial. It's trying to weaken you before it even begins. Don't let it."
Lila nodded, though the whispers continued to crawl under her skin, raising goosebumps along her arms. She forced herself to focus on Kael's steady footsteps, using them as an anchor to pull her thoughts away from the eerie voices.
The path ended abruptly at a large stone gate, its surface covered in dark runes that seemed to shift and writhe like living things. The whispers grew louder, swirling around them like a storm. Lila clutched her bracelet, its faint warmth the only thing keeping her grounded.
"This is it," Kael said, his voice low. He held up the pendant, and the runes on the gate flared to life, their light a sickly green. The gate groaned as it began to open, revealing a swirling void of shadows beyond.
Lila's heart raced as she stared into the darkness. "We have to go in there?"
Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. "Stay close to me. And whatever you see, remember it's not real."
Lila swallowed hard, forcing her legs to move. Together, they stepped through the gate, the shadows swallowing them whole.
The darkness was absolute, pressing in on them like a living thing. Lila reached out instinctively, her hand finding Kael's arm. His presence was the only thing anchoring her to reality.
"Kael," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't see anything."
"Neither can I," he replied, his tone steady. "But we have to keep moving."
As they walked, the darkness began to shift. Shapes formed in the shadows, twisting and writhing like smoke. Lila squinted, trying to make sense of them, but the harder she looked, the more distorted they became.
Then, the voices began.
"You're weak," a voice hissed, low and venomous. "You don't belong here."
Lila froze, her breath hitching. The voice was familiar—too familiar. It sounded like her own.
"Keep moving," Kael said, his grip on her arm tightening. "Don't listen to it."
But the voice grew louder, more insistent. "You're a failure, Lila. You've always been a failure. That's why you're here."
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "That's not true."
"Isn't it?" the voice taunted. "You couldn't even save yourself. That's why you need him."
"Lila!" Kael's voice cut through the noise, pulling her back. She realized she had stopped walking, her feet rooted to the ground. His gray eyes met hers, sharp and commanding. "Focus. The shadows feed on your fear. Don't give them what they want."
She nodded, her hands trembling as she forced herself to move forward. But the shadows weren't done. Images began to form around her—memories she had buried deep. Her parents' disappointed faces. The betrayal of a friend she had once trusted. The nights she spent alone, wondering if she would ever be enough.
"Do you see it now?" the voice whispered. "You're nothing but a burden. Weak. Worthless."
"Stop it!" she cried, her voice breaking.
Kael grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "Lila, listen to me. None of this is real. Do you understand? It's just the trial. You have to fight it."
Tears streamed down her face as she nodded, her chest heaving with suppressed sobs. She clenched her fists, focusing on the warmth of the bracelet on her wrist. The runes glowed faintly, and the shadows around her began to recede.
Kael nodded, releasing her shoulders. "Good. Now keep going."
They moved forward, the darkness swirling around them. Kael remained silent, but Lila could see the tension in his posture. The shadows were targeting him, too, though he refused to show it.
Then, without warning, Kael stopped. His hand shot out, grabbing Lila's arm. "Do you see that?" he asked, his voice low.
Lila followed his gaze and froze. Ahead of them, the shadows parted, revealing a figure standing in the distance. It was a woman, her face hidden by the darkness. But there was something about her posture, the way she tilted her head, that felt... familiar.
"Kael," Lila said cautiously. "Who is that?"
He didn't answer. His grip on her arm loosened as he took a step forward. "It can't be," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
"Kael!" Lila grabbed his hand, pulling him back. "Don't! It's a trick."
The woman's head turned, and her face became visible. Lila's breath caught in her throat. The woman looked exactly like Kael—her features identical, though her eyes were cold and empty.
The woman smiled, her voice soft and mocking. "Kael, my dear. Did you really think you could run from me?"
Kael's entire body tensed, his hand trembling in Lila's grip. "You're not real," he said, his voice hoarse.
The woman laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the darkness. "Aren't I? You brought me here, after all."
Lila stepped between Kael and the woman, her bracelet glowing brightly. "Leave him alone!" she shouted, her voice shaking but firm.
The shadows around the woman flickered, and she let out a low hiss. "You can't save him," she whispered, her eyes locking onto Lila's. "He's already broken."
Lila's hand shot out, a burst of light erupting from her bracelet. The woman dissolved into smoke, her laughter lingering in the air.
Kael sank to his knees, his breath ragged. Lila knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Kael," she said gently. "Are you okay?"
He didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the ground. Lila didn't press him. She knew the shadows had shown him something he wasn't ready to face.
After a long moment, he stood, his movements stiff. "Let's keep moving," he said, his voice flat.
Lila nodded, though her heart ached for him. The shadows had tried to break them, but they were still standing. For now.